Memorabilia 2018-19

Memorabilia 2018-19

From the desk of Head of the Department

The Memorabilia 2018-19 reminds the sense of an ending. Julian Barnes has rightly said that the sense of an ending is one of the most curious senses. There are ‘senses’ which are very crucial for human beings. The senses like ‘common-sense’ is necessary to understand worldly affairs when our academic sense fails to unlock the enigmatic life. Similarly, ‘civic-sense’ makes us responsible and accountable citizens of the democracy. Likewise, ‘academic-sense’ guides us in using lessons learned in academia at right time and right place. Unlike these senses, political senses is not much valued and talked about. However, for the citizens who are eligible for casting their votes in democracy, this sense is as inevitable as any other. Bertolt Brecht has equated this with literacy and told very boldly that the worst illiterate is the political illiterate. s/he hears nothing, sees nothing, takes no part in political life . . . and does not seem to know that all citizens life depends on political decisions. Among all these senses, it is ‘historical sense’ which makes a huge difference. In T.S. Eliot’s words - the historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence. The historical sense will help in better perception of zeitgeist of our time and space. It is this sense which differentiates people from sheople (sheep + people). We, at Department of English, while teaching English studies, makes an attempt to see that students develop these senses and become more sensible towards their personal lives as well as our society.

Coming back to the sense of an ending, the most curious sense of all these high-profile senses. When we get towards the end of two years, when a batch full of students are passing out – some curious feelings engulf and numbs our senses. No! It is not this Keatsian ‘my heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains’ – sort of sense of an ending. It means an end of any likelihood of change in the life. We work very hard and we expect a sort of progressive, positive, and constructive metamorphosis among those with whom we so passionately get involved. At the end of the year, the sense of an ending engulfs.

This Memorabilia 2018-19 is nothing but a sort of pensive of all those wonderful memories. It is like that Time-Turner device made by Ministry of Magic in J K Rowling’s Potter series. It is like the Time Machine of H. G. Wells. Turning pages of this memory-booklet is like unwinding the time in Time-Turner or travelling back in the Time Machine.

 All credit for this sort of meticulous record keeping goes to the Documentation Committee. It is really tough task. However, social media like Facebook is helping a lot to them in keeping records. It was always satisfying to read their posts in the happenings with an interesting write-up and a few photos. It is even more satisfying to revisit all those ‘happenings’ in this Memorabilia, again.

When I look back at the quality of students who are passing out, I see that these students were a bit quicker in adapting to technology than the previous batches. These students have surprised me on several occasions. From presenting their work in digital form to working on online surveys, or preparing certificates with mail-merge feature, or collecting data, or working in collaboration, or even this Memorabilia itself . . . . With almost professional precision, they used assistive technology. I hope the digital skills they have acquired and honed are going to be very vital in their future career and life.

Another unique feature perceived in this batch was their courage and confidence to speak-up and voice their happiness as well as angst and anxiety. Many of them wrote and some even published good poems, short stories, social media posts and blogs.

This was the batch on which we worked very hard to improve their English language. Not that these students were very poor in English language. They possessed normal English language skills which is common with all other batches. However, this time we were able to spare time for remedial classes, answer-writing workshops and academic writing workshops. In a way, this batch is fortunate to have many sessions of improving academic English writing skills. Some of them have learned it and displayed the improvement in their writings also.

It is a tradition that most of the activities are carried out by students of the Department. They are divided in various committees and those willing to lead become natural leaders. Every year, apart from regular co-curricular activities, some unique activities are also planned by these committee members. This year,

•  ·         the Library committee planned a visit of Barton Library. This library is historically very important site for all book lovers,
•  ·         the ICT committee organised workshop for P.G. students of all departments and exposed them to basic digital tools. The entire workshop was conducted by senior students and even the resource persons were members of ICT committee,
•  ·         the Film Screening committee organised watching Hindi film Uri – The Surgical Strike in the cinema theatre,
•  ·         the Art and Creativity committee organised various competitions on the occasion of Guru Purnima and made digital display of short stories, paintings, poems, photographs and rangoli and winners were selected by online public voting system,
•  ·         the Celebration committee celebrated International Day of Yoga at Department, the credit of maximum participation in Sports and Adventure activities goes to the Sports and Recreation committee,
• ·         the Gardening committee carried out projects to support Swacch Bharat / Clean India campaign,
• ·         the Daily Schedule committee organised some very courageous debates on challenging issues like Pulwama Terror Attack, Adultery Act section 497 of  IPC, LGBT Act section 377 of IPC.

All members of the committee from Semester 4 and 2 are appreciated for these unique activities. We know that all humans are not similar. Neither are we born to do similar things in life, nor are we supposed to think alike. We all are unique and the uniqueness shall be maintained, irrespective of what-so-ever-life offers us. In spite of this, the fact remains that this rule does not apply to leaders. The leaders are supposed to be different from other people. The uniqueness of leaders lies in the fact that they are ready to merge and assimilate with one and all. That’s the sure way to lead the people. 

There is a famous quote ascribed to Bruce Lee: “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.  Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” Leader are supposed to be like water. It is glad to see that without knowing all these things most of you have displayed these characteristics. Be with it. In future, you may unlearn many things and relearn also. But do not unlearn these characteristics of leadership which you have acquired by being so – water like! 

Lastly, keep reading literature. Great readers make for great leaders! Reading literature ripens our maturity. The emotional, intelligence, spiritual, creativity, adversity, and physical quotients (EQ, IQ, SQ, CQ, AQ, PQ of literature students / readers are much higher and deeper than students of any other subjects / discipline. At the same time, I would like to suggest to watch as many films as you can. In this year, we have seen the rise of web streaming services. It has opened new vistas for acquiring all these quotients which altogether makes for literary quotients and literary sensibility. If one wants to put it in arithmetic equation, it shall have an integer of multiplication. 

So, it can be – LQ = IQ x EQ x SQ x CQ x AQ x PQ. 

In addition, L = B + eB + F + YT + WS +TV, wherein Literature is equal to books, eBooks, films, YouTube, Web Steaming and Television. 

Do not nurture bias against these mediums. Do not privilege one over the other. All are equally important for the acquisition of literary quotient.

Wish you all the best for your future career and life. Keep sharing your achievements with us. We will make anecdotes out of your achievements and turn you into role-models for upcoming batches of students.

