Good Bye party for

miss Pushpa
Introduction – These lines are taken from the poem “Goodbye Party for Miss
Pushpa T.S” written by “Nissim Ezekiel “

About the Poet: Nissim Ezekiel was educated in Mumbai and London. He was
one of the most famous Indo – Anglian poets. The Indian Contemporary Scenes,
human relationships, love, and spiritual values are the themes of his poetry. He
was a versatile poet with a great Sense of humor and wit.
Explanation: The speaker announces the purpose of the gathering as their friend
is about to leave. They want to wish her a good journey. He addresses his
colleagues as friends and Miss Pushpa as his sister. The speaker moves to remind
the crowd of Miss Pushpa’s “sweetness” and says that Pushpa is a sweet person,
ever smiling. The poet exhibits the display of flattery and gets sidetracked. He
explains that she is the daughter of a famous advocate. He says that she is
popular with women as well as men.
He praises her for doing everything he asks of her. Her response is always “just
now only and I will do it? The speaker believes this is indicative of good spirit”
Additionally, Miss Pushpa never says no, whatever he or anybody is asking. She
is always saying yes. Finally, the speaker informs that it is time for others to
speak, and then afterwards Miss pushpa will do summing up.
Conclusion: Thus, the poem has all the qualities to be described as a farewell
address. The inconsistencies in life and language are matters of humor in this
poem. The speaker’s language reminds us of Babu’s English. The poem touches
upon the use of English by Indians and the speaker’s attitude to comment on
post-colonial Indian fascination to go abroad.
On the GRASSHOPPER AND CRICKET

Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem “On the Grasshopper and
Cricket” written by “John Keats”

About the Poet: John Keats was an English Romantic Poet. He devoted his life to
the Perfection of poetry. His odes Such as “Ode on a Grecian Urn”, Ode to a
Nightingale are among his most famous works.

Context– The Poem On the Grasshopper and Cricket was inspired by Nature’s
beauty, which is a popular theme of the Poetry of Romantic Poets. The first part
talks about the grasshopper, while the second part is devoted to cricket.

Explanation – The poet expresses his feelings regarding Nature’s Song and says
that the poetry of earth never ceases. The Grasshopper and Cricket are used as
symbols. Seasons may come and go, but Nature never fails to inspire us with its
songs.

During the Summer heat, birds stop Singing, because of the hot and harsh sun
and hide under the shade of the cooling trees, what gives us comfort and pleasure
is the poetry or music of nature. The grasshopper’s songs represent Nature’s
poetry.

Nature is brimming with elements that help living things flourish. Grasshopper
sings endlessly, but when tired, rests under some pleasant weed to freshen itself
so that it can provide relief to the entire nature. The grasshopper sings tirelessly,
bringing relief to all those who have grown restless due to the hot sun. As result,
even in the intense heat, natural elements such as the “cooling tree” and “pleasant
tree” can be discovered.

During extreme winter the birds stop singing. There is a death-like silence in
which nature seems to have got enveloped. Frost spreads its blanket over all
elements of nature. Despite that, a shrill sound comes from under the stones, it’s
the Cricket who is singing. The ‘warmth’ of the cricket’s song balances out the
extreme cold during the winter month. People hear the song and to many, it
seems as if the grasshopper was singing from the grass hills and has the same
soothing effect that the grasshopper’s song did during the Summers. They are
recovered from their drowsy sleep to listen to the endless music of nature. The
warmth of the cricket’s song balances out the extreme cold during the winter
months.

Conclusion: Thus, in the poem John Keats depicts the beauty of nature. The
poetry of earth is never dead, which becomes the central image or the metaphor
that would be invoked in the entire poem.
4.Awake..

Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem “Awake” written by Sarojini
Naidu.

About the poet: Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India. As a writer, she is both
prolific and profound. The Golden Threshold (1905), The Bird of Time (1912),
and The Sceptred Flute (1928), etc are some of her great works. She is a poet,
politician, orator, and administrator, and so on. She is the first woman to be the
Governor of a state in independent India.

