The Cabuliwallah

 

THE CABULIWALLAH : BLOOM'S TAXONOMY

 
Text profile:
 
Writer: Rabindranath Tagore
Genre: Story
Major theme: Struggle of people with low income 
 
                                                                                          Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941)
Summary in English

"The Cabuliwallah" by Rabindranath Tagore is a psychological story that deals with the nature of the children, parents and vendor. It also talks about domestic matter in which the parents should understand the nature (psychology) of the children. In addition, it tries to shows the class and caste discrimination, too. This story also reflects that we do have friendly relationship with stronger in the assumptions that helping to mankind is helping to ourselves.
Tagore has 5 years old daughter named Mini who is very talkative. She often comes to ask questions while he is busy in his work of writing. She also asks nonsensical questions to her father, Tagore. One day she sees a Cabuliwallah walking slowly along the street. Really, there is a Cabuliwallah, (fruit seller from Cabul) in dirty clothes carrying a bag on his back and box of grapes in his hand. As Cabuliwallah looks up, she runs to her mother.
The real name of Cabuliwallah is Abdur Rahman. He comes to the house of the writer in Calcutta. The writer buys some dry fruits for Mini. The Cabuliwallah gives Mini some nuts and raisins. Then, every time he comes to the writer's house and gives her something as a gift. Gradually, they become close friends. They talk and laugh for a long time. The writer is happy but his wife doubts. In her view, vendors are bad people because they may also steal the children. So, she does not like Mini's friendship with the Cabuliwallah.
One morning Tagore sees the Cabuliwallah walking blood stained. Two policemen are following him. The reason is that Cabuliwallah has punished a man to death when that man refuses to pay the money of the fruits. Mini arrives in the scene and asks whatever he is going to his father-in-law's house. He laughs and replies that he is going there. Then, he spends many years in the prison.
Mini grows up and forgets Cabuliwallah. After few years, Cabuliwallah is released from the jail. He comes to meet Mini. He observes there is the marriage ceremony in the house of writer. He could not believe that it is little Mini in the beautiful weeding aspiration. Unfortunately, he looks Mini in beautiful bride's dress. He finds everyone busy in the house. He gives a token of gift to the writer but the writer tries to pay. Rahman refuses to take money saying that he has also daughter like Mini names Parbati. When Rahman shows the letter to the writer, the writer is touched by his grief and tears. Rahman is surprised to see Mini. He imagines he could not bring back their past friendship. However, he asks her whether she is going to her father-in-law house and she feels ashamed because she now knows the meaning of the father-in-law. At the end of the story, Tagore gives him 100 rupees and tells him to go back to his house and join a company with his daughter.

The Making of a Scientist

 

THE MAKING OF A SCIENTIST: BLOOM'S TAXONOMY

 
Writer:                         V.S. Ramachandran
genre:                          Autobiography
The event of writing:  Writing his autobiography
Major theme:              There are many factors besides curiosity in                                              making a scientist.
 
                                                                                             V. S. Ramachandra, India (1951 - )
Summary in English 

This essay talks the qualities or characteristic for being a successful scientist. Curiosity is one of the most important qualities to suit oneself for career in science. He/she needs good family background as well as high motivation. In addition, Science flourishes well in an atmosphere of complete freedom and financial independence.
The writer was highly influenced by his science teachers and his science mined uncle. His parents equally encouraged him by collecting and providing necessary materials and equipments. The writer was fascinated by science from the age of eleven. Nature was his friend and society. He loved history, particularly the study of ancient Indian history, archaeology, art, anthropology and ethnology. Botany was also his passion. He conducted experiments on plants and bugs. He also believed that many subjects he studied have many things in common. He was very much interested in neurology. There are two reasons why the writer was attracted to neurology. First, it was new-based research to carry out. Second, he chose neurology is obviously the curiosity to know about himself.
Ramachandran says that where there is atmosphere of complete freedom and financial independence, science and scientists flourish. He regards science as a great fun. Technology drives science as surely as ideas do. So, he believes that ideas and technology are equally important for science. How we use the tools of science are of great importance. His claims are of great importance. He claims that a scientific discovery receives more significance if it is made without delay. He says that science was a greatly existing subject during the Victorian era. Finally, he criticizes the modern methodology and science for just becoming a boring enterprise. Rather he praises the science of ancient Greece as well as science of Victorian age.
 
