Doctor's Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 – POETRY

Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 – Vikram Seth
Summary:
 It was a calm, beautiful and a warm morning in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A doctor, half-clad in his informal dress, was gazing out watching the soft, wavering leaves and shadows. Suddenly, there was a strong flash of light, then another shocked and surprised him. He saw the old stone lantern with its bright light. It seemed to flare up. He was trying to assess what had happened when buildings began to collapse.
 The roof, the walls fell in timber and debris. Dust swirled around him. His drawers and undershirt disappeared. He was hit by splinters. His thigh was cut up and a splinter stood out of it. His right side was bleeding and his cheek was torn.
 He was totally confused. He pulled out a piece of glass lodged in his body. He did not know what had happened. He suddenly thought of his wife. He was worried about her as he loudly called Yecko-san. She appeared when she heard the panic-stricken voice of her husband. Yecko-san was bloodstained. She looked pale and frightened. Clasping his
suggested that they must go out quickly. They rushed out with an unsteady gait. In the street, they stumbled over something. It was someone’s head. A gate had crashed him.
 The doctor and his wife stood in a state of fear. A house before them suddenly bent, swayed and fell down. Fire rose from the dust. It was further spread by the wind. Then they realised that they must get to the hospital at once. The doctor realised that he must give a helping hand to his staff in the hospital. It didn’t occur to him that he himself was badly injured. In that condition he could not render any service to others.
 The effect of his injuries could now be felt by the doctor. His legs refused to carry him. He sat down on the ground. He was feeling very thirsty, but there was no water for him to drink. He was breathless. He revived his strength slowly, and got up at last. He was naked, for his clothes had been stripped off by the explosion. He felt no shame. Then he met a soldier who silently stood there. He gave the doctor the towel he himself was wearing round his neck.
 His legs were stiff. The blood oozing from his legs had dried up. He was unable to walk any longer. He advised his wife to go on ahead, and leave him behind. She was unwilling to go, but then there was no other option for her. When his wife was gone, the doctor felt a sense of fearful loneliness. His mind seemed to move ahead but his body lagged behind.
 The doctor saw the unreal form of people. Some looked like ghosts, others like scarecrows. All were silent. They had their arms stretched straight out from shoulder to the dangling hand. It took him some time before he could understand that the friction on their burns caused them much pain. For this reason they feared the touch of flesh against flesh.
 Those who could walk, just dragged their feet towards the hospital. There was a woman with a child. The doctor was dismayed to see that both the woman and the her child were naked. He wondered if they had come after a bath and were naked yet. He just couldn’t understand all this till he came across a man. Then he realised that some strange thing had taken off their clothes. The old woman was in pain but she did not utter a word. All of them were silent. No cries of anguish were heard. The atomic explosion had brought death, destruction and misery. The survivors were dazed and dumb.
wife’s elbow, the doctor suggested that they must go out quickly. They rushed out with an unsteady gait. In the street, they stumbled over something. It was someone’s head. A gate had crashed him.
 The doctor and his wife stood in a state of fear. A house before them suddenly bent, swayed and fell down. Fire rose from the dust. It was further spread by the wind. Then they realised that they must get to the hospital at once. The doctor realised that he must give a helping hand to his staff in the hospital. It didn’t occur to him that he himself was badly injured. In that condition he could not render any service to others.
 The effect of his injuries could now be felt by the doctor. His legs refused to carry him. He sat down on the ground. He was feeling very thirsty, but there was no water for him to drink. He was breathless. He revived his strength slowly, and got up at last. He was naked, for his clothes had been stripped off by the explosion. He felt no shame. Then he met a soldier who silently stood there. He gave the doctor the towel he himself was wearing round his neck.
 His legs were stiff. The blood oozing from his legs had dried up. He was unable to walk any longer. He advised his wife to go on ahead, and leave him behind. She was unwilling to go, but then there was no other option for her. When his wife was gone, the doctor felt a sense of fearful loneliness. His mind seemed to move ahead but his body lagged behind.
 The doctor saw the unreal form of people. Some looked like ghosts, others like scarecrows. All were silent. They had their arms stretched straight out from shoulder to the dangling hand. It took him some time before he could understand that the friction on their burns caused them much pain. For this reason they feared the touch of flesh against flesh.
 Those who could walk, just dragged their feet towards the hospital. There was a woman with a child. The doctor was dismayed to see that both the woman and the her child were naked. He wondered if they had come after a bath and were naked yet. He just couldn’t understand all this till he came across a man. Then he realised that some strange thing had taken off their clothes. The old woman was in pain but she did not utter a word. All of them were silent. No cries of anguish were heard. The atomic explosion had brought death, destruction and misery. The survivors were dazed and dumb.

Critical Appreciation:
 Horrors of nuclear war are brought out effectively. The day when Hiroshima was bombed brought death and destruction at a scale never imagined before. It was a tragedy of high magnitude which the Japanese faced. Its deep scars have not disappeared as yet. Those who died instantly didn’t suffer the lingering pain of the survivors. The maimed and disfigured ghostly men and women walked the streets. They were unable to understand what had happened and where they should go. The wounded doctor thought of his duty towards the injured. His conscience pricked but the body refused to move. What a tragedy!
 Like ‘A Small Pain In My Chest’, this one too is an anti-war poem. There it described the fate of a soldier who fought, got injured, and died. Here, it is the fate of the innocent civilians. Men, women and children are stripped not only of their honour, but of their skin. They lose their identities. The reader feels that the act of throwing such a bomb on civilian population is cruelty of the worst kind. Now when there are stockpiles of such nuclear weapons with a number of nations, nuclear disarmament alone can save humanity from future holocaust.
Paraphrase:
 The morning was tranquil and calm as usual. It was a delightfully warm day. I was relaxing half dressed in the morning. I was admiring and looking with amazement at the glittering sunlit silvery leaves and the shady dimness of the surroundings. Suddenly there was a forceful, intense sparkle by which I was alarmed. I was aghast to see the old stone lantern brightly lit and he thought it might be the magnesium flares. While I contemplated on it, all of a sudden the roofs, walls and the entire world of his seemed to disintegrate as if it had succumbed to some vigorous attack. It was reduced to nothing. There were fragments of woodwork and rubble. There was wreckage all around. Dust spun around in his garden then. I had cold feet to see a ghostly and horrific happening. My drawers and undershirt disappeared as if they had been swallowed up by something. A tiny piece of splinter protruded out from my mutilated, bruised thigh. My right side was bleeding profusely and my cheek was disfigured and torn. I knocked loose and disentangled indifferently the piece of glass in my cheek. All the time my mind was baffled and I tried to reason out about the gravity of the situation and about what had actually occurred. Suddenly, I panicked about my wife’s where abouts. Agitated and anxious, I called out to my wife ‘Yecko San’. At the same time I was conscious of blood gushing out from the artery in my neck. I was petrified as I knew I could die. In a frenzy I shouted out for my wife, who came out equally distressed and in anguish. She was holding her elbow and was blood stained. I consoled her saying that we would be fine. We limped losing balance on the street. I was choked with fear when he tumbled over a head in the street. Uttering apologies, I stood frozen due to fear and nervousness.
 I realized that the man had been trampled under a gate and was dead. We both stood there frozen and numbed with fear. A house in front of them swayed back and forth and then fell apart. It was smashed into small pieces. Fire sprang up in the dust which was spread by the wind. It then became apparent that we were threatened by some mishappening and that we needed assistance and immediate treatment. We realised that we must get to the hospital as quick as possible. I even thought that I should help my staff and it didn’t occur to me how I could do so. My legs fell weak and I sat down on the ground. Thirst overpowered me but there was no water there. I gasped for breath. But after a while we felt a little vitalised and ours strength was restored. Though I was naked yet in that situation of shock and anguish, I didn’t feel ashamed. Of course the idea of being naked and feeling no shame made me feel uneasy. Soon, I was helped by a soldier who stood silently there. He gave me a towel which was around his neck to cover myself.
 My legs were numbed with dried blood and refused to walk further. So I asked my wife to go ahead. She was reluctant but there was no choice. In this state of affliction, she carried on. After she left, I was now aware of a monstrous loneliness. I felt forlorn and friendless. Though my mind was working, my body was slow. I saw everywhere was soundless and wordless. I was first shocked to see them standing with arms stretched out and with shoulders attached to hands hanging loose. Later I realised that they were avoiding friction for a little rubbing of skin would cause acute pain to their burns. Moreover they feared that little rubbing could erode their flesh. Those who were able to move, dragged themselves in an awe-struck and dazed procession towards the hospital. I saw in distress, a woman standing along with her child, all naked. I was bewildered and thought why they stood like that or whether they had come back from the bath. I pondered over that until I saw a man totally naked. It was then that I realized that some strange, peculiar thing had stripped them of their clothes. I was unnerved to see the face of an old woman on the ground. She was so full of pain and was filled with so much suffering that she was absolutely quiet. This beastly frightful happening had left everyone tongue-tied and soundless. Everyone was dumb founded and this calamity had afflicted one and all the ghostly skeletal forms of people. Who were just skin and bones. A shudder of fear went through my body to see these blanched, blackish, death like creatures.
Central Idea:
 The poem is a pitiable picture of the survivors of the terrible bombing on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945. It brings forth the danger of nuclear weapons and its devastating effects. It gives an account of the anguish of people who saw the complete obliteration of their city with one atom-bomb. The central idea of the poem is to make us all understand the incredible destructive power of this weapon and its monstrous and frightful implications. Nuclear War is uncivilized and inhuman. This poem through the account reported by a doctor acquaints us with destruction of human lives and the burns and fatal wounds
suffered from radiation exposure. Hiroshima is profoundly
remembered today because it was the first city to be exposed to the devastation of an atomic bomb. The lesson this poem gives is a major lesson that war is horrible with its random killings of innocent lives.

