Trees at Dawn-A poem

I've

Seen the trees  at

Dawn, nodding to each other

Swaying and moving around, dropping

Leaves and twigs to scare me off! And I heard

Them whisper to each other, even as I passed them

While the sun peeped

From behind the 

Horizon, the  

World yet to

Wake up.

I heard

A rustle and a sniff.

I saw them nod and shrug to

To each other, all the trees in the garden,

In deep conversation with one another. And to

Scare me off, they dropped twigs and leaves and stuff.

They wouldn't let

Me hear what they

Said. So I jogged on

In the park listening

To the mysterious voices.

Now I know!

Trees speak to each other

Early in the mornings when the world is yet

To wake up. They move around in the darkness lest

They be seen by people. They are the mysterious spirits of

The forest, wiser than us, knowing secrets we don't know.

I have heard whispers

And snatches of talk

From the trees, and

Have wondered if 

They might be human!

Perhaps,

It is the spirits of the giants

Of the past that I hear whispering, the

Undying voices, of wisdom, experience and

Knowledge born of millennia of green growth reaching

To the heavens above as if to connect to a higher unknown power.

The whispers

And snatches of

Broken voices

Might be a secret

Message not for us.

Now I know that the trees do whisper to each other very early

In the morning. Secret messages they pass on to each other.

They pass one warnings of Global warming, and Earthquakes.

They are the all knowing ones, the souls of the giant Redwood

The tall Coniferous trees, the wide Banyan trees, all speaking

To their offsprings, warning them to beware of human beings

And their greed to wipe out all life from this Earth. They don’t

Want me to listen to the dire warnings and so they try to scare

Me off by dropping dry twigs, and leaves so that I might leave

Them to their devices. But, I the stubborn one keep jogging one

More circuit with the hope of gaining some inspiration to lead

A better life. But then, I do return home with a lighter heart and

A stronger resolve to live a meaningful life. I guess some of the

Wisdom might have rubbed off into me, of those giants that spoke

In whispers not knowing that in my mind I recognised a kindred

Spirit to guide me and inspire me about the true meaning of life.

To nurture

Young minds and guide them

To respect the trees and their ancestors,

To listen to the voices of the Earth

And learn of compassion and

Kindness,

Would be

The secret

Of the trees

That I heard.

Now I know

Of the importance of the

Voices of the trees, and though they

Try to drive me away, like a stubborn child, I

Keep jogging under the giants, hoping, perhaps that they

Might one day give away the secret to success, joy and health.

Though they

Drop twigs 

And leaves

At me, still

I persist-stubborn.

In the

Early morning, when

The world still sleeps, and I, the early one,

Watch the tall swaying giants, nodding and whispering

At each other knowingly, the wise ones, whose voices we have

Ignored, speak of things yet to be of things that once were.

They might be 

Spirits of beings 

That once were,

But their voices

Live on and on.

Dawn is a

Magical hour, a time

When the trees do talk to each other

In whispers lest we should hear them. They talk of

Life without pollution and strife, a world at peace. Where all

Lead a life of plenty, without greed, malice, jealousy and anger.

The giants know it all.

The secret to a joyful

Life is hidden the whispers.

To hear the whispers one

Would need to wake up early!

What makes the Common Hawk-Cuckoo an Imposter?

The Common hawk-cuckoo is an imposter and a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds like those of Babblers. As an imposter, it mimics falcons (Shikra’s) in order to save itself from possible predators that might decide to take more interest in them. If you look closely at the two photographs, the one above and the one below, then you will the subtle differences between the birds. For a start check out the shape of the beaks of both birds!

The Common hawk-cuckoo is also called the brain-fever bird because, during the breeding season, the male bird produces a repetitive three-note call that sounds like it is enunciating the words, ‘brain fever’! When I spotted the bird at the Sultanpur National park, I thought it was a Kestrel, a Falcon or a Shikra. When I later looked at the photograph carefully, I was a bit confused.

This particular bird blended so well with the trees and the vegetation and the stick on which it had landed that I would have missed it if it had not been for its bright yellow flaming eyes. Of course, you should not confuse the Indian Black-winged kite with any of the above birds, one of which is a copycat!

At the 36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023

The Surajkund Crafts Fair is like an ark that carries within it the best of everything, in this case, examples of art, culture, and folklore. This a distinct example of a coming together of the whole world exemplifying how the world is indeed one whole global village!

An example of an art exhibit at the Crafts Fair

What I will remember most about the 36th Surajkund Crafts fair is the Cultural Extravaganza that brought together people from almost all the countries of Africa, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and of course, from home, Tripura, Assam,  and Nagaland. This confluence of cultures from all over the world also found its expression in the various crafts items that were displayed for sale in the numerous stalls at the Fair.