Context The Poem Awake, by Sarojini Naidu, is a patriotic song. It is a soul-

Explanation: The poem awake appears as an address to Mother India. First, the
nation is personified as our mother, All Indians become her children.

The poetess visualizes all children praying to the mother. They entreated her to
give them a chance to serve her and Glory. She says under British rule our
motherland lost her moral dignity. The darkness of the night of slavery will end
and a bright and cheerful morning of freedom is imminent. The Waves of
bondage are to be cut. Mother India should gain its glory again and grow and
glow. Now she must rise up and break the change of slavery which trouble her
children. The poetess says that her children are sincere and love her very much.
They have a great devotion to the motherland. They have inherited her Pride, and
moral and spiritual strength. They want to preserve these qualities. they will
never fail to protect her. Their hearts are the home of the mother. They are her
shield with which they would protect her. They will sing the tail of her glory, the
echo of which will reach even to the stars in the high skies. The people of
different religions and communities in India are prepared to serve their
motherland with their intense love, devotion and sincerity. The Hindus convince
her that they will offer flowers at her feet of God and Goddesses. They will offer
flowers to Mother India. the Parsees, with the fire of hope burning in their hearts.
The Muslims assure they will save her with the sword of God. The Christians
assure their devotion and Faith. People of all faiths pledge to come together to
defend and guard their mother, queen and goddess.
Conclusion : The poem stands out for its strong nationalistic feelings. This lyric
of just eighteen lines is also remarkable for its many literary devices like
personification, imagery, rhetoric and rhythm. Thus, the poem is very impressive
with its theme and form.
5.Fear
Introduction: These lines are taken from the Poem ‘Fear’ written by Khali
Gibran.
About the Poet: Khalil Gibran is a Lebanese – American writer. He became
famous for his book “The Prophet”, which is a collection of Philosphical essays.
He wrote both in Arabic and English.
Context: The poem ‘Fear’, expresses a philosophical understanding of
overcoming fear. The speaker thinks of the image of a river flowing into the sea.
Explanation: The poem ‘Fear’ gives us a glimpse of how a river feels. When it
travels through mountains and plains to merge with an ocean. He talks about her
fear directly. The speaker discusses the fear that human beings encounter too.
The river may have traveled difficult paths before entering the ocean, yet it
trembles with fear at the sight of the vastness of the ocean.
And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing
more than to disappear forever. The fear takes hold of its thoughts. It seems that
nothing can come out of it other than her losing itself. Still, that is the only option
left for it. The river cannot go back. Nobody go back. To go back is impossible in
existence. Thus, it has to strive forward as it is time to face its greatest fear. Its
not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean. You call it risk
but that is truth.
The speaker discusses the fear that human beings encounter too. Even for a man
there is always the fear of the unknown and being lost in it. The speaker suggests
that people need to accept the fact that there is no other option but to move
forward and meet the world. One can conquer fear only by taking risks and
striving ahead without looking back at the past. The speaker says the end of the
journey is an act of merging with the supreme soul of where we all originate.
Conclusion: Thus, the poem touches on a variety of themes. The fear of anxiety
of losing oneself, and the Journey of life, till death are among the poem’s major
themes and to overcome fear.
Prose.1.How To Avoid Foolish Opinions
Introduction: These lines are taken from the lesson “How to Avoid Foolish
Opinions” written by “Bertrand Russell”
About the author: Bertrand Arthur William Russell was born in the United
Kingdom. He was a Philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer,
