Midnight Children and The Reluctant Fundamentalist

                  Midnight Children and The Reluctant Fundamentalist

            My  review about the movie “midnight children’s”  director by Deepa Mehta and “ the Reluctant Fundamental” director by Meera Nair . the both are post-colonial.the post-colonial is the study of a culture after the physical and or political territory of an oppressive power. colonialism is a dialect process. It’s  divided into two part colonized and colonizer. Colonizer gives identity crises. we have to power to choose the identity. The both are movie depends upon the  term post-colonialism.

1)

           Midnight children by Deepa Mehta.  In this movie we find that salim Sinai was Narrator. It is historical fiction. Also we can see the three generation and forth also coming there. The film is also worth  watching to understand ‘magic realism’. And another more important thing is that it is related to the power politics. Power politics is connected with post-colonialism because we have to power we rule our them.  The another important thing is at 14th august 1947 midnight mumtaz give  the born of  Salim Sinai and Shiva and the at that time also the freedom of India “India will awake , from the freedom”. Later, how parvati use the magic realism, “ magic realism in relation to the post- colonial and midnight’s children” the technique of magic realism finds liberal expression throughout the movie. Salim also at midnight he talk about the all midnight children. Also the  difference between the salim and Shiva because salim was not the son of mumtaz and also one main difference one has poor and another was  rich. Post –colonial view about the war between two country. A film worth watching to have a peep at the political controversies like forced vasectomy , emergency (at the born of Adam) reflect  the situation , indo, birth of Bangladesh and the rise of Indira Gandhi as the god-incarnation. “exile ! I learned about power” –Shiva. This line also reflect the colonialism .the midnight children is the point about  pessimism. The controversy between the Hindu and Muslim because salim was Muslim and Shiva was hinds.  At last end , Rushdie  Assure us that the riot of color and incident and allusion he is narrated was actually , at heart always just about love, which will come as a relief to viewers confounded by what’s come before.

2)

            “The Reluctant Fundamentalist “ by Meera Nair. It is political thriller drama film. Changez khan as a narrator . in the time and place of Lahore, Pakistan 2011 and how the life change of changez khan. The Reluctant fundamentalist  is a political thriller film. Also we can see the American Patriotism. Meera Nair thoughtfully textured drama also the misunderstanding and harsh socio-political realities  and a mirror of American and Pakistani relation themselves.  The Reluctant    fundamental film Mohsin Hamid(changez khan) tried to see the similarities between the American capitalist corporation  and Islamic terrorist groups.

                “ The reluctant fundamentalist”  as post-colonialism is study of a culture after a physical and political withdrawal of an oppressive power . here changez voice is under the America, for him it is difficult to survive his self in American colony. All of them are looking different on changez because he belongs to Muslim community, are which near to Terrorism . so his voice suppressed by American. It is all about search for identity , power-superiority , relationship crisis.

Revolution 2020 By Chetan Bhagat

            

                                   Revolution 2020 By Chetan Bhagat

                    Chetan Bhagat  was born on  22nd  April, 1974 in New Delhi India. Chetan Bhagat is an Indian author , columnist , screenwriter , television personality and motivational speaker. Chetan Bhagat is the author of bestselling novels like,

·       Five point someone (2004)

·       One night @ the call centre (2005)

·       The 3 mistake of my life (2008)

·       2 states  (2009)

·       Revolution 2020 (2011)

·       What young India wants (2012)

·       Half girlfriend (2014)

              Here , my view about the book revolution 2020 written by the famous author Chetan Bhagat . revolution 2020 is Chetan Bhagat’s fifth book and most criticized book. The book revolution 2020 is the story of three childhood friend like : Gopal, Raghav and Arti. The student of IIT JEE and the story setup and beginning in the holy city of Varanasi.  Three childhood friends gopal , raghav and arti has different aspiration and dreams in life with gopal wanting to become rich , raghav wanting a global political change and arti wants to become an airhostess .

