Business Communication-I

Unit-1

CONTENTS 1.0 Objectives. 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Presentation of subject matter 1.2.1 Section 1 – Option A : Telephonic Communication. Check your progress 1.2.2 Section 2 – Option B : Using fax machine for sending messages. Check your progress 1.2.3 Section 3 – Option C : Writing E-mails. Check your progress 1.3 Summary 1.4 Terms to remember 1.5 Key to check your progress. 1.6 Exercises. 1.7 Recommended reading. 1.0 Objectives : After studying this unit you will be able to : • Understand how English is used in formal business communication. • Learn essential telephone skills such as making and answering business calls; sending and reporting telephone messages. • Understand when and how fax and emails are sent in business communication. • Learn the etiquettes of professional communication. • Understand the format of fax messages and emails.

1 • Learn how to send and receive fax and e-mails. • Understand the features and technical aspects of fax and e-mails. • Explain the difference between business letters and fax. 1.1 Introduction The objective of this unit is to make the student familiar with the formal English used in the predominant forms of business communication such as telephonic communication, fax messages and e-mails. The student will be able to learn the polite expressions and pleasantries used in such communication. As effective communication is key to successful business; acquisition of communication skills is indispensable. In order to work with competence and confidence either as superior or subordinate, you need to possess some basic skills of professional communication. You should be able to communicate on phone clearly, distinctively, confidently and pleasantly. You should be able to send and receive fax messages and e-mails. You should also know the technical aspects of phone calls, of receiving and reporting messages and sending fax and e-mails on computer. Here are the do’s and dont’s of effective telephonic communication. 1.2 Presentation of subject matter 1.2.1 Section-1 Option A – Telephonic Communication Means of communication have changed drastically over the years, with the introduction of a modern telecommunications such as faxes and e- mails, but still widely used business communication tool is the telephone. It is one of the commonest and fastest ways of contacting persons. This is because it is a simple, handy and economical device and a very powerful means within business environment. Its hard to imagine a business operating efficiently without a telephone. It has become the integral part of business communication. Although it is the most commonly used, it is the difficult form of communication as there is no advantage of body language. We can not see the facial expressions and gestures of the caller and there is no eye- contact between the caller and person called. There fore it is necessary to acquire professional telephone skills for successful business communication.

2 I) Listening, questioning and speaking are the three key telephone skills. To focus on these three skills, following guidelines can help us in the acquisiton of telephone technique. While making and answering a professional call – When you are communicating on phone for business purpose, remember you are representing your business organization. You make the first impression of your company. To develop a positive image of your company, in the mind of the caller, you should speak confidently, efficiently and clearly. This will inspire confidence in the caller. This is a responsibility and a challenge too. But this can be met by practicing telephone skills. You have to cultivate a cheerful and friendly tone. As the caller can’t see you, he will judge you with your tone. So speak in a pleasant, relaxed and warm tone. Exchange pleasantries and make a few polite enquires, if you are well acquainted with the person in formal communication polite and courteous language should be used all the time. Take care that you don’t sound hurried or impatient. Speaking fast or mumbling may create confusion. So speak clearly and distinctly. Pre call preparation :- Prepare beforehand the questions or the points, you would like to discuss. Go by sequence, it makes the person called, easier to respond. Always keep a notepad and a pen or pencil handy to note down essential information or message. If you write down main points, you want to cover and prepare the list of the people you want to speak to, it would help you a lot to be on a track. Introduce yourself and offer service – It is customary to identify yourself or your firm, in professional communication when you are making external professional call, give the details like your name, name of your organization and purpose of your call. Similarly, while receiving the call, ask the caller name and number. Use his name during the conversation. It creates friendly familiarity. Study the following examples- Good Health Centre, Good morning, how may I help you? Good Morning, I D B I Bank, this is Ram Desai. Hello, Accounting Department, Mahesh Kadam speaking.

3 Hello, can I speak to Mr. Dixit, P. R. O. from H. R. Department? While attending the call :- Listen to the caller attentively. You can respond to the questions and important information on the spot. Give undivided attention and acknowledge a comment every now and then. Write down important information on a notepad and confirm by repeating. As far as possible soften negative responses. Instead of saying “You should” or “You need to” use phrases like, “I suggest”, “I recommend” sound friendly and professional. Never eat or chew or tap a pen while talking. If the message is long, keep saying, ‘yes’ or ‘ok’ to reassure that you are listening. If the information is not readily available, promise to ring back and keep the promise. Placing the caller on hold :- As a receptionist, you have to handle multiple calls and you need to place the caller on hold. It may be because the person, the caller has requested to speak to, is on another call or may be the caller needs an information and you need a moment to take a file. In such situation, make sure whether the caller wishes to hold or prefers to leave a message. In case you place the caller on hold, it should not be more than 30 seconds. Apologize for keeping on hold and thank the caller for waiting. Study the following examples. “Please connect me to Mr. Wagle?” “Mr. Wagle is talking on another line, would you care to wait, or may I have him return your call?” “Mr. Sharma from Partyline speaking, Can I speak to Mr. Chopra?” “Mr. Sharma, Mr. Chopra is working with another client at the moment would you like to hold or would you prefer to leave message? I am not sure, how long he will be, but it may take some time.” Use the expressions like. ‘Will you please hold on” “Thank you for holding.” “I apologize for keeping you waiting.” Transferring calls :- Often it happens that the caller needs to speak to someone else and by mistake he reaches you. In such situation, you have to transfer the call. Before transferring

4 the call, explain what you are able to do and get the callers permission. Study the following expression. “Mr. Mohan Joshi is in Accounts Department. I would like to transfer you to his line. Is that all right with you?” Ending a call :- You should end the business call at appropriate time and when you have completed the purpose. When you are receiving the call, don’t keep the receiver before the caller hangs up. When you are pressed for time, you can end the call saying something like “I am late for the meeting” or “I have an appointment.” End the call as pleasantly as you begin. Use the closing comments like – “It was nice talking to you” “ I will look forward to your call.”, “ I will see you on Monday.” “Good Bye” instead of “Bye bye.” II) Sending & Reporting Message :- A telephone message comes in the picture when the person called is not available. A good telephone message enables you to take an appropriate business action in response to the call. The message becomes a link between the person called and the caller. A message form is an excellent guide to collect the right information. Sending and reporting messages involves, taking complete messages, writing the details on the message from and reporting it to the right person at right time. Messages are nothing but the details about who, when, why, how etc. Telephone messages can be left on answering machine too. Taking a message :- Could I speak to Ram please? I’ m sorry. Ram is out of station. Could I take the message please? Please tell Ram, Mohan called. Its regarding building plan, he requested. Your number please?

5 My phone number is 2266239 I am calling from Vishwa Karma Constructions. I will call back tomorrow. Thank you, I will give him the message The message can be reported by filling in the details on message form Here are two sample message forms. Examine them carefully. Sample No. 1 Messages Date : Message for : Caller : From (company name) : Contact number (s) : Message : Message Taken by :

Sample No. 2

While you were Out To : From : Company: Contact number : Cell : Message : Date : Time :

6 Call Taken by : You might have seen that the forms are simple and clear. When you receive the message fill the blanks completely and correctly and be sure the right person gets the message. The basic questions who, what, when, why, where, and how apply to taking messages. Read the following telephone conversation and fill in the details in the message form. You can use one of the samples. : Hello, can I speak to Mr. Siddarth Kapoor please ? : I am sorry. Mr. Siddharth Kapoor is with client right now. Could I take your ménage? : Its Amol calling from Superfast Advertising Agency. Its regarding the advertisement for the newly launched product. : May I know your number Mr. Amol? : Sure. Its 9810253520. I will call back after an hour. : Thank you. I will give him the message. III) Leaving a message on answering machine. In big offices a recording device is attached to a phone. When a person is not available in office or home he/she can leave a recorded message on answering machine. A recorded message can be like this ----- The message Hi, this is Mohan I am not available to take your call right now. Please, leave your message after the tone or press zero for the operator. When the caller gets this recorded message he or she can leave the message after the tone. The message Hi, this is Jitu from Modern computers. My number is 353562. The computers you ordered have arrived. Please give me a call so that we can arrange to deliver. Thanks.

