Human Karma and Natural Calamities

~ Dilip Barad

Abstract:

The relationship between human actions, particularly karma, and natural disasters has been a subject of contemplation and debate. This article delves into the connection between human karma and natural calamities, using the Nepal earthquake of April 25, 2015, as a focal point. The earthquake prompted questions about whether human karma plays a role in the occurrence of natural phenomena and disasters. The inquiry is rooted in the aftermath of the Gadhimai festival, a Hindu ritual involving massive animal sacrifices aimed at appeasing the goddess Gadhimai. The article explores the notion that human actions, such as animal sacrifices, might lead to retribution from nature in the form of calamities. However, this perspective is critiqued for its oversimplification and lack of empirical evidence. The article further challenges the idea that a cosmic judge records human actions and enforces consequences through natural events, highlighting the discrepancy between this concept and the observed randomness of calamities. The role of human activities, like environmental pollution, in directly influencing natural patterns is acknowledged, yet such influences are seen as consequences of human choices rather than cosmic judgment. The article argues that natural phenomena operate independently of human karma, as evidenced by their occurrence on other planets devoid of human presence. The insignificance of human actions in the grandeur of the universe is emphasized, positioning human arrogance as a factor in attributing cosmic significance to human karma. In conclusion, the article posits that while human actions can impact the environment, the intricate workings of nature remain beyond human control and comprehension. Natural calamities are portrayed as part of the Earth's enduring existence, unrelated to human karma, and not indicative of divine retribution.

Keywords: Human karma, natural calamities, Nepal earthquake, Gadhimai festival, cosmic judgment, environmental impact, human arrogance, natural phenomena, divine retribution, environmental pollution, cosmic significance, Earth's existence, random events, interconnectedness, philosophical inquiry.

The Nepal earthquake (date 25th April 2015)

Is there any connection between human Karma and natural phenomenon?
How are human Karma and natural calamities related?

Are they connected? Is there the chain of events interlinked with each other?

Is human Karma the 'Cause' of the natural calamity, the 'Effect'?

These questions are obvious as people connect the happening (Earthquake) with recently celebrated Hindu Goddess Gadhimai festival in Nepal. It is a sacrificial ritual that is held every 5 years at the Gadhimai Temple of Bariyarpur, in Bara District, about 100 miles (160 km) south of the capital Kathmandu in the southern Nepal, near the Indo-Nepal open border, adjacent to Bihar. It is primarily celebrated by Madheshi tribal people and Bihari people. The event involves the large scale sacrificial slaughter of animalsincluding water buffaloes, pigs, goats, chicken, rats, and pigeons – with the goal of pleasing Gadhimai, the goddess of power. (Source: Wikipedia)

These images speak louder than what words can express. . .  or can never express.

This event - religious celebration of sacrifice - was the cause of connecting Earthquake with Human Karma. It tries to say that Human beings kill animals and so Nature takes its revenge by killing human beings.
This is so absurd. It is absurd because those who are killed in natural calamity may not have sacrificed single animal. In fact, many of them would have stood against it. Those who would have sacrificed animals may be alive, happy and thanking goddess Gadhimai for keeping them safe in this natural calamity. It is also absurd because to say that it is revenge by God means that those who died are wrong doers. The 'Adharmi' - those with bad Karma - and they got the fruits of their Karma under the debris of temples, homes and similar human constructions.

This reading of human Karma and natural calamities also proves the point that we believe there is somebody (i.e. God) up there keeping records of each and every act / Karma of human beings. But then why does he always go so wrong in this record keeping and setting the score. It is the poor who get to pay the price of over all human crime, if these rituals are considered so. Does it mean that being poor itself is the fruit of bad Karma? Does it mean that being rich is in itself the fruit of good Karma?

As the philosopher David Hume (echoing Epicurus) put it in 1776: "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?" (from news.bbc.co.uk).

Logically speaking, the entire idea of human Karma, natural calamities, God as Judge and his rightful judgement in killing poor human being takes us no where.

Yes, it should be admitted that human Karma like emission of polluting chemicals/gases in air, water, earth is harmful. We harm our natural surrounding and then we get acid rain, hail storm, unseasonal rains, extreme summers and winters etc. There is direct connection with human Karma and Natural pattern. But that is controlled by humans, there is nobody like God who take notes in his book of accounts and then settles the score.

