Goodbye Party to Miss Pushpa T.S.

Introduction

Nizim Ezekiel, a famous Indian poet, makes fun at Indians and their way of using English. Indians have their own use of English, which is different. This poem ridicules the Indian functions and the funny behaviour of Indian speakers.

The poem is about a send-off party to Miss Pushpa, who goes to abroad. Her colleagues have gathered at one place to wish her bon voyage. One speaker, through whom the poet ridicules the Indian culture and language, speaks the whole poem.

The character of Miss Pushpa

The speaker, throughout the poem, talks about Miss Pushpa and slowly reveals her character. The opening lines reveal two different characters of Miss Pushpa. First is that she is intelligent, because she goes to some foreign country. The second is that the speaker calls her as his sister. This sows that Miss Pushpa is a woman of some respect.

Miss Pushpa has a smiling face. The speaker says that Miss Pushpa is always found smiling. She takes life in a happy way. The speaker also says that Miss Pushpa is kind. She is kind at heart too. She is popularly known for her kindness among many men and women.

The speaker also talks about her family background. He says that she comes from a rich family. Miss Pushpa is also known for her helping tendency and good spirit. The speaker says that whenever someone approaches Pushpa, asking for help, she would never say no. She helps everyone at all times.

The Use of Language in the Poem

The poem right from its first stanza makes fun at the way we speak English. In the first stanza the speaker says that Miss Pushpa will depart in “two three days” instead of “two or three days.”

Instead of saying that Miss Pushpa is kindhearted and gentle woman the speaker says that she is sweet both ‘internal’ and ‘external’. In the same stanza the speaker instead of saying that Miss Pushpa is a pleasant looking woman he says that she is “smiling and smiling even for no reason.”

While giving her family background the speaker says that she come from a ‘high family’ for saying ‘rich family’. The speaker’s deviation while talking about Surat shows the Indianism. He remembers his past, when he went to Surat to stay with one of his uncle’s friend.

“Just now only I will do”, is again a mistake committed by the speaker, when he attempts to say that Miss Pushpa would do things within minutes.

Conclusion

The speaker of this poem is not given a definite identity. We do not know whether it is male of female speaker. Nizim Ezekiel by hiding the identity of the speaker renders the mistakes to every Indian in general.

Good Manners

Introduction

J. C. Hill is a famous English writer. J. C. Hill’s Good Manners is an extract from his famous book An Introduction to Citizenship. This essay talks about the manners one should have in the society.

The story of the young man

The author opens the essay with a story of a young man. The young man would be very proud of himself. He would be selfish. He never minds about others. Once a disease attacked him and then it was difficult for him to walk and stand in the bus. Only at that time, he saw others, who were unmindful of him. He was cured and later he started helping others. Through this story, the author wishes to say that we should care for people around us, which is a good manner. He asks us not to laugh at the old people who find it hard to cross the road. He says that our laughter will turn back to us soon, as it happened with the young man.

Speaking in company

He asks us to be cautious while speaking with others. If we are talking with another person, we should give him a chance to speak too. If they do not speak, it means that they do not want us to talk too. Then we are asked to be listener cautious too. If we speak of some subject, we should be aware of the fact that the listener might have a different idea about what we are talking. The author gives different meanings for the word socialism for different people.

Understanding ourselves

The author advises us to understand ourselves before teasing or talking ill about others. He gives several examples for this. If an old woman asks a boy with scout uniform whether he is a scout boy then the boy should explain himself. He should not scold her for being silly. He also says that none of understand ourselves. He gives an experiment as an example. The experiment conducted in a college in which the students were shown a bull picture. Some students said that the bull’s tongue was out of its mouth, but it was not so. The author says that every one of us are not aware of ourselves and we should take care of what we argue and speak.

Conclusion

The author concludes the essay by saying that there is not single truth in the world. What might be true to us might be false for someone else. So he asks us to cultivate the good manners of understanding other people and not hurting them.

The Progress

Introduction

St. John Ervine's The Progress is a deeply moving anti-war play. It presents before us the crudeness of war and its aftermath. The play in itself carries a war raged against the scientific progress that is happening all over the world to shatter human kind, into pieces.

Professor Corrie

Throughout the play, we could find Prof. Corrie busy with his experiments, formulae and mumbles. Prof. Corrie is engaged with his new invention so that he forgets the rest of the world. He forgets to bring his sister, Mrs. Meldon from the railway station; he forgets to listen to the knocks at the door by the servant, Hannah. He even forgets to talk with other persons.

His regular activities are to give a slight laugh, to murmur and to feel happy about his new invention, a powerful atom bomb. Prof. Corrie never refuses to give away his stand of scientific view of the society. He is a strong believer of war as a means to peace.

Mrs. Meldon

Mrs. Meldon, even before she appears on the stage is said to be mourning. She feels sad about the loss of her son, Eddie, who was killed at the age of 19 in the First World War. Her mind is fully occupied with the third anniversary of her son’s death. That is the reason she orders a wreath.