Stopping By Woods on A Snowy Evening - POETRY

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening – Robert Frost
Summary:
 One snowy evening, a traveller is going on a horseback. He stops on his way beside a wood. It is a beautiful wood, and he stands arrested at the sight of it. For a moment, he thinks of breaking his journey. He knows the owner of the woods who lives in the village nearby. He stands watching the scene, conscious of the fact that the owner would not see him enjoying these moments when the snow is filling up the fields.
 The traveller is going on his accustomed route. The horse too is fully familiar with it. So, he wonders why his rider has stopped him at a place which is not his destination. He knows that there is no farmhouse nearby for the rider to take some rest there. There are woods on the one side, and the frozen lake on the other. It is the darkest evening of the year.
 In order to caution the rider, the horse gives a shake to his harness bells. The sound of the bells poses a question to the traveller if he has committed any mistake in stopping there. Perfect silence prevails all around. The only soft sound is the sound of the snow flakes falling on the ground and the blowing of the breeze.
 The rider responds to the caution given to him by his horse. He breaks the spell of that beautiful scene on him. He is reminded of his mission, his home, his obligations. He resolves the conflict between his desire and duty. He comes to the conclusion that though the woods are dark and deep, he cannot stop there. He reminds himself that he has to keep his promises. He has yet to go miles before he can take rest.
Critical Appreciation:
 This is one of Frost’s masterpiece, his most famous poem, frequently taught and anthologized. In this poem, the poet wants to stop in the woods and watch the snow. The dark, deep woods seem to be lovely, quiet and peaceful. The narrator notices the little pleasures in life and he expresses the importance of having leisure time to appreciate the beauty of nature. But, the narrator is a hard-pressed man and has enormous work-load and a tired spirit. As such he reluctantly pulls himself from being entrapped in the bewitching tranquillity in the woods. The language of the poem is rhythmical and the use of alliteration lends flow to the poem. The poet also uses visual and sound images so that we seem to be on a poetic journey through the woods.
 The woods belong apparently to a rich village land owner who remains unaware of its exquisite beauty which the traveller while passing perceives. His ‘little horse’ is confused as to why he stopped there but the traveller has a sharp observation and is responsive to the loveliness around him.
 The poet highlights the contrast between business and pleasure, man and nature life and death and solitude and civilization.
 The poet handles well the theme of being ensnared in the seductiveness of the woods and then the narrator’s effort to shake himself back to bitter reality by being reminded of mundane responsibilities. This poem illustrates many of the characteristic qualities of Frost’s poems. He not only gives detailed images of nature, he also deals with the relationship of man and nature. Frost’s decision to respect the final line ‘And miles to go before I sleep’ may be interpreted as death, or rest from burdensome life. Thus the poet with great skill uses a simple incident to make a deeper philosophical ascertainment.
Paraphrase: Stanza 1:
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
I believe I know the owner of this property; the man whom this tract of woods belongs to. I also know that the owner will not be around on this snowy, cold evening to see that I have stopped here to appreciate the natural beauty of the forest.
Stanza 2: My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.
My little horse finds it peculiar that I should stop like this at an isolated, lonely place. My horse is finding it strange that I stop in the middle of the snowy woods, in between the woods and a frozen lake especially as night time is approaching.
Stanza 3:
He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.
My horse is shaking his harness and this makes the bells jingle. He probably wants to know if something is awry or if there is a problem. Besides the sound of the harness bells is the sweeping noise coming from the slight wind and softly falling snow. There is a gentle whirr and complete stillness.
Stanza 4: The woods arc lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. I am entranced by the dark deep woods. They are almost irresistible I am contemplating on staying on but I have a long way to reach my destination. I know my responsibilities and I can’t stop here to relax. There are promises which I must fulfill and I have no reason to remain here.
Central Idea:
 ‘Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening’ explores the theme of an individual who is allured by the beauty of nature but at the same time he is to fulfill some responsibilities of everyday life. He is in a dilemma whether to stay back or to resist these temptations and return to the challenging world of men. He is hypnotised by the beauty of nature but ‘the promises to keep’ are more important and he reluctantly returns. He acknowledges the pull of obligations and overpowers his desire to indulge in the bewitching beauty of the woods The Central Idea therefore is that there is a world of perfect quiet and solitude on one side but the call of social responsibility is stronger and we have to succumb to the need to fulfill our unfinished jobs.

The Last Leaf — PROSE

The Last Leaf – O. Henry About the Author:
 William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910), well known by his pen name O. Henry, was born in Greensboro, North Carolina to Dr. Algernon Sidney Porter a physician, and Mary Jane Virginia Swaim Porter. Porter was a studious child and read everything, in 1879, he started working in his uncle’s drugstore and in 1881, at the age of nineteen; he was licensed as a pharmacist, though he tried his hands in a number of jobs. He also began writing as a sideline,
 In 1891, Porter began working at the First National Bank of Austin as a teller and book-keeper. He was a careless book keeper and in 1894, he was accused by the bank of embezzlement and consequently los his job. He then worked full-time on his humorous weekly called The Rooling Stone, which he started while working at the bank. Porter and his family moved to Houston in 1895, where he started writing for the Post. While he was in Houston, the First National Bank of Austin was audited by federal auditors and they found the embezzlement shortages that had led to his firing. A federal indictment followed and he was arrested on charges of embezzlement. Porter, having little to say in his own defence, was found guilty of embezzlement in February 1898, sentenced to five years in prison, and imprisoned on March 25, 1898, at the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. While in prison, Porter, as a licensed pharmacist, worked in the prison hospital as a night druggist. He had fourteen stories published under various pseudonyms while he was in prison, but was becoming best known as “O. Henry”, a pseudonym that first appeared over the story “Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking” in the December 1899 issue of McClure’s Magazine. A friend of his in New Orleans would forward his stories to publishers, so they had no idea that the writer was imprisoned. Porter was released on July 24, 1901, for good behaviour after serving three years. Porter’s most prolific writing period started in 1902, when he moved to New York City to be near his publishers. While there, he wrote 381 short stories. He wrote a story a week for over a year for the New York World Sunday Magazine.
 O. Henry’s stories frequently have surprise endings. In his day, he was called the American answer to Guy de Maupassant. Both authors wrote stories which had twist endings, but O. Henry’s stories were much more playful. His stories are also known for witty narration. Most of O. Henry’s stories are set in his own time, the early 20th century. Many take place in New York City and deal with ordinary people: clerks, policemen, waitresses etc.
 O. Henry’s work is wide-ranging. “The Last Leaf” was first published in 1905. Summary:
 The plot revolves around two artist girls -* Sue and Johnsy who have their own ‘studio’ in quaint old Greenwich Village. They have a relationship fastened on mutual trust and their common tastes in art. All went hunky dory till Johnsy fell ill with pneumonia and cold in November month. The disease seemed to drain out the last streaks of will and womanly taste from her being. She lay all day in bed awaiting her death, looking out of the window listlessly. The doctor put her chances at one-in-ten. Sue asked Johnsy what she would most passionately like to do or what was her wish. And Johnsy replied that she would like to paint the Bay of Naples. Sue sat in the room sketching with determination, trying to drawn her sorrow to her art. She put the sketching book and pencil on the bedside of Johnsy who was lying sick on the bed. Johnsy is determined to die when the last leaf of the vine falls.
An old, frustrated artist named Behrman lives below Johnsy and Sue. He has been claiming that he will paint a masterpiece, though he has even attempted to do so. Sue goes to him and tells him that her friend is dying of pneumonia, and that Johnsy claims that when the last leaf falls off of the vine outside her window, she will die, Behrman scoffs at this as foolishness, but as he is protective of the two young girls-he decides to see Johnsy and the vine. In the night, a very bad storm comes and wind the wind is howling and the rain is splattering against the window. Sue closes the curtains and tells Johnsy to go to sleep, even though there was still one leaf left on the vine. Johnsy protests but Sue insists on doing so because she doesn’t want Johnsy to see the last leaf fall. In the morning, Johnsy wants to see the vine to be sure that all the leaves are gone, but to their surprise, there is still one leaf left. Johnsy believes that the leaf stayed there to show how wicked she was, and that she sinned in wanting to die. She regains her will to live, and makes a full recovery throughout the day. In the afternoon, doctor talks to Sue. Behrman painted a masterpiece he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell.”
Critical Appreciation:
 After reading the story, perhaps many readers can say that American artists life is so poor. It seems to be totally true. Sue and Johnsy are those kind of artists. However, Old Behrman is the best; exemplary one.
 The profound meaning of the story, as the main sound of the song, is the deep love felt between the poor artists, that when love is more valuable than art, it makes art become alive. The time when that love is revealed comes “a cold, unseen stranger” who appears and touches his cold fingers at little Johnsy whose blood is going dry; by wind from the west.” Sue, her friend, does everything for her.
 Sue draws many more illustrated paintings to earn money to buy soup and wine. She invites the doctor to come to see her friend. She cooks, comforts Johnsy to eat and drink medicine. For a Sue, the biggest hope is to see Johnsy become happy drawing the Gulf of Naples, something she wanted to do desperately. So noble that love is, but it is not strong enough to drown Johnsy’s desperation. Johnsy seems to be approaching her end. At that time, Old Behrman appears. Old Behrman is the most strange in the story. His life is unsuccessful and miserable. The biggest unsuccessful thing is in art. For forty years, he has not touched the hem of art fairy. And after twenty years, he even cannot lay the first line of drawing for his masterpiece of which he has been dreaming. His work is ‘model’. However, his portrait is staring at the end of life, he finishes his masterpiece - Johnsy’s life. He pours the rest of his life into Johnsy. That “loveful” voluntary act is silently taken place in a dark night that makes the old artist become immortal.
 The last leaf on the wall is hope and life which he leaves not only for Johnsy but also the readers. It is sure that, Old Behrman understands Johnsy’s emotion. He sympathises with her spleenful embittered heart. He also loves her and wants to dispute her from her death. His thought is both deep and simple: the artist, Johnsy, believes that when the last leaf falls, she will die. That is very simple. But the falling of the leaf is not unavoidable; and he draws a leaf which never falls. He protests the law of nature. He fights with his lofty heart and sincere art. And he rescues Johnsy. This is the beautiful meaning of his action.
 The scenery which Old Behrman draws the leaf is very, special and moral. In the dim and immense, cold and quiet night, the man is old and weak. How to draw a leaf like a real one? The last leaf is Behrman’s masterpiece. Because his painting, is drawn by his own heart in extremely difficult circumstances. It takes Johnsy back to her life in which she can carry out her dream. And also, the painting reminds readers of the great sacrifice of an honest artist. Through Behrman, the theme of the story is revealed fully. By ‘The Last Leaf’ 0. Henry sends to readers a message which is written on the last leaf which never faills to love everybody. That is why art survives.
Characterisation:
 Johnsy :  Johnsy is a struggling artist living in New York with Sue. As winter approaches, she suffers from pneumonia. That year many people were dying due to pneumonia and she thought she would also die. She connected her death wish with the falling ivy leaves and thought that the moment the last leaf of the ivy tree falls, she is going to die. It is her pessimism which was a greater disease than pneumonia. Sue nurses her and tries to instill hope in her and ultimately with the help of old Behrman is able to save her life.
 Sue:  Sue, another struggling artist in New York, a friend of Johnsy living in the same house with Johnsy, is a caring friend who does her best to instill optimism in Johnsy. She nurses Johnsy during her illness, and her perseverance brings fruit as she is able to save Johnsy. As a concerned friend, her love for Johnsy is portrayed by 0. Henry throughout the story.
 Behrman:  Though Behrman, a sixty year unsuccessful old artist, appears only once and speaks twice in the whole story, his affection for the two young artists is very well manifested in the story. It is he who with his self-sacrifice is able to instill faith in Johnsy’s mind and made her survive Pneumonia, though he himself becomes a victim of it. His love towards Johnsy and Sue can be termed as fraternal or fatherly affection.