7 Please note that Jitu has left a short message, He gave his name, contact number and reason for calling. So that if Mohan wants to return his call, he can get the essential information. Jitu requested a call back in a polite manner. The message left on answering machine should be concise and it should contain all the necessary information Read the following message on answering machine. Hi this is Meena. I am not in right now. But if you leave the message, I will return to you The message Hi, this is Leena from Partyline. If you let me know the details of Friday’s party, I would really appreciate it. My number is 9820567821. Thanks. Thus we have learned that while taking message on message form and while leaving a message on answering machine – • How to take a complete message. • Leave a concise message on an answering machine. • Ensure that the message contains all the necessary information. IV) Reporting message :- As a secretary you have to receive phone calls for your boss in his absence and have to note down the message to report to him when he arrives. Study the following telephone conversations and how they can be reported. Study the language used. A: Hello, good morning, Paranjape Builders. B: Good morning Can I speak to Mr. Paranjape, please? A: I am sorry, Mr. Paranjape is out of station. Will be back tomorrow. Can I take your message? B : Yes, please. Tell him Mr. Gavade called from Patel Enterprize. Its about the payment of the order No. 2250 delivered on 15 th Oct. A : May I know your number please? B : My number is 2622639 please tell him to ring me as soon as he arrives. A : Yes sir, I’ll give your massage.

8 B : Please tell him. Its urgent. Good Bye. A : Good Bye. Let us see how the secretary will report the message to Mr. Paranjape when he arrives. Reported message :- Sir Mr. Gavade from Patel Enterprize called. Its about the payment of the order No. 2250 delivered on 15 th Oct. He has asked you to ring and he said that its urgent. Study the following examples : A : Hello, K P T Pvt. Ltd. Good morning B : Good morning can I speak to Mrs. Prabha Kulkarni? A : I am afraid, she is busy in the meeting with clients. B : Will you please give my message to her? A : O sure, may I know your name please? B : Tell her Mr. Dixit called from Kolhapur. Its about the audit statement. A : May I know your number please? B : Yes, my number is 9881107836. Tell her, I will be reaching her office at 4 o’ clock. A : I’ll. Good Bye. Study how the above telephone message can be reported. Madam, Mr. Dixit had called from Kolhapur. He is arriving here at 4 o’ clock to discuss about audit statement, he wants you to contact him on the number 9881107836. Study the following reported telephone massages. 1. Sir Mr. Dixit has called. He wants you to sign the contract tomorrow morning by 10. ‘O’clock. 2. Sir. Mr. Rane, had called. He wants to know if you’re available tomorrow at 1 ‘O’ clock.

9 3. Sir, there was a call from lawyers office. You have to go to the court tomorrow for hearing. Section – 1 (A) Check your progress 1. Choose the correct alternative and rewrite the following statements. i) Speak ………….. when answering the telephone a) gently b) clearly c) softly. ii) When calling a company, you should state…… a) your impressions about the company b) the purpose of your call. c) the time you require for the phone call. iii) In telephone communication while the other person is speaking, you should ……………….. a) keep pin drop silence b) interrupt with new information. c) keep on saying “hmm” and “okay” iv) Begin and end a business telephone call ……………… a) hurriedly b) pleasantly c) sadly. v) A perfect telephone message contains ……………… a) the name of the caller b) the purpose of the call. c) all the essential details. vi) Which of the following is the acceptable way of answering the telephone at a business firm. a) “Good Morning” Who is speaking ? b) “Hello” c) “Anytime Gas Agency”, How may I help you ? .. vii) Which of the following is the correct way to end a call.

10 a) End a call when both callers have accomplished their purpose or one is pressed for time. b) Wait till you’ve accomplished your purpose even if the other person is pressed for time. c) Make up a story to avoid talking to the other person. viii) When a person is not available, you would say, a) I m sorry Mr. Sawant is not available at the moment, May I take the message please ? b) I am sorry Mr. Sawant is not available at the moment please call back in 10 minutes . c) Can you call back later ? He is not in. ix) Choose the best of these three messages. a) Hi this is Rajan from Zenith Computers, Please give me a call when you get in. b) Hi this is Rajan from Zenith Computers, I am calling to find out how the computers we provided are working. c) Hi this is Rajan from Zenith Computers, I guess you are not in, I’ll call back later. 1.2.2 Section – 2 Option B - Using Fax messages for sending messages. Fax also known as facsimile has become a regular part of business communication. It is the telephonic transmission of written documents to a telephone number via fax machine. Although e-mail is replacing fax, fax is useful to send the documents especially signed ones which can’t be sent by e-mail. Fax is fast and easy way of exchanging information and documents at a critical time. Through fax you can send maps, diagrams and photographs along with the written message to the distant places. Nowdays business letters are converted into fax messages and fax messages are also sent through computers. Traditional Fax :- The traditional way of sending fax is using fax machine attached to a phoneline. A fax machine is an electronic device composed of a scanner, a modem and a printer,

11 It transmits data via telephone line to a recipient i.,e. to another fax machine. This fax machine transforms the message into images and prints them on paper. Sending fax message In most fax machines, you need to do the following. 1. Turn on the fax machine. 2. Take the document you want to fax and put it into the document feeder. The icon on the machine displays how to do it. 3. Dial the fax number you want to fax to. 4. Press the “send” button. 5. Wait for the fax to transmit. 6. Take the confirmation page or any other information that prints out. Receiving a fax :- 1. Turn on the fax machine. 2. The phoneline rings when your fax machine receives the fax. 3. The fax machine receives and prints off the fax. 4. If the machine is configured to receive the faxes manually, hit the “answer” button when phone line rings to receive the fax. 5. If your machine is configured to receive faxes automatically, the fax machine will answer and receive the fax. Sending fax using a computer :- Traditional fax machines are becoming outdated. Online fax services are replacing the traditional method of sending a fax. The benefit of this type of faxing is that you are able to store your documents electronically and send and receive cleaner and cleaner copies. For sending a fax using computer, you have to – 1. Sign up for an online fax service 2. Find the icon for creating new fax

12 3. Type in the recipient’s name, fax number, phone number. Type your full name, your phone number, and total number of pages of the document you are sending. 4. Type a brief message in the box explaining the document contents. 5. Attach the document you want to fax, preferably a PDF document. 6. Click “send” to transmit documents. Through fax you can send orders, price quotations, contracts, resumes, financial reports and so on. E-fax is replacing traditional fax, yet some documents need a signature for legal purpose, hence you require a traditional fax machine. A fax message should be professional in appearance and content. So make sure that the coversheet and documents include all the information you want to send and that everything is correct, professional, legible and complete. Cover sheet :- The fax message usually has a cover page containing the following information. Name and fax number and other contact information of the recipient. Name and fax number and the telephone number of the sender. Date Number of pages including cover sheet A short message describing the documents being faxed. Fax messages can be sent between branches of the same company or to external business associates. Instead of business letters today fax and e-mails are used for business communication. Here is a sample business fax. Study it closely.

Mahindra & Mahindra 120, Kandivali (West) Mumbai Tel : 0202288855 Fax : 020 2288856 E-mail : [email protected] Date : 3 rd Nov. 2012. To Mahesh Thakur, General Manager, Bharat Machine Tools, Mumbai. Fax No. 8678 872 From : Dinesh Agarwal Assistant Manager No. of pages : 3 (including this page) Enclosed is the order for automobile spare parts we require. Please send them at the earliest. Make a phone call if any queries. Hoping for prompt action. Thank you. Dinesh Agarwal.

14 You can see how business letters are converted into fax messages. Let us see how this fax can be answered. Bharat Machine Tools. Andheri, Mumbai Tel : 020 2275866 Fax : 020 2275867 Email : [email protected] Date : 5 th Nov. 2012 To Dinesh Agarwal Assistant Manager, Mahindra & Mahindra Mumbai Fax No. 020 2288856 From : Mahesh Thakur General Manager No. of pages : 2 pages (including this page) We value our customers and make it our duty to understand their needs and requirements so that we can help them to make their business work even better. We have dispatched your order today itself by VRL transportation. Please find enclosed the invoice of the goods ordered by you. Thank you for doing business with us, we hope the same in future. Mahesh Thakur.

You might have noted that there is no salutation or greeting in the beginning of the message. At the end there can be ‘Thank you’ or ‘Best Regards’ or just ‘Regards’.

15 Read the following fax message and its reply.

ICICI Bank Head Office, Banglore. Tel : 025 25275205 Fax : 025 25275207 Email : [email protected] Date 29/10/2012 To Kiran Desai Manager, ICICI Bank, Kolhapur.