Social critic, Political activist, and Nobel laureate. His writing is characterized by
an extended knowledge of Science and Philosophy. He is the author of Principia
Mathematica, The Problem of Philosophy, and many other influential works.
Context – The article “How to Avoid foolish Opinions” deals with various ways
to avoid many mistakes man makes. If someone says two and two are five, we
don’t feel angry, But if we lack in arithmetic knowledge, we become angry.
Anger cautions us to be careful. Where there is not much evidence about a
particular issue, there is scope for differences in opinions. Theology leads to
arguments whereas arithmetic doesn’t give any chance for disputes. Travel is an
excellent educator. It teaches one, through many live examples, what cultures
customs, crops climates, etc are!
Awareness of multiple types of beliefs through world journeys avoids foolish
opinions. Russel found out that participating in an imaginary argument with a
person holding opposite to yours is an effective technique.
Russell explains self-esteem is one major reason for differences in opinions. We
have many instances where ideas flatter over Self-esteem. Both men and women
strongly believe that they are better than the other sex.
Russell analyses that keep on expanding your knowledge on various issues that
help you stay away from anger. A great thinker as Russell is, he suggests here a
simple way to tackle self-pride. The method is to remember how short our life
span is on a Small Planet.
Conclusion: Thus Russell gives us tips on how to avoid foolish opinions. The
first is observation then, being ready to reconsider our opinions, the third is
becoming aware of the fact, the fourth is ample use of psychological imagination
and the fifth is keeping self-esteem within limits.
Prose.5.Guilty
Introduction: These lines are taken from the delightful and humorous one-act
play Guilty written by Horace J. Gardiner and Bonneriere
About the Author: Horace J.Gardiner was born in the U.S.A not much is known
to the world about him. People consider Horace J. Gardiner and Bonnevier
Arnaud a single author, for the apparent reason of the Non-availability of any
work by them individually.
Context: Guilty is a delightful one and play the play succeeds in delivering a
clear social message.
Explanation: Jim Ryan is the central character of this one-act play. He is an
engineering graduate. But he has been compelled to work as a night watchman,
for want of a better job. Jim’s mother Ma Ryan knows about her son well she has
unflinching love towards her son, but what pleases her most is that Jim still keeps
some of the bad company.
They highlight the dignity of labor. She says that she is very much afraid that the
boy remains unemployed forever. She worries a lot that he would get
discouraged, and depressed. One could do anything when it becomes difficult to
survive. The neighboring woman Mrs. Moore says that the boy is not that sort
and he won’t do anything wrong. Ma Ryan, too, agrees Mrs. Moore always
One night, the neighbor Mrs. Moore calls on Ma Ryan and shows her in a news
item in the newspaper. It is about a stolen Diamond robbery is committed at the
Van Kings warehouse, the previous night where Jim is working. The thieves have
stolen the famous Van King’s diamond pendant, coincidentally Ma Ryan has
found a jewel wrapped in a kerchief in Jim’s sweater. Mother doubts if it is the
stolen diamond of Van King. She grows anxious, she fears that her son would be
sent to Jail.
The next movement a police officer calls at their house, then Jim and a stranger
turn up. Ma Ryan asked Jim to run away from home, then the stranger says that
she guessed it wrongly it is indeed Mr. Jim, who somehow got the Diamond.
Later, Jim clarifies that all her fears and untrue, and she is totally confused.
Conclusion: The play is full of gripping narrations and it delivers a clear social
message.
2.A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS
The story “A Gift for Christmas” is written by “William Sydney Porter” known
as “O. Henry” an American Short Story writer. His stories are remarkable for
their wit and surprising end. They mainly deal with human emotions. His works
include A Gift for Christmas and The Ransom of Redchief.