-         Dilip Barad

The Memorabilia 2018-19

Memorabilia 2018-19 from Dilip Barad

Country vs Nation-State: देश बनाम राष्ट्र : भगवत रावत : Bhagwat Rawat

*देश एक राग है - भगवत रावत*

इस बार छब्बीस जनवरी पर
मैं देश के नाम सन्देश देना चाहता था
राष्ट्र के नाम नहीं
देश के नाम
जानता हूँ ऐसे सन्देश केवल
राष्ट्रपति और प्रधानमंत्री समय समय पर देते रहे हैं
जो राष्ट्र के नाम प्रसारित किये जाते हैं
इन संदेशों की कोइ विवशता होगी
तभी तो उनकी भाषा ऐसी तयशुदा होती है की
उनमें कहीं कोई उतार-चढ़ाव नहीं होता
न कहीं मार्मिक स्पर्श

होश संभालने के बाद पिछले पचास वर्षों से
सुनता आ रहा हूँ ऐसे सन्देश और किसी का कोई एक
वाक्य भी ठीक से याद नहीं
मजेदार बात यहाँ है कि 'देशवासियों'-जैसे
आत्मीय संबोधनों से प्रारंभ होने वाले ये सन्देश
देश को भूलकर राष्ट्र-राष्ट्र कहते नहीं थकते
राष्ट्र की मजबूती, राष्ट्र की गरिमा
राष्ट्र की संप्रभुता, रार्ष्ट्रोत्थान जैसे विशेषण वाची
अलंकरणों से से मंडित
ये आत्ममुग्धता और आत्मश्लाघा
के उदाहरण बनकर रहा जाते हैं
मुझे कुछ समझ में नहीं आता
मेरी उलझन बढ़ती ही जाती है
कि देश के भीतर राष्ट्र है या राष्ट्र के भीतर देश
दोनों में कौन किससे छोटा, बड़ा
सर्वोपरि या गौण है
इस विवाद में न पड़ें तो भी
दोनों एक ही हैं यह मानने का मन नहीं करता

अव्वल तो कोई किसी का पर्याय नहीं होता
फिर भी सुविधा के लिए मान ही लें तो
देश का पर्याय राष्ट्र कैसे हो गया
अर्थात देश में सेंध लगाकर काबा राष्ट्र घुस आया
इसका पुख्ता कोई ना कोई कारण और इतिहास
होगा ही, परा मेरा कवी मन आज ताका
उसको स्वीकार नहीं कर पाया
और यदि इसका उलटा ही माना लें,
कि सबसे पुराना राष्ट्र ही है तो
हज़ारों सालों से कहाँ गायब हुआ पड़ा था
तत्सम शब्दावली की कहीं कहीं पोथियों- पुराणों के अलावा

देश-देशान्तरों की मार्मिक कथाओं से भरा पडा है
सारी दुनिया का इतिहास
राष्ट्रों की कहानियां कौन सुनता-सुनाता है
अब आप ही बताइये
कि क्या कोई ठीक-ठीक बता सकता है कि कब
देश कि जगह राष्ट्र और राष्ट्र की जगह देश
कहा जा सकता है

हमारे जवान देश की सीमानों की रक्षा करते हैं
हम देश का इतिहास और भूगोल पढ़ते-पढ़ाते हैं
सना सैंतालीस में हमारा देश आजाद हुआ था
मैं भारत देश का नागरिक हूँ
ऐसे सैकड़ों वाक्य पढ़ते पढ़ाते बीत गयी उम्र
जब-जब, जहां-जहां तक आँखें फैलाई
दूर दूर तक देश ही देश नजर आया
राष्ट्र कहीं दिखा नहीं

आज भी बड़े-बड़े शहरों से मेहनत-मजदूरी करके जब
अपने-अपने घर-गाँव लौटते हैं लोग तो एक दूसरे से
यही कहते हैं कि वे अपने देश जा रहे हैं
वे अपने पशुओं-पक्षियों, खेतों-खलिहानों
नदियों-तालाबों, कुओं-बावडियों, पहाड़ों-जंगलों,
मैदानों-रेगिस्तानों,
बोली- बानियों, पहनावों-पोशाकों, खान-पान
रीति-रिवाज और नाच गानों से इतना प्यार करते हैं
किकुछ न होते हुए गाँठ में
भागे चले जाते हैं हज़ारों मेला ट्रेन में सफ़र करते
बीडी फूंकते हुए

वे सच्चे देश भक्त हैं
वे नहीं जानते राष्ट्र-भक्त कैसे हुआ जाता है
आजादी की लड़ाई में हंसते-हँसते फांसी के फंदों पर
झूलने वाले देश-भक्ति के गीत गाते-गाते
शहीद हो जाते थे
ऊपर कही गही बातों में से देशा की जगह राष्ट्र रखकर
कोई बोलकर तो देखे
राष्ट्र-राष्ट्र कहते-कहते जुबान न लडखडाने लगे
तो मेरा नाम बदल देना
वहीं एक वाक्य में दस बार भी आये देश तो
मीठा ही लगेगा शहद की तरह

देश एक राग है
सुवासित-सुभाषित सा फैलता हुआ धीरे-धीरे
स्नेहित तरंगों की तरह बाहर से भीतर तक
भीतर से बाहर तक
स्वयं अपनी सीमाएं लांघता
सुगन्धित मंद-मंद पवन की तरह
सारी दुनिया को शीतल करता धीरे धीरे
सारी दुनिया का हिस्सा हो जाता है

कितना भी पुराना और पवित्र रहा हो राष्ट्र शब्द का इतिहास
पर आज पता नहीं क्यों बार-बार
यह शब्द एक भारी भरकम बनायी गयी ऐसी अस्वाभाविक
डरावनी आवाज लगता है जो सत्ता और शक्ति के
अहंकार में न जाने किसको
ललकारने के लिए उपजी है
अपना बिगुल खुद बजाती जिससे एक ही शब्द
ध्वनित होता सुनायी देता है
सावधान!
सावधान!
सावधान!

मैं देश के नाम सन्देश देने के बारे में कह रहा था
और कहाँ से कहाँ निकल गया
यह सही है कि मैं न देश का राष्ट्रपति हूँ
न प्रधानमंत्री, नाकोई सांसद, न विधायक
यहाँ तक कि किसी नगरपालिका का कोई
निर्वाचित सदस्य तक नहीं हूँ

पर सभी ये कहते हैं कि ये जो अच्छे-बुरे जो भी हैं
सब मेरे ही कारण हैं
मैंने ही बनाया है उन्हें
तो इसी नागरिक अधिकार के साथ मेरा देश के नाम सन्देश
क्यों प्रसारित नहीं किया जा सकता
की स्वतन्त्र भारत न गढ़ पाने की कोई दबी-छिपी रह गयी
गुलाम मानसिकता
या परायों के तंत्र से मुक्त न हो पाए की कोई
विवशता

आप जो भी कहें
और आप पूरी तरह मुझे गलत भी साबित कर दें
और जो आप कर भी सकते हैं
कहाँ-कहाँ से पुरानो और पोथियों से प्रमाण
खोजकर ला सकते हैं और मुझे चारो खाने चित्त कर सकते हैं
पर जो सामजिक इतिहास मुझे दिखाई देता है
राष्ट्रों का वह कतई आत्मीय नहीं है

अपने ही भारत देश के बारे में सोचकर देखिये
की भारत में महाभारत कभी नहीं होता
यदि उसका सम्राट ध्रितराष्ट्र न होता जिसे
अपने सिंहासन के अलावा
कुछ भी दिखाई नहीं देता था
इतना ही नहीं उसकी रानी ने भी आँखों पर
पट्टी बाँध राखी थी ताकि उसे भी कुछ दिखाई न दे अपने पुत्रों के मोह के अलावा
भारत में महाभारत कुछ अतापता नहीं लगा आपको
और क्या ध्वनी निकलती है इस वाक्य से सत्ता के आतंक, दंभ, हिंसा और
युद्ध के अलावा
जिस-जिस शब्द से जुदा यह 'महा' उपसर्ग
शब्द की सूरत बदल कर रख दी
उदाहरण देने से क्या लाभ
आप ही जोड़कर देख ले सीधे-सादे शब्दों
के आगे यह उपसर्ग
मैं किसी 'शब्द और 'नाम'' का अपमान नहीं
कर रहा हूँ
और 'महाभारत' जैसे आदिग्रंथ का तो बिलकुल नहीं
वह न लिखा गया होता तो
युद्ध की विभीषिका और निरर्थकता का कैसे पता चलता
कैसे पता चलता की युद्ध में हार ही हार होती है
कोइ जीतता नहीं