               Gopal and raghav they both are schoolmate from the childhood and the same batch in school.and the arti is also from the same class. Gopal loves arti  from the school days. The whole story’s narrator is Gopal. The gopal comes a filmy Indian middle class background raghav is from an rich and almost well to do family. Where as arti comes from a kind of bureaucratic  and political family . but they all are them have their own ambition in life. After the JEE and AIEE exams later  the failure in getting through JEE and AIEE exams . gopal is forced by his father to repeat the exams next year. But raghav secures a good rank and joins the top college in Varanasi.in this book revolution 2020 , the writer has very well portrait the life of a student who went to another city for studies but failed in his education. The author has clearly the rotten Indian education system and corruption that exists till date. Gopal’s cribbing about not getting a good enough rank is the fate of Indian Education system and most of us would have crossed that pace in our life . this is where our fate of our life is chosen by the ranks we get than we choosing it. After falls in love with raghav . then, our protagonist  gopal proceeds to set up his own business Gangatech college in Varanasi with the help of an MLA Shukla using his power. What happens when gopal returns to Varanasi after his one year stint at cracking the entrance exams is the main part of the story. Apart from losing his love, he couldn’t find a seat in engineering  to fulfill his father’s  dream and on the other side, Raghav succeeds in his exams becomes a journalist and  start   his own newsletter called Revolution 2020 . in the middle part of the story how Gopal choose corruption as an did to became a successful person while raghav tries to change the world with his revolutionary ideals is what the middle pages of the book are all about. Then later, in which articles he reflected the Ganga treatment scam and prove that Shukla is a corrupt man. Also he published this articles. After his success and also another side Arti is caught between the love of both her friends , switches from one to another due to the twist that arises in the story. After so long time many twist in Raghav , Gopal and Arti life. The three friends then resolve the  ending where in arti gets married to Raghav. Whereas gopal paves way for their happy future life. Though  almost many readers disliked the ending of arti getting married to Raghav, I wish to differ from this ,Gopal getting Arti would never would have made Gopal feel bad about his corrupted life on the contrary , it would have made gopal win after all his   corrupted activities and that is not revolution 2020 story plot was for.as far the title is concerned , I have no problems with it as I enjoyed this love triangle more than i would have enjoyed this revolutionary story. As a  fact, no book can tell us how a revolution can be brought. It definitely gives an insight into our prevailing education system and the prevalent corruption associated with it and also I liked the struggle made by Gopal and any aspiring  student in our country can connected with the character as well as have been part of this insane education system with numerous loopholes. And I also liked the love Gopal had for Arti and his 100% honesty and feeling for her.

           I too admire the Gopal’s love for Arti. I had a good time with this one …………….nice………..luv story……….!!!!!!!!!

Book Review about the Play ' Nagamandal' by Girish Karnad

                Book Review about the Play ' Nagamandal' by Girish Karnad

              Karnad is known as a playwright. His plays, written in Kannada, have been translated into English and some Indian languages. Karnad's plays are written neither in English, in which he vainly dream of earning international literary fame as a poet, nor in his mother tongue Konkani. Instead they are composed in his adopted language Kannada. 

                Nagamandala is a Kannada language film directed by T.S.Nagabharana , written by Girish Karnad and released in the year 1997. The Play ‘Nagamandal’ there are main three character like, Appanna, Rani and Cobra (Naga).Rani is a young bride who is neglected by her indifferent and unfaithful husband, Appanna. Appanna spends most of his time with his concubine and come home only for lunch. Rani is a typical wife , who wants to win her husband’s affection by any means and she prepared a plan. She decides to drug her husband with a love root , which she mixes in the milk. That milk is spilled on the nearby anthill and naga the cobra drink it the milk and than naga , who can take the form of human is enchanted with her and begins to visit her every night in the guise of her husband. This changes rani's life completely as she start to experience the good things in life though she never knows that the person with her is not her husband but the cobra(naga).later, the passed long time soon, she becomes pregnant and breaks the news to Appanna and Appanna was very shocked. He immediately accuses her of adultery and says that he has not impregnated her. The issue is referred to the village panchayat. The village panchayat decided that rani is then asked to prove her fidelity by putting her hand in the snake burrow and taking a vow that she has not committed adultery the village panchayat decided that if any person   follow the wrong path they becomes follow the ritual. It is a popular belief that if any person lies holding the snake in their hand, they will be instantly killed by the snake god.

                 However, Rani places her hand in the snake burrow and vows that she has never touched any male other than her husband and the naga in the burrow. Rani declared chaste by the village panchayat. However, Rani’s husband Appanna is not ready to accept. That she is pregnant with his child and than he decides to find out the truth is see Appanna is shocked to see the cobra visiting the Rani’s bedroom and naga is daily take the form of human means form of  Appanna and spending the time with her and cobra leaving the house also. However , Appanna gets furious with the naga and indulges in a fight with him. Both of Appanna and naga fight vigorously. Eventually , the naga dies in the fight. After this incident, Appanna realizes his mistake and accept his wife Rani and the child .Rani is carrying. The Happy ending of the play “Nagamandal”.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

INVICTUS

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul

                                             - william  Earnest henley

Poem Analysis of Invictus by William Ernest Henley

                               "Invictus" was written by the English poet William Ernest Henley. The poem is a short Victorian, written in 1875 and published in 1888.In order to completely understand the meaning of this poem, it is important to know the life of William Ernest Henley. As a young boy, Henley developed tuberculosis of the bone. At the age of 25, the tuberculosis spread to his foot. Physicians decided that in order to safe Henley's life, they mumputate his leg below the knee. While in the hospital bed, Henley wrote the poem "invictus".