Fax No. : 0232 200405 From : Mr. Sharad Chavan Manager

No. of pages : 1 Mr. Kamal Das is visiting your branch tomorrow for the verification of gold loan proposals. Please arrange for his accommodation in a hotel nearest to the branch. Reserve a room for two days and three nights. Mr. Das will be reaching there on 31 st Oct. 2012 by 8 a.m. by Kadamba Travels. Thank you. Sharad Chavan

16 Study the reply to above fax.

I C I C I Bank Kolhapur Branch Tel : 0231 220404 Fax : 0231 220405 Email : [email protected] Date : 30/10/2012 To : Mr. Sharad Chavan Manager Head office, Banglore. Fax No. : 025 25275207. From : Kiran Desai Manager No. of pages : 1 Thank you for sending us details regarding the proposed stay of Mr. Das. We are pleased to reserve a room in the hotel Ayodhya, near bus stand. The room will be available at 8 a.m. on the day of his arrival and will remain at his disposal until the day of his departure. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Das and hope he will have a pleasant stay. Thank you. Kiran Desai.

Section-2 (B) Check your progress. 1. Rewrite choosing the best alternative. i) There is no …………….and ……………… in the beginning of the fax message. a) name and address of the receiver. b) name and address of the sender. c) salutation and greeting.

17 ii) Instead of business letters today ………………. and ………….. are used for business communication a) mobile messages and phone calls b) fax messages and e-mails. c) meetings and get-togethers. iii) In business, fax is useful to send ……………. and ………….. at critical time. a) information and signed documents. b) Bio-Data and certificates. c) personal letters and invitations. 1.2.3 Section-3 Option C – Writing E-mails. Electronic mail or E-mail has become a predominant form of business communication. Fax messages and e-mails are replacing business letters now a days. Billions of e-mails are sent world wide everyday. This is because of their high speed, ability to reach many people at distant places at a time and the provision of attaching important files along with the message. Moreover, it is quick, effective and economical. Alike fax messages, e-mails are sent within the business organization and outside the business organizations. In both the situations, e-mails should be formal. Another advantage of e-mails is that they can be stored and can be referred to, any time you want. Now-a-days, almost all levels of staff in every department and in almost all types of companies write e-mails. The days of traditional secretary and massive paper work have gone. As we all know, effective communication is the key of the success of any business; and e-mails being an integral part of corporate communication, it is advisable to understand how to write e-mails. To maintain quality and standard, it is essential to follow e-mail etiquettes while sending business e-mails. Here are some e-mail etiquettes. If you follow them your recipients will get the necessary information and they will act accordingly.

1. Write a meaningful subjectline :- If your subject line accurately describes the content of your e-mail, your recipient will read it with interest. If the subject line is vague, it will fail to motivate the busy recipient to take it as worth while. Subjectline should catch the attention and the recipient should know what the mail is about at a glance. Following are the examples of bad subjectline. Subject :- Blank Subject :- Meeting Subject :- Read immediately or Urgent Subject :- The file you wanted Here is the more specific, informative subjectline Subject : Reminder of 10 a.m. meeting on 5 th Oct. 2012 on promoting a new product. 2. Make one point per e-mail As for as possible send one and only point or message per e-mail. In case your e-mail contains many points give numbers to your points or consider writing a separate e-mail on each subject. If you want to put several points as they relate to the same project, present each point in separate paragraph. This makes each point stand out significantly. You would make your recipient focus on your message and can reply to each one individually. 3. Identify yourself: It is important to give your name, occupation and other important identification information, in the first few sentences, when you are contacting someone outside. 4. Proof read : Business e-mails should be written in standard English. Many people think that they can ignore punctuation, spellings and grammer in e-mails. This approach should be avoided for business e-mails. So before you click, “send” proof read your professional e-mail to check punctuation, spellings and grammar.

5. Dinstinguish between formal and informal situations: Although business e-mails are less formal than business letters, formal approach is expected all the time. So write according to situation. It is important to keep your business e-mails short and clear. The specific action you except from the recipient should be directly stated. Avoid using abbreviations like – He’s, He’d. “Dear Mr. XYZ” is preferred rather than “Hallo”. You can use abbreviations and non-standard punctuations and spellings when you are writing e-mail to your friend or collegue. 6. Specify the response you want : If you expect specific action such as phone call or appointment from your recipient, make sure to include it in your message. Your contact information will make your recipient easier to respond. 7. Using EOM headlines : When you have a very short message to convey, you can use EOM or End Of Message technique. This is possible when you can put all the relevant information in the subjectline, followed by the letters, “EOM” This helps the recipient know that all the information is in the subjectline. 8. Be a Good correspondent : Check your inbox regularly and reply the e-mails you have received promptly. This is the act of courtesy and it encourages others to reply. It is professional and courteous to make yourself available online, evenif your message is “sorry, I am too busy to help you now.” In short, a good layout, easy-to-read font, use of paragraphs for new point, clear and concise sentences, clearly stated purpose in the first paragraph, pertinent information in the body of the e-mail are the qualities of professional e-mail to ensure positive impression. With friends and co-workers you can be casual but with customers and clients stick to formal set up and style. If you see the format of e-mail on computer screen, you will find that the contents “To”, “From”, “CC”, “Subject”, “Date”, “Time” appear automatically. Study the following e-mail and study its format closely.

To : [email protected] CC: [email protected] Subject : Discount Mansoon Sale Mrs. Jaya Ghate Taranga Appartment, Kagal .

Dear Customer, We are pleased to inform you about our Mansoon Discount Sale on readymade Garments. The sale starts from 1 st August 2012 and will be continued till 15 th August 2012. We are offering 50% discount on T-shirts and trousers. There is 20%, 30%, 40% discount on other items too. You will be saturated in the mansoon of discounts. Do visit our shop. Best Regards. Yours sincerely, H.R. Desai Vastram.

You can see that e-mail starts with e-mail address of the recipient ‘CC’ stands for carbon copy. The CC is a field for sending the same message to other recipients. At CC write the e-mail address of other recipient. Then mention the subject of your e- mail clearly. In the body of e-mail write the content related to the subject mentioned in the subject line and then mention the response you want. After complimentary close identify yourself. Now study the following internal business e-mail.

To : [email protected] CC : Subject : Meeting on Friday 10 th Sept. at 11 in Conference Hall on Advertising Campaign. Mr. Dinesh Parekh Sales Department Roxy Glassware, Pune

Dear Mr. Parekh, I wanted to let you know that I have scheduled a meeting with the Marketing Department, this Friday 10 th Sept. 12. Regarding the new advertisement campaign. It’s at 11a.m. and will be in the small Conference Hall. Please let me know if you can make that time. Thank you. Yours sincerely, P. S. Kothari.

Big companies now a days send e-mails for various business purposes such as enquiring about the delay of an order placed, complaining for the damaged goods received, booking rooms in the hotels, informing about the meetings, various schemes, proposals, campaigns etc. Study the following example.

To : [email protected] CC : Subject : Our order No. 150, Rejecting the damaged sauce bottles. Mr. Balwant Singh Maggie Food Products, Mumbai.

Dear Mr. Balwant Singh, We are sorry to inform you that the tomato sauce bottles delivered by you against our order No. 150 have been found damaged. We are rejecting all the 200 bottles. We request you to replace them at the earliest. With Regards.

Yours sincerely, Uday Pawar Provisonal store, Goregaon (West)

Section – 3 (C) Check your progress 1. Rewrite choosing correct alternative i) In an e-mail subjectline should be …………. and ……………. a) vague and long. b) specific and informative. c) catchy and casual ii) In e-mails ‘cc’ stands for. a) casual communication. b) complimentary close. c) carbon copy.

iii) Business fax and e-mails should have ……………… set up. a) informal b) formal c) impressive. iv) EOM technique is used in ………………… a) telephone calls b) fax c) e-mails. 1.3. Summary In this unit you have learnt how telephone, fax messages and e-mails are predominant forms of business communication and how quick, clear and effective communication leads you to success in business. You might have realized that the massive secretarial paper work has been replaced by fax and e-mails. As an employee of any business firm, in any department, in any position you need to communicate with your superiors, subordinates, clients and business associates. After studying this unit you will be able to face the challenges in your career confidently. The professional skills introduced in this unit will enable you to communicate clearly and effectively. Various aspects, features and do’s and don’ts related to telephone calls, fax messages and e-mails provide you theoretical knowledge which will be useful while actually practicing them in future. 1.4. Terms to remember : Caller - persons who makes the phone call. Person called - person who receives the phone call Acquisition - something acquired. Cultivate - develop, improve Pleasantries - courteous or polite remarks made in conversation. Place the caller on hold - request the caller to hold on. Hang up - end the call Press for time - in a hurry To look forward to - to wait eagerly. Distinctly - clear, understandable.