'राष्ट्र' ही सर्वोपरि है तो एक ही राष्ट्र के भीतर
कई राष्ट्रेयाताओं की धारणा से आज भी
मुक्त नहीं हुए आप
व्यर्थ गयी हजारों वर्षों की यात्रा आपकी
बर्बर तंत्र से प्रजातंत्र तक की
तो फिर जाइए वापस अपने-अपने
राष्ट्रों में
लौट जाइए अंधेरी खाइयों-गुफाओं में
यही तो चाहते हैं आज भी
नए चेहरों वाले आपके पुराने विस्तारवादी
माई-बाप
कभी जो नेशन का सिद्धांत लेकर आये थे और बढाते रहे
अपना साम्राज्य

इतने वर्षों की दासता से कुछ सबक सीखा नहीं आपने
धर्म के नाम परा बांटा गया
खुशी-खुशी बाँट गए
भाषाओं के नाम पर अलग-अलग किया गया
अलग-अलग हो लिए
अब अपनी-अपनी जातियों के नाम पर भी बना लीजिये अपने- अपने, अलग-अलग राष्ट्र
और अब इस बार डूबे तो कोइ किसी को
नहीं बचा पाएगा

मैं फिर कहता हूँ की मैं किसी शब्द और किसी
नाम का अपमान नहीं कर रहा हूँ
केवल उस मानसिकता की तरफ संकेत कर रहा हूँ
जो अपनी कुलीनता के दंभ में अपने ही देश में
अपने ही बर्चस्व का
अलग राष्ट्र हो जाना चाहती है
और धीरे धीरे सारे देश को
इकहरा राष्ट्र बनाना चाहती हैं
आज भी इक्कीसवीं सदी में
ज्ञान-विज्ञान सब एक तरफ रख कर ताक में
रक्त की शुद्धता, पवित्रता की दुहाई देकर
भोले-भाले लोगों को जिन गुफाओं में ले जाकर
ज़िंदा दफन कर देना चाहते हैं वे
इतिहास गवाह है उन गुफाओं से नकलने में
सदियाँ बीत जाती हैं

आप समझ ही गए होंगे बात महज शब्दों की नहीं, प्रवृत्तियों की है
और कठिनाई यही है की उनके बारे में
शब्दों को छोड़कर बात की नहीं जा सकती
भाषा में इस प्रवृत्ति को
'तद्भव' को 'तत्सम' में जबरदस्ती रूपांतरित
करने का शीर्षासन कह सकते हैं
सभी जानते हैं की यह अस्वाभाविक प्रक्रिया है
'फज़ल' ने किस सादगी से कहा था
'पहाड़ तक तो कोइ भी नदी नहीं जाती'

यह मानसिकता देश की बहुरंगी संस्कृति को
पहले राष्ट्र की संस्कृति कहकर इकहरा बनाती है
फिर देश को एक तरफ फेंक
सांस्कृतिक-राष्ट्रवाद का नारा लगाती है
मैं किसकी कसम खाऊँ
मुझे भाषा के किसी शब्द से चिढ़ नहीं है
चिढ़ है तो उस मानसिकता से जो शब्दों को
मनुष्य के विरुद्ध खड़ा कर देती है
जो सिर्फ मनुष्य को दिए गए नामों से पहचानती है
उनकी जातियों से पहचानती है,
उनके रंगों से पहचानती है
और उनकी भाषा में कभी दिए गये ‘ईश्वर’
के नाम के लिए उनके अलग-अलग शब्दों से
पहचानती है

देश देशजों से बनता है
उनकी बहुरंगी छटा देशों का इन्द्रधनुष बनती है
जो सबको अपने-अपने आसमान में दिखाई देता है
कौन होगा जिसका मन इन्द्रधनुष देखकर
इन्द्रधनुष जैसा न हो जाए

मान लिया
मान लिया कि अंग्रेजी के ‘नेशन’ शब्द के लिए हिंदी में
फिर से पैदा हुआ ‘राष्ट्र’
तो ‘नेशन’ शब्द में कौन से सुरखाब के पर लगे हैं
पश्चिमी दुनिया की लगभग सभी भाषाओं में
कितना प्यारा है ‘कन्टरी’ शब्द अर्थात ‘देशज’
कब और कैसे दबोच लिया
‘कन्टरी’ जैसे आत्मीय शब्द को ‘नेशन’ ने
यह खोज का विषय होना चाहिए
जरूर उसके पीछे कोई बर्बरता छिपी होगी

इस सबके बाद भी
आपको अपना राष्ट्र मुबारक
मुझे तो अपना देश चाहिए
आपको इक्कीस तोपों की सलामी मुबारक
मुझे आसमान में मेरा लहराता तिरंगा चाहिए
बुरा लगा हो तो माफ करना
मैं तो अपने लोकतंत्र में अपनी छोटी सी
नागरिक इच्छा पूरी करना चाहता था
कि इस बार छब्बीस जनवरी पर
मैं देश के नाम सन्देश देना चाहता था