God Lives in the Panch — PROSE

God Lives in the Panch – Munshi Premchand About the Author:
 Munshi Prem Chand was born on July 31, 1880 and expired on October 8, 1936. He was a famous Hindi-Urdu writer and was born in Lamahi, a village located near Varanasi (Benares) . When he was seven years old, Premchand began his education at a madarsa in Lalpur, located around two and half kilometers from Lamahi. Premchand learnt Urdu and Persian from a Maulvi in the madarsa. When he was eight, his mother died after a long illness. After his mother’s death, Premchand sought solace in fiction, and developed a fascination for books.
 Born Dhanpat Rai, he wrote under the pen name “Nawab Rai”, but subsequently switched to “Premchand”. His first short novel was Asrar e Malabid (Devasthan Rahasya in Hindi, “The Mystery of God’s Abode”), which explores corruption among the temple priests and their sexual exploitation of poor women. Premchand’s second short novel Hamkhurma-o-Hamsavab (Prema in Hindi), published in 1907, was penned under the name “Babu Nawab Rai Banarsi”. It explores the issue of widow remarriage in the contemporary conservative society. Premchand’s first major novel Seva Sadan was published in Hindi. In 1923, he established a printing press and publishing house in Benares, christened “Saraswati Press”. The year 1924 saw the publication of Premchand’s Rangabhumi, which has a blind beggar called Surdas as its tragic hero. In 1928, Premchand’s novel Gaban (“Embezzlement”), focusing on the middle class’ greed, was published. In March 1930, Premchand launched a literary-political weekly magazine titled ‘Hans’, aimed at inspiring the Indians to mobilize against the British rule. In 1932, he published another novel titled Karmabhumi. His works include more than a dozen novels, around 250 short stories, several essays and translations of a number of foreign literary works into Hindi.
Summary:
 Jumman Sheikh and Alagu Chowdhari had been close friends from their childhood. Their friendship was founded on a common outlook and a deep trust in each other. They ploughed their fields together and were partners in a money- lending business.
 In the course of time, Jumman came to be held in high esteem by the village folk for his learning and achievements, while Alagu was respected for his wealth.
 All went smoothly until there arose a dispute between Jumman and his old maternal aunt. The old woman, hoping that her nephew would look after her, had transferred all the property she owned to him. As long as the deed of the transfer of property remained unregistered Jumman and his wife made every effort to please the aunt. However, once the deed was registered their attitude changed and they began to ill-treat the old lady.
 Jumman’s wife Kariman, in particular, lost no opportunity to insult her while Jumman remained indifferent. When the aunt could no longer endure this humiliation she decided to live separately and asked for a small allowance from Jumman. When even this was rudely refused by her nephew Jumman, she decided to take the case to the panchayat.
 Jumman was not perturbed at this, and in fact, was secretly pleased. He felt that his friends Alagu in the panchayat would side with him. The old lady, however, went around the village narrating her tale of woe to all – some were sympathetic while most were quite indifferent towards her.
 At last, tired and exhausted, she came to Alagu and requested him to attend the panchayat. He was reluctant at first and said that he would rather not take direct part in the proceedings as Jumman was his close friend. The aunt then asked him whether he would rather remain silent and see injustice done. This had an immediate impact on Alagu and his conscience was stirred.
 Ramadhan Misra, who nursed a grudge against Jumman, now arose and asked Jumman to appoint a person of his choice as head-panch. Jumman, realizing that most of those present were against him, discreetly replied that he would leave the choice to his aunt; and when the old lady nominated Alagu, Jumman could hardly believe his luck.
 Alagu at first hesitated and told the aunt that perhaps she was unaware that Jumman was his close friend. The aunt said that she was aware of this fact but she was also quite confident that Alagu would follow the dictates of his conscience.
 The case began. Alagu asked Jumman if he had anything to say in his defence. Jumman said that he was not obliged to pay her an allowance as it was not specified in the deed.
 Alagu, being well versed in legal matters, did not agreed with Jumman’s explanation, Jumman was amazed and perplexed at this sudden change in his friend and stood dumb-founded. Alagu then pronounced the verdict. The considered opinion of the panchayat was that Jumman was liable to pay his aunt a monthly allowance or else the deed of transferring her property to him would be null and void. The verdict shocked Jumman. He could hardly believe his ears and felt that Alagu had betrayed him. Ramadhan Misra and the others were overjoyed and were all praises for Al agu.
 This incident strained the relationship between two friends. They were now seldom seen together and in fact avoided each other. Jumman thought of nothing except how he could avenge this humiliation. And soon enough an opportunity presented itself.
 Alagu owned a pair of healthy bullocks but unfortunately one died.  He now having no use for the other bullock, sold it to Samjhu Sahu, a cart-driver, who promised to pay the price after a month. Samjhu over-worked and ill-treated the animal in his greed till finally, the poor animal died of torture.
 Samjhu Sahu and his wife were very annoyed by their loss and they cursed Alagu for having sold them the bullock. Several months later, when Alagu asked for the price of the bullock, all that they were prepared to do was to offer Alagu their bullock on loan for two months.
 After a good deal of quarrelling between the parties the matter was finally put before the panchayat.
 When the panchayat had assembled, as before, nominations were invited for a head-panch; and when Alagu stated that Samjhu Sahu should propose one, Samjhu Sahu happily named Jumman. Hearing this, for obvious reasons, Alagu’s heart sank!
 After hearing both men the panches decided that Samjhu Sahu must compensate Alagu and finally it was decided that the amount must be the full price of the bullock that had been agreed upon.
 Alagu was overwhelmed with joy at this decision. He loudly praised the panchayat – and indeed this was justice at its best. Everyone realized that the panch is a symbol of democracy, truth and justice. Good indeed lives in the heart of the panch!
 Through ‘God Lives In The Panch’ the author shows that invariably when a person is placed in a responsible position his conscience is awakened and he tries to prove equal to the task.
Critical Appreciation:
 This short story “God Lives In The Panch” is written when the colonial Britishers were ruling India. Premchand, through this story is critising the judicial system of the Britishers saying that Indians already have a rural judicial system (Panchayat) where impartial enquiry and judgments are already prevalent. When one is placed as a Panch or as the head of the Panch, he forgets about his earthly ties and gives judgement only according to the norms of morality, legality and ethics. Thus the primary theme of the short story is indigenous judicial system, though there are many other themes present in the story.
 Panchayat  Panchayat is a system of administration of rural India where the elected or selected representatives of the village take decisions for the development and day to day running of the village. Even while there are disputes in the villages, the villagers approach the Panchayat for immediate remedial measures. Both Jumman and Alagu went to the Panchayat with their disputes, both of them also served as the Head-Panchs. When they were Head-Panch, they decided in favour of the righteous the good at that moment, while one is the head Panch doing justice, one is like a God delivering judgement with impartiality. Thus Premchand is celebrating the indigenous rural administrative and judicial system known as Panchayats.
 Friendship:  The short-story also deals with themes like friendship (between Jumman Sheikh and Alagu Chowdhari), property disputes (Jumman’s act of getting his aunt’s property registered in his own name and then maltreating his aunt), etc. Premchand through these multiple themes is trying to present different facets of India but what he intends to champion primarily in this short story is the role of the Head-Panch in a Panchayati system.
Characterisation:
 Jumman Sheikh:  Jumman Sheikh: Jumman is a very good friend of Alagu Chowdhari, but he like other human beings became subject to greed when he registered his aunt’s property under his name and maltreated her, and didn’t want to pay her any monthly allowance. When the aunt reached the Panchayat, Alagu Chowdhari, the head-panch gave the sentence in favour of Jumman’s aunt, leading to a break in the friendship between them. It is only when Jumman became a head panch and Alagu was brought as a party of dispute to the Panchayat, Jumman realized that Alagu did right when his aunt approached the Panchayat. This realisation of Jumman revived their friendship. In short, it can be said that Jumman is a normal human being with his shortcomings (greed) but a man who can transcend his earthly ties when he becomes the head-panch
 Alagu Chowdhari :  Alagu Chowdhari is presented in the story as a good man who when given the role to be a head-panch; didn’t favour his friend by being partial towards him. Moreover, he insisted on his friend’s mistakes and gave an order which is righteous. Sometime later Alagu sold a bullock to Samjhu Sahu for which he received no money and the bullock died because of it being made to over-work. Alagu took the matter to the Panchayat where to Alagu’s surprise, Jumman, the head-panch, (his friend turned foe) gave the judgement in favour of him. Alagu is presented in the story as a good man trying to live life according to the morally lustifiable paths.
 Jumman’s Aunt :  Though an unnamed character in the story, Jumman Sheikh’s aunt has a significant role to play in the plot. She is an old lady, with white hair, toothless mouth, and a body bent as a bow. She is weak and infirm and walks leaning on a staff. She is related to Jumman on the mother’s side. She owns some property, which she decides to transfer to Jumman, through an agreement with the condition that he will look after her. In the beginning Jumman is obliging towards her, and is considerate of all her needs. But, the moment the deed is registered, he becomes indifferent towards his aunt. His wife starts abusing and taunting her and the old lady is not given proper food and clothes. Thus, the aunt becomes a helpless victim of Jumman and his wife’s ill-treatment.
 Jumman’s aunt is firm and persistent. She goes about from one villager to another requesting them to attend the panchayat. There are people who laugh at her and make fun of her appearance; some advise her to make it up with her nephew; a few feel genuine pity for her. Still the old woman does not give up.
 Jumman’s aunt has an unshakable faith in the panchayat’s justice. According to her, the panch has no personal feelings; he knows neither friend nor enemy. She says, “Allah lives in the being of the panch, and his voice is the voice of God.”
 Samjhu Sahu  Samjhu Sahu is a cart-driver, who lives in the same village as Alagu and Jumman. He carries on business between the village and the town, taking the village commodities to the town for sale and on his way back, bringing to the village such goods which have a ready market there.
 Samjhu Sahu is a shrewd businessman with crooked ways. When he hears of Alagu’s decision to sell his bullock, he thinks that if he buys the animal, he would be able to make multiple trips to the town daily, and thus increase his profits. He first takes a trial of the ox, and then buys it on credit, promising to pay the price in a month’s time
 Sahu is greedy to the core. In his greed to earn a large profit, he overworks the bullock. He uses the animal to make three trips to the town daily, sometimes even four. He is so cruel that he does not feed the ox properly. His carts are always overloaded. The starved animal is soon reduced to a skeleton. When it fails to drag the overloaded cart, or if its speed slows down, Sahu hits it mercilessly. The poor animal cannot bear such severe treatment and it dies.
 In the panchayat assembly, Sahu acts clever enough and proposes Jumman’s name for the head-panch, for he knows about his hostility towards Alagu. He is quite confident that Jumman will pronounce the decision in his favour, for he has been waiting for an opportunity to avenge himself of Alagu.