  "Out of the night that covers me," describes the troubles of his early life. He is covered "pole to pole" with something terrible. Luckily, his soul is unhindered.

  "In the fell clutch of circumstance" continues the story. He has high spirits, regardless of what has happened. His body may have blood stains, but he is not ashamed.

  The third stanza states that even though he may not know what is to come, he is unafraid and ready for life.

  The last stanza states that even though his future may be established due to the disease, he will continue on and control his own fate and soul with whatever time he has

                               The poem "invictus" is made up of sixteen lines and is divided into four stanzas. the last two line " I am the master of my fate : I m the captain of my soul". it is my perceptive truely everyone is the capatain of their own soul through space and time , there we actually do travel alone.....and not knowing that exactly when , where or what time our journey shall come to an end .............. is the greatest surprise life shall gives us....the poem is delievering a rather that beautiful message with simplicity and flow of words; a human being is indeed the master of  his soul . life is not crystal stairs , but a rough , bouncy , hill and ii can break a human being down into pieace , mercilessly. the poet tells us how to be strong ; to become the master of our own soul, of our hearts , of our emotions.that's the message of the poem " Invictus"

“The Nightingale and the Rose” by Oscar Wild

                                      “The Nightingale and the Rose”

                                                                  -- by Oscar Wilde 

               The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde is a fairy tale in which the first character that appears is a Student. He is sad because a girl promised to dance with him on condition that he brought her red roses, but he did not find any of this colour; there were white and yellow roses, but he could not find red ones. While he was moaning because her love would not dance with him, four characters from nature started to talk about him. A little Green Lizard, a Butterfly and a Daisy asked why he was weeping, and the Nightingale said that he was weeping for a red rose. The first three characters said that weeping for a red rose was ridiculous.

                      The Nightingale, who understood the Student’s feelings, started to fly until ‘she’ saw a Rose-tree. She told him to give her a red rose and she promised, in exchange, to sing her sweetest song, but the Rose-tree told her that his roses were white, and he sent the Nightingale to his brother that grew round the old sun-dial. The Nightingale went to see this new Rose-tree and, after promising the same in exchange for a red rose, the Rose-tree told her that his roses were yellow, but he sent the Nightingale to his brother, who grew beneath the Student's window. So the Nightingale went there, and when she arrived, she asked the Rose-tree to give her a red rose. The Rose-tree said that his roses were red, but that winter had chilled his veins and the frost had nipped his buds, so he could not give her a red rose. The Rose-tree suggested a solution: he told her that if she truly wanted a red rose, she had to build it out of music by moonlight and stain it with her own heart's blood. She had to sing to the Rose-tree with her breast against a thorn; the thorn would pierce her heart and her life-blood would flow into the Rose-tree veins. The Nightingale said that death was a great price to pay for a red rose, but at the end, she accepted.

               The Nightingale went to see the Student and told him that he would have his red rose, that she who would build it up with her own blood; the only thing she asked him for in return was to be a true lover. The Student looked at her, yet he could not understand anything because he only understood the things that were written down in books. But the Oak-tree understood and became sad because he was fond of the Nightingale, and asked her to sing the last song; when she finished, the Student thought that the Nightingale had form, but no feeling. At night, the Nightingale went to the Rose-tree and set her breast against the thorn. She sang all night long. She pressed closer and closer against the thorn until the thorn finally touched her heart and she felt a fierce pang of pain. The more the rose got red, the fainter the Nightingale's voice became, and after beating her wings, she died. The rose was finished, but she could not see it.

               The next morning, the Student saw the wonderful rose under his window. He took it and went to see the girl to offer her the rose, but she just said that the rose would not go with her dress and that the Chamberlain's nephew had sent her real jewels, adding that everybody knew that jewels cost far more than flowers. After arguing with her, the Student threw the rose into a gutter, where a cart-wheel crushed it, and he said that Love was a silly thing and that he preferred Logic and Philosophy.