ठिठुरता हुआ गणतंत्र हरिशंकर परसाई

चार बार मैं गणतंत्र-दिवस का जलसा दिल्ली में देख चुका हूँ। पाँचवीं बार देखने का साहस नहीं। आखिर यह क्या बात है कि हर बार जब मैं गणतंत्र-समारोह देखता, तब मौसम बड़ा क्रूर रहता। छब्बीस जनवरी के पहले ऊपर बर्फ पड़ जाती है। शीत-लहर आती है, बादल छा जाते हैं, बूँदाबाँदी होती है और सूर्य छिप जाता है। जैसे दिल्ली की अपनी कोई अर्थनीति नहीं है, वैसे ही अपना मौसम भी नहीं है। अर्थनीति जैसे डॉलर, पौंड, रुपया, अंतरराष्ट्रीय मुद्रा-कोष या भारत सहायता क्लब से तय होती है, वैसे ही दिल्ली का मौसम कश्मीर, सिक्किम, राजस्थान आदि तय करते हैं। इतना बेवकूफ भी नहीं कि मान लूँ, जिस साल मैं समारोह देखता हूँ, उसी साल ऐसा मौसम रहता है। हर साल देखने वाले बताते हैं कि हर गणतंत्र-दिवस पर मौसम ऐसा ही धूपहीन ठिठुरनवाला होता है। आखिर बात क्या है? रहस्य क्या है? जब कांग्रेस टूटी नहीं थी, तब मैंने एक कांग्रेस मंत्री से पूछा था कि यह क्या बात है कि हर गणतंत्र-दिवस को सूर्य छिपा रहता है? सूर्य की किरणों के तले हम उत्सव क्यों नहीं मना सकते? उन्होंने कहा - जरा धीरज रखिए। हम कोशिश में हैं कि सूर्य बाहर आ जाए। पर इतने बड़े सूर्य को बाहर निकालना आसान नहीं हैं। वक्त लगेगा। हमें सत्ता के कम से कम सौ वर्ष तो दीजिए। दिए। सूर्य को बाहर निकालने के लिए सौ वर्ष दिए, मगर हर साल उसका छोटा-मोटा कोना तो निकलता दिखना चाहिए। सूर्य कोई बच्चा तो है नहीं जो अंतरिक्ष की कोख में अटका है, जिसे आप आपरेशन करके एक दिन में निकाल देंगे। इधर जब कांग्रेस के दो हिस्से हो गए तब मैंने एक इंडिकेटी कांग्रेस से पूछा। उसने कहा - ‘हम हर बार सूर्य को बादलों से बाहर निकालने की कोशिश करते थे, पर हर बार सिंडीकेट वाले अड़ंगा डाल देते थे। अब हम वादा करते हैं कि अगले गणतंत्र दिवस पर सूर्य को निकालकर बताएँगे। एक सिंडीकेटी पास खड़ा सुन रहा था। वह बोल पड़ा - ‘यह लेडी (प्रधानमंत्री) कम्युनिस्टों के चक्कर में आ गई है। वही उसे उकसा रहे हैं कि सूर्य को निकालो। उन्हें उम्मीद है कि बादलों के पीछे से उनका प्यारा ‘लाल सूरज’ निकलेगा। हम कहते हैं कि सूर्य को निकालने की क्या जरूरत है? क्या बादलों को हटाने से काम नहीं चल सकता? मैं संसोपाई भाई से पूछ्ता हूँ। वह कहता है - ‘सूर्य गैर-कांग्रेसवाद पर अमल कर रहा है। उसने डाक्टर लोहिया के कहने पर हमारा पार्टी-फार्म दिया था। कांग्रेसी प्रधानमंत्री को सलामी लेते वह कैसे देख सकता है? किसी गैर-काँग्रेसी को प्रधानमंत्री बना दो, तो सूर्य क्या, उसके अच्छे भी निकल पड़ेंगे। जनसंघी भाई से भी पूछा। उसने कहा - ‘सूर्य सेक्युलर होता तो इस सरकार की परेड में निकल आता। इस सरकार से आशा मत करो कि भगवान अंशुमाली को निकाल सकेगी। हमारे राज्य में ही सूर्य निकलेगा। साम्यवादी ने मुझसे साफ कहा - ‘यह सब सी.आई.ए. का षडयंत्र है। सातवें बेड़े से बादल दिल्ली भेजे जाते हैं।’ स्वतंत्र पार्टी के नेता ने कहा - ‘रूस का पिछलग्गू बनने का और क्या नतीजा होगा? प्रसोपा भाई ने अनमने ढंग से कहा - ‘सवाल पेचीदा है। नेशनल कौंसिल की अगली बैठक में इसका फैसला होगा। तब बताऊँगा।’ राजाजी से मैं मिल न सका। मिलता, तो वह इसके सिवा क्या कहते कि इस राज में तारे निकलते हैं, यही गनीमत है।’ मैं इंतजार करूँगा, जब भी सूर्य निकले। स्वतंत्रता-दिवस भी तो भरी बरसात में होता है। अंग्रेज बहुत चालाक हैं। भरी बरसात में स्वतंत्र करके चले गए। उस कपटी प्रेमी की तरह भागे, जो प्रेमिका का छाता भी ले जाए। वह बेचारी भीगती बस-स्टैंड जाती है, तो उसे प्रेमी की नहीं, छाता-चोर की याद सताती है। स्वतंत्रता-दिवस भीगता है और गणतंत्र-दिवस ठिठुरता है। मैं ओवरकोट में हाथ डाले परेड देखता हूँ। प्रधानमंत्री किसी विदेशी मेहमान के साथ खुली गाड़ी में निकलती हैं। रेडियो टिप्पणीकार कहता है - ‘घोर करतल-ध्वनि हो रही है।’ मैं देख रहा हूँ, नहीं हो रही है। हम सब तो कोट में हाथ डाले बैठे हैं। बाहर निकालने का जी नहीं हो रहा है। हाथ अकड़ जाएँगे। लेकिन हम नहीं बजा रहे हैं, फिर भी तालियाँ बज रहीं हैं। मैदान में जमीन पर बैठे वे लोग बजा रहे हैं, जिनके पास हाथ गरमाने के लिए कोट नहीं है। लगता है, गणतंत्र ठिठुरते हुए हाथों की तालियों पर टिका है। गणतंत्र को उन्हीं हाथों की ताली मिलतीं हैं, जिनके मालिक के पास हाथ छिपाने के लिए गर्म कपड़ा नहीं है। पर कुछ लोग कहते हैं - ‘गरीबी मिटनी चाहिए।’ तभी दूसरे कहते हैं - ‘ऐसा कहने वाले प्रजातंत्र के लिए खतरा पैदा कर रहे हैं।’ गणतंत्र-समारोह में हर राज्य की झाँकी निकलती है। ये अपने राज्य का सही प्रतिनिधित्व नहीं करतीं। ‘सत्यमेव जयते’ हमारा मोटो है मगर झाँकियाँ झूठ बोलती हैं। इनमें विकास-कार्य, जनजीवन इतिहास आदि रहते हैं। असल में हर राज्य को उस विशिष्ट बात को यहाँ प्रदर्शित करना चाहिए जिसके कारण पिछले साल वह राज्य मशहूर हुआ। गुजरात की झाँकी में इस साल दंगे का दृश्य होना चाहिए, जलता हुआ घर और आग में झोंके जाते बच्चे। पिछले साल मैंने उम्मीद की थी कि आंध्र की झाँकी में हरिजन जलते हुए दिखाए जाएँगे। मगर ऐसा नहीं दिखा। यह कितना बड़ा झूठ है कि कोई राज्य दंगे के कारण अंतरराष्ट्रीय ख्याति पाए, लेकिन झाँकी सजाए लघु उद्योगों की। दंगे से अच्छा गृह-उद्योग तो इस देश में दूसरा है नहीं। मेरे मध्यप्रदेश ने दो साल पहले सत्य के नजदीक पहुँचने की कोशिश की थी। झाँकी में अकाल-राहत कार्य बतलाए गए थे। पर सत्य अधूरा रह गया था। मध्यप्रदेश उस साल राहत कार्यों के कारण नहीं, राहत-कार्यों में घपले के कारण मशहूर हुआ था। मेरा सुझाव माना जाता तो मैं झाँकी में झूठे मास्टर रोल भरते दिखाता, चुकारा करनेवाले का अँगूठा हजारों मूर्खों के नाम के आगे लगवाता। नेता, अफसर, ठेकेदारों के बीच लेन-देन का दृश्य दिखाता। उस झाँकी में वह बात नहीं आई। पिछले साल स्कूलों के ‘टाट-पट्टी कांड’ से हमारा राज्य मशहूर हुआ। मैं पिछले साल की झाँकी में यह दृश्य दिखाता - ‘मंत्री, अफसर वगैरह खड़े हैं और टाट-पट्टी खा रहे हैं। जो हाल झाँकियों का, वही घोषणाओं का। हर साल घोषणा की जाती है कि समाजवाद आ रहा है। पर अभी तक नहीं आया। कहाँ अटक गया? लगभग सभी दल समाजवाद लाने का दावा कर रहे हैं, लेकिन वह नहीं आ रहा। मैं एक सपना देखता हूँ। समाजवाद आ गया है और वह बस्ती के बाहर टीले पर खड़ा है। बस्ती के लोग आरती सजाकर उसका स्वागत करने को तैयार खड़े हैं। पर टीले को घेरे खड़े हैं कई समाजवादी। उनमें से हरेक लोगों से कहकर आया है कि समाजवाद को हाथ पकड़कर मैं ही लाऊँगा। समाजवाद टीले से चिल्लाता है - ‘मुझे बस्ती में ले चलो।’ मगर टीले को घेरे समाजवादी कहते हैं - ‘पहले यह तय होगा कि कौन तेरा हाथ पकड़कर ले जाएगा।’ समाजवाद की घेराबंदी है। संसोपा-प्रसोपावाले जनतांत्रिक समाजवादी हैं, पीपुल्स डेमोक्रेसी और नेशनल डेमोक्रेसीवाले समाजवादी हैं। क्रांतिकारी समाजवादी हैं। हरेक समाजवाद का हाथ पकड़कर उसे बस्ती में ले जाकर लोगों से कहना चाहता है - ‘लो, मैं समाजवाद ले आया।’ समाजवाद परेशान है। उधर जनता भी परेशान है। समाजवाद आने को तैयार खड़ा है, मगर समाजवादियों में आपस में धौल-धप्पा हो रहा है। समाजवाद एक तरफ उतरना चाहता है कि उस पर पत्थर पड़ने लगते हैं। ‘खबरदार, उधर से मत जाना!’ एक समाजवादी उसका एक हाथ पकड़ता है, तो दूसरा हाथ पकड़कर खींचता है। तब बाकी समाजवादी छीना-झपटी करके हाथ छुड़ा देते हैं। लहू-लुहान समाजवाद टीले पर खड़ा है। इस देश में जो जिसके लिए प्रतिबद्ध है, वही उसे नष्ट कर रहा है। लेखकीय स्वतंत्रता के लिए प्रतिबद्ध लोग ही लेखक की स्वतंत्रता छीन रहे हैं। सहकारिता के लिए प्रतिबद्ध इस आंदोलन के लोग ही सहकारिता को नष्ट कर रहे हैं। सहकारिता तो एक स्पिरिट है। सब मिलकर सहकारितापूर्वक खाने लगते हैं और आंदोलन को नष्ट कर देते हैं। समाजवाद को समाजवादी ही रोके हुए हैं। यों प्रधानमंत्री ने घोषणा कर दी है कि अब समाजवाद आ ही रहा है। मैं एक कल्पना कर रहा हूँ। दिल्ली में फरमान जारी हो जाएगा - ‘समाजवाद सारे देश के दौरे पर निकल रहा है। उसे सब जगह पहुँचाया जाए। उसके स्वागत और सुरक्षा का पूरा बंदोबस्त किया जाए। एक सचिव दूसरे सचिव से कहेगा - ‘लो, ये एक और वी.आई.पी. आ रहे हैं। अब इनका इंतजाम करो। नाक में दम है।’ कलेक्टरों को हुक्म चला जाएगा। कलेक्टर एस.डी.ओ. को लिखेगा, एस.डी.ओ. तहसीलदार को। पुलिस-दफ्तरों में फरमान पहुँचेंगे, समाजवाद की सुरक्षा की तैयारी करो। दफ्तरों में बड़े बाबू छोटे बाबू से कहेंगे - ‘काहे हो तिवारी बाबू, एक कोई समाजवाद वाला कागज आया था न! जरा निकालो!’ तिवारी बाबू कागज निकालकर देंगे। बड़े बाबू फिर से कहेंगे - ‘अरे वह समाजवाद तो परसों ही निकल गया। कोई लेने नहीं गया स्टेशन। तिवारी बाबू, तुम कागज दबाकर रख लेते हो। बड़ी खराब आदत है तुम्हारी।’ तमाम अफसर लोग चीफ-सेक्रेटरी से कहेंगे - ‘सर, समाजवाद बाद में नहीं आ सकता? बात यह है कि हम उसकी सुरक्षा का इंतजाम नहीं कर सकेंगे। पूरा फोर्स दंगे से निपटने में लगा है।’ मुख्य सचिव दिल्ली लिख देगा - ‘हम समाजवाद की सुरक्षा का इंतजाम करने में असमर्थ हैं। उसका आना अभी मुल्तवी किया जाए।’ जिस शासन-व्यवस्था में समाजवाद के आगमन के कागज दब जाएँ और जो उसकी सुरक्षा की व्यवस्था न करे, उसके भरोसे समाजवाद लाना है तो ले आओ। मुझे खास ऐतराज भी नहीं है। जनता के द्वारा न आकर अगर समाजवाद दफ्तरों के द्वारा आ गया तो एक ऐतिहासिक घटना हो जाएगी।