24 Predominant - main element Drastically - far reaching effect. Gesture - movement of body to express feelings. Acquainted - familiar. Apologize - to say sorry. Appropriate - proper Courteous - polite, kind, well mannered. Etiquettes - manners. 1.5 Key to check your progress. Section 1 A 1.2.1 i) b ii) b iii) c iv) b v) c vi) c vii) a viii) a ix) b Section 2 B 1.2.2 i) c ii) b iii) a Section 3 C 1.2.3 i) b ii) c iii) b iv) c 1.6 Exercises 1. Complete the following conversations. A : Hello, Kesari Travels. Good Moring, how may I help you ? B : Good Morning, could I …………….. Ram please. A : I’m ……………. Ram is ………………. Station could you …………… please ? B : Please tell Ram, Deepak called. It is about booking for Delhi. A : Your……………….? B : My phone number is ……………… I am from ………….. to …………….

25 A : Thank you. I’ll ………………….. message. 2. A : Hello, Sanjivani Health Centre. How ………….? B : Will you please ………… ? B : I will. A : I am ………………. Dr. Deshmukh is in ……………….. would you like to ………………… ? B : Please ask him, if tomorrow at 10 suits him for the meeting. Tell him to call me. A : May I know ………………. Please. B : Its ………………….. A : Thank you. I’ll …………………. 3. A : Hello, HDFC bank, how …………………? B : Mr. Deshmukh from Sangli calling. What are your working hours ? A : We are ……………….. from 9 to 6 from Monday to Friday. On Saturday from 9 to 3 B : O.K. Thank you. A : You’re …………………… thank ……………. for …………….? 4. Suppose you are Anil Murthi. Write a fax to your business associate in Delhi to receive you at the airport and to arrange for your accommodation in Delhi for two days. Inform about your flight and time of arrival. Imagine necessary details. 5. Suppose you are manager of company. Send fax to your sales manager asking him to send the details of sales during the last six months. Imagine necessary details. 6. Write an e-mail to travel company requesting to send the proposed plans of Europe tour in Diwali vacation. Imagine necessary details.

26 7. Write an e-mail to your supplier asking him to send the latest price quotation of cell phones and schemes of Diwali offer. Imagine necessary details. 8. Write an e-mail to university authorities to send you the prospectus of a degree course in food technology. Imagine necessary details. 1.7. Recommended Reading. Gupta, R.K. (2006) Rapidex English Speaking Course . Delhi : Pustak Mahal Publication. Gupta Renu, (2010) A Course in Academic Writing . New Delhi : Orient Black Swan. JJJ

27 Unit-2 Business Communication-II Writing Notices, Office Orders and Circular Letters

CONTENTS 2.0 Objectives 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Presentation of Subject Matter 2.2.1 Content I: Writing Notices Self check I & II 2.2.2 Content II: Writing Office Orders Self check III 2.2.3 Content III: Circular Letters Self check IV 2.3 Key to Self – Check Exercises 2.4 Summary 2.5 Exercises 2.6 Project Work 2.0. Objectives:- After studying this unit, you will be able to :

G understand how to write notices, office orders and circular letters.

G How to draft the notices of the registered bodies

G Understand the difference between the notices on college notice board and the notices of registered bodies.

G Learn, how to handle official correspondence in English like writing appointment order.

28 G To inform the readers with the facts and information about the firm, its policy and cause of a circular letter.

2.1 Introduction: In the first part of Business Communication you have studied how external communication is carried on by making use of devices like telephonic communication, Fax and E-mails. You have also practiced the skills of formal and informal telephonic conversation, reporting messages, and drafting E-mails. In this part of Business Communication you are going to study how to write: A. Notices and Office Orders B. Circular letters which are used frequently for written communication among the different departmental heads and the other officials on the official matters in the big business organization. In big companies and institutions there is a mechanism for sending written or oral instructions and information to the employees. It uses a certain pattern for its activities and communication. The Board of Directors is an apex authority that takes major policy decisions. The Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer(CEO) is entrusted to implement the policy decisions and pass on necessary information to the subordinates i.e. departmental managers who in turn give instructions to the supervisors. They pass on these instructions to administrative and operative staff. Internal communication includes sending and receiving information within a business organisation. Such communication is of two types:- Formal and Informal . Formal communication includes notices, office orders and a circular letter. Formal communication is of two types: vertical and horizontal. Vertical communication flows downward i.e. from superior to subordinates or upward i.e. from subordinates to superiors and horizontal communication takes place between employees of equal rank, for example, a communication from supervisor to another supervisor. This unit deals with some tools of business communication like: 1. Notices 2. Office Orders and 3. Circular Letters

29 2.2. Presentation of Subject Matter 2.2.1 Content I : I. Writing Notices: Notice is a useful means of communication when many people within the institute or company have to be informed about new instructions, changes and other important matters. The tone of the notice is always in the form of request instead of a command. The important components of a notice are: day, date, and place of a meeting, the purpose of the notice and designation of the person concerned. Generally, notices are displayed on a notice board or written on a blackboard in the company or institute in order to have easy access to all concerned. Notices in the College : Often we come across notices on the college notice board. These notices inform students and other stakeholders what will happen and what has happened. They give information that is useful for you to do something or not to do something. The following are some specimen of how they are written: Since this notice is written on the NOTICE notice board of the college, the name of th 20 October 2012 the college is not necessary on the top The following students of B.Com. I of a notice. They are written precisely should see the office superintendant Shri due to shortage of space. The details R.S. Pawar between 11.30 am to 12.30 such as who should see whom, by what pm in connection with their compliance date and time, the reason and other for the Shivaji University Merit necessary details are given. Note the use Scholarship on or before Monday, 25 th of the modal verb ‘should’. It is used to October 2012. show obligation, duty or similar idea. The verb ‘see’ means ‘meet’. 1) Shri B.A. Bhosale While writing time we use a.m. and 2) Shri J.S. Marathe p.m. 3) Shri K.B. Patil a.m.= ante meridian i.e. the time from midnight to noon Principal p.m.= post meridian i.e. the time from noon to midnight

NOTICE Since notices are official, impersonal th and applicable to all concerned, we use 25 February 2013 passive voice in writing them. Passive voice is used when what is done is to be Students of all classes are required to made prominent. Note the structure ‘are return the books borrowed by them to required’ and the omission of a the library on or before 15 th March, preposition phrase beginning with agent 2013. Failing this they will not get their ‘by’. Note also the expression ‘failing clearance certificate from the library. which’ or ‘failing this’ which means ‘if you fail to return the books’. It is a kind of warning. Librarian

See one more example of college notice: NOTICE This notice is about the practical 4th February 2013 examination which is compulsory for all the students in the subject Physical All the students of B.A. I and B.Com. I Education. Note the verb phrases in the are hereby informed that their passive form, ‘are informed’, ‘will be compulsory practical examination in the collected’ and ‘will be displayed’. subject Physical Education will be conducted in the last week of February, Active Passive 2013. The detailed schedule of the exam informs are informed will be displayed shortly. will display will be displayed Director, will collect will be collected Department of Sports You can see here that when there are modal verbs such as will, shall, can, may, etc., you have to make use of BE + past participle for passive. Modal verbs are used to express possibility, probability, certainty, uncertainty, compulsion, obligation, etc. For example: Active : She will write a letter.

31 Passive : A letter will be written. With the help of a teacher, practice more such examples in the class. Suppose there is a change in the office hours, as a Registrar of the college, you will write a notice to inform this to students. Let us see how such notice is written: NOTICE 13 th March 2013 The college office will remain open between 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. instead of 8.00 am. To 4.00 p.m. from Monday, 18th March 2013 every day except on holidays due to University examinations.

Registrar Principal

This notice is concerned with faculty, non-teaching staff and students of the college. Note the details given like new office hours along with the old timings and reason. The day and date of commencement of new working hours are also mentioned. Both the registrar and the principal have signed this notice as they are administrative heads of the college. Self-Check I: Draft the following notices: A. As a Librarian of the college, write a notice informing students about the change in the reading room hours during examination time. B. NSS Programme Officer of the college convenes a meeting of volunteers regarding NSS special camp in the adopted village. C. Literary Association in your college is organizing an essay competition on “Global Warming”. Give details such as length of the essay, medium (Marathi, English, Hindi), last date of submission, whom to be submitted, etc.