The Professor — POETRY

The Professor – Nissim Ezekiel Summary:
 It is a chance meeting between a Professor Sheth and one of his pupils. The speaker here is the professor who himself reveals his identity. He reminds his former student that he is Professor Sheth who taught him Geography once. He is retired now, but he is keeping good health. His wife died a few years ago. With God’s grace, his children are well-settled in life.
 The professor is the speaker throughout. He indulges in a monologue. He refers to his sons. He takes pride in telling his student that one of his sons is a Sales Manager, the other is a Bank Manager. Both are men of status. Both have cars, considered symbols of status. Another son of his is not doing very well. Other children are settled satisfactorily. Both his daughters, Sarala and Tarala are married. Their husbands are very nice boys.
 The professor is proud of his children as well as his grand children. He has eleven grand children, an impressive number. He learns that his student has three children. The professor admits that family planning is necessary. In his youth, no one cared to limit the family. Now times have changed. One must change with time.
 As for his activities, the professor generally confines himself to his home. He does go out only now and then old age does not permit much activity. However, he has good health generally. He has no problem like diabetes, blood pressure or heart attack. He is glad that his good health is the result of his good habits formed in his youth He is pleased to know that his student is enjoying good health.
 At the end the professor reveals that his age is sixty-nine but he hopes to live for a century. Then, he suddenly thinks of the time when his student was still studying in college. Then he was thin like a stick. Now he has put on weight. He is a man of weight and consequence. The professor concludes his speech by giving a casual invitation to his student to visit him if anything brings him to that side again, and his house is close to his student’s house.
Critical Appreciation:
 The poet depicts the picture of a retired professor’s meeting with his former student. The poet’s remarkable talent to ‘Indianise’ a poem is seen in his conversational language with great poetic genius the poet draws a pen picture of a self-absorbed professor who exaggerates and raves and rants about his family status. The words and phrases like ‘Our progress is progressing’ ‘opposite house’s backside’ ‘if you are coming’, all are examples of grammatical peculiarities of English used by Indian speakers. The poet very skilfully shows how Indians excessively use the present continuous tense in place of simple present tense. The poet also scorns the scholarly professor because of his grammatical peculiarities wrong English.
 By using unidiomatic and ungrammatical language the poet very deftly makes the poem humourous. The reader finds the poem amusing due to the flow of Indian thoughts. The poet also makes fun of the practices of the society that advertises their children with their designation and status. A hint of satire is displayed when the professor flaunts the cars his sons possess. He also brings forth with great masterful artistry the topics of generation gap and the blending of the old and the new. The poet also depicts the attitude of Indian parents who feel fully relieved of their responsibilities when the girls get married. Thus the poem caricatures the geography professor who thinks he has full command over the language and who is boastful and egocentric. The poet’s choice of words is humourous the tone is serious even though the subject is trivial. Theconversational ease with which the poem is written serves as an indicator of the poet’s understanding of the society of which he himself is an inseparable part.
Paraphrase:
 Can you recall me ? Let me remind you that I am Professor Sheth, your geography teacher, At present I am leading a retired life even though I am healthy and energetic. I lost my wife a few years back. God has been kind and benevolent and my children are well settled. Two of my boys have good designations. One is a Sales Manager and one is a Bank Manager and they enjoy a good social status. Both maintain good cars. Other boy is doing reasonably well. You know every family has a member who doesn’t come up to their expectations I am relieved and contented that I have dispensed my responsibilities. My daughters are married to well off boys.
 You might not believe it but I have eleven grandchildren. How many children have you got? Probably three ! It is good to be wise as these days family planning is important and I also advocate it.
 The whole world is transforming. There is advancement in our country also. It is a matter of concern that old values are deteriorating and new ethics and scruples are taking their place. These changes are sudden and quick.
 Now a days I remain confined to the house. Well I have accepted that old age brings along with it loneliness and usual aches and pains. As such, my health is satisfactory. I don’t suffer from any major ailments or health hazards like diabetes, blood pressure or heart problems
 This is the consequence of not being a victim of any wrong habits in my youth. Anyway, how is your health. I’m happy that you are healthy and in good shape.
 Well, I am sixty nine years of age and I hope to live till the age of hundred. You were once slender and bony like a stick. But now you are fat and a man with dignity and eminence. That is a good joke ! However, if you happen to come this side, do pay a visit to my modest house for it is close to yours.
Central Idea:
 The central idea is clearly a coming together of the old and the new. The poem mocks typically Indian ideals and practices. He depicts how Indian society considers a number of cars one possesses to be significant for status in society.
 The poet with the deft touches of his pen makes a dig at the Indian habit of keeping rhyming names like (Sarala and Tarala). The poet also illustrates how Indian society considers ‘marriage’ as the be-all and end-all of a girl’s life and the parent’s responsibility towards a girl-child. The poet also acquaints us with typical Indian conversation which includes discussion of health and ailments as well as the enquiry on how fat or thin one has become with the passage of time. The poet in a dexterous manner shows the hypocrisy of people. The professor advocates ‘family planning’ but at the same time proudly talks about eleven grand children by making the poem replete with grammatical errors, he shows what is ‘Indian English’
 He uses this to aggravate the effect of ‘Indianess’.