Raja Rao - Kanthapura - Bharat Ek Khoj

Raja Rao's Kanthapura - Televised by Shyam Benegal

Bharat Ek Khoj—The Discovery of India A Production of Doordarshan, the Government of India’s Public Service Broadcaster Episode 49: And Gandhi Came, Part I With Shabana Azmi as Rangamma, Om Puri as Patel Range Gowda, Ila Arun as Gangamma, Savita Bajaj as Venkamma, Pallavi Joshi as Ratna, Virendra Saxena as Rachanna, Piyush Mishra as Murthy, Irfan Khan as Bade Khan, Sudhir Kulkarni as Bhatt, and Bhavana Mukativala as Radhamma. Playback by Chandrakant Kale, Ranjana Joglekar, Jolly Mukherjee, Pankaj Mitra, Anand Kumar, and Shobha Joshi Excerpts from Kanthapura by Raja Rao. Nehru notes that when World War I started, politics in India was at a low ebb. This was chiefly because of the split in the Congress between two sections, the radicals and the moderates, and also because of wartime restrictions and regulations. And then Gandhi came. He was like a powerful current of fresh air that made Indians stretch themselves and take deep breaths. He seemed to emerge from the millions of India, speaking their language and incessantly drawing attention to their appalling condition. The sprawling photographs of Gandhi illustrate how he entered the Congress and made it a democratic, mass organisation. The peasants rolled in and the Congress assumed the look of a vast agrarian organ with a strong sprinkling of the middle class. Industrial workers too came in as individuals. The ensuing drama draws from the episodes of Raja Rao’s novel, Kanthapura, that is embedded in those traumatic times. Even the traditional Harikatha gatherings are redolent with the consciousness that Mahatma Gandhi has newly instilled. Gandhi is depicted as the new incarnation of Vishnu who has come to rid the British oppression. There is resistance to provide accommodation to the newly-posted village-official, symptomatic of the troubled times. The word spreads on the efficacy of spinning thread daily by the Charkha (spinning wheel) and the message of assimilating the Achhoots (the untouchables) is driven in against the prevailing notions of community discrimination. Like many a village in India, Kanthapura is agog with Gandhian spirit. The protagonists Kashinath and Murthy, and even the village women Rangamma and Ratna, are involved in lively debates on the socio-political issues, in the face of the police antagonism. Murthy, the staunch Gandhian, undertakes a 3-day fast for self-purification, barring a daily drink of three glasses of water. The villagers, including the Patel, commiserate with him, but Murthy, drawing his inspiration from Gandhi’s many fasts, is adamant. We hear Gandhi’s favourite Ramdhun for congregational singing: Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram… Gandhi’s ideas of truth, love, divinity and non-violence are animatedly discussed, alongside the need for daily spinning of cotton yarn as an act of self- reliance for weaving hand-spun clothes. Amidst the spreading ethos of Charkha distribution, Murthy is arrested. Commenting on such far-reaching impact of Gandhi on the village folks, Nehru avers that this astonishingly vital man, full of self-confidence and an unusual kind of power, standing for equality and freedom of each individual but measuring all this in terms of the poorest, fascinated the masses of India and attracted them like a magnet. Producer Doordarshan Language Hindi Credits Uploaded by Public.Resource.Org Based on Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India With Roshan Seth as Jawaharlal Nehru Om Puri as the Narrator Produced and Directed by Shyam Benegal Chief Assistant Director was Mandeep Kakkar Executive Producer Raj Plus Script by Shama Zaldi and Sunil Shanbag A production of Doordarshan