The Book "The Guide" by R.K.Narayan

             The Book "The Guide" BY                                                                       

                                               -R.K.Narayan 

                     R. K. Narayan (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001), full name Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami, was an Indian writer, best known for his works set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He is one of three leading figures of early Indian literature in English , and is credited with bringing the genre to the rest of the world. R.K. Narayan is one of India’s most celebrated author - probably most beloved in India, of all Indians writers writing in English. More than Salman Rushdie or Arundhati Roy. And rightly so. I don't think any other writer has written this much variety - novels, children books, short stories and scriptural retellings.

                         The book is written in typical Narayan style – simple, lightly humored and well paced. The book draws you a picture of India in its true color – in vivid details. For a person not familiar with rural India landscape, Narayan is the man to go to. On the other, the same thing may distract someone who is too familiar with rural India. The writer doesn't use strong language to derive the message like many of India’s best authors do – you are not left by saddened by the book; instead book comes with a really light satire. 

                     'The Guide' is the story of transformation of the protagonist, Raju from a simple tour guide to a great spiritual guide. Starting as a tourist guide in the small village of Malgudi, Raju more often known as Railway Raju, leads a very simple life with his widowed mother. However the entrance of Rosie and her husband, Marco, brings about a turmoil in all of their lives. Rosie aspires to be a famous dancer while Marco is focussed towards his career and totally apathetic towards Rosie and her dancing dreams. In comes Raju, as a listener, an admirer and eventually a lover. He succeeds in fulfilling Rosie's dreams, and his own too, but the greed to make more money wouldn't cease. He ends up in jail for forgery, which is when Rosie makes an exit from his life. After the prison sentence he takes refuge by the bank of a river and the people there think of him to be a holy man, all thanks to his words of wisdom and experience. Raju starts enjoying the role and attention. However, his holiness is put to test when he is expected to observe a fast of several days so that the village might get some rain. Initially reluctant, later on Raju wants to keep alive the faith and hopes of several hundreds of people.

                     Although, book is as good for a casual reader but you have got to be able to read between the lines to understand its true literary greatness. The narrative comes around the tragedy of Raju - who despite having been opportunist all his life – more of a villain than a hero end up finding himself having to and playing the role of a spiritual guide. He is able to live through many a falls without remorse - including his jail term. The only time he feels sad is, in fact, in the end - when no one is accusing him of anything.

“The Clerk’s Tale” By Geoffary Chaucer

                                                  “The Clerk’s Tale”

                                                - Geoffary Chaucer

           Chaucer is one of the greatest poets of England. he is famous owing to his narrative art. he is called the prince of story tellers. in the middle ages a great poet was expected to be story teller. it was believed that a story should be true and full of action. Chaucer , therefore , acted in his belief and he wrote straight forward stories with less description so that reader can get interest from the beginning to the end.

             As an narrative artist, Chaucer never tried to prepare a plot. he borrowed his plots from Latin , French and Italian literature. but the style was his own and so he could make the plot golden. the clerk’s tale is also taken by Chaucer from the story of Petrarch’s Latin narrative. Da insigni obedientia at fide Uxoris’ and the French . Le Livre Griseldis. Chaucer made Walter and Griselda human being. Walter is a good man who marries a poor man’s daughter and star testing her soon after the birth of their first child.

          However, also we can see Chaucer makes some changes. he humanized the story. he portrayed walter as an ordinary marques. he is seen as a man enjoying present and having whim not to marry at all. as he marries, suddenly he starts testing the love and loyalty of his wife. Thus, Chaucer gives various jerks to the readers about forthcoming actions. this kind of treatment develops the suspense in the story and makes the narrative very compact and interesting.  in the Chaucer narration the flow of narration does not stop anywhere. though there are some defects in his narration but in order to make the story, these defects are necessary to make his narration live. for instance, the clerk’s tale questions about the ill treatment of a husband towards his wife. it also question against the motherhood because no mother would permit her cruel husband to murder her children. of course , such doubts may be faults at first sight. but these are the jerks that makes the narrative concrete. they intensify the curiosity of the readers. moreover, this tale tells us the prevalent situation of the time where many feudal lords and husband must have been like Walter in the middle ages. thus, Chaucer mirrors his age through his narrative.

             In short, it is summarized that Chaucer admirably drives his poetic energies into a narrow, deep channel. thus, the “suffering of Griselda are like those of a Christian saint and the  tale gives a message that one must have courage enough to face the pains as these are sent by the god and it is god and it is god who test through such tests the inner potentiality of human being. thus, the clerk’s tale carries certain element of religious fable also. 