Small Pain in My Chest — POETRY

Small Pain In My Chest – Michael Mack Summary:
 The narrator, himself a soldier, saw a young soldier sitting underneath a tree. He approached the boy, and he beckoned him. It had been a long battle and had lasted throughout the night. Scores of bodies lay on the ground in the morning light. The young soldier had to make an effort to give a smile before he asked for a sip of water which he needed the most. They had been fighting all day and all night without any rest. He had then a small pain in his chest, and he needed a sip of water.
 The narrator noticed a large stain on his shirt. It was a blood stain, his warm blood had mixed in with Asian dirt. The young soldier thought he was luckier than the rest. They had all been killed in the battle. He had only a small pain in his chest. He was feeling weak. He thought he was fatigued, or he was getting old. The sun was shining bright and yet, he was feeling cold. He described that they had climbed the hill. They were two hundred strong. He survived with a small pain in chest. He looked around for some aid, but found that none was left living. He kept on firing, but finally sat down with that small pain in his chest.
 The narrator handed his water bottle to him, and he expressed his gratitude. He gave a smile, the brightest smile that the narrator had ever seen. The young soldier confessed that it seemed silly that a man of his size and zest could find himself defeated by a small pain in his chest. He was ashamed of his behaviour. He wondered what his wife would be thinking of her strong and grownup husband. If she saw him sitting there too weak to stand alone, she would be surprised. His mother could not have imagined that he would be sitting there one day with that pain in his chest.
 The young soldier was feeling weaker owing to the loss of blood. He wondered why it was getting dark so soon. The sun was growing dim. The day had just begun. He thought that before he travelled, he would get a little rest. Thus speaking, the boy died quietly from that small pain in his chest. The narrator cried to see all that. He put his arms around the dead soldier and pulled him to his side. As he held him to his body, he could feel their wounds were pressed. The large one was in the narrator’s heart, now pressed against the small one in the young soldier’s chest.
Critical Appreciation:
 ‘Small Pain in My Chest’ is both the title and the important refrain of the poem. This line is repeated half a dozen times. Literally, it means that it is really and insignificant pain in the soldier’s chest. It will subside, and the young man will recover. But the truth is the opposite of the apparent meaning. It is ironic that the soldier who has received a fatal wound in his chest, is himself playing down his pain. The repetition of the line makes the reader feel that it is not a small pain as the brave soldier is trying to make us believe.
 In this anti-war poem, the poet not only brings out the horror of war but also the sad fact that soldiers are butchered on both sides. Still, they are glorified in the name of bravery. The soldiers themselves do not like to let down their dear relatives in showing any sign of weakness even in the face of death. The pain in the chest is deliberately dismissed by the young soldier in such a mood.
Paraphrase:
 A soldier boy was sitting quietly underneath a tree. As I drew near I saw him signalling to me as if to tell me something. As the battle had been prolonged and tough and as it had continued through the night, there were a number of corpses on the ground. These dead bodies lay in deathly quietness even in the morning.
 The soldier said with friendly tenderness that he wondered whether I could be of help to him. He requested for a little water which would quench his thirst. He told me that as the fight had continued throughout the night and he had hardly had any time to relax, he felt exhausted. As such a sip of water would give him relief for he felt a little pain in his chest.
 When I looked at him I knew that during the hostile battle, he had been hit by a bullet. I could see a large blotch of reddish brown blood on his shirt. His blood had been mixed with the dirt on the Asian battlefield and its blemish seemed brownish-red. He said that he was actually not grievously hurt. Rather, he considered himself fortunate enough as the others had been callously killed and they lay dead all around him. He was just suffering a little discomfort because of the little throbbing burn in his chest.
 He then faintly smiled and said that he guessed it must be due to exhaustion. He felt that as he was getting old, he was getting listless and feeble. Though the sun was shining yet he felt cold and this he assumed was due to weariness. He and two hundred unyielding and able- bodied soldiers had climbed up the mountain and had reached the peak. But, it was then at night that there was a blast and he felt stricken by this little pain in his chest.
 He said that he had looked around for some assistant but he found only crevasses full of deceased, lifeless carcasses. He kept shooting at them. He had made his best efforts but eventually he sat down as he felt faint due to the agony.
 He then said under his breath that he was thankful for I had given him my flask. He smiled with gratitude and his face gleamed with thankfulness. He then remarked that it seemed so fool-hardy that an adult like him who was so full of vigour and enthusiasm should feel vanquished and subjugated by this ‘small pain’ in his chest. He further said that he was feeling a bit downcast to think what his wife would think of a man so seasoned and robust, feeling so fragile and powerless sitting under that tree. He wondered whether his mother had ever imagined when he was an infant that he would be one day sitting helplessly in the battlefield with a small pain in his chest; saying this he quietly passed away because of that pain in his chest.
 I cannot recollect what happened after that. I presume I must have wept bitterly. I embraced him and snuggled him close to me. As I clutched him close to me, 1 could feel his bruises press against mine. He had been physically wounded but my anguish and grief was large as compared to his ‘small pain’ in the chest. I was traumatized and heart broken at this shocking happening.
Central Idea:
 The poet wants to bring forth the uselessness of war. They are worthless and brutal. He vividly describes the futile struggle of man against man. There are no winners in war, and there is no reasoning behind lives that are taken. He gives a lucid description of the plight of the soldier and the psychological shock experienced by the narrator who saw him dying. The poet captures the physical and emotional aspect of war. The pain, weariness, disillusionment has been well depicted to bring the theme that soldiers are also human beings. A dying soldier also remembers his wife, mother and family. He is also shocked to see the mutilated bodies and human parts scattered around on the battlefield. The theme of the poem thus is that war might be a glorious affair for some in terms of bravery and nobility but losses in war are hidden from common people but actually war is nothing but gory, brutal and meaningless. We forget that they are like everyone of us. They laugh, cry, worry, they have sweethearts and mothers, loved ones from whom separation gives them pain and affliction. The theme is wonderfully handled and touches the deepest recesses of our hearts.

My Lost Dollar — PROSE

My Lost Dollar – Stephen Leacock About the Author:
 Stephen Butler Leacok (30 December 1869 - 28 March 1944) was an English-born Canadian teacher, political & scientist, writer, and humorist. He was born in Hampshire England. At the age of six he moved to Canada with his family, where he settled on a farm in Toronto, Ontario, near the village of Sutton and the shores of Lake Simcoe. Early in his life, Stephen Leacock turned to fiction, primarily humour, and short reports. His stories, first published in magazines in Canada and in the United States and later in novel form, became extremely popular around the world. Between the years 1915 and I925, Leacock was one of the most popular humorists in the English speaking world.
Summary:
 The author’s friend, Major Todd, was on his way to Bermuda, and needed a dollar in change to pay for his taxi. The author, who was seeing him off, lent him the dollar. However, the thought that Todd had borrowed the dollar remained with the author and he expected Todd to return it. In fact, he actually made several attempts to get back the dollar, but failed.
 In the meantime the author realized, to his dismay that he himself has probably forgotten to pay back the odd dollar he may have borrowed from other people, on various different occasions. He realizes that he himself is not likely to pay back. In fact, he tries to justify why he has not paid even those he does remember.
 This is a typical reaction. We are quick to expect others to act responsibly towards ourselves, but on our part we find reasons and excuses for avoiding responsibilities. He lightly suggests that there should be a “Back to Honesty” movement, to pay back borrowed dollars; in other words, we should take time to honestly recognize in ourselves that we consider to be weaknesses in others.
 The author, through this simple, humourous story cleverly shows us how we often criticize others for faults that we ourselves probably have; only we are not always honest enough to recognize them in ourselves.
Critical Appreciation:
 There are only two characters in the short story “The Lost Dollar” – the author and his friend Todd. Both of them are very good friends and as it happens between friends one pays small amounts for the other and forgets, but in this case the author remembers that Todd has borrowed a dollar from him to pay the taxi bill when he was going to visit Bermuda.
 Stephen Leacock did not deliberately build the characters as the purpose of the story is not to talk much about the characters, but to comment on the typical habit of people to borrow small amounts from friends and then forget. When we read the story, we are reminded of many such events that have occurred in our lives and probably we have a sly smile. The humour of the story comes to its climax when the author says that there is a need to start a “Back to Honesty” movement. We understand that the intention of the author is not to focus on the characters, but to make fun of the situation of borrowing and forgetting small amounts.
Theme:
 Stephen Leacock, being a humourist deals with the theme where the element of humour is paramount. In case of this story, he has chosen the theme of a small amount of money that weoften borrow from others (primarily friends) and forget to return it. The reason is that it is too small an amount (one dollar in this case). But when a friend remembers the money lent, then it creates a problem for him/her, as he can neither ask for the small amount directly, nor digest the fact that he has lost that dollar (probably hard-earned). Thus there are at least two themes that the short story deals with –.  Friendship – We can borrow such small amounts only from friends and tend to forget it as we take friends for granted and do not care about returning such small amounts that we borrow.
 Hypocrisy – We often think that the dollar our friend has borrowed from us should be given back, while we ourselves must have unconsciously forgotten many such small amounts borrowed from our friends, Thus while we want others to act responsibly, we often do not do so ourselves. Therefore the author humorously suggests “Back to Honestly” movement.
Characterisation: The Narrator :
 The narrator is an undecided person. He is a classic lender, who lends a dollar to his friend, Todd, when the latter did not have enough change to pay his taxi fare. His friend was just leaving for Bermuda. The narrator expects his friend to pay him back on his return.
 The narrator is rather a humorous figure. His failing to ask his debtors to repay him, and the way he describes his situation is quite comic. Instead of asking his friend to pay him the money, he goes on to say that he wishes to start a ‘Back to Honesty’ movement. For such a meagre amount as a single dollar, he thinks of such high-sounding projects, rather than the direct solution of reminding his friend to pay it back.
Major Todd:  Major Todd is a close friend of the narrator. Though we never see him in person, his presence is felt throughout the story. He is a Major in the army and is also a member of the University Club of Montreal.
 Major Todd is presented to be pleasure loving who is on his trip to Bermuda, the unnamed narrator is a hypocrite who is too particular about getting back the dollar that he has lent to his friend. The narrator remembers that he has lent a dollar to Major Todd while he himself has forgotten many such a dollar that he has borrowed.