Earth is the only Home for human beings. We have to take care of it. But the universe is so large and expanding that what so ever we do, it seems to have no effect. We do not know how planting a tree will really save life of Earth. Say for instance, if there are no trees left, there won't be Oxygen to breath. In that case, either out lungs will adapt to live by other Gas or will perish to give space to the species who can live without O2. I do not recall where but i read that Oxygen was a poisonous gas, once. Those species ceased to exist and gave space to the species for whom O2 is not poisonous. What is to happen, as per law of Nature, is to happen. Yes, as per the law of Nature, not according the Karma and the keeper of Karma. Each and every planet and sun have their expiry date. They all move towards black hole. Slowly and steadily, all move towards destruction. That is law of Nature: 'All natural beings constantly move towards destruction, death, end.". Every day, we take a tiny step, not away form death, but towards death.

If we see larger picture, we find that entire Himalayan range the 'Paradise on Earth' is "gift" of Earthquake. The movement of Earthen-plates beneath the layer of Earth pressed pressed and the highest mountain range emerged. It is growing higher and higher, with this movement. See the infographics, below.

 Nature has its own way of functioning. It cannot be affected by human Karma.  There are innumerable planets n stars in universe. Every moment, some sort of volcano, earthquake n falling of stars (death of stars) are happening. There arr no humans there? Whose karma is it? There was no such killing of animals in Gujarat - Kutch in 2001, and yet earthquake killed so many!

Even if people stop doing anything, earthquakes are bound to happen.

The fact is Natural phenomenons are beyond human control and human perceptions. It is so because humans are also natural phenomenon. As we cannot think beyond Mind, we cannot think about Mind. As we cannot observe without Mind, we cannot observe Mind. Similarly, as we, humans, are the result of natural phenomena, we cannot comprehend its functioning in toto.

The source of these images is NewsFlick.com which is now non-functional link. The images are in public domain and used for easy understanding of tectonic effect on various plates and their movements due to earthquake. (update 24 Aug 2023)

All these millions of years of existence of planet Earth, earthquakes are regular part of natural phenomenon. Religion is the phenomenon that came into existence in just some thousands of years. Even when no rituals of sacrificing lives were carried out, natural calamities happen to happen. How can we connect these natural happenstance with human Karma? Aren't we as tiny as ants in this universe or even tinier than that? Are ant's Karma affecting out lives? In similar relation, how can we be so boastful of our Karma that it may have any effect on Nature? Isn't it just human arrogance that we try to see everything in relation to us. We put ourselves at the center of entire existence as if Nature has created everything for us. How many million years shall we require to understand that human beings are not he center of this universe? Our huge 'Mother' Earth is merely a speck of dust in the universe, almost invisible. I have always liked the analogy of 'self-existent' (swyambhu) - 'self- manifestation' of Louse (plural Lice), esp. head lice. Out head is almost similar to Earth. Enough water (sweat), layer like land which can be dug to get blood for existence. Who cares for the good or bad Karma of lice. Just a movement of lice-comb or an anti-dandruff shampoo (tsunami) can wipe off entire existence of lice from the head. . .  and that may happen on planet Earth. Several times, Earth had been wiped-off of human race. Like lice, we bounced back to our existence. There is something phoenix-like in our DNA that we rise again and again from the ashes (DNA). That's what is called the indomitable spirit of species - be it vegetation, animal or human. This sort of consciousness of our existnece makes us ready for the future. Shakespeare has righly said: "Readiness is all!". . . Baki sab (Karma, Karma-keeper, Karma-settler) bakwass . . . Rest is all stupidity!

An anecdote: Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi: On Earthquake

Tagore and Gandhi

‪#‎RabindranathTagore‬'s rationality vs ‪#‎MahatmaGandhi‬'s religiosity.
1934 Bihar Earthquake.
Gandhi: "A man like me cannot but believe this earthquake is a divine chastisement sent by God for our sins" - in particular the sins of untouchability. "For me there is a

vital connection between the Bihar calamity and the untouchability campaign."

Tagore: He hated the epistemology implicit in seeing an earthquake as caused by ethical failure. "It is," he wrote, "all the more unfortunate because this kind of unscientific view of [natural] phenomena is too readily accepted by a large section of our countrymen."

(Source: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1913/tagore-article.html)

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Using Blog to Enhance Writing Skill through Story Writig

Using Blog to Enhance Writing Skill through Story Writing

(Note: As this article is already published in print form in International Journal of Humanities in Technical Education, about citation should be used to cite this article. This blog should not be cited for reference)

How to cite this article:

APA:

Barad, D. P. (2015, Jan). Using Blog to Enhance Writing Skill. (S. Sagar, Ed.) International Journal of Humanities in Technical Education, I(i), 71 - 81.

MLA:

Barad, Dilip P. "Using Blog to Enhance Writing Skill." International Journal of Humanities in Technical Education I.i (2015): 71 - 81. Print.