The story is about the Passionate, Pure, and Sacrificial love of a Couple Jim and
Della, a young married couple, who live in a small flat.
Della is a young, affectionate, and selfless woman. She has a passionate love for
her husband Jim. The most attractive feature of Della’s beauty is her long, brown,
and Silky hair.
Jim is logical, compassionate, intelligent and above all loyal to Della’s love. Jim
is Della’s twenty-two-year-old husband who can barely afford a cheap apartment.
The narrator describes Jim’s appearance as thin and serious a poor fellow due to
the burdens he faces on a low salary that is $20 per week. Despite these burdens
however, he is described as content, quiet, and good-natured. He loves his dear
wife Della intensely. Jim possesses a gold watch passed down from his
grandfather.

It’s Christmas time, and Della has been planning for a long to buy a worthy gift
for Jim for Christmas. She saves $1.87 throughout the year to buy a gift for her
husband. As she has very little money to buy a present for Jim, she sells her
proud Possasian- long brown hair- to buy a beautiful Platinum watch chain for
her husband for $21 to see a smile on her husband’s face on Christmas evening.

On the other hand, Jim sells his most Prized belonging the gold watch in order to
buy fancy ivory combs for Della’s beautiful silk hair.
3.THE DOCTOR S WORD
The Short story “The Doctor’s Word“, is written by R.K Narayan.
Rasipuram Kruhnaswami Narayan’s a leading writer of early Indian Literature in
English. His works were so popular that his readers spread from New York to Moscow.
Malgudi, his fictional creation, forms the setting of his works. He won Padma
Bhushan, The Padma Vibhushan, and The Sahitya Akademi award.
Dr.Raman is the lead character in the story “The Doctor’s Word”. He is practicing as a
medical doctor. He is an expert in his profession. He is truthful hard working and very
dedicated and never left any stone unturned to save the lives of his patients. His
patients hold him in high regard. He is more a man of deeds than of words. He
maintains a high standard of ethics He never believes in soothing lies. However, if
there is a slight possibility of a cure, he would compel Yamaraj to give back life.
Ezoic
The patients and their relatives know well that Dr.Raman was an expert doctor, yet
they visit him at the eleventh hour because Dr.Raman demands twenty-five rupees per
patient as his visiting fee. Secondly, Dr.Raman made straightforward remarks on the
Patient’s condition without hiding anything which frightened patients and relatives.
Gopal is Dr.Raman’s childhood friend. One day Dr. Raman is in the hospital. There
comes Gopal’s son and informs him that his father is seriously ill. Immediately he
rushes to Gopal’s house and examines him. He gives an injection and prepares to
perform an operation. Dr.Raman returns after some time with a nurse and an assistant.
Indeed it is his anxiety that has led to the heart problem. After 5, Gopal opens his eyes.
The assistant is overjoyed. But Dr.Raman looks worried. He says that it is a false flash.
If the pulse goes on till the next morning, he would be out of danger, otherwise,
anything might happen at night. Hearing this Gopal’s wife wept bitterly. He asks the
Doctor why is she crying and doubts- “Am I going to die?” if so please arrange my
will paper, otherwise, after my death, Subbiah and his gang would take all the property
and my family would be ruined. Dr.Raman decides to break his principles and tells a
lie that he will be alright. This gives Gopal, hope, and recovers fully. But how he has
survived will remain puzzled by the doctor all his life.

Thus R.K. Narayana’s story “The Doctor’s Word” is remarkable for its gripping
narration.
4.lOST
The short and interesting short story ‘Lost’ is written by “Guy de Maupassant”

“Guy de Maupassant” is a French writer, remembered as the master of the short story
form. He represented the Naturalist school. His stories depict human lives, destinies,
and social forces in disillusioned and often pessimistic terms.
The baron in the story “Lost” is a young good looking man. He is from Palestine. He is
a baron of the ghetto. He visits the universal exhibition in Vienna. He is not a man of
good character. The arrogant baron sees a beautiful married lady in the exhibition in
Vienna, he developed an immoral liking for her. The lady in the story is very beautiful
and clever with the integrity of her character. She married a man who had a modest
income. She values self-respect more than anything else. She ignores his advances.
Yet, he continues to follow her.
One day she stood in a fur store and looks at a beautiful coat. She knows it well that
it’s beyond her reach. The baron offers to buy it for her. The lady refuses. But he
insists on her. When the baron from the ghetto advances toward her, she tries politely
and firmly to keep him away.
He continues to make advances regularly. Animal desire in him started overpowering
him, though she refuses him. But he wishes to have her somehow. He was blindfolded
by lust, atlast he opened his dirty intention. And thought that she would yield to him as
she had a modest income. But she felt insulted and embarrassed by his secret
overturns, when the baron was prepared to do anything to have her, she proposed that
she would listen to him if he was ready to receive twenty-five lashes. The agreement
was made between the lady and the baron.