“Measure for Measure” By William Shakespeare

                  

                   “Measure for Measure”

-    William Shakespeare

                The story take place in a city called Vienna. in the city sexual morals have become extremely lax, and laws against immorality have been unenforced for years. The Duke  of Vienna in order to see if this situation can be improved , leaves town and puts his straight- laced deputy Angelo in charge. unknown to Angelo , the Duke sneaks back into Vienna disguised as a priest in order to check up on him.

                 The duke in charge , Angelo begins his reign by arresting young Claudio, who has gotten his fiancée pregnant. That is adultery ! says Angelo and sentences Claudio death. Claudio sends word to his sister Isabella, who is a a novices nun, to come and plead on his behalf. she does , very persuasively , but Angelo does not listen to her argument . instead, he is checking out how good-looking she is. in the end , he tries to molest her, and demands that if she wants to save Claudio’s life , she must sleep with him. she reports this to Claudio saying that of course she will refuse. Claudio however, does no really want to be executed, and pleads with Isabella to give in the Angelo.

          The Duke , in his disguise , finds out about all this, and his plan. Angelo had a fiancée called Mariana who he dumped after compromising her position. the duke suggest that Isabella should agree to Angelo’s terms , but send Mariana to sleep with him instead to herself. she does this. they await the order for Claudio’s release, which Angelo has promised to give, but instead Angelo orders Claudio to be immediately executed. the Duke still has a plan- they will send the head of someone else who looks like Claudio to Angelo to prove that he is dead. fortunately, there is a dead pirate who fits the bill. only Claudio , the duke and the jailer know about this.

         The Duke sends word to Angelo that he is returning to Vienna and does so, without his disguise . Isabella brings her complaint about Angelo to the Duke-priest had advised her to do. Angelo denies it all and calls her a liar, relying on his reputation as a straight-laced moral man. Isabella says that there is  a priest who can back up her story. the Duke leaves and reappears as the priest, and eventually reveals himself. now Angelo’s guilt is apparent , and the Duke says he ought to die.

         At this point Mariana pleads for the life of her fiancé and asks Isabella to support her. Isabella must plead for the life of the man who attacked her and murdered her brother. in a supreme act to forgiveness for Mariana’s sake, she does so. Angelo is required to marry Mariana and Claudio is reunited with his fiancée. the Duke invite Isabella to leave the  convent and marry him.

           Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure center around the fate of Claudio, who is arrested by lord Angelo, the temporary leader of Vienna. Angelo is left in charge by the Duke, who precedes to leave town but instead dresses as a fair to observe the going-on in his absence. Angelo is strict, moralistic and unwavering in his decision making ; he decides that is too much freedom in Vienna and takes it upon himself to rid the city of brothels and unlawful sexual activity. Laws against these behaviors and institution already exist, and Angelo simply decides to enforce them more strictly . Claudio is arrested for impregnating Juliet, his lover, before they were married. although they were engaged and their sexual intercourse was consensual , Claudio is sentenced to death in order to serve as an example to the other Viennese citizens.

                   At last finally, critics continue to debate over the genre of Measure for Measure . Measure for Measure is a disturbing play for critics, directors, and audiences alike. while the play arise a variety of compelling issues- the extent to which mercy should temper justice, the nature of power and the need for self- knowledge ; the relationship between man and women and the definition of gender roles and human sexuality—none of these questions appears to be answered definitively by the close of the play.

"Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats

                                    "Ode on a Grecian Urn"
                                                                   - John Keats 

                    In the ode on a Grecian urn , the duality of the theme is indicated , in the  very opening stanza where keats gives us a contrast between something unchanging because it is alive . this equipoise is continued in the second stanza but the poet continues to toy with his dual matter without asserting or implying that lifeless permanence is superior or transient reality . nor does he indicates any preference in emphasis here , as in the second stanza is upon the warmth and the turbulence of life , we have not been made to feel that keats has any distinct preference for an unraised but permanent love over an actually experienced but transient but actual passion . in the fourth stanza , we are carried into a world that is permanent , but permanently empty , just as the figures on the urn are permanent , but permanenting lifeless. In the final stanza , the poet ends his duals game . here he emphatically addresses this thing of beauty as just what it is a grecian urn . this work of art , he says .has teased  us out of the actual world into an ideals world where we can momentarily and imaginatively enjoy the life that is free from the imperfections of our lot here but this ideals world is not free of all imperfections : it has very grave deficiencies because it is lifeless , motionless , cold , and unreal......

"Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe

                                           "Robinson Crusoe"

                      Deniel Defoe was born in  1659 . Daniel Defoe was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy. then the famous his novel  ‘Robinson Crusoe’ . Daniel Defoe born toward of the summer of 1660 died on  April 24 , 1731 . his original surname  foe , Defoe altered it in 1703 . Defoe  was an author of famous novel ‘ Robinson Crusoe’ a simply the story of a man shipwrecked alone on an island . whenever , Samuel Richardson  Defoe is considered the founder of the English novel . Daniel Defoe before his time stories  were usually written as long as long poem or dramas .

“ One day , about noon , going towards my

Bout , I was exceedingly surprised with the

Print of a man’s naked  foot on the shore

Which was very plain to be seen on the sand”

       

                                         by Robinson Crusoe

 Robinson Crusoe is a novel written by  Daniel Defoe . this novel first  published on 25 , April , 1719 .  the first edition credited the work’s fictional protagonist  Robinson Crusoe as it’s author and the many readers to believe . he was a real person and the book a travelogue of the true incidents the original title is;

“ The life and strange surprising adventures of Robinson Crusoe , of York , mariner :  who liyed eight and twenty

Years all alone in an uninhabited island an the coast of

America , near the mouth of the great river of orooneque:

Having been  cast on shore by shipwreck wherein   all the

Men perished but himself with an account how he has at

Last as strangely delivered by pyrites…….”

                 The novel is it’s simple narrative style and then Robinson Crusoe was well known as the literary  world  and then credited as  marking . the beginning of realistic way of fiction as a literary genre and before the end of novel 1719 the book had alredy ran through four edition .

# Historical Background

                  

                                  By the time of Robinson Crusoe European nations had acquird empires in south America , Asia  and Africa  . Daniel Defoe was display interested in the voyages . so , he wrote about voyages. Daniel Defoe tells  tale of a marooned individual in order in critize society . by using the island location , similar to that of tempt , Defoe also depict Crusoe’s island as a microcosm of European society . Crusoe’s European values  and education are evident : he colonizes the island by building houses . his successful development on the island parallels that of the British empire  around the 18^th century .

# Plot - overview of the novel

                             Crusoe sets sail from the in Hull on a sea voyage in August , 1651 . Crusoe against the wishes of his parents . crusoe wants him to pursue a career if possibly in law . after a tumultuous journey where his shipwrecked in a storm . his lust for the sea out to sea gain . later that two years he escapes in a bout with a boy named Xury . xury a captain of a Portuguese  ship off the west coast of Africa  rescues him  Crusoe is a  shipwrecked in a about  forty miles out to sea on an island near the mouth of the Orinoco river on 30 , September ,1659 .

                  Crusoe sees penguins  and  seals  on his island only he and three animals the captain’s dog and two cats the survive shipwreck . Crusoe making mark in A wooden cross he creates a calendar by using tools  salvaged from the  ship . Crusoe also adopt a small parrot .   Crusoe believes in Christianity  and he reads the bible and becomes religious  thinking god for his fate in which nothing is missing but human society .

                   Crusoe meets a new companion ‘ Friday’ . after the day of the week he appeared  Crusoe teaches him English and Friday converts him to Christianity . Crusoe and Friday kill most of the natives  and save two  prisoners . if their Friday’s  father and bring back the other , build a ship , and a sail to a Spanish port .

                 Crusoe leaves the island 19 , December , 1686. And arrives in England on 11 , June , 1687 . if the learns that his family believed in dead . as a result but he  was left nothing in his father’s will . Crusoe transports his wealth overland to England to avoid travelling by sea .

“Astronomer” by A.K.Ramanujan

                                             “Astronomer”

             The present poem “Astronomer” is one of the best example of Ramanujan’s poetry. the poem appears in ‘collected poems’ . book  three : second sight here in this poem we can find autobiographical touch , because Ramanujan is talking about his own father in the poem . According to Ramanujan ;

“my father was a mathematics and an astronomer ; he was also a Sanskrit scholar and expert astrologer”

             Here, it becomes quite clear that Ramanujan is talking about his father Srinivas Ramanujan in the poem astronomer. the poem begins with the following words ;

“sky-man in a man hole with astronomy for dream astrology for nightmare”

          In  the very beginning of the astronomy and astrology. the first one is the scientific study of stars and planets . while the second one is stars and planets influence one human being. in short, the poet father believes in both the things . in short, he mixes- up both sciences and superstition .in short, the poet tries to show the contradictory image of his own father. further the poet says ;

“fat man full of proverb”

           Ramanujan even offers the physical appearance of the astrologer. he is fat man and his language is full of wise words and proverb. he has even the knowledge of past language like Sanskrit . he uses Sanskrit in his language.