Naga dancers from Nagaland

The Surajkund Crafts fair was once again an amazing experience. When I visited the crafts fair this year I was able to enjoy the cultural performances from  Kirgizstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and many countries from the African continent and the homebound performances were from Nagaland, Tripura and Assam. The pan-African performance was mind-blowing and I was able to connect to it as I could spot representatives from Ethiopia-the country of my birth, and Eritrea, also a country that was once part of Ethiopia. I felt nostalgic looking at both the Ethiopian and Eritrean contingent for many were the days that we spent in Asmara and Massawa and of course Araba Minch and Addis Ababa.

Team from Eritrea

Team from Ethiopia

Mixed team Nigeria

Team from Russia

Artist from Eritrea

Team from Kyrgyzstan

Team from Uzbekistan

Team from Kyrgyzstan

A Folk Dancer from Uzbekistan

As if this was not enough, looking at the Naga dancers was like going back in time. The men wear tusks from wild boar and the longer the tusks the greater the accomplishment of the warrior. The tusks are a symbol of bravery and courage.

Bihu Dancers from Assam

Hojahiri Dancers from Tripura

Of course, the crafts fair was also about the exhibition and sale of handicraft items from participating countries and states from India. I was able to buy Onyx paper weights from Afghanistan, and a mask from Ghana, Some of the most sought-after items include lanterns from Turkey, carpets from Afghanistan, Dolls from Russia, household decorations, and the list can go on! The lanterns from Turkey that are displayed almost every year are simply amazing to look at.

Gleanings from the Leadership Workshop at the Church of the Epiphany

A leadership workshop occurred at the Church of the Epiphany on the 12th of  February, 2023. It was conducted by Revd. Timothy Shaw, also the Presbyter in Charge at Free Church, Parliament street, Delhi.

It was an important workshop that started with an exciting trip into the past of the Church, right back to the time when it was built (somewhere way back in 1866). While I did remind the gathering that there was a separate chapel for the Indians in Sadar Bazar Gurgaon, Revd. Shaw went on to recall how the town was almost undeveloped and that a visiting Priest would come all the way from the St. Stephens Church in Fatehpuri, (Old Delhi) having travelled in a tonga all the way from old Delhi having visited various churches including St.Martins in the Cantonment area and another one in Mehrauli. One might also call him a travelling Presbyter.

The more significant part of the workshop, however, was on developing leadership skills and qualities in the lay members of the congregation. Revd. Shaw stressed how leadership had to be built through understanding our roots, and the vision of our predecessors and then transporting an older version of the concept into new leadership styles in accordance with today's trends. Having a vision for a living vibrant congregation, having an active youth fellowship, setting examples, sharing the good news and being in the fellowship were important observations of the workshop.

Stewardship of finances, the delegation of responsibilities, selecting the right candidates for stewardship and then achieving desired goals and targets emerged as important elements of leadership in the church. A reading from the book of Exodus, chapter 18 highlighted how Moses worked on his father-in-law's advice and decided to delegate part of his work to capable people so that he could focus on more demanding matters.

The book of Habakkuk, chapter 2, verse 2 was read in order to understand how it is important to have a clear description of our vision and mission for us. Reading, and researching can help us in building a strong, supportive community, a community that nurtures young minds,  a community that works towards creating a sustainable atmosphere of service and empathy. The creation of outreach programs, reaching out to the needy and destitute, and providing them succour would be important points to work on, according to Rev. Timothy Shaw.

Analyzing Ranga's Marriage by Masti Venkatesha Iyenger

One might wonder why this particular lesson has been a part of the CBSE English syllabus for grade eleven. The purpose, however, becomes clear after one reads the lesson to look for important themes, messages, motifs and metaphors highlighted by the author.

Perhaps the most important reason why one should read Ranga's Marriage is that it explores an important theme that is associated with the increasing cultural gaps existing between rural (countryside) areas and the urban areas of the country. The impact of language has been explored at length and it has been highlighted when he describes how when a woman came to Ranga's house, with firewood, he, Ranga asked her how much he owed her. to which she replied "Four pice' to which he answered he did not have any "change" and that she should come the next day. We further learn that the ' poor woman did not understand the English word "change" and went away muttering to herself."

Culture shock is an important theme that Iyenger explores in depth in the lesson. He talks about Ranga's homecoming as a big event because he gone to Bangalore for his studies and the people wanted to see whether his stay in Bangalore had effected a change in him. Surprisingly the people who had arrived to see Ranga noticed that he was still the same. An old lady looked into his eyes ad said that the sacred thread he had worn was still there and that he had not "lost his caste".

Masti Venkatesha Iyenger explores the cultural disconnect that exists in the country between the village and the city and how the introduction of English has (according to some) given the speakers airs, a sense of superiority and a smattering of 'attitude'. But then, Masti Venkatesha proves that neither modern education, nor life in the city, nor even the learning of English keep Ranga safe from falling in love with Ratna or even the clever schemes of the village match-maker.