Hunger — PROSE

Hunger – Nasira Sharma About the Author:
 Nasira Sharma was born in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) in 1948. She holds a Master’s Degree in Persian, though she has a great hold on many languages such as Hindi, Urdu and English. Her published works include Saat Nadia Ek Samandar, Shaalmali, Theekreykee Mangni, Zinda Muhavarey (Novels); Shaami Kagaz. Pathar Gali, Sabina ke Chalis Chor, Sangsaar, Ibney Mariam, Khudoki Wapasi (Short Stories). Besides, she has to her credit a number of translated books and television serials.
Summary:
 Rizwan had found a job for himself through an acquaintance in the Kihaan newspaper. He had been giver work on the condition that first he would contribute a few articles. He had been told to submit interviews with five people along with their names and addresses. He reached a crowded market known for the selling of expensive commodities and wondered how people were still buying them. He stopped near a cold drink shop and looked for some worker in the shop (not the shop owner) to interview him. Suddenly his eyes fell on a man carrying a load on his head. Rizwan reached him and directly asked his name. The man said he was Kasim. Rizwan, without providing any time gap, carried on with a series of questions which Kasim answered, such as, profession (selling old clothes), income (five hundred rupees a month) etc. But when Rizwan asked him where he lived, Kasim got irritated and asked Rizwan why he wanted to know. Rizwan pacified Kasim who then replied that he lived wherever he found a place. Thus a series of dialogues follow. We come to know that Kasim’s family lives in a village, and they have no land. When Rizwan informs him that the Government is helping the farmers, Kasim asks Rizwan’s identity. Rizwan tells him that he is a journalist and there is nothing to be afraid of. Kasim says that he would not like to do farming, as it is not his profession; his father cannot farm as he is too old. When asked what his father does, he replies that he “starves” as he does the job of a labourer for living.
 When Rizwan asked him further about his family, he came to know that his grandfather died of cold and hunger and that his grandfather’s father used to work in somebody’s house and died of high fever. He has a son who will be five next year and will join him in his work as of now he only chases street dogs. When asked whether he wanted to take a loan to set up a business, Kasim informed that he was already in debt and was working hard to settle it. When he was told that the new Government wanted to give them a better life, therefore these questions were being asked, Kasim merely mentioned that last time too many questions were asked and after the political procession, nobody remembered anything. He further added that on the day of the procession, he had to sleep hungry as throughout the day he was shouting slogans and not working. Kasim then said that he could not talk anymore as it was time for his work. There would be some labourers near the ditch who might want to buy some warm clothes.
 When Rizwan asked him to give him his address, he merely asked which address would he provide as he sleeps sometimes in front of some shop, sometimes under the bridges. When asked by Rizwan to meet him at the same place the next day, Kasim informed him that he was going to his village the next day and pushed off. Rizwan looked at him walking with a huge burden on his shoulders.
 It was six o’clock in the evening and Rizwan was thinking of the endless problems back home. His mother was ill, his father had died almost two years ago and his two younger brothers had dropped out of school. It seemed it was time to starve. At seven, he was supposed to submit thefirst interview at the newspaper office. He felt sad and started walking wearily as he had not eaten anything since morning his pocket was empty except for the bus pass. He reached his office and left the interview on the table with his name and address. He came out of the office with the only satisfaction that he could come to the office the next day though the problem of finding another name and address for the next day was already worrying him. He was having hunger pangs and was exhausted, and he simply wanted to reach home as quickly as possible.
Critical Appreciation:
 Nasira Sharma’s short story “Hunger” depicts the life of the poorest of the poor people of India. They are victims of the political and social injustice. “Hunger” is a striking contrast to the otherwise shining India that we are accustomed to. The story is about a young poor man Rizwan, who gets a job in a newspaper company on the condition that he will come up with five interviews of people with their addresses in the first five days and then the employers will decide whether he is fit for the job. It is his first day at his job as a journalist and he meets a poor man called Kasirn from whom he learns about his life. The pathetic situation of Kasim and his family back in the village tells us what real India is all about.
 The story does not say where it is set – in which town but it does not matter as it can be any town. It is a story of any part of India. Poor and hungry people like Kasim and Rizwan live in all parts of the world and consequently by not naming the town, Nasira Sharma provides the story a universal parameter.
Theme:
 Poverty and Hunger: Poverty is a financial state of a person which refers to certain lack of material possessions. But when one talks of absolute poverty or destitution, it refers to the deprivation of basic human needs, which includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care and education. Poverty is a striking feature of the world. Some people amass great wealth at the cost of others and a large number of people are left to suffer every day without basic necessities of life. Nasira Sharma’s short story ‘Hunger’ deals with two such individuals – one educated and therefore trying his hands in the world of media as a journalist and the other a rag-seller who lives on the streets of the city to support his family back in the village. When we first meet the journalist Rizwan in the story, we sympathise with Kasim without knowing that Rizwan is also in a similar state – hungry and famished, trying to support a family consisting of an ill mother and two younger brothers who have dropped out of school. When we know about Kasim from the interview, we are similarly puzzled at the life of a man who earns five hundred a month selling old clothes, living in the streets of the city, in financial debt, and willing to make his five year old son join the same profession.
 Socio Economic Inequality: Rizwan was interviewing Kasim and came to know about the poor state of Kasim. He asked Kasim if he wanted any help from the Government. Kasim states that he is not interested as he has been trapped in the rhetoric, of the politicians too many times. Last time when he went for a political procession, he had to sleep foodless that night. Nasira Sharma adeptly portrays the picture of absolute poverty of the two characters in the short story not only to make us feel pitiful towards them, but to comment also on the government schemes for the poor and the destitute which promise much but are of no help to the people suffering every day in different corners of India. This short story is not an individual incident, but a situation which is very common in India. Nasira Sharma through her writing is trying to build up a social and political awareness amongst the masses about India, the real India which is missing in most of the narratives of the progress of India.
 Media and Journalism: The role of Media or Journalism is to bring before the masses the truths and facts about the happenings around the world, to help the mass form opinions, etc. In Nasira Sharma’s short story “Hunger’; Rizwan is on the first day of his job as a journalist. He chooses the perfect topic to start his job. Journalism is not just a profession, but it is also about creating social awareness. Bringing to light the truth about reality Rizwari, though not consciously, butaccidentally, takes an interview of a rag seller which portrays the true financial state of India, the absolute poverty in which people live, how the politicians make big promises in their processions and never fulfill them how the Government policies for the poor and the destitute never helps the needy, etc. These issues which need urgent attention are taken up by Rizwan as a journalist, which portrays what the role of the media should be.
Characterisation:
 Kasim:  A rag-seller lives on the street and earns five hundred rupees a month to support his family in a village. His father was a labourer and his grandfather used to work in somebody else’s house. Nasira Sharma portrays how for generations, Kasim’s family has been living in abject poverty and had found no way out. Kasim wants his five year old son to join his profession. When Rizwan tells him if he wants to take a bank loan, he says that he is already in debt; and when Rizwan asks him that the Government can help, he merely says that last time when he went to a political procession, he had to sleep hungry that night. Kasim has understood, the fact that the rhetoric of the politicians is no good and that there is no way he can come out of poverty laden existence. He thinks that hard work is the only way by which he can earn enough to meet his basic requirement of food. The generations of oppression has made him a staunch non-believer in all the government policies for the poor and the destitute as he knows that the poor will never reap benefits from them. Therefore instead of wasting his time giving an interview to Rizwan, he goes to sell the old clothes to the labourers in the ditch.
 Rizwan :  Rizwan is a young man who is trying to find a job for himself in a newspaper company. His father is no more, his mother is ill, his two brothers have dropped out of school because of financial crisis. He is now forced to take up a job. He is on his duty for the first day as an amateur journalist. He was offered the job on the condition that he would bring interviews of five people in the next five days and then the employers would decide whether he was apt for the job. On his first day in the crowded market place, he catches hold of a rag seller and tries to interview him, but with very little success. What he learnt from the interview is that the poor people have accepted their poverty as they know they have no way out of their doomed existence. The irony of the interview is that he was asked to submit the interview with the name and address of the person interviewed, but Kasim lives on the streets of the city and does not have an address. Rizwan provides his own address to it, submits it at the office and is relieved to some extent, but as soon as he thinks of the next day’s interview, he starts worrying as he knows that it will be difficult to find another person for an interview. Rizwan is famished and exhausted at the end of the day. He is worried about the next day, but he has hope about what the future holds for him.

In The Bazaars Of Hyderabad — POETRY

In The Bazaars Of Hyderabad – Sarojini Naidu Summary:
 The poet is walking through the bazaars of Hyderabad. She stops at shops and stalls and asks the vendors what they are selling. By asking them what they are selling, she is actually describing the wares sold by thern. At the market, the goods have been displayed beautifully. There are turbans of red and white colour, kurtas with purple embroidery, mirrors with the frame made from amber wood, and daggers with handles made of green stone.
 The vendors are busy weighing saffron, pulses or rice. The maidens are grinding sandalwood, henna and spice. The pedlars are shouting while selling their goods. They are selling chessmen or dice made of elephant’s tusk. The poet then turns to goldsmiths. They are making wristlets, anklets and rings. They are perhaps making bells for the feet of blue pigeons. These bells are as delicate and light as the wings of a butterfly. They are making golden belts for the waists of dancers or sheaths for the swords made of gold for kings.
 On the other side of the market, there are fruitmen selling a variety of fruits such as citron, pomegranate, plum. The musicians are playing on the musical instruments, like sitar, sarangi and drum. The magicians are chanting something to a cast spell for the coming generations. There are flower-girls selling perfumes, weaving garlands for brides and bridegrooms, and chaplets for the bed of newly wedded couples. They are preparing a sheet of white flowers that are newly gathered, to be placed on the grave of a dead person.
Critical Appreciation:
 ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ is a beautiful specimen of descriptive poetry. There is a variety of images making a colourful picture of not only of a bazaar but also of life itself. The bazaar of Hyderabad gives the impression of a fair where all kinds of vendors have gathered with a display of their goods. There we have an assortment of goods meeting every day needs. The poet fills the colour in the picture which becomes a source of joy for the observer. There are delightful colours – silver, purple, amber and green. Visual imagery is striking, but colour imagery is dazzling.
 Ask for a thing, and it is there. Such is the bazaar of Hyderabad. You can buy saffron if you have money in your pocket, or you can buy rice to cook your meal. Chessmen made of ivory test your power of spending. If you have nothing to spend, listen to music being played by musicians on their stringed instruments accompanied by drum. To carry home, you can buy a flower or a garland. Here is something for everybody.
Paraphrase: Stanza 1:
What do you sell 0 ye merchants ? Richly your wares are displayed. Turbans of crimson and silver, Tunics of purple brocade, Mirrors with panels of amber, Daggers with handles of jade.
Explanation
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Please tell me merchants, what are you selling. Yours products have been exhibited so attractively. We sell turbans in deep red colour and brocade tunics in purple colour. We have mirrors framed in brownish yellow colour. The daggers displayed are with handles of jade.
Stanza 2:
What do you weigh, O ye vendors? Saffron and lentil and rice. What do you grind, O ye maidens? Sandalwood, henna, and spice. What do you call, O ye pedlars? Chessmen and ivory dice..
Explanation: I am curious to know what you the vendors, are selling? We are selling saffron, lentil and rice. I also want to know from you, the maidens what you are grinding? We are grinding sandalwood, henna and spice. Pedlars, what are you selling? We are selling chessmen and dice made of ivory.
Stanza 3:
What do you make, O ye goldsmiths? Wristlet and anklet and ring, Bells for the feet of blue pigeons Frail as a dragon-fly’s wing, Girdles of gold for dancers, Scabbards of gold for the king.
Explanation: I want to enquire what are you making, you goldsmiths. We are making wristlets, anklets and rings. We also make bells for the feet of blue pigeons which are as delicate as dragon fly’s wings. In addition, we also make gold bands for the dancers and sheaths of gold for the king.
Stanza 4:
What do you cry, O ye fruitmen? Citron, pomegranate, and plum. What do you play, O musicians? Sitar, sarangi and drum. What do you chant, O magicians? Spells for aeons to come.
Explanation: What fruits are you selling, o you fruitmen? We sell citron, promegranate and plums. What are you playing, o you musicians ? We are playing musical instruments like sitar, sarangi and drum. What are you chanting magcians? We chant magic spells to charm all ages to come.
Stanza 5:
What do you weave, O ye flower-girls With tassels of azure and red? Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom, Chsplets to garland his bed. Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered To perfume the sleep of the dead.
O flowergirls, what are you weaving with strange and tassels of azure and red. We are weaving garlands for a bridegroom to decorate his nuptial bed. We are also weaving white flower which have been newly gathered so as to provide fragrance to the dead bodies in the graves.
Central Idea:
 The central theme is firstly to represent India in its true form. It is a picturesque and spectacular description of the Indian bazaar which is vibrant and colourful with its enthusiastic vendors selling their various wares. The poem also is a reminder of the gloomy and ghostly truth of life that there are sad and happy occasions in life.
 Sarojini Naidu wrote this poem during the freedom struggle of India. This might have been written to inspire the Indians, to arouse a sense of pride in their self-sufficiency to influence them in a manner to awaken self-esteem and self respect by drawing a picture of various unique, attractive things in our markets. As such, she was awakening a spirit of patriotism and motivating Indians to boycott British goods and participate in the Gandhiji’s Swadeshi movement. This poem was written to spread the message of loyalty to the country as the need of the time.