 Part 2

Nehru notes that against the all-pervading fear amongst Indian people of the British Raj, Gandhi’s quiet and determined voice was raised, ‘Be not afraid’. Suddenly, the black pall of fear was lifted from the people’s shoulders. To the ordinary village folks, it made all the difference. The song picks up the refrain that the Congress would hereafter rule in the rural front and initiate Rama Raj by abolishing Ravana Raj of the aliens. While Murthy declines to appoint an advocate to plead for him, Rangamma’s visit to the town to look for a defence lawyer is in vain. She returns with the news that Murthy has been sentenced to a three-month imprisonment. Rangamma and Ratna now pick up the cudgel and begin organising the female front of volunteers after the model of Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. They resolve not to fight back, even if beaten. There are mild protestations from the ilk of Narayan not to allow their female folk go in for public demonstrations. News comes that Murthy is released, but the nightmare is not over. The tidings of the Dundee March and Salt Satyagraha trickle in to enthuse the villagers no end. People decide to observe Maun (silence) to strengthen the Congress. There is tumultuous singing of another favourite Bhajan of Gandhi, by Narsinh Mehta: Vaishnavajanato Tene Kahiye… Further news trickles in that the police has lathi-charged the corps of volunteers at Mahatma’s prayer meeting. This only steels the people’s resolve not to pay tax and offer passive resistance. A new phenomenon is women taking out processions and picketing in front of liquor-shops to stop their men folk from alcoholism. The tax-evasion campaign takes an ugly turn, with the police auctioning off the landed property of the defaulters in Kanthapura. Women, under the guidance of the hiding men, put up resistance, but the police open indiscriminate fire killing many and injuring several. There is chaos now from a failed resistance, with people leaving Kanthapura en masse for Kashipura near Mysore and leaders like Murthy, Rangamma and Ratna imprisoned for six months. There is also news trickling in that at the apex, Nehru and Gandhi do not quite agree on non-violence. Nehru observes that, by 1930, Gandhi seemed, to his countrymen, able to link the past with the future and to make the present appear as a stepping-stone to the future of life and hope. Thus he affected a vast psychological revolution not only among those who followed his lead, but also among his opponents and those neutrals who were still ambivalent. Producer Doordarshan Language Hindi Credits Uploaded by Public.Resource.Org Based on Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India With Roshan Seth as Jawaharlal Nehru Om Puri as the Narrator Produced and Directed by Shyam Benegal Chief Assistant Director was Mandeep Kakkar Executive Producer Raj Plus Script by Shama Zaldi and Sunil Shanbag A production of Doordarshan

Digital Humanities: Introduction

Basic Introduction: Digital Humanities

The Dept. of English, KSKV Kutch University, Bhuj (Gujarat - India) organised one day symposium on the Future of English Studies (on 19th oct 2018). There were four talks on various topics like Comparative Literary studies (Prof. Kamal H Mehta), Literary Theory and Criticism (Prof. Sanjay Mukherjee), Interdisciplinarity and English Studies (Prof. Ravesinh B Zala) and Digital Humanities (Prof. Dilip P. Barad).

This audio track is raw recording of the talk on Digital Humanities.

In an elementary introduction to Digital Humanities, the speaker talks about:

1) Nomenclature of Digital Humanities

2) Function of Digital Humanities

3) Nature and Scope of DH

4) Necessities for the study of DH

5) Brief History

6) Research Questions which DH attempts to explore.

Shashi Tharoor and Dark Era of Inglorious Empire

Speech at Oxford Union:



Looking Back at the British Raj in India: The University of Edinburgh



Exclusive Interview By Karan Thapar On His Book 'An Era Of Darkness'





About British Colonialism In India In His New Book 'An Era Of Darkness'

The Black Prince 

is a 2017 international historical drama film directed by Kavi Raz and featuring the acting debut of Satinder Sartaaj. It tells the story of Duleep Singh, the last Maharajah of the Sikh Empire and the Punjab area, and his relationship with Queen Victoria.

The story revolves around the young prince as he attempts both to regain his throne and reconcile himself with the two cultures of his Indian birth and British education. (Wikipedia)

Victoria & Abdul 

is a 2017 British biographical drama film directed by Stephen Frears and written by Lee Hall. The film is based on the book of same name by Shrabani Basu, about the real-life relationship between Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her Indian Muslim servant Abdul Karim. It stars Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Michael Gambon, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith and Adeel Akhtar.

The postcolonial critique of the film

The arguments presented by Shashi Tharoor are based in real research and facts. They are not concocted from hearsay talks or tea-stall gossips.

Listen to Dr. Shidhanshu Trivedi. Even though he is doctorate degree holder in Mechanical Engineering, all his arguments are based on hearsay talks and not based on hard facts. This speech is one of the best example of misplaced postcolonial argument. One should be proud of one's cultural identity. However, our perception of our culture shall be based on real life lived experience. The difference in Shashi Tharoor's highly academic post colonial argument and that of Dr. Shidhanshu Trivedi's fake rhetorics is very clear.

The popular resistance of post colonial subject results in reply words, like tale told by an idiot, signifying nothing.

Points to ponder:

• Write on key arguments in Shashi Tharoor's book - An Era of Darkness.
• Write critique on both the films with reference to postcolonial insights.
• Summarise Ngugi Wa Thiongo's views in 'Introduction: Towards the Universal Language of Struggle' - from 'Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature'.  

Teachers Day 2018

Teacher's Day 2018

On 5th September, 2018, Home School / Ghar Shala Sanstha organised an evening talk  with the teachers of the group of schools. In this speech the speaker talks about the difference between academic guru and spiritual guru; Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the scholar teacher and plagiarism & Knighthood controversies; and role and significance of teachers in the era of Google Guru and Artificial Intelligence.