Given the evidence that active participation in learning plays such a positive role in education, (we) find it surprising that around the world most classrooms are still predominantly lecture based. We have learned that the act of using what we learn helps a great deal in our ability to retain information (Rhoades). If there is one thing in the learning pedagogy, which supports ‘active participation’ and ‘act of using what learner’s learn’, it is story writing.

Story is a panacea. It is cure-all for all sorts of problems. As all sorts of learners, be it auditory or kinesthetic or visual; or be it kids or grown up adults or old grannies; or be it fast or slow learners; all and sundry, finds attraction is learning through stories. Stories have power to stimulate, revitalize, rejuvenate, energize, and exhilarate the learners. What else teachers want if such learners are in the class! Half of the battle is already won! The role of the teacher is done; the learning gets a smooth take off from here. It is well observed by Myrtis Mixon and Philomena Temu – “Stories told and read at home and school both entertain and educate young learners. Using stories in the classroom is fun, but the activity should not be considered trivial or frivolous” (First Road to Learning:Language through Stories). These last words ‘should not be considered trivial or frivolous’ are very important. We should think of wider pedagogical validation for learning through stories.

Pedagogical validation for learning through stories

Several researches have supported and validated the idea of learning through stories. Cortazzi refers to the idea that storytelling is essential to education and specifically to language teaching (Narrative Analysis). Zipes(1995) and Morgan and Rinvolucri (1992) observe stories as elementary part of the whole language approach to learning, influencing the “whole person” and stimulating to the subconscious.(Creative Storytelling) (Once upon a time: Using stories in the language classroom). According to Brumfit and Johnson (1979), reading or telling stories in class are a natural way to learn a new language (The communicative approach to language teaching).

Pedagogical support for learning through blogs

Having established importance of stories and its pedagogical implications, we should, now, look at another important aspect of this article i.e. blog. Gale of change is blowing in the pedagogy of Teaching English Language and Literature (TELL). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a catalyst agent. ICT has initiated new possibilities into the classroom. The marriage between education and Internet technology has made a deep impact on perspectives about teaching and learning. Technology, today, has revolutionized the way teachers taught foreign/second language (D. P. Barad, Experimenting ICT in Teaching English Language and Literature). In fact, the relationship between teacher and taught has undergone a phenomenal change (D. P. Barad, Pedagogical Issues Related to Speaking and Listening Skills & Sound Editing). The role of the teacher, the nature and context of learning, as well as the function and relative importance of course content have all been challenged and redefined. Technophobic teachers have no place in this new world order (D. P. Barad, Experimenting ICT in Teaching English Language and Literature).

Specifically speaking about the blogs in pedagogical theory, the case study findings of Pham Vu Phi Ho and Siriluck Ushaha (2009) said that ‘students expressed positive attitudes toward blog-based peer response activities’ (Blog-Based Peer Response for EFL Writing: A Case Study in Vietnam). Will Richardson observes: “Thousands of teachers and students have already incorporated Weblogs into their classrooms and into their practice. Blogs, as they are known, are easily created, easily updateable web sites that allow an author (or authors) to publish instantly to the Internet from any Internet connection. They can also be interactive, allowing teachers and students to begin conversations or add to the information published there. Weblogs are the most widely adopted tool”(Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms). Thus, blogs are considered as very important tool for the pedagogical purpose in English language learning. Even the study by Triona Hourigan and Liam Murray has revealed the fact that  “the potential impact of the blog writing phenomenon upon teaching and learning contexts reveals an important area for consideration for all university educators, and in particular for e-learning practitioners (Using blogs to help language students to develop reflective learning strategies: Towards a pedagogical framework). Similarly, Di Zhang’s research also supports the inclusion of blogs in pedagogical theory (The Application of Blog in English Writing).

Wordle Image of the Article

The Methodology: Cooperative Learning, Activation Technique, Alternative Assessment

After brief overview of pedagogical support for learning with blog, let us have a look at the methodology of the experiment under consideration. In this experiment, an amalgamation of traditional techniques (i.e. communicative language teaching, alternative assessment, cooperative learning, activating material etc) with technology (i.e. blog) is tried out and synergized result is analyzed. Most teachers have seen the reactions students can have to tasks and activities that they do not find engaging: the glassy or rolling eyes, the unfocused behavior, and the cries of “Not again!” (Rosenerg). However, if the teacher makes use of blogs for teaching writing skills through story writing, the learners can be actively engaged in the learning process. Both, ‘story writing’ and ‘blog’ are very effective activation material. If used with ‘Activation techniques’, which, are tools to make materials and tasks more interactive and more learner-focused, encouraging students to take more responsibility for their own learning (Rosenerg), they can work wonders in learning writing skill.