On the scheduled day, she mercilessly beat him twenty-four times with a whip and she
cleverly skipped the twenty-fifth and called out her husband and two other men, found
behind the curtain living the baron in shock and grief.

Thus the woman is loyal to her husband. When he crosses the limits, she teaches him a
lesson. So he is punished aptly. He says “Lost”.
3.Hiroshima Child

Introduction: These lines are taken from the Poem “Hiroshima Child”, written by
“Nazim Hikmet”.

About the Poet: Nazim Hikmet was a Turkish poet, playwright, and novelist. His
political beliefs made him spend much of his adult life in prison or exile. When he was
seventeen, his first poem was published. His poetry has been translated into more than
fifty languages. He is recognized as one of the greatest poets of the 20th Century.

Context: Hiroshima Child is about a Seven-year-old child who died in the Hiroshima
bomb attack during World War II. She begs people to fight for peace.
Explanation: The speaker of this Poem is a seven-year-old Hiroshima girl. She died
when an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. The Soul of
the girl knocks on every door to warn them about the adverse effects of war.
Since then, the child has felt neither growth nor hunger. She realizes that she is no
more in flash but a soul and cannot be seen or heard. Nobody pays attention to her as
she is invisible.

The child adds that the concern is for other live children, not for self. The Child Seeks
neither food nor fruit. She requests people not to fight as she was the victim of war.
She begs them to fight for peace. The child wants the world not only to sympathize but
empathize with children who suffer in the name of the war, even though, they have
nothing to do with the war or the holocaust. War brings devastation, tragedy, horror,
destruction, and loss of life.

She makes an appeal, to let the children grow in peace. Children should be allowed to
Play, laugh, grow, glow, and live.