The Letter

 

The School Management offered this meaningful thanks-giving letter to all the teachers of the school:

Thank You Teachers..

Since Its inception in 1939,the Gharshala Sanstha has been nurturing students in its uniquely “GHAR” like environment. It happens only because this school gets teachers the way teachers should be.

Today happens to be “Teachers' Day”. Dr. Radhakrishan, the first vice presedent of India and the second president of India, happned to be a school teacher and his birthday is celebrated as  “Teacher’s Day”. It’s wonderful compliment to the teachers of the nation that our president was actually a school teacher.

In the Indian culture, we have always recognized a teacher as a very important part of one’s life to the extent we said: “ Acharya Devo Bhava” which means a teacher is like god.

In the making of an individual human being, or in the making of a society, or a nation or even in  the making of a world at large, a teacher has a significant role. In the process of enhancing abilities and developing interest in a particular subject-definitely a teacher has a big role. For many children, which teacher is teaching what subject determines whether they love that subject or hate it. The subject gets identified with that person. If the teacher is inspiring enough then the subject suddenly becomes interesting.

In current times  people tend to think that the significance of a teacher has come down, because everything that a teacher can say, the internet can say too. No, the significance of a teacher has gone up manifold. Now that the burden of delivering information is taken away, a teacher’s  job becomes mainly to inspire and enhance a student as a human being- which has always been the main task.

 

When you work with children who are that part of humanity which is still in the making, what you make of them is in your hands. It is one of the greatest  responsibilities and privileges that a human being can have: to actually shape another life is a tremendous privilege. So, when such a privilege is being vested in somebody’s hands, it’s very important that the highest calibre of minds, the highest integrity and inspiration goes into that.

Seeking  learning with love is the most innate longing with every student.

And Teacher has the ability to respond to this innate urge.

Happy Teaching.

Happy Teacher’s Day.

Thank You.

Photos of the Day:

Talks by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie born on 15 September 1977) is a Nigerian novelist, writer of short stories, and nonfiction.^[3] She has written the novels Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah (2013), the short story collection The Thing Around Your Neck (2009), and the book-length essay We Should All Be Feminists (2014).

In 2008, Adichie was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant. She was described in The Times Literary Supplement as "the most prominent" of a "procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors [who] is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature".^[4] Her most recent book, Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, was published in March 2017.^[5] (Wikipedia).

Read more about the author in Encyclopedia Britannica

Official Website of Chimamanda.

She is an excellent speaker.

Listening her is an amazing experience.

1) Talk on importance of Story / Literature

In this talk - Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

2) We Should All Be Feminist

3) Talk on importance of Truth in Post-Truth Era

Train in Train to Pakistan

When we look symbolically at 'train in India, Indian literature & films', we find train as a microcosm of Indian society. The class division in railway system is symbolic of caste division; the luxury salon / AC coaches and general / non AC coaches is symbolic of rich-poor divide; and the two parallel rail-roads on which the train moves on, and are never going to meet, is symbolic of fractures and fissures of Indian dividedness.
Train is Khushwant Singh's 'Train to Pakistan' can be read with deeper implications.
Click here to listen a brief talk on 'Train in 'Train to Pakistan''. (38 Minutes)

Mobile Learning - Improve English Language Skills

Mobile Learning

There is no need to define Mobile Learning. Even the kids in every nook and corner of the world know it very well. If you still have a question, What is Mobile Learning?

Mobile phones are so smartly designed and in the continuous process of improving its smartness that it can be a very easy and handy device to learn anything, anytime, anywhere. In a real sense, smart mobile phones are breaking the barriers of 'time and space'. Such devices make us realise the truth of Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat. Mobile Learning is one of the world flatteners .

Mobile Learning - English Language Skills

With the fourth generation advancements in technology enabled language laboratories, it is no longer a secret that all skills (Listening, Speaking, Writing and Reading) can easily be mastered through mobile devices like Phones or Laptops or Tablets or Phablets. With the advancement is Artificial Intelligence and inventions of VCD (Voice Command Devices), it is increasingly becoming easy to learn and master language skills with the help of smart mobile devices. Amazon Dot and Google Home are amazing Voice Command Devices which can be useful in an unbelievable way to improve language skills like Speaking and Listening.

All the mobile applications meant of communication are useful for improvement of all four basic language skills.

Best Mobile Apps for English Language Learning

Even though all communication apps can be used by teachers to teach language skills, there is always a need for self-learning mobile applications. In a way, there is nothing wrong in such demands. Technology and its artificial intelligence has to work on its own to make learners independent from the teacher.

Here are a few links which may help learners to make their own choices for the mobile app which may best suite their need:

• Mobile learning: improve your English anytime, anywhere

• 5 Best Apps for English Language Learners
• Hello English: Learn English (Android App)
• 4 Free Apps to improve English
• ABA English: Learn English (iOS / Apple Devices)

And this is very important link: Apps to help you improve your English from British Council.

William Shakespeare: Cracking the Code

The quality and quantity of William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets keep on surprising n shocking people. All readers of literature are awestruck at the literary creation by the one who knew nothing about Greek and Latin, and was by and large uneducated.

The skepticism gives birth to alternative theories n histories.

Emmerich's Earl - Edward de Vere - and William Shakespeare

Roland Emmerich's Anonymous (movie) imagines that it was Edward de Vere , Earl of Oxford who wrote the plays.
Watch this video to see on why Roland Emmerich believed that the identity of Will Shakespeare is a fraud:

Cracking The Shakespeare Code

Here is yet another thought provoking documentary  by Petter Amundsen and historian Dr. Robert Crumpton which tries to prove that Francis Bacon was the original writer.

The 'process' of their research is very interesting. Don't just look at the 'product' (end result). Carefully observe the 'process'. Even if we do not agree with the conclusion, the process of research is noteworthy.

Part 1:

Part 2

Part 3

Did Shakespeare write his plays?

Like Emmerich and Petter, many people question whether Shakespeare really wrote the works that bear his name – or whether he even existed at all. Could it be true that the greatest writer in the English language was as fictional as his plays? Natalya St. Clair and Aaron Williams show how a linguistic tool called stylometry might shed light on the answer. Lesson by Natalya St. Clair and Aaron Williams, animation by Pink Kong Studios.

Memorabilia 2017-18

Memorabilia 2017-18

From the Desk of the Department

Milan Kundera has rightly observed that it is difficult to understand ‘Memory’ unless we apply mathematical approach. So, the ratio between the amount of time lived and the amount of time from that life that is stored in memory is something significant. No one has ever tried to calculate this ratio, and in fact there exists no technique for doing so; yet without much risk of error one could assume that the memory retains no more than a millionth, a hundred-millionth, in short, an utterly infinitesimal bit of the lived life. Except an imaginary device like ‘Pensieve’, it is not possible to preserve ‘events’ in ‘memory’ as it happened. However, there are dangers of having Pensieve and so not all Witches / Wizards in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter world kept it. It was Dumbledore who kept Pensieve.