 

The Sword of Damocles Source: Greek Legend

 

Literal Comprehension:

"The Sword of Damocles" is takne out from Greek legend. This story deals with an event that occurred in Greek to the king Dionysius who was a ruler famous for harsh treatment that he had given to his people and others who fell into his power. He was so tyrannical by his people. Even though he greatly enjoyed intellectual  society. He managed to surround himself with a very brilliant court of men who were famous for their skill in science, letters and the arts in general. Like all tyrants, he had a great numbers of flatters too. Among them, one was Damocles who was the most celebrated of the foolish folk . He often flattered Dionysius in his pleasure or in such a way that he could hear his admiration. He always said that it was great honor to be a king like king Dionysius. He believed that the kings life  was full of happiness and very comfortable fortunately, King Dionysius was never deceived   by such fool flatters rather he resolved  to teach him what it was to be a king. Once king Dionysius called Damocles and ordered him to be a king during the royal feast. Damocles agreed happily to be a king. The king Dionysius challenged him that he would resign the throne and become a common people before the end of the feast.
Next day, the high born guests all assembled in the banquet Damocles put on the royal dress and sat on the throne until the banquet was over. All the guest were suggested to give Damocles the same honor of the king that day used to give to king Dionysius. The heavy crown had already made his head ache. His mind was not in peace thinking that there might have been poison on the dish which was offered to him. The worst of all the  had a terrible shock when he was a sharp edged naked  sword suspended from the roof by single hair exactly over his own head. Realizing that the slender hair might break and that would kill him instantly, he asked permission from the tyrant to let him out from the throne. But the king Dionysius refused to do so rather he forced him to sit there throughout the feast because the intended to teach Damocles how foolish it was to sing of the happiness of Kings. Finally, when the banquet ended, he immediately came out of the throne. He happily returned   from the having learnt well the wise lesson that boundless wealth doesn't necessarily bring happiness and satisfaction.

Interpretation: 

 This story may be trying to tell us about something about threat and burden that the ruler has to face during his tenure. In fact, to be a ruler is a matter of burden oven  the duties and responsibilities. For example, king Dionysius was a famous ruler of sicily, he  used to keep brilliant and skillful person from different field to secure himself from the possible attack. In this way, this story deals with the wise lesson that boundless wealth doesn't necessarily bring happiness and satisfaction.

Critical Thinking:   

 Although this is an interesting story, there are many things in the story which we find disagreeable can a real king leave his throne to another person for a single day? Do people suspend a sharp naked sword by a single hair exactly over the king's head in reality? Can common man flatter the king in front of him? For those reasons, we totally don't agree with the ideas of the story.

Assimilation:

After reading this story, I remembered a real event that occurred in my life five years ago. I was very much jealous to the principal and whit his position. Further, I was interested to pass the time in the way he passed later on, I was really given a change to be the principal of Galyang Boarding School. After that the parents of the student and the staff of the school started to come with various types of problems and challenges. On the contrary of my expectation , I had to face different kind of challenges and obstacles to manage and run the school smoothly. In this way, having found such challenges, I wanted to leave the position of the principal as soon as possible.
 

"Surely you're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"

 
TEXT PROFILE:
 
Writer: Richard Phillips Feynman
Genre: Essay
Event of writing: The tenure of Feynman at Princeton University after he was rejected by MIT.
Major Theme: Knowledge can be accessed anywhere. A learner should not be careless when it to learning.
                                                                                                Richard P. Feynman, USA (1918-1988)
Summary in English