            Astronomer moreover, has talent to read the almanare and predict the future events. even he uses to calculate good hours and bad hours which we calls “muhurates” . the poet even talks about the condition of the astrologer in the following words ;

“clutching at the tear in his birthday shirt as at a hole in his mile wed horoscope”

                These words highlights the financial condition of the astronomer. he lives can ordinary life. even his shirt is torn and his horoscope has hole.

           Then, the astronomer is not well physically also he contatly suffers from teidney  problem. even he is as fat as big bear . however, what is remarkable about the astrologer is his love for woman and sex. woman like ‘dipping honey’ for him. in short, he has unexpected desire for woman and sex.

“Chicago Zen” by A.K.Ramanujan

                                                               “Chicago Zen”

          A.K.Ramanujan is one of the well known modernist poet. as a modern poet, he often talks about transculuralism. even he talks about hybridity of human beings in his many poem . what is more important about his poems is that they are highly realistic and matter-of-fact.

         The present poem “Chicago Zen” is the best example of hybridity, transculuralism and transnationalism .  in this poem Ramanujan tries to show his feeling and experiences  when he is in abroad or in Chicago USA. the beginning of the poem is as below ;

“ Now tidy your house,

dust especially your living room

and do not forget to name

all your children”

                     The above lines has two different meanings. the first meaning is very simple it is said that it is necessary to keep house clean where we live. it is even more necessary to keep the living room clean, because who so ever will come to home they first sit in living room. this is simple and superficial meaning of the first two lines. while second meaning is philosophical one Ramanujan suggest the reader that living room means ‘MIND’. it is necessary to keep your mind clean. he further says that one should not fill one’s mind with much knowledge and information. he believes that the more we learn , the more we get confused and finally we lost in short he says that one must live with minimum burden of knowledge and information.

             While in second two lines Ramanujan highlights the importance of name and surname when we are in country like USA. it is only because of our name we are able to show our identity as Indian is Chicago, USA. then in second stanza Ramanujan says;

“Watch your step , slight may strike you ;

blind in unexpected places”

             Here, Ramanujan says that when you are in places like Chicago, everything is new for you , not only that but whatever you see, it is unexpected and totally surprise for you. beginning from people, culture , atmosphere, things , food etc…. are new and unexpected for you. moreover , things are unexpected at such a level that for a moment, you will be blind and mad. here, poet confesses the reality as a living in foreign.

           After this, there is sudden change in the poem . he becomes confused and talks about Himalaya river and lake Michigan of USA. he says that in USA traffic lights took orange colored . the whole scene of traffic light looks like wild forest fires. after that he talks about Himalaya river of India and lack Michigan of USA. in short, there is constant change in the thought of poet because confused between  Indian culture and American culture . however, in such  confusing situation Ramanujan finds out way. he decides that whatever he see , he should not surprise just remain indifferent about new place Chicago for this he uses the word “perfectly sane”. he says,

“And you , always so perfectly sane”

               Here, Ramanujan says when you are in foreign country at that time you need to feel that you are sane. sane means you are able to think and you have to accept new world when you are outside your home or country. in short, one should not surprise in foreign world but one should behave normally and simply.

            After that , he talks about one serious problems of those Indian who live in abroad. Ramanujan says that one can not come Indian whenever one wants. the reason is the foreign countries are very strict about Visa, passport and travelling. everything regulation . secondly , even it’s fare and tickets are very expensive which Indian can’t  afford so when one miss home , children , wife, village etc…. at that time he feels very bad and crying . like because he can not go to meet them since family is seven-seas away it is not possible to frequently visit home Ramanujan hopelessly says;

“……..the country can not be reached by jet.

nor by bout on jungle river”

        In short, when you miss home , neither jet , plane nor bout will help you because due to the rules of passport and visa , you can not travel home for some fixed time.

           However, even in such worst condition , Ramanujan suggest one way to go to home in India. according to him , it is possible for a person to go to India at home. there is one  source. he says ;

“(one can go home) only by unswereing ordinary

black telephones, questions wall………..

and answering all calls of nature……”

            The poet here says that one cam feel that one is at home by calling at home with family members. he can be at home by talking with his children. he can be at his village by remembering farm, river and other natural surrounding . in short, among all immigrants the remembrance of home, children and natural surrounding would take the person home.