She refuses to come out of the past. She feels very bad about her loneliness. She also refuses to accept with Prof. Corrie’s thoughts. In short, we can describe Mrs. Meldon as a sensitive woman, who is filled with emotions and motherly love.

The War between Corrie and Mrs. Meldon

Corrie and Mrs. Meldon are poles apart in their view of life. In the play, we could see Corrie to be happy for his new invention, whereas Mrs. Meldon is sad for the same reason. Corrie compels her to take a broad point of view and look at war in a new patriotic manner. Mrs. Meldon does not accept to Prof. Corrie instead she views the world and war as a mother.

Their conflict rises into a pleading. Mrs. Meldon requests Prof. Corrie to destroy his new invention. She feels afraid that Corrie’s new invention would destroy several young chaps like Eddie. Prof. Corrie is under the belief that he would have a best deal with the government and earn lots of name and wealth. He does not care for human life instead; he wants his name to be written in the history of wars. Mrs. Meldon stabs Prof. Corrie in order to bring peace in the world.

Conclusion

This play realistically portrays the rough hands of war and about the loss of human life in vain.

The Pie and the Tart

Introduction

Hugh Chesterman’s play The Pie and the Tart is set in 15th century France. It portrays the then French life in a humorous way.


The condition of Jean and Pierre

John and Pierre are beggars. As the play opens, they pity themselves for not having taken food for the past few days. Pierre and Jean are roaming in the street because they do not have a house. They both talk about their troubles. Pierre says that he was arrested for begging and the judge did not consider him as a human being. They both plan to get some food by begging.


Gaultier and Marion

They both decide to go to different streets and beg. Jean goes to Gaultier’s bakery shop and knocks the door. Gaultier scolds him and shuts the door. On the other street, Jean knocks the back door of the bakery and Marion, Gaultier’s wife, scolds him. Gaultier comes out of the house with Marion and says that he is going to dine with the Mayor. He says that he would send a person to take the eel pie from the shop for dinning. Gaultier says that the person would kiss her hand to get the pie. Marion agrees for the plan.


Jean’s Plan

Jean hears their plan. He asks Pierre to kiss Marion’s hand and get the pie. Pierre goes to the bakery and says that Gaultier sends him and he tries to kiss her hand. Marion believes him and gives him the pie. Both Jean and Pierre enjoy eating the pie. They both like the pie very much. Pierre says that he say a tart in their house and asks Jean to get the tart as he got the pie.


Gaultier’s Return

In the meanwhile, Gaultier comes home angrily and says that the mayor is not home. He asks Marion to give the eel pie. Marion says that she has given it to a person. Gaultier scolds her for being a stupid. At this time, Jean comes to the door asking for the tart. Gaultier beats and asks for the pie. Jean says that Pierre got the pie. He also brings Pierre to Gaultier.


Pierre’s Idea

Pierre comes there and says that he gave the pie to the mayor, who came home just then. He says that the mayor asked for the tart. Gaultier feels happy. He is cheated by giving the tart to Pierre.

Love Stor(e)y

I got into the lift (elevator)

............................It
............................Went
............................Down

............. She entered
............................I
............................Wentnear
............................Her

...........Another entered
............................She
............................Went
............................Nearhim

Ground floor - - - they went
............................I
............................Fell
............................In
............................Love
B A S E M E N T

Zen in me - 1

Marching Forward Unmindfully

I was driving my vehicle, in a busy road, at a busy time. I drove with great care and regular pace-40km/hr. A man behind me kept blowing his horn. The road was wide; there was no one on my sides. The man kept blowing his horn. I kept moving at my regular pace. The man kept blowing his horn.

Cup Sssssssssip

An artistic creation, in my hands!
I take her and she slides as I wish
Transparent, nothing she hid from me

Now she lays open
Still she is clasped by me
She readily unfolds her warmth
My lips rubbed hers
I utterly nestle and succumb to her
My fingers keep running over her ribs

She quenches my thirst and is empty now
Ten minutes, everything ended between us
“Once hot and now arctic”, I mutter
I threw her debris
I am denied one more cup of tea

A Dream I Dream

I had a dream…
I was with a girl! (let me name her as Maya)…

We, Maya and me, are in a beach, an unknown beach, with vivid water reflecting the sky. The sea is blue, a clear blue, exposing its corals and inhabitants to the outer world. Eagles and albatross keep flying hither and thither but never wish to take a plight into the water and scoop their prey. They maintain the serene atmosphere by keeping themselves aloof from plunging. It is better to fast than to perturb the calmness of air, they fancied themselves. The waves chased each other as kids do, when they are let out in an open ground after a day’s time spent inside a house. Everything is good with the sea.

The white foams carried by waves, like an emissary, try to climb up the mountain, forming a part of the seashore, adjacent to the sea. The mountain resembles a big wall, brown and uneven surface. Occasionally herbs sprout of the rugged surface. The herbs, green here and there, are like stars shinning here and there during darker nights.