32 II. Notices of Registered Bodies: Cooperative Societies and Companies registered under Company Act, clubs and organizations governed under their bye-laws are required to call meetings of their members, office-bearers, and shareholders. Notices for these meetings are different than simple notices displayed on the college notice-board. A notice for the general meeting should be sent to the members 15 days in advance, that is, before the date of the meeting. Here is a specimen notice for such a meeting. Nature Care Club 1………….. ………………….. Nature View Sadar Bazar Satara 415 001 2………….. …………………………………….. 12 th March 2013

3………….. ….. The second meeting of the members of the 4………….. …... Club will be held at 4-00 p.m. on Monday, 5………….. …… 28 th March 2013 in the hall of the club. 6 7………….. ………… All the members are requested to attend the meeting. 8………….. ………………………………….. Secretary Copy to: 9………….. …… All the members

Study the format of the notice carefully. The numbers given are explained below: 1. The name of the organization and its full address 2. Date of the issue of the notice – 12 March 2012 3. Serial number of the meeting – second 4. Time of the meeting - 4.00 p.m. 5. Date of the meeting – 28 th March 2013

33 6. Place of the meeting – hall of the club 7. Request to the members 8. Secretary - a person authorized to issue the notice 9. Copy to all the members Sometimes a meeting of all the members especially of club or some social organization is called for one specific purpose. See for example: Rotary Club, Karad A meeting of all the members of the Club will be held at 5-00 p.m. on Tuesday, 29th Jan. 2013 in the Assembly Hall of the club to plan and conduct a blood donation camp on the occasion of birth centenary of Yashwntrao Chavan. All the members are requested to be present. 14 th January 2013 Secretary

Postponement and Cancellation of a Meeting: A secretary of an organization may have to send a notice if the meeting is postponed or cancelled. Such notices may be sent by post or by hand. If too many people are involved, such a notice may appear in a newspaper. Youth Welfare Association Near Telephone Exchange, Tarabai Park, Kolhapur-3 13th August 2012 Members of the Association are hereby informed that the General Body Meeting scheduled to be held at Chandvani Hall, Tarabai Park, Kolhapur on 25th August, 2012 at 5-00 p.m. has been cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances. The new date will be intimated shortly. Secretary

34 Note the expressions: scheduled to be held due to unavoidable circumstances Here is another example of a cancellation of a cricket match organized by Satara Sports Council, Satara:

SATARA SPORTS COUNCIL, SATARA Near General Post – Office Satara 415 002. 10 th Oct. 2012 The Satara Sports Council, Satara regrets to inform that the Special T20 Cricket match between S.C. Railway, Miraj and Satara Sports Club teams which was to be held this morning, has been cancelled due to heavy rains over the days. Members and the public who have bought ticket for the match can claim their money from the club’s office between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. on 11th Oct., 2012. Honorary Secretary

This is a notice for the public and is normally sent to the newspaper or displayed outside the playground on a notice board. Note the details such as the reason for postponement, arrangement made to pay back the money of the public, etc. Self Check II : Draft a notice for each of the following: a) Lions Club, Satara has postponed its annual meeting for the members. b) Women's Welfare Association, Satara wants to call a meeting of its members to plan a music and dance competition. c) Women's Welfare Association, Satara has cancelled its Dandiya Competition. d) The Gymkhana Department of your college has changed the venue of cricket and hockey matches.

35 2.2.2 Content II : Writing Office Orders: Office order is a form of downward communication i.e. it travels from higher authority to subordinates. Office of the management may find it necessary to send orders to employees on the occasions like appointment, confirmation, transfer, promotion, suspension, dismissal, etc. Being a sensitive form of communication, its drafting should be clear, precise and specific in contents and language. It is generally issued by the CEO/ Personnel Manager/ Managing Director on the letter head of the company. Appointment order states the following facts: 1) pleasure of the management in appointing employee 2) The date and time for the candidate to join duties 3) Post for which he is appointed along with terms and conditions 4) The details of a salary, allowances and perquisites Specimen Order

MAHARASHTRA SCOOTERS LTD., SATARA Office Order Ref. No./ 1244 /2012 15 th December 2012 To, Shri L.A. Chavan 945 Ramlila, Saraswati Colony Karad Dist. Satara 415124

With reference to your application dated 15 th November, 2012 and subsequent interview, I am pleased to inform you that you are appointed Junior Clerk in the Department of Marketing w. e. f. 1 st January, 2013 in the Scale of Rs. 5200-20000. Your appointment is on probation for a period of six months after which

36 your services will be confirmed if found satisfactory. You will be eligible to get all allowances applicable as per the rules and regulations of the company. Sd/ Personnel Manager Copy to : 1. Accounts Department 2. Department of Marketing

The specimen given above shows the essential components of order of appointment: a) Name and address of the company on a letterhead b) Reference number and date of issuing order c) Name of the employee and designation d) Pay scale and nature of appointment e) Signing authority/officer f) Copy of the order to Also note abbreviation w. e. f. means ‘with effect from’ After completing probation period satisfactorily, the company or management sends order of confirmation to the employee stating that his job has been confirmed.

37 Specimen Order MAHARASHTRA SCOOTERS LTD., SATARA Office Order Ref. No./ 1122 /2013-14 17 th June 2013 To, Shri L.A. Chavan 945 Ramlila, Saraswati Colony Karad Dist. Satara 415124 I am pleased to inform you that as per the resolution passed in the meeting of the management your service as a Junior Clerk has been confirmed with effect from 1 st July, 2013. You will be entitled to the benefits of medical bills, provident fund, gratuity and pension as per the rules and guidelines of the company. Sd/ Personnel Manager Copy to : 1. Accounts Department 2. Department of Marketing

Self - Check III :- 1) Draft an office order regarding the appointment of an employee as a Sales Executive in the head office of a company. Imagine name of a company and other relevant details. 2) Insert necessary details in the following office orders: A) ------

Ref ------/ ------Office Order Mr Jaywant Patil, Accounts Assistant, is promoted as Senior Accountant with effect from ….. He will draw a scale of Rs. 6000-100-6500-125-7500 and other allowances admissible as per the rules of the company. Sd/ Copy to :------B) ------

Ref ------/ ------

Office Order In appreciation of the excellent performance of Mr. Saurabh Thorat in the sales promotion campaign during the month of June-July 20--- the management is pleased to grant him a special incentive of Rs. ……… effective from 1.8.20…..

Copy to : ------Sd/ ------2.2.3 Content III : WRITING CIRCULAR LETTERS Circular letters are circulated by business concerned to a large number of its customers or suppliers. They convey the same message to all those for whom they are meant. They are letters produced for mass circulation. They are, in fact, like announcement intended for general circulation. Since they are not directed to specific customers, they are likely to go unread unless they are attractive, catchy and colourful. A circular letter is intended for general circulation to customers while an

39 office circular circulates information to all those working in an office. It informs official matters to organizational members like changes in working schedules, inviting suggestions from employees, etc. A circular letter has the following features: (1) It is an information giving letter intended for general or mass circulation. (2) It conveys the same message to all concerned. (3) It must be simple, precise and accurate. A badly designed circular will circulate bad information. It will negatively affect the interests of the company. (4) It does not contain any inside address as it is not meant for specific customers. (5) It has to be persuasive and convincing to attract its readers' attention. Most of the circulars are likely to go unread and unnoticed. Circular letters are written in the following situations: (1) Setting up of a new business (2) Introducing a new product (3) Extension of existing business (4) Transfer of existing business (5) Opening of a new branch (6) Admission or retirement of a partner, that is, change in constitution of the firm (7) Change in prices (increase or decrease) or announcing a sale (8) Dissolution of business

40 Some specimen circular letters are reproduced below: (1) Announcing establishment of a new business IRANI AND COMPANY Grocers and Provision Merchants Sitaram Building, M G Road Bombay 400 001 12 th March 2012

Dear sirs, This is to inform you that we are opening a new high class Grocery and Provision Stores at the above address. In charge of the store will be Mr Ramesh Patil, who was formerly manager of the grocery department of the Navy Stores, Mumbai. His experience of the trade will certainly assist us in selecting the best quality goods, and running the business on the most efficient lines. We have adequate space to keep a large variety of stocks at hand in this centre. It is, of course, impossible for us to prove the quality of our goods and fairness of their prices unless you are good enough to give us a trial order. We are quite confident that you will be satisfied with the result. Yours Faithfully, Irani and Company

The circular letter given above shows its essential components: a) name of the company, b) date of issuing a circular, c) salutation, d) purpose of the circular letter, and e) issuing authority . See that the name of the company is written in capital letters. Also be careful while writing ‘yours’ and putting a comma after ‘faithfully’ or ‘truly’. Very often you write it as ‘your’s’ which means ‘your is’.