Thus, with the help of cooperative learning (Rhoades) and activation technique (Rosenerg), we will see how three groups of students with 4 students in each group practiced story writing and came up with significant generation of quality language. The language generated in this group activity has given us three different styles of writing also. Well, for several reasons, researchers and practitioners conclude the ideal size for a group is four students (Richards and Bohlke) (Kagan and Kagan) and we followed the same pattern in this experiment. The teacher practiced alternative assessment as discussed by Ghazi Gaith in ‘Using Cooperative Learning to Facilitate Alternative Assessment’. (). Alternative assessment is a  useful means of gathering evidence regarding how learners approach, process, and complete real life tasks in the target language (Gaith) and in this experiment the teacher used ‘Observing students at work’ as alternative assessment technique. Observing students at work provides valuable information regarding a number of core objectives related to student behavior, for example, work habits, persistence in completing tasks, and development of leadership and social skills. These skills include giving encouragement, respecting others, using a quiet voice, staying in-group, and checking for understanding. (Gaith).

The Experiment: Using Blog for writing skill through story writing

The Lion and the Mouse

Three groups with four members in each were given a blog link -http://b4tl.blogspot.in/2009/08/story-writing.html (D. P. Barad, Story Writing)–, which has a brief outline of the story and an image of the lion and the mouse. The story of ‘The Lion and the Mouse’ (Wikipedia, The Lion and the Mouse) is quite known story to all the students. The students were asked to brainstorm the image. Brainstorming has but one rule: there is no such thing as a mistake. Anything goes; all ideas are equal and welcome. To practice brainstorming, teachers should draw on topics that students know and care about. (Rosenerg). While the students brainstormed the story, teacher observed them forming the group, assigning role to each other, emergence of the leader, his/her taking control of the group and all students do the assigned tasks. The teacher roamed around and guided students wherever they found it suitable consulting the teacher. As the students were supposed to give the outcome of their group task in form of ‘comment’ below the blog post shared with them, they were asking for some technicalities. As the final draft was to be typed and submitted, each group should have one member who is good in typing and knows a bit of blogging. The teacher took care of this, at the beginning, and the groups were formed keeping this in mind. During brainstorming, the following questions were raised to the teacher:

·         Should the story be written in past tense or present tense? (The teacher gave them freehand in the use of tense. The only condition was to be persistent with the tense used in the story)

·         How about using adjectives and adverbs? Should it be used in abundance or wherever necessary? (Again, freehand was given to the students – with a caution to be used suitably.)

·         Should it be written in formal or informal tone? (Students were informed to write in the manner they find convenient – with a caution for the usage of slangs.)

·         Can the story be written in form of a ‘play’ with dialogues? (As the students were of the postgraduate class of major English literature, this was expected. There was no such binding regarding prose or play or poetic writing. Though, there was no question of writing the story in poetic form.)

·         Apart from these, there were some technical questions regarding blog login, commenting, recaptcha etc. These technical issues were demonstrated on central screen by the teacher. As there was one experienced student in each group, the problems were resolved without glitch and interruption.

Thereafter, the member of the group who was to write the first draft of the story prepared it and the one to read it aloud read it, in their respective group. Several corrections were suggested in the story to make it grammatically error free and have a flow of the narration rather than a dull non-fictional writing. This sort of ‘peer composition’ enables students to assist each other in generating ideas for writing and incorporating peer feedback in order to improve their written work. (Gaith).

The final draft was to be posted as comment under the blog shared by the teacher. (D. P. Barad, Story Writing). This was the most important step in this entire experiment. It is not the technicalities or any sort of difficulties in doing so. Neither was it the objective of this experiment to teach students ‘how to blog or how to comment under a blog post’. If this was learned, it was by product of this experiment. It was observed by the teacher that the students were new to blog, learned about the learning potential of blog and self-publishing. This learning went on helping them in self-learning later on during their studies. That was the learning that happened, an unintentional learning. Here, in this experiment, this step of using blog instead of pen & paper for story writing was intended for different purpose. It has been seen that many teacher avoid group activities and learning for reasons like:

• it leads to chaos and indiscipline in the class (Rhoades) (Sulich)
•  the outcome becomes difficult to manage
•  the assessment of the group becomes hazardous
•  the grading of the group activity becomes challengeable.

Gena Rhoades and Magdalena Sulich discussed interesting ways to tackle the problem of chaos and indiscipline in-group management, but they have not said a thing about assessment and grading or the outcome of the group. There should be transparency in grading assessment of group activity if it is to be graded for final mark-sheet. Therefore, to find a right answer to all the above-discussed issues, which makes teacher reluctant in using, group activities, is to bring in technology. The blog was found to be easy to handle and user-friendly, so it was the obvious choice among the gamut of Web 2.0 tools available.