Ranga’s Marriage brings out the resilience and robustness of our culture and it suggests that below all that superficiality and hypocrisy of the so called ‘English-speaking’ children lie strong unbreakable ties that connect us to our culture. Ranga’s marriage, thus, celebrates the triumph one’s native culture over an external culture. It celebrates holding on to one’s roots, one’s culture, language and even expressing pride in it.

The short story is written in a humorous style, and Venkatesha Iyengar brings out that idea that Astrologers’ predictions might be based more on hearsay, conjecture and pure guess work than from the study of stars. Thus, when the narrator convinces Ranga to accompany him on a visit to Shastri, the Astrologer, it is a planed deception something that the narrator had prepared for with the astrologer beforehand. The Shastri makes a show of guessing that what is troubling Ranga is a girl called Ratna, though he doesn’t arrive at the name of Ratna directly. Later Ranga ‘admitted, “There’s greater truth in that Shastri than we imagine.” He is convinced that he and Ratna were made for each other.

It is true, however, that we have now moved a long way from the way marriage is arranged in the society today. However, in many parts of the country, marriages are fixed with the help of match-makers, and yes, the minimum age limit for men and women has been fixed. People today log in to online matchmaking sites where they can look at prospective life partners while maintaining anonymity.

The narrator of the short story appears to be a person wise in his years. He is confident and knows how to handle young people. Shyama, for that it’s the name of the narrator, is a humorous, pleasant, wise, village elder and also Ranga’s and Ratna’s son’s Godfather.

A Critical Analysis of the short story, Birth by A.J. Cronin

The short story, Birth appears in the English NCERT textbook for grade 11 as an excerpt from the Citadel written by A.J. Cronin. It is a lesson that brings out the importance of self-validation brought after achieving success through one's courage to make decisions based on one's prior learning. In this lesson, Andrew Manson decides to resort to a procedure he had witnessed as a medical student at the Good Samaritan Hospital in which an experienced Doctor planned a stillborn baby into hot and cold water alternatively in order to revive the child. The stillborn child that he had helped deliver was suffering from asphyxia, pallida.

The lesson deals with two very important themes. The first one, as mentioned in the previous paragraph deals with the importance of self-worth, self-validation, and the realisation that one has 'done something' worthwhile. The second important theme deals with understanding the difference between textbook medicine and the practical world of a practising physician. According to textbook medicine, the child born to the Morgans was stillborn, dead to all purposes. However, Andrew Manson remembered a practical procedure that he had seen when he was still a student, and thus he attempted to resuscitate the child, much to the horror of the midwife. Birth is a lesson, therefore, that highlights the need to step beyond the textbook, and rely on practical knowledge.

Question 1 - textbook long answer

The first textbook question on Birth reads, "I have done something; oh, God! I've done something real at last." Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?

Andrew makes the above statement because he had gone beyond the textbook and attempted to save the life of a stillborn child. By doing so, he had performed a miracle. Everyone looked forward to having the child in the family. Mr. Morgan was advancing in years and he looked forward to being a father. Susan Morgan was also advancing in years and she would soon be past child-bearing age. Sitting 'while there pressed against the wall' was Mrs Morgan's mother. She longed for a grandchild and 'her longing for a grandchild as great as had been her daughter's longing for this child. All dashed away now; futile, beyond remedy...'.

And as he continues with the procedure for reviving the child, 'Beaten, despairing, having laboured in vain...he persisted in one last effort.' It was after more time of struggle by Dr Manson that, 'as if by a miracle, the pigmy chest,...gave a short convulsive heave, another...and ...[he] turned giddy.' What he had done that day was no less than a miracle! He had achieved a high point in his professional life, he had rediscovered a sense of worth in himself, and he had upheld the expectations that the Morgans had from him. But then, one should not forget that Andrew Manson had saved not one, but two lives. The life of the mother and her child together.

Andrew Manson's sense of achievement is driven by his having been able to handle a difficult delivery case with professional expertise, having displayed not just theoretical knowledge but also practical acumen in identifying the problem with the child and then tackling the same accordingly. People often don't like posting in rural areas, but then, some of their best achievements come up while working amongst common people, in this case, miners. One very important message imparted by this lesson is that one should never grumble or cry over not getting one's dream posting, but rather work to one's level best wherever one is posted. One should watch the Bhutanese drama film titled, Lunana-A Yak in the Classroom to appreciate the message in the lesson.

Question 2 - textbook long answer

The second question in the textbook reads- There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician. The statement rings true in the case of the lesson Birth by A.J.Cronin. After an hour's 'harsh struggle' with a difficult delivery, he glances with horror at the 'still form' of the newborn. Torn by the dilemma of deciding whom to save first, he hands the stillborn child to the midwife and then turns his attention to the sinking mother.