41 (2) Opening of a new branch

FEMININE HEALTH CENTRE F-108, Rajouri Garden New Delhi 110 027 5th June 2013 Dear Customers, Thank you for patronizing and supporting our health centre operating in your area for the last three years. We are glad to inform you that we have opened a new branch of our health centre in Moti Nagar Market. The address of the new branch is C-114 near Aryan Medical Centre, Moti Nagar Market, New Delhi Our special attractions are lymphatic massages, body therapies, bio-energetic diet counseling, steam/sauna, Gym/Yoga and aerobics. You are cordially invited to come at its opening on Friday, 14th June, 2013 from 10.00 am to 8.00 p.m. Special discount is available if you join any of our packages on the opening day of our centre. Yours Truly, Feminine Health Centre

(3) Announcement of a sale LUCKY SILK STORE H-39, Main Market, Rajouri Garden New Delhi- 110 027 7th March 2013 Dear Customers, We value your clientele and patronage offered to us till date. In our effort to provide you better services, we are renovating our store with effect from 1st April, 2013. We announce our renovation sale starting from 18th March, 2013 (Sunday) on all dress materials, saris and suits. Discount rates will vary from 30% to 50% and the last date of the sale is 31st March, 2013.

42 We hope, you will visit our store and take advantage of our renovation sale. Yours Faithfully, Sales Manager Lucky Silk Store

(4 ) Announcement of a new Partner

SHRI RAM ENTERPRISES 24, Daryaganj, New Delhi – 110 004

9th March 2013 Dear Customers, Your continued patronage has helped us expand our business. We are happy to inform that we have admitted a new partner Mr. Rajendra Pal in order to meet the growing demands of the customers and ensure prompt deliveries of sports materials. He was a good sportsperson, with many achievements during his school and college career. He has been associated with a large manufacturing company in the capacity of a Deputy Sales Executive. He has good knowledge of supervising, controlling and promoting sales. We are sure his admission to our company as a partner will be beneficial to all. We thank you for cooperation in the past and trust that you will continue to favour us with your valued business. Yours Faithfully, SHRI RAM ENTERPRISES Self – Check IV: Write circular letters for the following situations. Imagine other necessary details. a) P. N. Gadgil Jwellers Ltd., Pune wants to open a new branch in Satara.

43 b) Office of the Navneet Publications Ltd., Mumbai in Satara is shifted to a new place. c) Hindustan Lever Ltd., Mumbai have changed prices of some soaps and detergent powder.

2.3 Key to Self – Check Exercises Self-Check-I

a) NOTICE 24 th April 2013 The students of the college are hereby informed that the reading room will remain open between 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. from Wednesday, 24th April 2013 every day instead of 10.00 to 6.00 p.m. due to the university examinations. Librarian b) NOTICE 29 th Oct. 2012 A meeting of NSS volunteers will be held on Monday, 5 th November 2012 at 11.30 a.m. in the NSS office to discuss the organization of NSS special camp in Banawadi village. All concerned should remain present in time. NSS Programme Officer c) NOTICE 8th December 2012 The Literary Association of the college is organizing an essay competition on the topic “Global Warming”. The essay can be written in Marathi, Hindi and English language and should not

44 exceed more than 3000 words. Interested students should submit their essay on or before Saturday 29 th January, 2013 to Dr. N. A. Patil, Chairman of the association. Essays coming after the due date will not be considered for the competition. Chairman Principal Literary Association

Self – Check II a) LIONS CLUB Near Prabhat Theatre. Satara 13 th March, 2013 The Life members of the club are hereby informed that its annual meeting scheduled to be held on 20 th March 2013 at 5.00 p.m. in Karmveer Bhaurao Patil Hall, Pawai Naka, Satara has been postponed due to the unavoidable circumstances. The new date will be informed to you shortly. Secretary b) Women’s Welfare Association 104, Shivaji Circle, Satara 10 th March 2013 An urgent meeting of the members of the Association will be held on Saturday 16 th March, 2013 at 5.00 p. m. to discuss the organization of a national level Music and Dance competition on the occasion of birth centenary of late Yashwantrao Chavan. Secretary

45 c) Women’s Welfare Association 104, Shivaji Circle, Satara 23 rd Oct. 2012 Women’s Welfare Association, Satara regrets to inform all concerned that Dandiya Competition which is held every year on the occasion of Navratra Festival has been cancelled due severe drought situation in Satara District. Secretary d) Venutai Chavan College, Karad Gymkhana Department 10 th Oct. 2013 All the team managers and players are hereby informed that the venue of Shivaji University Satara Zonal Cricket and Hockey Matches is changed due to heavy rainfall during the last two days. Now the matches will be held at Shivaji Stadium, Karad as per the revised schedule Zonal Secretary

46 Self Check III 1) Bajaj Auto Ltd. Pune 10 th June 2013 Office Order Ref. No./ 1012/2013-14 To, Shri J. S. Patil 159, Somawar Peth, Karad, Satara As per your application dated 10 th April, 2013 and subsequent interview, I am hereby pleased to appoint you as a Sales Executive in the scale of Rs. 10000- 150-15000. You are also entitled to get other allowances as per company rules. Your appointment is on probation for one year. You should join duties on or before 25 th June, 2013. Sd Personnel Manager

A) THORAT INDUSTRIES LTD; 159, MIDC, SATARA Ref 1012 /2012-13 13 th June,2013 Office Order Mr Jaywant Patil, Accounts Assistant, is promoted as Senior Accountant with effect from 01 st July, 2013. He will draw a scale of Rs. 6000-100-6500-125-7500 and other allowances admissible as per the rules of the company. Sd/ Copy to :-Accounts Department Personnel Department

47 B) MARUTI INDUSTRIES LTD.; 134, MIDC, SHIROLI, KOLHAPUR Ref.123 /2013-14 25 th July,2013 Office Order In appreciation of the excellent performance of Mr. Saurabh Thorat in the sales promotion campaign during the month of June 2013, the management is pleased to grant him a special incentive of Rs. 2000/- effective from 1.8.2013. Copy to : Accounts Department Sd/ Personnel Manager

Self Check IV a) P N GADGIL AND SONS 59/C Wadgaon Bk. Sinhgad Road, Pune – 411 041 11 th April 2013 Dear Customers, Thank you for your cooperation and support to our showrooms in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. We are extremely delighted to inform you that we are opening a new branch in Satara for the services of our customers in Satara district from Friday, 19 th April, 2013. The address of the new branch is : C- 115, Marwadi Chowk, Satara Our new attractions are ‘Kuber Suvarna Sanchay Yojana’ and 1 % discount on labor charges for necklace and mangalsutra. This offer is valid only for a limited period of time. You are cordially invited to visit our showroom between 10.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. Yours faithfully, Manager P N Gadgil & Sons, Satara

48 b) NAVNEET PUBLICTIONS LTD., MUMBAI 145, Shivsagar, Shivaji Circle, Satara 11 th April 2013 Dear Customers, This is to inform you that we are shifting our office in Satara to a new spacious air conditioned office from 15 th April, 2013. The address of the new office is: 945. Rajlaxmi Chambers, Sadar Bazar, Satara We expect that you will extend the full cooperation and support at this place also. Yours faithfully, For Navneet Publications Ltd. Mumbai

2.4. Summary:- In this unit you have learnt how English is used for writing notices, office orders and circular letters in a business organization. We can see that an authority asks an employee to draft notices which must include important things like day, date, place and purpose of a meeting and designation of the person concerned. You have learnt how office orders related to posting, promotion, confirmation, suspension, etc. are written carefully as it is a very sensitive form of communication. You have also studied how to circulate messages to a large number of customers and suppliers through a circular letter, letters that circulate messages. The use of the ‘you’ attitude, catchy words and sentences are essential in order to make it more interesting and effective. 2.5 Exercises:- 1) As a chairman of the Discipline committee, write a notice banning the entry of the strangers in the college campus.

49 2) Write an office order asking employee to submit their monthly work report within stipulated time. 3) Draft a circular letter announcing the retirement of a partner of your firm. 2.6 Project Work:- 1) Visit nearby firm and study how the administration is run. JJJ

50 Unit-3

Preparing C.V. & Writing a letter of Application

CONTENTS 3.0 Objectives 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Writing a letter of Application for a job. 3.3 Self Assessment Questions. 3.4 Curriculum Vitae. 3.5 Self Assessment Questions 3.6 Difficult Words and Concepts 3.7 Key to Answers

3.0 Objectives : After reading this unit, you will be able to : • Select an advertisement for a job. • Write an application letter for a job • Prepare your curriculum vitae • Write your standard C.V.

3.1 Introduction: Writing letter is one of the most important activities in the world of business. We have to write various types of letters regularly in the business or in the organization. They are various types of letters. A letter of application is a business letter. It has one additional element i.e. Curriculum Vitae.