Let us see how it worked. The change from pen & paper to blog brought in one vital difference in entire activity. This was a very important change, which took the outcome at a greater height. In pen & paper mode, students know that nobody outside the class is going see their activity. Whereas, in blog, the activity will be seen by one and all, including their parents, friends and relatives. This makes them conscious and motivates them to walk an extra mile in the activity. They seriously workout the drafts to see that they are free from language errors and tries to make it as better as possible. This simple trick of putting the task online solves the problem of ‘indiscipline’ (Sulich) in form of not taking work seriously and performing the task with sincerity. The adult students do not pose discipline problem as that of children. The indiscipline for adult is not to take the tasks seriously and do it for the sake of doing it. However, if the task is to be read by anyone online, his or her attempts are genuine and the result is far better than expected. Secondly, the outcome can be managed well in form of comments under teacher’s blog post. No worry about the paper being lost or damaged with the passage of time or in hurry to file the documents. It also helps in better portfolio management. (Rosenerg). It gives good opportunity for transparency in assessment. As all the students, their parents and other stakeholders can see the tasks performed, their faith in system in reinstalled. There is a feeling of faith in the grades. Besides, it provides a very good learning for one and all. The slow learners get an access to the tasks performed by the fast learners. The class learns together. The goals of cooperative learning are achieved with greater degrees of fulfillment than doing the same thing on pen & paper mode.

Enhanced writing skill - Three styles of writing in English language

Working thus, in groups, putting into practice the aspects of cooperative learning, teacher doing the job observing the students as a part of alternative assessment and the activation technique at its best in form of blog-comment, the outcome is supposed to be very interesting. The outcome is very significant and gives us ample opportunity to discuss.

Let us see the stories written by the three groups:

The story written by Group 1:

Once a lion was sleeping beneath a tree suddenly, a rat came to play there. It climbed over the body of the lion. It was unknown to the dangers and it started playing with whiskers of the lion. Soon the lion woke up and roared angrily. The rat started trembling. The lion was ready to savour the rat. The rat begged the lion to pardon and promised to help him in the hours of need. At that time, the arrogant lion smugged at the rat and left it alive. After some days, the lion was trapped by hunter in the net. The lion began to roar for help. Soon the rat came with fellow friends and saved the life of lion. And then they were friends forever. The moral of the story is - One never knows how one can be helpful to others. (Word count 144)

The story is written with simple vocabulary. The sentence structure is also very simple. The connectors are not used effectively. A few punctuation errors can be identified. Some sentences begins with conjunctions (i.e. ‘And’). It should have been avoided.

The Story written by Group 2:

Once upon a time, in a thick and dreadful forest, a lion was sleeping beneath the tree. Suddenly, a cheerful rat came to play for a while. There he saw a lion. Unknown to the dangers of lion, he climbed over the body of the lion and started playing with his whiskers. Suddenly, the lion woke up and roared in anger. The rat was trembling in fear. Watching a trembling rat, the lion pitied him. The rat was ashamed for his deed and begged to be pardoned. He also promised the lion that he would help him in his critical times. The lion, in a mood of disgust smugged at rat and left him alive. Then, one day a group of hunters trapped the lion in a net. A poor lion roared for help. As soon as the rat came to know about the trapping of lion, he came with a few friends and cut the net. In this way, he saved the lion. After that incident, they remained friends forever.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY:

1.      A friend in need is a friend indeed.

2.      Never underestimate anyone in your life because you never know how one can be helpful to others.

3.      Friendship is like water, noshape, noplace, notaste. But it is still essential for living. (Word count 221)

This story is written with richness in vocabulary in form of adjectives like ‘thick and dreadful forest’, ‘cheerful rat’, ‘trapping’ etc. There is a mixture of a few complex and compound sentences with by and large simple sentences in this writing. 

In this writing, we found several typos. Here, the corrected version of the story is presented. The original with errors in space, capitalization and punctuation can be read on the blog. (D. P. Barad, Story Writing).