The Inchcape Rock — POETRY

The Inchcape Rock – Robert Southey Summary:
 It was all calm. There was no movement in the air. There was no disturbance in the sea. The ship was perfectly still. Her sails were not moved by air in the sky. Its lower part was steady in the ocean. The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock. They made no noise. They were gentle small waves. As they rose and fell gently, they did not move the Inchcape Bell.
 The good old Abbot of Aberbrothok had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock. In the storm it floated on a buoy. As it swung over the waves, it gave its warning ring. When the waves swelled and covered the rocks, the mariners heard the warning bell. They knew that they were near the dangerous rock. The timely warning saved them from danger. So they thanked the Abbot of Aberbrothok.
 One day, the sun was shining brightly in the sky. All things were cheerful that day. The sea-birds screamed joyfully as they flew round. The buoy on which rested the Inchcape Bell looked like a dark speck on the green ocean. Sir Ralph the Rover walked on the deck of his ship. His eyes were fixed on the dark speck. He was pleased with himself. He whistled in his excessively joyful mood. But his joy was not innocent. While watching the Inchcape float, he ordered his men to put out the boat and row him to the Inchcape Rock.
 The, malicious sea pirate had decided to cause pain to the priest of Aberbrothok. So, the boat was lowered in the sea. The boatmen rowed it to the Inchcape Rock. Sir Ralph bent over from the boat and cut the bell from the Inchcape float. As a result, the bell sank with a gurgling sound. Bubbles rose to the surface. Sir Ralph was pleased with himself to think that none would have the reason to thank the Abbot Aberbrothok.
 Sir Ralph the Rover sailed away. He explored the seas, plundered store, and became more and more rich. Then he steered his ship towards Scotland. The sky was covered by a thick haze. All day the wind had blown violently. In the evening, the wind had died away. No land was visible to Sir Ralph as he stood on the deck. He hoped that all would be clear soon. There was the noise of the big waves. It was hoped that they were near the shore. Sir Ralph wished that he could hear the Inchcape Bell.
 The wind had dropped. Their ship drifted along. Then suddenly, their ship struck with a shivering shock. It was the Inchcape Rock. Sir Ralph the Rover was desperate, for he saw his doom now. He cursed himself for what he had done with the Inchcape Bell. The ship was found sinking beneath the tide. Sir Ralph saw his approaching death. Even in his dying fear he could hear one dreadful sound. It was the sound of the Inchcape Bell, now being rung by the Devil.
Critical Appreciation:
 The poem is based on the workings of laws of sowing and reaping. ‘What you, sow, so shall you reap seems so true when we read this poem. A bad man’s dastardly deeds led to his demise. The poem effectively embodies the medieval theme of crime and punishment.
 The characters of the benevolent, big-hearted and humane Abbot has been adroitly contrasted with the ill-disposed, vindictive, wicked and jealous pirate, Sir Ralph the Rover. It is an instructive poem through which the poet wants to spread the message that we should refrain from evil deeds. It is a simple narrative, a modern ballad with a moral theme and it is also didactic in nature. It professes that God is just and the evil that one plots for others, recoils on oneself. Good is always victorious and evil is punished. Destiny and fate play their role.

 The poet has effectively made use of archaic words and expressions to give the impression that the story is of olden times. He also has used a uniform rhyming scheme aabbcc ddee and as regards the metre there is a specific rhythm and a uniform number of beats. Use of alliteration and assonance adds to the musical effect of narration.
Paraphrase:
No stir in the air, no stir in the sea, The Ship was still as she could be; Her sails from heaven received no motion, Her keel was steady in the ocean. Without either sign or sound of their shock, The waves flow’d over the Inchcape Rock; So little they rose, so little they fell, They did not move the Inchcape Bell.
 There was no motion in the air and no activity in the sea. The ship of Sir Ralph, the sea pirate, was stationary as there was no wind to move its sails. Even the keel was stable in (the ocean. The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock noiselessly and softly without moving the Inchcape Bell. The Abbot of Aberbrothok
Had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock; On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung, And over the waves its warning rung. When the Rock was hid by the surge’s swell, The Mariners heard the warning Bell; And then they knew the perilous Rock, And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok
 This bell had been placed on the Inchcape Rock by the Abbot of Aberbrothok. On a stormy day it swayed and swung and its warning bell could be heard. On hearing the sound of this bell, the mariners knew that the dangerous rock was nearby. They blessed the Abbot of Aberbrothok for helping them to save themselves from this life threatening rock. The Sun in the heaven was shining All things were joyful On that day; The sea–birds scream‘d as they wheel‘d round, And there was joyaunce in their sound. The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen A darker speck on the ocean green; Sir Ralph the Rover walk’d his deck, And fix’d his eye on the darker speck. He felt the cheering power of spring, It made him whistle, it made him sing; His heart was mirthful to excess, But the Rover’s mirth was wickedness. His eye was on the Inchcape Float; Quoth he, “My men, put out the boat, And row me to the Inchcape Rock, And I’ll plague the Abbot of Aberbrothok.” The boat is lower’d, the boatmen row,And to the Inchcape Rock they go; Sir Ralph bent over from the boat, And he cut the bell from the Inchcape Float.
 The Sun was shining brilliantly in the sky. All things seemed bright and lively on that particular day. The sea birds were screaming in delight. Their joy was expressed in their sound. The buoy of the Inchcape Bell could be seen far away like a dark stain on the green colored ocean. Sir Ralph the Rover, the sea pirate watched this bell from his deck. The pleasant weather enlivened his spirits and he whistled and sang in merriment. But Rover’s exuberant delight was merely a malicious delight over the misfortune that was going to befall on the Abbot of Aberbrothok. Quoth Sir Ralph, “The next who comes to the Rock, Won’t bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok.”
 He then ordered his men to take out a boat and row him to the Inchcape Rock. He said that he had decided to torment the Abbot of Aberbrothok. The boat was brought forward and the boatman rowed towards the Inchcape rock. Sir Ralph cut the bell from the Inchcape float. The bell fell down and sank in the sea with a rippling sound forming bubbles all around. Sir Ralph triumphantly said that the next man who comes to the rock would not survive to bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok
Sir Ralph the Rover sail’d away, He scour’d the seas for many a day; And now grown rich with plunder‘d store, He steers his course for Scotland’s shore. So thick a haze o’er spreads the sky, They cannot see the sun on high; The wind hath blown a gale all day, At evening it hath died away. On the deck the Rover takes his stand, So dark it is they see no land. Quoth Sir Ralph, “It will be lighter soon, For there is the dawn of the rising Moon.”
 After doing this evil act, Sir Ralph sailed away. For many days he searched the seas thoroughly and after looting and plundering collected a large amount of booty. Then he proceeded for Scotland’s shore. Suddenly a thick fog spread over the sky and the Sun was not visible as the thick layer of smoke hid it. Strong winds blew the whole day but it became calm in the evening. Sir Ralph stood on the deck. It was pitch dark and the land was not visible. He commented that soon it would be a clear day as dawn would arrive with the rising moon. “Canst hear,” said one, “the breakers roar? For me thinks we should be near the shore.” “Now, where we are I cannot tell, But I wish we could hear the Inchcape Bell.” They hear no sound, the swell is strong, Though the wind hath fallen they drift along;
Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock, “Oh Christ! It is the Inchcape Rock!” Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair, He curst himself in his despair; The waves rush in on every side, The ship is sinking beneath the tide. But even in his dying fear, One dreadful sound could Sir Rover hear;
sound as if with the Inchcape Bell. The Devil below was ringing his knell.
 One of the men asked if anyone could hear the sound of the waves. He said that according to him they should be approaching the shore. He said that he actually couldn’t understand where they had reached and wished he could hear the Inchcape Bell. No sound was heard and large waves were being formed. Though the violent winds had lost their lost their force yet they slowly drifted along. Suddenly the ship collided with a sudden violent blow. Sir Ralph was shocked and regretted his act as he knew that they had struck against the Inchcape Rock. He was helpless when the ship was sinking beneath the tide. He was terror struck as he knew his death was near. He could hear the dreadful sound of the Inchcape Bell as if it was the Devil below ringing it ominously and mournfully as if at a funeral.
Central Idea:
 The theme of the poem is that evil deeds never go unpunished. The evil doer initially doesn’t feel the prick of his conscience but in the end he is always miserable. Every good deed is awarded with good and every bad deed is punished with evil. The evil-doer becomes the victim of his own wicked designs. He digs a pit for others but he himself falls into it. The Inchcape rock is also based on the idiom “What goes around comes around”. The benevolent Abbot of Aberbrothok, concerned about the safety of the travellers placed a bell on the Inchcape Rock so as to avoid accidents but the jealous. Sir Ralph the Rover, a pirate just out of spite and greed cuts it off. He himself becomes a victim of it and receives a watery grave. He is full of remorse then, but it was too late. The theme has been handled in a dexterous manner and the poet is convincingly able to convey the message to the reader.