On having stabilized the mother, Manson turns towards the stillborn child he discovers that the midwife had placed it beneath the bed because she believed that it was beyond saving. 'Fishing amongst the sodden newspapers' Manson pulled out the baby and noticed that the child had a 'white' pallor. He immediately recalled a case he had once seen in the Samaritan Hospital for asphyxia, pallida and started the accepted treatment for it. To the horror of the midwife, he placed the body into cold water and then hot water. According to the textbook, the child was stillborn and thus nothing could be done to revive it. However, there lies a big difference between textbook medicine and practical medicine and so Andrew Manson falls back on his memory of a similar case and he resorts to a procedure that he would have learned in a practical class as a student.

Andrew Manson's ability to go beyond the textbook and rely on a practical procedure makes all the difference in saving the life of a stillborn child. The moral of the whole story is that sometimes textbooks don't have all the answers to questions in life. One needs to, as a professional, resort to the practical knowledge that one might have gained during one's student years. Experience, recollection of lessons learnt, practical knowledge and the ability to persevere against all odds can make a great difference.

Prose Extract-Based Questions

a) Andrew, abruptly recalled from the contemplation of his own affairs, told Morgan to wait. He went into the house for his bag, then together they set out for Number 12 Blaina Terrace. The night air was cooled and deep with quiet mystery. Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt dull and listless. He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual, still less that it would influence his whole future in Blaenelly.

1. The words, 'contemplation of his own affairs refer to_________________.

2. Why did they set off for Number 12 Blaina Terrace?

3. How would you explain why 'Andrew felt dull and listless'?

4. What was so important about that night?

b) Andrew smiled faintly. He was that the old woman, wise in experience, realised there must be a period of waiting that, she was afraid he would leave the case, saying he would return later.

1. Who was the old woman in the extract?

2. In what way was she 'wise in experience'?

3. What do the words, 'period of waiting' refer to?

4. What was the old woman afraid of?

What do Greylag Geese and Bar-headed Geese have in common?

Bar-headed Geese landing at the Najafgarh Lake

Well, apart from the fact that both of them are called Geese, the very fact that they are regular visitors to the wetlands in northern India during the winter months and that they share a very similar profile makes them migratory birds. Their names too sound similar. While the Greylag Goose is named, 'Anser anser' the Bar-headed Goose is named, 'Answer indicus'.

Bar-headed Geese at the Najafgarh Lake

Both of these species of Geese have a similar honking sound that can be heard much before one can see them. The honking sound seems similar to the sound emitted by the horns of the past that had a rubber bulb that had to be pressed to make a honk.

Greylag Geese

However, what these two species of Geese do not have in common is interesting! The Greylag Geese live on lowlands and cannot tolerate hypoxic conditions (lack of Oxygen) while their close relatives, the Bar-headed Geese not only live at high altitudes but also manage to fly over the Himalayan mountains because of their tolerance of hypoxic conditions.

Greylag Geese make a noisy takeoff at the Sultanpur National Park

What is interesting moreover, is that both of these species of Geese travel great distances. Greylag Geese travel from the Northern Hemisphere and Europe, they cross the Central Asian Flyway and reach the wetlands of India during the winter season. Bar-headed Geese travel all the way from Central Asia, Mongolia, and Russia. They fly over the Himalayan mountains to land in the wetlands of India. Both Greylag Geese and Bar-headed Geese are long-distance travellers, champions of air travel that might put to shame the endurance capabilities of our commercial aircraft! It would be interesting to study these birds' migratory patterns by attaching more Geo-tags on them and following them with the help of satellites. It would be like watching planes fly across the globe on Flight Radar! 

Bar-headed Geese at the Najafgarh Lake

Talking about the differences between Greylag Geese and Bar-headed Geese, it is clear that the former happen to be the ancestors of the domestic Geese. They are bulkier than their Bar-headed cousins, and they have a reddish-coloured beak. Bar-headed Geese, on the other hand, have never been domesticated, They are sleeker than their Greylag cousins and are highfliers, managing heights of up to 20,000 feet without Oxygen tanks! Both Greylag Geese and Bar-headed Geese live within their families. They move in groups to whatever destinations they are headed to.

Strangely enough, Greylag Geese and their cousins, the Bar-headed Geese are very important indicators of climate change. They travel to warmer climates southwards when the winter spell hits the northern regions. Global warming will disrupt this migratory pattern. So, when the Geese stop arriving, it will be a signal that something terrible has happened. Also, Greylag Geese and Bar-headed Geese follow the availability of food patterns. With the steady disappearance of wetlands and thereof, their feeding grounds these migratory birds will soon disappear from the continent. The Siberian Cranes were once regular visitors to the continent decades ago but are now never seen.