The story written by Group 3:

The arrogant Lion was sleeping beneath a barren tree and his arrogance, too, was, adding even bitter barrenness to the nature by making it dismal and gloomy. In such atmosphere, small, innocent infant Rat came in a jovial mood. Being in jovial mood infant started playing with the lion by climbing over the body of the lion without knowing the danger in it. In his pleasing mood, the rat continued to play with whiskers of the lion. On such pleasing atmosphere where tree forgot to blossom, wind forgot to blow, they got their charm and sense of being a part of nature. But before such happened the lion woke up and roared angrily. Everything became barren as it was before. The rat got trembled. In his fury, the lion was ready to savour the rat. The rat, innocent and small creature succumbed and begged to be pardoned. This small creature assured him to help in the hours of need in the best possible way he 'CAN'.
But, how can a small creature help 'A KING'? The king smugged the rat and gave him a chance to live.
The flow of time never remains the same. After few days, the king was trapped by hunters in the net. It was so called pity of him. He craved and roared for help. The rat, being a being of blood and flesh, without thinking anything came with fellow friends and anyhow managed to save the King by cutting the stings of the net. Only afterwards, the lion understood the value of friendship and became the friends forever. (Word count 263)

In this story, we find better vocabulary than the previous two versions. For instance, the adjectives and adverbs like ‘arrogant, barren, bitter barrenness, dismal and gloomy, blood and flesh, etc. The sentence structure is quite rich with connectors like ‘being in …..’.

If we compare these three stories, we find that all three of them have distinct style. The level of language and the complexity of sentence structure increases as we move from first to the third one. All three stories have a distinct mark of various styles. We can see how the image of a well-known fable can lead to the generation of language in variety of ways. None of the stories are untrue, yet all of them have different language to tell the same story. If one group has said it in 144 words, the other said it in 221 words, the third one in 261 words. If the previous stories were written with simple expressions, this has more of literariness in its writing style. The prose of first story seems lifeless (not in negative sense). It is short and simple but it lacks energy. It does not engage the reader with the story. It may be because it does not make use of action verbs or adjectives or adverbs. The phrase like ‘rat came to play’ is more vague expression. If this vague expression is questioned ‘how’, it helps energizing the prose. The third story mentions same as ‘Rat came in a jovial mood’. The third story makes use of some lovely adjectives. The adjectives like ‘arrogant’, ‘barren’, ‘dismal and gloomy’, ‘innocent’ etc helps in creating a beautiful word picture. The lack or minimal use of adjectives in first two writings makes the prose look languid and listless. The third story creates the picture of exactly what is going on. It supports the idea of ‘creation’, which is the ultimate goal of learning as per Bloom’s taxonomy, which identifies creativity as - “It builds a structure or pattern from diverse elements. Put parts together to form a whole, with emphasis on creating a new meaning or structure.” (Bloom). The third story with the use of adjectives and adverbs gives a sense, adds strength to sentences. It creates word picture. The details engage the reader. The liveliness, which leads to better engagement of reader, increases in each of the three stories. The gradual growth of the prose from short and simple (which is also quite beautifully written story) to more engaging, lively, energetic prose is worth taking note in this experiment. All the three groups created the stories, which are very significant examples.

The self-evaluation by the learners can help them to understand where they stand in the proficiency of writing skills. The teacher’s role as an evaluator is minimized. There is self-learning on the part of learners through this mode of teaching writing skills. It was observed by the teacher than the learners are not using connectors like ‘however, nevertheless, in whatever way, although, nonetheless etc. There is more use of ‘and’ and ‘but’ which also tells about the learner that they are at intermediate level in learning English as a second language. With reference to CEFR (Wikipedia, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), we may infer from the writing skills of the above groups that they fall under following categories:

Groups	CEFR	Description
Group 1	A2 – Waystage to elementary	Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
Group 2	B1 Threshold to intermediate	Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Group 3	B2 Vantage or upper intermediate	Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

[Caption: Table1: Based on The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages] (Wikipedia, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

It is worth noting that none of the students who worked in these groups was able to secure C1 or C2 in the CEFR exam in the following month of this experiment. The members of group 3 were able to reach B2, which was the highest.

Conclusion

Thus to conclude we can say that using various tools and techniques which modern technology gives us an opportunity to explore incredible possibilities and can make a big difference in the learning of writing skills. It is not to say that the traditional classroom methods should be scrapped off. It is not to prove that technology is panacea. It is not to say that technology will replace traditional pedagogy and will reinvent new one. Nevertheless, time demands to synergize the traditional approach with the modern technology. In this experiment we have successfully synergized traditional techniques like communicative language teaching, cooperative learning, alternative assessment, classroom management, activating material, story writing etc with the technology like blog. This experiment yields wonderful results when all the traditional classroom techniques were performed in language lab over the internet-connected devices. Only one web tool i.e. blog was used to converge with traditional techniques. However, the openness of the blog, the ability of the blog to go out of the classroom, the potential of blog to reach beyond the limited frontiers of the classroom, the level of transparency it offers, the capacity of cooperative learning it offers and above all its accessibility (anywhere, anytime, anybody), when synergized with traditional pedagogy, the results are incredible. The learning happens. The teacher, now, no need to be the sage on the stage; s/he can better be a guide by the side.