This Memorabilia is something between Kundera’s mathematical approach and Dumbledore’s Pensieve. The Memorabilia 2017-18 retains and recreates infinitesimal bit of students and teachers lived experience in the Department of English, M.K. Bhavnagar University. At the same time, it is not as magically powerful as Pensieve wherein one can have a peep inside the dark memory which is to be hidden, ashamed off, holds super secrets and protects the privacy of those mentioned in it. Nevertheless, the Memorabilia 2017-18 has something more than what Milan Kundera refers as ‘infinitesimal bit of memory’ and something less than the power of storing dark memories by Pensieve. After all, we have to be ‘politically correct’ and hence abstain from ‘documenting’ dark-secretive memories even at the cost of imperfections.

Looking back at the memories created by the students of Batch 2016-18, I see yet another bunch of talented, beaming with spark, and confident young 22 students ready to perform in real life situations. Let me take an opportunity of this space and refer to some of the incredible talents they displayed during last two years.

Ajit Kaliya is a gifted artist. His paintings are not only aesthetically pleasing but are deeply meaningful. He brought several laurels to our Department by winning positions in Cartooning, Collage and Installations at University, Zonal and National Level Youth Festivals. His art can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/kaliya.ajit.5/photos_albums

Alpa Ponda is a very good in acting and in performing arts like drama. It was her vision and hard work that after many years, our Department participated in One Act Play, Mon0 Acting and Skit in the Youth Festival of MKBU. She also presented though provoking research paper on film adaptation of Devdas at M.S. University A K Ramanujan Paper reading contest. She being the leader of ‘Film Screening Committee’, has screened several films, plays and programmes with the help of other members.

Architaba Gohil is excellent in photography. On several occasions, she displayed her artistic photos in Daily Schedule. It was her concept of Photography competition. The Department organised first of its kind Mobile Photography Competition and ranks were decided through online public voting. She being the leader of ‘Art and Creativity Committee’ has envisioned several creative programmes with the help of other members.

Budhiditya Das was one of the most-remotest students Department ever had. Coming from the Eastern state Assam, in this Western part of India, she would have undergone several cultural shocks which, in turn, would have enriched her experience of ‘knowing India as nation’. As the leader of Library committee, she managed all the affairs related to keeping records of books and its distribution to students, research scholars and other teachers. Libraries are very important centres of learning and is the place were ‘soul of academic institute’ is located. Somehow, in digital times, libraries are fast becoming insignificant, an artefact of digital cultures erasing the essence of being human. Thus, her task is even tougher. She stood up to the mark and presented annual report / charts, which is worth watching in this Memorabilia. We hope, she will leave Department / MKBU / Gujarat with positive imprints in her memory.

Namrata Zala, the leader of ICT committee, has taken technology integration a step ahead. She and other committee members planned very useful workshop for fresh students so that they can learn the ‘know-hows’ of use of technology in Department for various academic purposes. This was a very idea, which Department will institutionalise it for upcoming years. With the able help of Dharaba Zala and other members, she managed to carry out very tough task of managing Laptop-Bank and other ICT related issues. This committee has the toughest job as we are not very good in technology and have to keep on trouble-shooting new errors, time and again.

Rinkal Jani, as a leader of Daily Schedule committee, has displayed astonishing and incredible punctuality. She never missed to ask about the Daily Schedule and all Daily Schedules were very well managed. Special attractions of DS were those Special Days celebrated with varied academic, non-academic presentations made by students. So, the days like Hindi Language Day, International Women’s Day, Guru Purnima etc were very well accomplished under her able guidance. This committee members have to come early to manage several things. She and her committee members stood up to the expectations. Throughout the year, DS became wonderful assembly of ideas and personal presentations. This year they came up with an idea of Slums Visit. It was eye-opening to listen to their reports about the lives of poor slum dwelers and their cravings for quality education for their future generations. All credit goes to Rinkal and her committee members.

Megha Trivedi, with a sheer talent for academic work, is promising talent and can have bright career in academics. Her performance in presentations was remarkable. As time ripens, her habit of hard work will give her the fruits of success in real life. She was leader of Gardening Committee. Memory tree plantation, cleanliness of the vicinity of Department and maintenance of planted trees were the responsibilities of this committee. If you are impressed by the ‘green’ outside the Department building, thanks to her and the Gardening Committee.

Mansi, Kavita, Mital, Riddhi, Krishna are silent workers. Being in the committee of Bulletin Board, they took care that the poems of students, paintings on the occasions of festivals and quotable quotes on notice board are presented on the bulletin board. What they missed was news about latest happenings in India and around the world.

Matangi Bhatt was the leader of celebration committee and he was quite enthusiastic about it. They celebrated festivals like Holi, Christmas and Kite Flying. It was she and her committee members who deserves a big big thanks for all festive colours that the Department celebrated.

Komal Shahedapuri, the leader for entire academic year, managed everything with meticulous care and consideration. This was the year, in which as Head of the Department, I received least complaints from students about each other. The credit goes the leader who manages everyday affairs of the Department. With additional responsibilities, she was very punctual in all her tasks and activities in personal capacity also. Many students stand with an excuse for not doing the tasks on time on grounds of one or other works. She, to the best of my memory, never gave an excuse for not completing the tasks or activities. In addition, she and Megha Trivedi has taken additional project work which requires filed survey also.

It will be odd to use the cliché, ‘last but not the least important’ but let it be used to write about Documentation Committee and its leader Surbhi Gausvami. It is, indeed, extremely tough to remain on your toes throughout the year and keep records of all that is happening in and around institutes, which is busy doing lot many things and almost every week ‘something happens’. She very well documented happenings on Facebook and thus gave a very good social media coverage to the activities of Department. What makes social media post significant is - a small but sensible writeup with the photos of the events – and she was able to do so effectively. Komal, Megha and other students also helped in social media documentations. This Memorabilia is also edited by her and the team. It requires lots of perseverance and persistence in working throughout the year for documentation and then organise it in such a presentable shape. It was a tough call, and I am glad to say that Surbhi and her team have done far better than expected. (Visit this for the evidence of the work: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016979435748 )

I  may miss out some students like Arti Vadher (who has excellent talents if used appropriately, she can achieve unimaginable things in life), Kiran Vora (again a gem of person who outshines others in Presentations but rather inactive at other times), Binkalba Gohil, Mital Raval, Kailash Baraiya, Riddhi Maru and Dharaba Gohil (who silently does work in their capacity and are ready to help others), and Krishna Khamal (needs to remember her for her never-say-die attitude in learning digital skills), but they were also an integral part of all the good work other committees / students / teachers and Department was able to do during this academic year 2017-18.

As this comes from my memory, there are all chances that things may not be recorded as perfectly as the Black Box. There may be imperfections in my memory and what-so-ever documents supports my perceptions of the students may just be an illusion about them. We never know what we do not know so none can say with a particular amount of certainty in what they say from their memories. One thing is sure – the passing students have contributed a lot in making of me as a teacher and has given innumerable proud moments to the Department of English, MKBU. You all have added great value to the brand image of Department of English which previous students has established and strengthened. With a promise to see that none of your contribution in strengthening the brand of Department of English will ever be weakened or maligned, I hereby, give rest to my fingertips. - Dilip Barad.

The Memorabilia 2017-18 can be downloaded from: https://www.slideshare.net/dilipbarad/memorabilia-201718

Memorabilia 2017-18 from Dilip Barad