The mountain stands erect, never seems to be moved by the strong, gushing winds of the sea. The waves thump them avenging their failure and incapability of moving the rock. The waves deposit some crabs. The crabs move sideways. They metamorphose their colours when they silt in the rocks. Tiny, little, birds are finding it hard to brawl with the crabs and win them as their prey.

The shore… the shore was filled yellowish sand. The colour was as though they are sawdust that comes after scratching a big teak wood. I find sand everywhere, no tree and no human beings except Maya and me. Not even a single palm tree to my sight. We both are there couched comfortably in the shade of the huge mountain. We both are occupying a small place that connects the seashore with the mountain crest.

There is no sound in the shore except hush of the fast blowing wind pushed hardly by the sea. I feel as if the sea sends the wind by compulsion so that Maya would not mind the burning rays of the sun (dreams have exaggerations and hyperboles please LET ME DREAM!). Maya is in her black dress, she is good with a smile, the smile that the waves are craving to taste. I stand as her guard never letting the waves touch her feet or taste her beautiful lips and so they fall without entering the shore.

I allow winds as my Maya wish to enjoy them. I keep watching her, her child like face and childlike play in the sands. She is screwing into the sand by using her tiny, tender fingers, just to see them closed by her other fingers. We speak no words. She occasionally shares glances with me. I am not able to take away my eyes from her eyes and busy fingers. Silence is eloquent.

Maya gets up from the place and she wishes to run around the beach. I say to her, “Its better to sit in a place and enjoy the place, by safely cuddling in my arms.”

“No, I wish to run. There is nobody here. I wish to be myself dear,” replies Maya.

“Alright, I have no objection. Try not to run too fast, so that you can avoid slipping in the sand.” I put forth my request.

“Why on earth are you here with me then? Will you let me fall down?” she interrogates and starts to run and hop around the place. She beckons me as she started to run.

I did not mind about the waves that are trying to invade into our territory, my territory. I start to run beside my girl. She is running by my side. She smiles as if she has done a BIG job, her seven years itch. I keep running by her side looking at her for some time and later I shift and gear up my imagination towards the waves that chase each other. I fancy the first waves to be my Maya and the second ones representing me. The second waves go at the back and I am going behind Maya.

I keep matching the pace of the waves with ours, as it happens with all of us when we walk with someone dear to us. We try to march with the same leg that our partner has, if we keenly concentrate on their leg movement. This keenness on leg movement would end up with us getting unconscious of the words articulated. I get lost in turning my head left and right. The sea is to my right and my girl at left. I left her unnoticed when my head is towards the right. During my sequential swing from left, I find my girl kneeling in the sand. I sit besides her smiling, which she admires many times. She too smiles at me…

There ends my dream…
I wish to dream the dream
I do not know what it all meant. It made me happy. It makes me happy.

மதுரையில்... (Madurai)

அன்று: கொடிகம்பத்தில் ஏறி ஆடியது.

இன்று:பேருந்து ஜன்னல் வலியே "ஏதோ" ஒரு பெண்ணின் துப்பட்டா ஆடுகிறது.

அன்று: வராதே ஆபத்து காத்திருக்கிறது என்றது.

இன்று: என்னை மட்டும் பார்கதே என்னை போல் நான்கு பக்கமும் பார்த்து வண்டியை ஒட்டு என்கிறது.

அன்று:கோவலன்.

இன்று: மாதவன்.

அவன்: இறந்தான்.

இவன்: ( எதிரே வந்த வண்டியை) இடித்து விழுந்தான் !

அன்று:கண்ணகி மதுரையை எரித்தால்.

இன்று: கண் அழகி என்னை கண்டு கொள்ளாமல் செல்கிறாள்!

நரகம்

இக்கதையில் வரும் அனைத்தும் கற்பனையே... (தப்பா எடுத்துக்காதிங்க )

காலை வெயில் உடம்பிற்கு நல்லது என்பார்கள் உனது காலை வணக்கத்தை சுமந்து வரும் குறுந்தகவல் (SMS) எனக்கு அதைப்போன்றதே. உனது காலை வணக்கம் என்ற இரு வார்த்தைகள் என் நாட்களை தீர்மானிக்கின்றன. என் நாட்களை முடித்து வைப்பதும் அவளுடைய வார்த்தைகள் தான்.

" கோ டு ஹெல்" ("Go to HELL") இரண்டு நாட்களுக்கு முன் அவளிடம் இருந்து வந்த குறுந்தகவல் (SMS).

செல்லமாக திட்டுகிறாள் என்று எண்ணியது என் முட்டாள்தனம். இரண்டு நாட்களாக அவளிடமிருந்து குறுந்தகவல் வரவில்லை...

நான் நரகத்தில் இருப்பதாய் உணர்கிறேன்!