Conclusion: The tone of the Poem is sad and expresses the true feelings of a small girl
but there is also hope for peace. Finally, t
his poem is very touching.
3.Solution to Plastic Pollution”
Introduction: These lines are taken from the lesson “Solution to Plastic Pollution” it is an
essay taken from the internet. The essay discusses Dr. R. Vasudevan’s research.
Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan was born in Tamil Nadu. He graduated with a Bachelor of
Science and later obtained a Master of Science Degree. He received a Doctorate in science
from the University of Madras. He joined the Thiagarajar College of Engineering as a
member of the faculty.
Context: Dr. Vasudevan focused his research on the methods of recovery and reuse of plastic
waste. This is how the idea of plastic roads was born.
Explanation: Dr. Vasudevan had been the Professor and Head of the Department of
Chemistry at Thiagarajar College of Engineering. But his department exhibited that he was a
Sanskrit Pandit. He always carried the Bhagavad Gita in his hands and quoted many Shlokas
to his students while teaching. His thirst for research with chemicals and a mission for clean
India made him find a solution to Plastic waste.
While on his work, Once Abdul Kalam visited the college. Kalam told Vasudevan, that one
day his test would become the convention. His words proved Prophetic. Dr. Vasudevan laid
the first road 60 feet long plastic road within the Campus.
Dr. Vasudevan’s ethics and commitment to his nation prevented him from migrating to other
countries. He proudly announces that it is his duty to serve his country first and therefore, he
gave to the Indian Government.
Dr. Vasudevan said waste plastic could be used as an excellent binder material to develop
good roads. The gravel is heated to 170 degrees celsius and shredded plastic is sprayed over
the hot stone aggregate. The plastic instantly melts and coats the gravel without releasing
toxic gases into the atmosphere. Immediately bitumen heated to 160-degree celsius is mixed
at 155-degree celsius and used for laying the road.
Dr. Vasudevan first tried out this technology to pave a road on his college campus. It yielded
two benefits. It reused plastic waste and built durable roads. He has rightly been called
‘Plastic Man of India’.
It serves the twin purpose of increasing the quality of roads and also solving the problems of
plastic disposal. The benefits are many. They are (1)Low cost ( using less bitumen)(2)
Simple technology(3) Spot used waste plastic(4) Waterproof roads that last up to 60 years(5)
Doubling of road Strength(6) Higher Toad Carrying capacity(7) Almost Zero maintenance
and(8)A new surface without rutting, cracking or Potholes
Conclusion:-Thus with his persistent research in his laboratory, he showed the world a
permanent solution as to how plastic waste can use in laying roads.
The Religion Of The Forest”
Introduction: These lines are taken from the thought-provoking essay “The Religion Of The Forest”
written by Rabindranath Tagore.
About the author: Rabindranath Tagore a polymath is fondly remembered as Gurudev and
VishwaKavi. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his Gitanjali. As a poet, dramatist, novelist, story
writer, artist, educationist, social, dramatist, novelist, story writer, artist, educationist, social,
political, and religious thinker, and philosopher, Tagore remains immoral.
Content: The essay “The Religion Of The Forest” is an extract from his original English
composition “Creative Unity”. The essay looks like a research paper.
Explanation: Ancient India provided serene surroundings to her wife sages in her lush green forest.
They preached the idol of perfection to the world the essence of that teaching is so Universal and
long-lasting that it dominates our mind even today.
Indians were mostly forest dwellers. They picked up from nature the principle of peaceful
coexistence. North men and on the other hand, were mainly sea forces and their motto was
confrontation and subjugation. Tagore explains, objectively, both the merits and demerits of each
side, still, he guides the readers to choose well. When the world seen as alien to us, then its
mechanical aspect becomes prominent in our minds. The machine also has its place in the world.
Europe has done so and has reaped a rich harvest.
The view of ancient Indians about our life and universe is well summed up in the term ‘Sacchi
Danada’ it tells that reality has three phases. The first phase is ‘Sat’ which states the fact that things
exist and the fact that relates us to all things through the relationship of common existence.
The second phase is ‘chit’ which states that we know and this relates to all things through
knowledge.
In Kalidas’s Shakuntala, the hermitage overshadowed the magnificence of the king’s Palace. While
describing the Hermitage in “Kadambari” Bana tells us one could hear the groves, the verses,
repeated by the parrots and the wildfowl enjoying their food. One could also see the Ducks coming
up from the lake, the dear caressing the young hermit boys. All these things tell us that the
hermitage was the place where the wide differences of the feeling of man and the rest of the creation
has been bridged.
For Tagore, our relationship with the forest and nature is a relationship that allows us to experience
our humanity. Realism is the value of this concept and living as per that ideal promotes peace and
prosperity.
In Kalidas’s time, the kings became self-seeking epicureans. It is evident from Kalidas’s poem one
should find enjoyment through renunciation, not through the greed of possession, future would be
glorious when there would be the calm of self-control, purity, and renunciation in the atmosphere.

Conclusion: The essay serves as an example of both an expository and argumentative essay for
learners to emulate.
The Woman On Platform No. 8
The Woman On Platform No. 8 written by Ruskin Bond, is an interesting story. He is an Indian
author of British descent. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award and was awarded, Padma Shri
and Padma Bhushan. He has written several novels, short stories, and books for children.

The Woman on Platform No.8 by Ruskin Bond is a story about love and affection that transcends all
barriers of Kinship. It is narrated in the first person by a schoolboy named “Arun”. It narrates the
experience of a young boy.

Arun is a twelve-year boy studying in a boarding school. He is confident and independent and is not
afraid to travel alone at midnight. When Arun is sitting on platform number 8 at Ambala Station for
the northern Bound train. He meets a woman in a white sari on the platform. Though he is
suspicious of the woman, he notices her sadness, her soft voice kindness and concern make him
trust her.

She takes him into the station dining room and orders tea, samosas, and jalebis. At once he begins to
take interest in the women. He relaxes and shares all his details with her. He responses to the care
and affection showers on him.

After eating they both go back to station No 8. To his delight, his school friend Satish, a boy about
his age, is in the station with his mother. Satish’s mother thinks that the woman in the white sari was
Arun’s mother. Satish mother’s advises Arun not to talk to strangers.
She says that they are so many dishonest people in the world, she warns him to be very careful
about strangers and never to talk to them. She advises Arun’s supposed mother to watch her children
carefully or they will walk straight into trouble Arun stared resentfully at her and Satish who was
behind his mother smiled at Arun in approval of Arun’s honesty.