           Toward the conclusion of the poet warns those persons . who is new in Chicago, USA. life in Chicago is very difficult so one must be careful. living in Chicago is like climbing staircase. he says ;

“watch your step…..

and watch for

the last step

that’s never there”

             Here, Ramanujan talks about ‘escalator’ . in escalator, person has to be careful when he climbs, because it is constantly in motion . moreover, in escalator there is no last step or first step . it is like flowing river. here, Ramanujan compares life with escalator and flowing river. according to him in all condition , life goes on and one , life never stops for anyone every moments new and priceless. all these ideas about life is taken from Zen Buddhist philosophy of life. Zen Buddhist believes that;

“life is a continuous process”

            Thus, Ramanujan talks about so many things together in his poem “Chicago Zen”. it is best example of Zen Buddhist philosophy of life. 

“Obituary” By A.K.Ramanujan

                                               “Obituary”

              A.K.Ramanujan is considered to be the greatest Indian English poet. he has written innumerable poems, throwing lights on Indian culture, custom and family life. the present poem “Obituary” is written by him. the poem appears in the book “collected poem” more specifically it appears in “book two” ‘relation’ of the same book.

                                                                                     

          In the poem “Obituary” Ramanujan reminiscence  ( to remember) his father’s death . the poem begins with the following lines :

“ Father ,, when he passed on, left dust, on a table …left debts and daughters, a bedwetting grandson…..”

            These line opening shows the list of things . which the father left behind as a legacy. the list includes the table heaped with dusty newspaper, debt, daughter etc… the speaker of the poem talk about his father and his contribution to the family. however, the father has given very less contribution in the development of the family when he died, he just left out-dated newspapers. moreover he left debts due to the lack of creativity and productivity. since daughters are considered to ne source of burden in India, it has increased tension of the speaker when his father died…… the reason is that he has to get them married . however, the speaker would have willingly accepted the responsibility of marriage , if the father had left something worthy behind his death. on contrary he left much debts to pay.

            The speaker even talks about the grandson . who is named after the father by tossing the coin. all these details shows that the father left nothing but only memories in the form of debris.

           Later in second stanza he again announces that when a father died he left-

“……….A house that leaned slowly through our growing years . . . .”

            Here, the worse situation of the speaker become quite clear. the father left a house as a part of legacy. however it is very old and broken house. the house has bent or leant on coconut  tree day by day  . it indicate the deterioration in the quality of a house as well as in life. moreover, the metaphoric use of learned house indicates that the family has to live parasitic life by borrowing from others. later the poet describes the process of cremation . he says ;

“ Being the burning type he burned properly at the cremation”

            After the burning process his eyes appeared as cons perhaps. the speaker wants to highlights that his father was money minded and materialistic. moreover the cremation process left the half-burned spinaldises .the priest advised to throw them or to immerse them in triveni  sangam . this detail indicates the importance of the immersion of dead person’s.

  

              After cremation everything gets over no tombstone was created for the father about the birth and death dates. this indicates the insignificance of person’s birth and death. even his birth and death were came very easily . since father had caesarean birth and death due to heart fail. he did not have to put in much effort. he didn’t struggle much for emancipation. death come quite easy to him in fruit market.

              Toward the conclusion of the poem the speaker talks about the triviality of human life. he says that the entre life of the father  worth nothing what he gains at last is only two lines of obituary in Madras newspaper. moreover , he got obituary in those newspapers which become out dated and dusty the next day and will be sold to the  hawkers . later the hawkers sold them to the grocers who used them to pack salt , coriander , juggery etc…… this information clearly indicates the triviality  and absurdity of whatever the father achieved.

               However, due to the death of father one thing is changed curlier the speaker used to read newspapers for fun only but after his father’s death he read newspapers in hope to find couple of obituary line for his father.

             Finally the poem concludes with the following lines;

“ …….. and he left us a changed mother and more than one of annual ritual …….”

              Till the end of the poem the list of legacy is not ended. the speaker says that in Addison to the list the father left one changed mother and one religious annual ritual . which the poet has to perform, without fail why poet calls “changed mother” is because more sensitive and emotional due to her husband’s death , so now, the poet has to take extra care of his lonely mother. secondly  he has to perform and go through one annual ritual so that father’s soul may rest in Pease.