51 In this unit you will learn about writing letter of application for a job and Curriculum Vitae. A letter of application is a response to an advertisement in the newspapers or different advertisements on websites and magazines. It is representative of your ability and qualities. It is your appeal to the prospective employer. It is accompanied by C.V. A C.V. is profile of your career, qualification, work experience, additional information, interest and references. Tasks and examples in this unit will help you to understand various parts of letter of application and C.V. You will be graduated in a couple of years. After your graduation, you may choose to go for post graduation studies. But many of you will choose to go for a job. Then your search for job will start. You must know that good and lucrative jobs are given only to the studious, descent and qualified persons. So it is necessary for you to learn enthusitically and with tremendous interest different skills like writing and speaking in English during the years of your graduation. When you start looking for a job, you need to search different newspapers, magazines and Internet and also wide reading will help you to know various types of job opportunities in various fields. Then you can decide to send application letter only to those organizations or employers who is offering better package and quite suitable to your educational and background of experience. After selecting the employer or organization you can send the application to the same. But keep it in mind that writing application letter is a task of a great importance. Your application letter is your personality for the employer. So you have to make sure that you write letter with tremendous care, seriousness and passion. Your application letter is a key for your entrance in the organization. Before you start writing application letter make sure that you have done the following things. • You have read the advertisement most carefully. • You have gathered maximum information about the organization. • You have necessary qualification and documents.

52 Generally, there are two types of application letters. First, you write a letter of application as a response to advertisement of organization. But sometimes you, write application letter thinking that they are vacancies or there will be vacancies in the organizations which are huge and working through various branches and departments. Application letter written as a response to the advertisement is called as solicited letter of application and application letter written without any advertisement is called as unsolicited letter of application. Usually good application has the following points. • Application letter assures that application will serve the purpose and interest of the organization. • It gives all the information that is required by employer or the organization. • It is complete in itself with giving all important things and avoiding all unnecessary things. • It states things clearly, neatly and in good descent language. • It has everything that is asked for and speaks most positively making it strong case for interview. Following are the general precautions for application letter. • Application letter must follow the chosen pattern of the letter correctly from the beginning till the end of it. • Begin application with your interest in the post and how you have learned of the vacancy. Don't forget to mention post / position, the name and date of application. • Write a paragraph telling about your qualities, abilities and experience you have which suits for the post/position. Don't write the information that is mentioned in the C.V. • Application letter is ended with formal request and complimentary close. • Mention the enclosures without fail.

53 3.2 Writing a letter of Application for a job Patterns of Application Letter. There are two formats of application letters. i) British Format ii) American Format First, observe the British Format.

1. Letter Head 2. Date :

3. Inside address 4. Subject 5. Salutation

6. i) Introduction ii) Content iii) Conclusion

7. Complimentary Close 8. Signature

9. Enclosures. :

American format of Application Letter 1. Letter head 2. Date 3. Inside address 4. Subject 5. Salutation

54 6. i) Introduction ii) Content iii) Conclusion 7. Complimentary Clause 8. Signature : 9. Enclosures : The British format and American format of application letters are different from each other. You can select one of the patterns. But you must not mix up the patterns. Now lets try to know little more about different points of both formats. 1. The letter head : Write name and address of an applicant. 2. Date : Prefer writing date by leaving one space below the letter head. You may write the date in the following manner. 1) 16th May, 2013 - British Style 2) May, 16, 2013 - American Style 3) 16-5-2013 - Indian Style 3. Inside address : Leave one space below the date and write the recipients designation address of the organization as shown in the pattern. 4. Subject : State the subject in short and in block letters. 5. Salutation : You may use the following expressions (i) Sir/Dear Sir / Dear Sirs - if the name of the organization suggests partnership. 6. Body of the letter : Write about your request, content, qualification and experience etc. politely in brief. In case if don't have any experience, you can say that you will learn things with lot of interest and hard work to do your job on your own at the earliest. 7. Conclusion : In the concluding paragraph make a polite request for an interview call. 8. Complimentary close: Leave one space below the last line of the body. Following are the common compliments.

55 i) Yours faithfully ii) Faithfully yours iii) Truly yours iv) Yours truly v) You can use sincerely yours if the name of the addressee is used in salutation. 9. Signature: Put your signature in full below complimentary close and write your name in the bracket below the signature. 10. Enclosures: Leave two spaces below the signature and write 'Enclosures'. Here you should write a list of documents you have attached to the letter.

Now observe the following application letter in the American Format very carefully. Rajan Sharma 45, Shree Nivas, Rajarampuri 11th Lane, Kolhapur - 416008. May, 16, 2013 The Manager, Hero Honda Ltd; MIDC, Pimpari Pune - 400 018.

Sub :- APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION OF CLERK.

Dear Sir, With reference to your advertisement in 'The Times of India' dated May, 10, 2013, I wish to apply for the post of Junior Clerk in your organization. I am a commerce graduate from Shivaji University. After completing my graduation, I have worked as a clerk in a couple of firms. I have also completed a Diploma in Computer Applications. I am comfortable in English and Marathi and Hindi.

56 My C.V. is enclosed for your consideration. I wish to make my career in administration. I ensure you that I will make every possible efforts for the growth of the organization. I do hope that I shall have an opportunity of an interview. Faithfully yours, ………………….. …………………. Enclosures: i) C.V. ii) Certificate of Graduation iii) Certificate of diploma in Computer Application 3.3 Self Assessment Questions A) Choose the correct alternative and complete the following sentences : 1. Candidate may start searching for a job through ...... I. articles II. letters III. websites 2...... is attached with a letter of application. I. Money II. Newspaper III. C.V. 3. There are ...... types of letters of application. I. 1 II. 3 III. 2 4. The opening of application letter should express your interest in ..... I. Hobbies II. Post III. Advertisement B) Say True or false : 1) If you combine American and British Format of letters, it creates better impression. 2) Letter of application must give the details of your profile or career. 3) Application letter is written as a response to the advertisements is called as unsolicited letter of application. 4) Application letter ends with formal request. 5) Application letter need not follow the chosen format completely.

57 Task II : 1) Write application letter for the post of Financial Manager as a response to the following advertisement.

WANTED Financial Manager

suitable candidates may apply to The Managing Director, Tata Steel Company, 310, MIDC, Thane, 416 057

2) Write Application letter as a response to following advertisement in British format. 3) Write application letter of a response to following advertisement in American format. Bajaj Auto Finance 102, M. K. Gandhi Road, Kolhapur. 416 009,

Wanted Sales Executive, Sincere and hardworking graduates can apply immediately.

3.4 Curriculum Vitae : Resume or Bio-data is called as a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) in North America. But resume and C.V. have different formats in the modern day world of job applications. A C.V. and resume are a brief account of a person's qualification and previous occupation / experiences and skills etc. Importance of C.V. : The first thing in the minds of all candidates is a good placement. And journey to it, begins with C.V. Before writing a C.V. You must know true function of C.V.

58 A C.V. is a persuasive business message for the employer. A C.V. should encourage the employer to invite you for interview. In simple words your purpose in writing a C.V. is to create curiosity and interest in the mind of the employer. But it is not complete information of you with every details about you. Successful C.V. : A successful C.V. creates right impression in form and function. It convinces the employer to invite a candidate for a meeting or interview. It also expresses what a candidate has to offer very clearly. It highlights value to employer. Successful C.V. is a selling document. A selling C.V. is not one day exercise. It is a life long process. You need to update your skills relevant for successful job or responsibility and learn in the organization all the time. You should start thinking about your future at present time. You can learn different skills and complete courses related to your field or may be courses like communication in English. A C.V. shows signs and career progress over period of time even if you are applying for the first time for some job. Contents or parts of good C.V. : 1. Name 2. Objective 3. Residential address 4. Contact No. 5. E-mail address 6. Summary of qualification. • Education (Highest to 10th) • Skills • Technical 7. Work experience (starting from the current to the first) 8. Computer Literacy 9. Key words 10. Date of Birth 11. Marital Status

59 12. Honours/rewards/achievements 13. Hobbies / special interests 14. References Important Tips of successful C.V. 1. Career Objective: You should know your position and goal of your career. You may write clearly and specifically about your purpose, for example, you may mention. - To get more knowledge and gather experience so that I can grow with the organization and make myself a valuable person for the organization. 2. Make sure that your C.V. is not more than one and half page at the most. Remember you are giving complete information relevant to the position and not about yourself. 3. Edit your C.V. carefully and effectively to make your C.V. successful. 4. If your C.V. exceeds one page then write 'Continued' at the bottom of the first page. 5. Use traditional type face. Being professional you are not expected to use fancy typefaces. You should stick with Times, Bookman or Palatino. Jayashree (Time) Vedantika (Bookman) Vanaja (Platino) 6. Select a readable size You may use 12 point type for a C.V. Anything less than 10 point is small point type. You can make header 2 points higher than your body type for example Objective (14 points) To begin a career as an executive /clerk in the field of Insurance, Banking, Mutual funds and to grow a important position in the organization (12 points). 7. Don't mix type faces