This essay is based on the writer's past experience about his college education regarding knowledge and methods. The writer claims that knowledge must be based on scientific methods and it must be gained through the interdisciplinary approach. So, this essay tries to show that traditional method of learning is baseless and misleading. Furthermore, a talented and genuine man can adjust anywhere in the world. Interest is the most important motivation I education though what and how one learns can be measured.
Richard P. Feynman was a physics student who completed his undergraduate from MIT, America. He loved his institution too much so that he wanted to do graduation from there. However, Prof. Slater did not accept his enrollment because Feynman had to find out what and how the rest of world was going and doing. So, according to the suggestion of Prof. Slater, he decided to go to Princeton College for his graduation.
He went to Princeton College with his father by car. He also got room there. He stayed in the hostel with his friends. The college looked like the imitation of Oxford or Cambridge University. One day the Dean of Princeton College, Prof. Eisenhart organized a Tea Party to welcome the new students. Feynman was not very familiar about the culture and manners of such social gathering. He got confused how to behave and where to sit. Mr. Feynman was asked if he liked cream of lemon tea. But he replied that he would like both. Listen his reply, all people started laughing. At the same time, Mr. Eisenhart commented, "Surely, You are Joking, Mr. Feynman!"
Gradually, Feynman learned the manners of social gatherings at Princeton College. Then, he started going to tea party, dinner party as well. At the very beginning, he used to sit the physics group students but later he started sitting with the groups of biologists, zoologists and philosophers. Mr. Feynman became the talented and genuine student out of the college students. He understood the importance of interdisciplinary approach in learning. So, he realized why Princeton College was right for him.
Mr. Feynman got many opportunities to gain knowledge in different disciplines during his graduation from Princeton College. He got golden opportunity to observe cyclotron about how it works. He was also invited to conduct a seminar on Biology by Prof. Watson at Harvard University. So, he gave a lecture to the Biology students of Harvard University.
Although Mr. Feynman was a physics student, he learned a lot of things and gained experiences in Biology. He loves physics more but equally he prefers to gain knowledge from different disciplines.
 

TV Can be a Good Parent

 

TV CAN BE A GOOD PARENT : BLOOM'S TAXONOMY

 
Writer:                       Ariel Gore
Genre:                       Essay
The event of writing: Against the government to stop children                                                          watching movies
Major Theme:           TV can be good if handled smartly
                                                                                               Ariel Gore, USA (1970 - )
Summary in English

This essay defends on the modern TV culture. TV is a good parent and good friend. It socializes children at home when the single mothers go to work. In other words, TV is a boon for the poor and single mothers who can't afford staying at home and caring the children. In a TV environment, a child can use cognitive skills in a fun setting. The writer argues creative thinking of children can be developed by asking them questions about the shows they are watching on television.
The writer compares her past childhood life with her daughter who is child at present and shows the great role of TV. In the past, TV was not necessary. Child care was communal. The poor mothers helped to care each other's children. For example; when the writer was a small child, there was no TV at home. Her mother could afford to stay at home and look after her daughter. So, TV was not necessary. Life was cheap and easy. In the contrast, life has become very complex and expensive at present. So, she as mother could not afford staying at home and socializing her daughter. In fact, mothers have been facing great problems. When she comes home, she sees her daughter spoiling her uniform. TV takes care of her daughter better programme takes care of her daughter. The government does not provide welfare programmes and child care assistance for the poor and single mothers.
AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) presents the guidelines and claims that TV hampers the growth of healthy brain and development of appropriate social, emotional and cognitive skills. The writer believes on this assumption. But she rejects the assumption that they do not think that TV can mot more is interactive. Thus, she argues that TV in integral part for the children when the poor single mothers go to work leaving the house. So, TV functions as the second mother for those children.

BLOOM'S TAXONOMY: PARROT IN A CAGE

 
 
Text Profile:
 
Writer: Lekhnath Paudel 
Genre: Poem
The event of writing: Against the then Rana rule
Major theme: Seeking freedom
 

Bloom's Taxonomy:

 
1. Remember:
 
The poem parrot in a cage is written by Nepali writer Lekhnath Paudyal and translated by Laxmi Prasad Devkota. The poem is a dramatic monologue of a parrot trapped in cage. The parrot laments about how his dreams are trapped along with him inside that man made daungeon. He sometimes blames his fate and sometimes blames the god.
 
He remembers his parents and feels sad for his family. His beak is blunt by trying to break free of those bars. Out of desperation, he thinks of ending his life. In the end, he blames for his capability of speaking for his bad curse.
 
2. Understand:
 
Through the parrot, the poet has tried to express the agony of being controlled and not being able to run free soar higher skies and eat what duration at which the poet lived in. Tyranny ruled over people like the master ruled upon the parrot. Even the food he ate and water he drank was tasteless and not what he wanted but it was a natural compulsion to just sustain his life. Through the metaphor of twice-born child, the poet shows two phases of the parrot which he used to live i.e. free and the latter what he considers a curse one in the dungeon. He tries to escape but his beak is blunt and he is left with nothing but hopeless.
Through this poem, it is indicated how we find faults in the next person other than yourself when you can not do things by yourself. Like the parrot, we sometimes blame the fate, the supernatural guardians, his own attributes and finally the very human existence.
 