Arun does not like Satish mother’s behavior. She considers Arun and the woman in white Sari to be
from a poor family. When Arun gets in to train, the woman smiles at him in a gentle and
understanding way. Arun leans out of the window and kisses her cheeks. Arun said, “Goodbye,
Mother…” and watched until he could see her no more.

Arun’s calling her mother at the time of parting is a sweet gesture of recognition of a loving and
relationship
An interview”
The Short Story “An interview” is written by Richard Gordon
Richard Gordon was an English surgeon and anesthetic. He wrote numerous novels and screenplays
for films and television most saly dealing with medicine.
The narrator came to attend an interview with Dr. Lionel Loftus, The dean of St Swithin’s Medical
school. He sits nervously in the waiting room, pre-creating his interview with the dean. Then, a very
old man meets the narrator in the waiting room. He says he is the Secretary of that school. He
examines the narrator critically. He asks a few questions about the narrator’s ability to pay the fees.

Then the dean interviews the narrator, but he didn’t ask any medical questions. The Dean asked him
about his interest in football. The narrator replied that he plays Rugby. Then the dean asks the
narrator about his position in the Rugby football game. The narrator says he plays wings three
quarter. Players in that position are in good demand in that school. That Seems to be the only reason
for the Dean being happy with the narrator.
The narrator got admitted into St Swith’s. Later, he got to know that all that was unnecessary. The
dean generally admits students whom the secretary approved of and rejected those whose looks the
secretary didn’t like. So, he thinks the interview is Superfluous.

Ezoic
The story discusses the narrator’s experience of facing an interview. It exposes the flaws in
admission interviews.
Introduction: These lines are taken from the lesson “The Awakening of Women” written by “K.M
Pannikka”.
About the author: Kavalam Madhava Panikkar was a statesman diplomat, journalist, historian, and
writer. He was educated in Madras and at the University of Oxford. He was a prolific writer and
published numerous articles in Malayalam and English.
Context: The Awakening of women is an interesting essay about the position of women in India
over time. It shows the transformation of women’s position in India. The role of the Gandhian
movement in effecting this change is emphatically established.
Explanation: The article picturizes the position of women in India. It was with Gandhi’s non-
cooperation movement that women has come out from behind the ‘purdah’. They were denied
education. Child marriages were the order. Once married, women were subjected to many more
restrictions. Early maternity, men’s high mortality rates, and the resulting widowhood added to
women’s causes collectively condemned women to a pathetically low condition.
Later, the movement for emancipation by the Brahma Samaj and the freedom movement by
Gandhiji brought considerable change in the position of women. Women actively participated with
men in the freedom struggle.
Gandhi recognized the immense untapped power that women had. He thought that it could rightly
be diverted to the work of his heart. rehabilitation of the villages. He strongly believed in the
equality of women, and he strongly believed in equality of women, and he wrote a good number of
articles in his ‘Harijan’ supporting women’s rights and privileges.
But by the beginning of the 20th century, the concept of education for women had gained
momentum. Some of the women tasted the fruits of modern education and started seriously the
work of women’s upliftment.
Women got rid of the social bondages of customs and conservatism and came out during the
Gandhian movement of Non-Cooperation. Women were seen everywhere at the forefront of the
movement. They were Picketing before liquor shops, boycotting foreign cloth, and undertaking
Civil- disobedience.
It impacted the administration in a positive way, that it brought many legislative reforms such as the
equality of women, their right to independent property, freedom of marriage, education, and
employment. The raising of the age of consent for marriage are some other important pieces of
legislation.
Although they fought against the British equally with men, they couldn’t get good posts and
positions in independent India.

sConclusion: Thus the article deals with the status of women over various periods. Rights have been
reinforced. Thus, women’s contribution to modern India resulted in important development.