Works Cited

Barad, D. P. "Experimenting ICT in Teaching English Language and Literature." AsiaCall Online Journal 4.1 (2009): 47-57.

—. "Pedagogical Issues Related to Speaking and Listening Skills & Sound Editing." ELT Weekly 1.27 (2009): 39-47.

—. Story Writing. 4 Aug 2009. 4 June 2014 <http://b4tl.blogspot.in/2009/08/story-writing.html>.

Barad, Dilip P. "Using Blog to Enhance Writing Skill." International Journal of Humanities in Technical Education I.i (2015): 71 - 81.

Bloom, B. S. Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook I: The Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay Co Inc., 1956.

Brumfit, C. J. and K. Johnson. The communicative approach to language teaching. Oxford: OUP, 1979.

Cortazzi, M. "Narrative Analysis." Language Teacher (1994): 157-70.

Gaith, Ghazi. "Using Cooperative Leanring to Facilitate Alternative Assessment." English Teaching Forum (2004): 26-31.

Ho, Pham Vu Phi and Siriluck Ushaha. "Blog-Based Peer Response for EFL Writing: A Case Study in Vietnam." AsiaCall Online Journal 4.1 (2009): 1-29.

Hourigan, Triona and Liam Murray. "Using blogs to help language students to develop reflective learning strategies: Towards a pedagogical framework." Australasian Journal of Educational Technology 2.26 (2010): 209-225.

Kagan, S. and M. Kagan. Kagan Cooperative Learning. CA: Kagan, 2009.

Mixon, Mytris and Philomena Temu. "First Road to Learning:Language through Stories." English Teaching Forum (2006): 14-32.

Morgan, J. and M. Rinvolucri. Once upon a time: Using stories in the language classroom. Cambridge: CUP, 1992.

Rhoades, Gena. "Minimizing Chaos through Cooeprative Classroom Management." English Teaching Forum 4 (2013): 28-34.

Richards, J. C. and D. Bohlke. Creating Effective Language Lessons. Cambridge: CUP, 2011.

Richardson, Will. Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. 3rd. USA: Sage, 2010.

Rosenerg, Rick. "Tools for Activating Materials and Tasks in the English Language Class." English Teachign Forum (2009): 1-27.

Sulich, Magdelena. "Keeping Discipline in the Classroom." English Teaching Forum (2004): 32-35.

Wikipedia. "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages." 4 Jun 2014. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 5 Jun 2014 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages>.

—. "The Lion and the Mouse." 26 Jan 2014. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 June 2014 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_and_the_Mouse>.

Zhang, Di. "The Application of Blog in English Writing." Journal of Cambridge Studies 4.1 (2009): 64-72.

Zipes, J. Creative Storytelling. New York: Routledge, 1995.

Gabbar is Back - The Reincarnation of the Dacoit as a Professor

Gabbar is Back - The Reincarnation of the Dacoit as a Professor

This is not a review of Hindi film 'Gabbar is Back'. This is reaction after watching the film.

Film Poster

Note: Gabbar Singh is a fictional character and the antagonist in the 1975 Hindi film Sholay written by Salim-Javed. Played by Amjad Khan, he is shown in the movie Sholay as a dacoit who leads a group in looting and plundering the villages in the region of Ramgarh. He has a sadistic personality and insists on killing whenever required to continue his status and to take revenge on his enemies. The character of Gabbar is one of the most popular in Indian films. (Gabbar Singh (character). (2015, March 20). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 05:52, May 8, 2015)

Gabbar Is Back​ - Hindi film - has one good thing. Though people came out in support of central protagonist's crimes; he accepted judicial death penalty for his crimes. . . and convinced blind followers (#Sheople) that it is 'rightful' that he is hanged till death. . .  the symbolic nib is broken by the Judge after signing the verdict. (Quite relevant - #SalmanVerdict #SalmanGuilty).
The other episode in plot worth mentioning is private medical practice. Though doctors would not like to see stereotypical representation of money-minded doctors, yet it has grain of truth. Anybody related to or in favour of private medical practitioners shall strictly stay away from this film.

That's all!
Baaki sab bakwaas! Rest is all stupidity!