Journey by Night — PROSE

Journey by Night – Norah Burke
About the Author:
 Norah Burke (1907–1976), an English novelist and non-fiction writer, was born in Bedford, England. She is known for her descriptions of life in India during the early half of the twentieth century. Her father, Redmond St. George Burke, was a Forest Officer in colonial India and consequently she came to India early in her life and stayed in India till the superannuation of her father in 1919. Her early childhood was spent traveling through the Indian forests, often on elephant back. The Indian jungle enriched her interactions with its wild animals inspired her autobiographical travel books Jungle Child (1956), Eleven Leopards (1965), and Midnight Forests (1966).
Summary:
 Sher Singh with his younger brother lay in the hut. Kunwar had a pain in his stomach and it was getting worse with time. The other children of his village Laidwani were dead earlier due to cholera, influenza or by some jungle accidents. Sher Singh’s mother tried to provide some home remedy to Kunwar, but it did not work, so she thought that it was better that Kunwar be carried to the hospital in Kalaghat. Sher Singh thought that his brother was dying as people in the jungle were aware that if someone is to be taken to the hospital then he or she is doomed.
 Sher Singh’s father, Sher Singh Bahadur – the brave, was a famous Shikari (hunter), who had earned the title Bahadur by his prowess in hunting. He was away in the jungle on a photographic expedition. So Sher Singh decided that he would carry Kunwar to the hospital as his mother just stayed behind to look after the cattle and the farming. She Singh’s mother was a hill woman and she knew about carrying loads. She took one of her two saris and she made a sling for Sher Singh to put around his forehead and down his back, and she lifted up the child Kunwar who was doubled with pain and put him into it. Sher Singh felt the weight and wondered how he was going to manage.
 It was evening when Sher Singh began the journey, first he had to cross the village, then the jungle started - scrub at first, rough grass dotted with thorn trees, and then with sal, from which they got sleepers for the railway at Kalaghat. Kalaghat was at least fifty miles away, but Sher Singh thought that if he could get through the jungle and cross the two rivers then he might get a lift in a bullock cart or perhaps even a broken-down truck for the last part of his journey.
 As he was passing through the jungle, an unknown jungle sense made him hesitate between one step and the next, and there was a cobra sunning itself on the path in the last of the daylight. As Sher Singh slowly moved away, the cobra too swayed back. As night fell, he quickened his steps through the forest as fear was gripping his mind and the weight of his brother was too much for him. As he came near the river bed, he was sure that he could go no further without rest. As he put Kunwar on the ground, he heard the jostle and squeal of elephants. As he saw the herd of elephants, Sher Singh was frightened, but he could do nothing. With Kunwar to carry, he could neither climb nor run. If he shouted, it would bring catastrophe upon them. But soon the herd disappeared. He picked up Kunwar with great difficulty and stepped into the shallow river. The water was colder than usual, as snowwater was already coming down. As he swashed up on to the shore, he noticed fresh foot prints of a tiger, but with great courage, he moved forward. Around midnight, the second river was ahead of him. The river was full as snow had melted and the kutcha bridge that he hoped to find was not there. It was submerged. There was a great current of the water, and underneath boulders moved, as if the river was grinding its teeth. Sher Singh gathered some grass and plaited it into a rope. Hetied the rope round his brother and himself so that they would keep together. Then he entered the water just above the bridge. The river seized them and he could not move, but then he began to move forward holding on to this and that. With great struggle he carried on keeping his brother’s head above water, fighting a mortal struggle. At last he succeeded in crossing the river with great difficulty with bruises everywhere on his body. Now he came to the road. Next they were in a bullock cart, then a truck. At last they were at the hospital.
 After admitting his brother to the hospital, Sher Singh went down to the rail yards in the morning to get some work of loading coal. He laboured all day and earned a few pence to buy a little coarse atta flour, some mustard oil and chilies, so as to cook a meal. Then the doctor called for him. The doctor asked him whether he was the boy who brought the child Kunwar in from Laidwani to which Sher Singh replied in the affirmative. The doctor smiled and said ‘Sher Singh Bahadur! Your brother will live. Come and see.’
Critical Appreciation:
 Norah Burke’s short story “Journey by Night” is set in a small village named Laldwani and the nearby town Kalaghat is fifty miles away from the village. Between the village and the town there is a dense forest, populated by animals like elephants, tigers, snakes like cobra etc. and two rivers. The protagonist of the story, twelve year old Sher Singh crosses the jungle and two rivers at night along with his sick younger brother on his back to reach the hospital of Kalaghat. The story was set when India was under Colonial rule and most of the villages in India did not have any medical facilities. When people were ill, home remedies were the only way out. If home remedies did not suffice, it meant death as hospitals were far off.
 Norah Burke’s story portrays India as it was many years back, but more than the portrayal of the backwardness of India; the short story is about the courage of a twelve year old boy, and his love for his brother.
Theme:
 Courage does not merely lie fighting heroic battles; courage lies in successfully reacting to the challenges that life has to offer. Courage lies in overcoming difficulties, in challenging oneself, in braving the odds of life. Twelve year old Sher Singh is one such boy whose indomitable spirit finds expression when his younger brother falls ill and has to be taken to hospital which is fifty miles away from his home in Laidwani village. All the men in the village, including his father, were out in a photographic expedition and his mother had to stay back in the village to look after the cattle and the farms. Therefore Sher Singh had no other choice but to walk through the dense jungle which had cobras, tigers, herds of elephants and other ferocious animals and to cross two bloating rivers. Sher Singh does all that is needed by overcoming all his fears, by reenergizing himself at each moment of the journey to save his brother’s life, by bearing extreme pain while carrying his ill brother on his back. Sher Singh’s father had received the title of “Bahadur” for being a famous ‘Shikari’, Sher Singh’s courage is far greater than that as he is not a hunter who is hunting for passion or profession, but he delves into danger to save the life of his brother. His dedication to what he is doing, his love and concern for his brother are above his fears, his pains and his fatigue. Sher Singh is a true example and a bench mark of courage.
 Affection: Love or affection is a feeling which builds ourselves and bonds us with other people. When we love someone or when we are affectionate to someone; we put that person over and above our own self. We care for that person and do our best for his or her well-being. Sher Singh is one such boy who loves his brother truly and therefore dares all dangers to carry ill Kunwar on his shoulders for fifty miles at night, crossing dense forest populated with ferocious animals and two dangerous rivers to reach the hospital. It is his affection for his brother which makes him overcome the fears and pains.
 One needs to keep in mind here that it is only good natured people having a clean heart who can love someone in such fashion. Here affection or love does not signify that one is expecting something in return or is looking for some credit. It is merely that one feels good that he or she isaffectionate towards someone else. Sher Singh’s gain in the story is that he could save his brother’s life.
Characterisation:
 Sher Singh’s Mother:  Sher Singh’s mother is a typical hill woman, who is an expert in many of the daily tasks. She knows how to work on the land, mind the cattle and carry loads. She is a strong lady who has patience. She has gone through the pain of losing her children; the ordeal of helplessly watching her children slowly pass away before her own eyes, has also made her spirit quite strong.
 She has firm faith in Sher Singh’s abilities and so she takes the risk of sending him alone, with his ailing brother, so far away, that too during the night and through a jungle. She knows that the boy will prove brave like his father, and thus entrusts him with the responsibility. She has made her children self-sufficient.
 Sher Singh :  Sher Singh is a twelve year old village boy who shows immense courage to carry his younger brother to the hospital fifty miles away from his village crossing dense forests having ferocious animals like tigers, elephants, cobras and crossing two rivers. He is heroic in his successful endeavour to save his brother’s life. Life offers us challenges and it is only the brave ones who face those challenges with extreme dexterity and courage and emerge victorious. Sher Singh is one of them who did not care about his own pains, his tiredness, his fears and agonies and walked with the weight of his brother on his shoulders to take him to hospital. He is not only brave, but caring and loving. His love for his brother, his responsibilities towards his own family at an age of twelve is commendable. So when the doctor calls him at the end of the story as “Bahadur (Courageous), the title also conferred to his father for being a successful and brave hunter, the readers feel that he is more courageous than his father as his father does hunting as a profession and a passion; but Sher Sing did the courageous act to save his brother’s life.
 Sher Sing Bahadur :  Sher Singh Bahadur is a brave man. The title Bahadur has been added to his name because of his deeds of courage.
 Sher Singh Bahadur is Sher Singh’s father. He is basically a farmer by occupation, but he is more famous as a shikari. He lives in Laidwani village, grazing his cattle and tilling his bit of land. However, his simple life is occasionally marked by adventure. Whenever there is a shooting or photographic expedition in the jungle, people always send for Sher Singh Bahadur, as he is very well acquainted with the forests at the foot of the hills.