3. Application:
 
The parrot is capable of mimicry and speech. For this talent, parrots are kept tamed in many households and are made to be a merry winding doll of human beings.
The parrot here is the representation of the people who are willing to break free. The parrot is speaking for its rights. But, he is kept in cage and is mocked and controlled by people possessing higher potential than him. Similarly, people fighting for their rights are suppressed closed inside iron bars and tormented limiting their access to their very basic requirements.
 
People with great specialties are framed and are used to fulfill what people at higher posts wish for. They are deprived of their freedom for some luxuries like the parrot who is deprived of flying to easy food and water for its beauty.
 
4. Analyze:
 
The poem is more of an appeal of the then people who were brutally ruled by the Ranas. This indirectly expresses the hatred the poet feels towards the government. Since people were not allowed to speak against the rulers, literature was only the way to express their disapproval. The poem has effectively expressed this feeling and made others aware as well. It urges the people to understand that the condition they are in is not due to their fate but it was due to their ill-will and reluctance to fight against them.
 
The parrot repeatedly puts the blame on his fate. This clearly depicts the human nature as to how they put the blame upon others when they make any mistakes and find themselves in trouble. The parrot might have been warned to not go closer to human habitats but he refused to follow the rules and finally found himself in trouble.
 
Through the parrot, the poet inspires us to be responsible for our deeds and take responsibility for our own mistakes. Instead of blaming fate we should believe in our intellect and strength.
 
5. Evaluate:
 
The poem was originally written in Nepali and later translated in English. During translation, the originality of the poem is lost. The effectiveness which we can find in the Nepali version is absent in English. Since the poem was written some decades before the relevance of the poem is quite absent. Nevertheless, the poem still urges us to have faith in yourself and stop surrendering to fate.
 

The Good Example

 

BLOOM'S TAXONOMY: THE GOOD EXAMPLE

 
Text Profile:
 
Genre:  Story
Writer:  Vicente Rina Placia
Major Theme:  
 
                                                                                          Vicente Riva Palacio, Mexico (1832-1896)
Summary in English

"The Good Example" is a story about the educational system of Mexico in the 19th century based on traditional methodologies like memorization as well as parrot learning. The writer truly makes a bitter comment with such educational system where even a parrot can open a school.
There was a village in the Southern part of the Mexico Republic. In that village, there was a school run by Don Lucas Forcida. He was a hardworking teacher; therefore, villagers and pupils liked and respected him very much. He had adopted the traditional methodology of teaching and learning. Students chanted the alphabets, syllables, religious question and answers, poems and historical dates in s monotonous way. Their learning consisted in repeating the teacher's words and sentences with boringness.
Don Lucas had a best friend named 'Perico.' Perico was a parrot that used to seat above the school door. It used to imitate whatever the teachers and students chanted. The interesting thing is that after school, Perico and the head teacher used to enjoy having cake and chocolate in the school ground. They understood each other perfectly. So, both were tighter. Several years passed. Don Lucas had much confidence on his parrot, therefore; no longer he trimmed his wings or tied his legs.
One day a strange incident took place. One of the school children informed Don Lucas about the parrot's escape. Don Lucas and the children saw the bird fly away into the deep forest with the forest dwelling parrots. Don Lucas, teachers and all students got shocked from this incident. Don Lucas though himself that the parrot was ungrateful to abandon the best friends like him. After a long time; they had forgotten the terrible incident.
After several months, Don Lucas had to make a trip to neighboring village was twenty or thirty miles away from his house. When he was in the middle forest, it was already two o'clock in the afternoon. Don Lucas's ears caught a familiar sound like children chanting syllables, alphabets and words. Suddenly, he thought it was a fancy but later he asked himself if there was a school in the forest. He got surprised. Finally, he saw a group of parrots chanting alphabets, syllables and words by flying over his head. There was a Perico as well.
At the end, Perico turned his head towards his master, Don Lucas and told cheerfully that he had opened a school in the forest.
 
 

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