We have not only seen 'smart' cops, army officers saving the day for common man, but we have also seen 'out-smarting' thieves, smugglers, underworld goons, serial killers - on silver screen. How can a professor of college be so dumb to take on the path of 70s to fight with corruption? Mr. Aditya 'Gabbar', still you believe that killing PWD officers, Collectors, Police Inspectors, IASs, public administrators will solve the problem of corruption in India? There are elected members who represent people in Democracy. They control public administrators. Do not blame 'tail' and spare 'Horns' for the wrongs of the system. Such dumbness in portrayal of 'Professor' is unpardonable. . .  and his 'ISIS - Talibanic way of abduction and hanging body for public display' is yet another bankruptcy of creativity on part of film makers. Teachers have better vision of future. Teachers look beyond present generation, towards coming generations. This professor gave merely 'fast-food' sort of solution to the problem of corruption. The teachers never nurture such illusion that 'change' can happen overnight. For any human-problem, if human-violence is the solution, ask again . . . and keep asking till you get another answer. If a fear is used to change the heart for better, the other fear will change it for worst. Make people free from 'fear'. Make sheople, people!

No, it is not to say that make another 'Teacher-Movie like Imtihaan (1974 Hindi movie) or To Sir, with Love (1967, British movie) or Dangerous Minds (1995, American movie) or Not One Less (1999, Chinese movie) or Alone (1931, Russian movie) and many more can be listed. (See the list of best 'teacher-movies at the bottom of this post). If the imagination has to break the barriers of reality, why not for something better. The better in the sense of an utopian future where people are not blood-thirsty; where sanity prevails over insanity; where those dead ideals of French Revolution (Fraternity, Equality, Liberty) arise from ashes like Phoenix; Where the mind is without fear and the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls (full poem given below); where people understand Gandhian cliche: "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind"; and last but not the least, where 'meritocracy' prevails over any form of reservation, be it birth or dearth.

Rabindranath Tagore - Gurudev

Where The Mind Is Without Fear

~ Rabindranath Tagore (Rabīndranātha Thākura)

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee

Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Best Teacher-Movies of all time:

• The 20 Best Teachers from Popular Culture By Ryan Bort
• List of Teachers portrayed in films
• Top 12 Must See Teacher Movies By: Annie Condron
• Must watch Bollywood movies on Teachers
• 6 Inspiring Teachers in Hindi Cinema
• Bollywood and its ever changing Teachers
• 
  

C for Conditioning: Language & Mind

Brain pushes other organs on periphery because it has Mind which has Language

"C" for Conditioning: The conditioning of Mind by Language

(It is intended to blog small write-ups on Language & Mind in English alphabetical order. Here is with 'C'.)

The camera is an aspect of technology which does not allow us to have complete view of reality. The frame captured by camera leaves out or blacks out several things surrounding the focus of the lens.
Thus, the visual image or moving picture has the limitation. It does not or rather let us say 'can not' view reality from all possible perspectives and thus can not show us the real picture of the event / world.

It's not only with Media, it is with WORDS / Language also. Media uses this power of Language

It's not only with Media, it is with WORDS / Language also. Media uses this power of Language

It is similar to candle / lamp (Deepak). The fire at the wick of candle or lamp (Deepak) 'seems' to brighten the darkness. It gives us an illusion of reality. It makes us believe that we can 'see' things because its light brightens the darkness. But, in reality, it blinds us with its dazzle. Apart from the darkness kept under and around its light, it does not allow us to perceive the reality as our eyes get dazzled in the glare of the light.

Isn't this true about 'words'?
Aren't words in the language, keeps us away from the reality?
It seems that the language (words) takes us towards reality, the truth. But like camera or candle, isn't it dazzling our mind?
Thus, as it is necessary to break free from the illusion of reality in the image or moving the picture or the brightened darkness, it is also necessary to break free from the illusion of words / language.
There is darkness beneath and surrounding the word. The meaning is not only what words show us. But there is something real in what word hides. Need to perceive, not what is revealed, but what is concealed. Language does not reveal, it conceals.
It may be argued that as human beings began to civilize itself, it needed to move away from nature and be cultured. Language is a part of being cultured and civilized. The cultured and civilized being requires to learn the art of concealing. Thus, the language becomes an inevitable part of human civilization.
It is essential for us to understand that language does not communicate, it conditions our mind.
And . . . if you think I am wrong, it proves that all these words used here do not communicate anything.
And  . . . if  u think its quite true, you are conditioned, to think so! These words conditioned you to believe in it.
It is truth unbearable that we can't think beyond mind. Because we think with the mind, we can't think out of the box (mind).

Rodin's Thinker

Here are some of the presentations which tries to justify this argument:

Language and Communication: Two Sides of a Coin from Dilip Barad

Language as Technopoly: Invisible Technologies from Dilip Barad

Do you agree that we feel, experience, see, perceive world, universe, our surrounding through language? We may counter argue, it is not so, it is rather 'expression' of what we have felt, experienced, seen or perceived through language.
But
the question is: Would it be different, had we lived with a different set of signs (words / language)?