60 C.V.is not place to show your artistic skill. Select one and stick to it. 8. Highlight with bold face type It is good to use bold face to attract the attention to certain important facts. But don't use it frequently because it will loose the necessary effect. 9. Use all captital letters for section heads. Use caps for your name header and section heads example - PROFILE. Master in the business management and marketing. Ten years experience in HR, Marketing and operations. Awarded with Executive of the year by HCL Ltd; Trained in NIIT in programming and networking. 10. Don't use Italic type. Use of Italic will help only to detract the reader. Example - Conducted various seminar on marketing (Incorrect) Conducted various seminar on marketing (correct) 11. Use margins correctly Leave at one inch margin at the top of the page and one inch borders on three sides. 12. Don't use hyphens : Hyphens breakup words and it may not help reading. 13. Space between lines should be single space and 1.5 line between paragraphs. This type of spacing creates attractive and balanced look. 14. Highlight accomplishments with bullets. It is useful because sometimes important point is not in a paragraph. 15. When you have bulleted items don't write more than two to three lines. Otherwise it will loose its effect. Bullets are used for providing information precisely. 16. Keep your lines short. Short lines help readers to read without much strain or time. 17. Prepare your C.V. as per requirement

61 Your must have standard C.V. but you should sent C.V. as per requirements of the position. Example of C.V. Name : Mr. Sachin Anil Mane Objective : To know more about account and gather experience so that I can grow with organization and make myself as a valuable person for the organization. Residential address : Plot No.IIIA/S, Rajeevnagar, 4th Lane, Kolhapur. Contact No. : Mobile : 942351415 Qualification : Exam/ Board/ Subject Percent Class Year of College University Obtained passing B.Com. Shivaji University Accountancy 73 Distinction 2011 H.S.C. Kolhapur Board All 71 Distinction 2008 S.S.C. Kolhapur Board All 68 First Class 2006

Technical Skills : Technical proficiency in Excel, Access, Word and Power point. Work Experience : Period Name of the organization Position June 2012 to 2013 New Speed Types Ltd, Kolhapur. Accountant onwards June 2011 to Dec. 2011 M/s. Kanase & Company, Kolhapur Clerk

Computer Literacy : Certificate in Computer Applications Key Words : Accountant, Computer Operator, Date of Birth : 1-8-1991

62 Marital Status : Unmarried Interests & Hobbies : Listening Music, Reading different magazines References : 1. Dr. K.S. Kale H.O.D. Deptt. of Commerce, The New College, Kolhapur. 2. Shri. R. K. Samudre, Manager, New Speed Types Ltd; Kolhapur. 15, Laxmipuri, Kolhapur. 3.5 Task : III : Self Assessment Questions 1) (a) Write your personal information Name : ...... Address : ...... E-mail : ...... Phone : ...... Date of Birth : ...... Age : ...... Marital Status : ...... Sex : ...... Nationality : ...... Languages known : ...... (b) Give details of your educational qualifications in the following table : Exam/ Board/ Subject Percentage Class Year of Degree University Obtained Passing B.Com. H.S.C. S.S.C.

63 (c) Imagine that you are working as accountant and write your work experience in the following table. Experience : Name of the Position Work period Nature of duty Employer

(d) 1) Imagine and write your additional information about your participation in sports and computer knowledge. 2) Imagine that you are graduate and prepare your own standard C.V. 3) Write a letter of application in reply to the following advertisement.

Wanted a DTP Operator with good knowledge of English, Knowledge of Computer must, Experienced candidate will be given preference. Apply, Manager, New Design Ltd. 11th lane Shahupuri, Kolhapur.

4) Write suitable C.V. for the above advertisement. 5) Write a letter of application in reply to the following advertisement

Graduate with passion for sales, good communication skills in English and Hindi is essential, candidates should have a two wheeler with driving license, apply within 10 days. Manager, Dabour India Ltd., Plot No.10, MIDC, Pune.

Prepare C.V. which is suitable to the above advertisement.

64 3.6 Difficult Words & concepts : Curriculum Vitae : brief written account of one’s past history used when applying for a job etc. position : Person’s place or rank in relation to other in employments. post : Job profile : brief biography prospective : who is one day to be., in future reliable : that may be relied or depended upon testimonial : certificate; written statement testifying to a person’s merits, abilities, qualifications etc. 3.7 Key to answers : 3.3 Task I : A. a. 1- websites 2- C.V. 3- 2. 4- post B. b. 1- false, 2- false, 3- false, 4- true, 5- false Task II : 1) C.S. Mane, 30, Shahupuri 4 th Lane, Pant Marg, Kolhapur -416 001. 20 th June 2013. The Managing Director, Tata Steel Company, 310, MIDC, Thane, 416 057. Sub :- Application for the post of Financial Manager. Dear Sir, Your advertisement for the post of Financial Manager in The Times of India of 13 th September, 2013 interested me because I have the kind of training and experience which you expect in the person you are looking for.

65 After my M. Com. I specialized in Management Accountancy while working for my MBA degree. Then one year’s training as Management Accountant and subsequent experience of working as assistant Financial Manager in Kalyani Forge, Pune has given me an insight into budgeting, accounting and financial control. I have indicated details of my qualification, experience etc. in the enclosed C.V., for your kind consideration. I would be grateful to you if you consider my application favourably. My C.V. is attached herewith.

Your’s Faithfully,

(C.S. Mane) Encl : C.V. 2) Write British format on your own. 3) Write American format on your own.

3.5 Task III : 1)(a) Write your personal information in the blank places. Task III : 1) (b): Write your own information in the given table. Task III : 1) (c) Imagine that you are working as accountant and write your work experience in the following table. Experience : Name of the Position Work period Nature of duty Employer Menon Ltd. Accountant Sept. 13 th To keep Company’s MIDC Thane onward Account GPT Transport Accountant June 12 th to To keep company’s Kolhapur. Aug 13 th account

66 Task III : (d) 1) Write your additional information about your participation in sports and computer knowledge. Sports : 1) Played football for The New College, Kolhapur 1) Selected in Shivaji University, Football Team 2) Received best player award in Kolhapur Football Association’s Tournaments. Computer Knowledge : 1) Completed MS-CIT Course 2) Completed Tally Task : III) d) 2) Write on your own. Task : III) d) 3) Write on your own. Task : III) d) 4) Write on your own Task : III) d) 5) Write on your own Task : III) d) 6) Write on your own

67 Unit-4 Growing Up Joyce Cary

Content 4.0 Objectives 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Text part I 4.3 Text part II 4.4 Exercises 4.5 Vocabulary exercises 4.6 Summary 4.7 Answers to the Questions 4.8 Writing Activity

4.0 Objectives In this unit you are going to learn about :

G Joyce Cary as a story writer.

G changing relations between the parents and their daughters when they grow up

G how to accept the change and behave accordingly

G how to describe an incident in English making proper use of tenses, direct and reported speech etc. 4.1 Introduction Joyce Cary was a man, and this was his real name. When he died in 1957, he had become accepted widely as one of our best modern novelists. He wrote about many different things- Africa, children, painters and their lives- but always with

68 generosity and a sharp intelligence. In this story, which is told without tricks of style or fireworks of any kind, many readers will be amused to recognize themselves ; but Cary shows us that “growing up”, whether at thirteen or at fifty-two, can be a disconcerting challenge. 4.2 Text part I Robert Quick, coming home after a business trip, found a note from his wife. She would be back at four, but the children were in the garden. He tossed down his hat, and still in his dark business suit, which he disliked very much, made at once for the garden. He had missed his two small girls and looked forward eagerly to their greeting. He had hoped indeed that they might, as often before, have been waiting at the corner of the road, to flag the car, and drive home with him. The Quicks’ garden was a wilderness. Except for a small Vegetable patch near the pond, and one bed where Mrs. Quick grew flowers for the house, it had not been touched for years. Old apple trees tottered over seedy laurels, unpruned roses. Tall ruins of dahlias and delphiniums hung from broken sticks. The original excuse for this neglect was that the garden was for the children. They should do what they liked there. The original truth was that neither of the Quicks cared for gardening. Besides, Mrs. Quick was too busy with family, council, and parish affairs, Quick with his office, to give time to a hobby that bored them both. But the excuse had become true. The garden belonged to the children, and Quick was even proud of it. He would boast of his wild garden, so different from any neighbour’s shaved grass and combed beds. It had come to seem, for him, a triumph of imagination and this afternoon, once more, he found it charming in its wildness, an original masterpiece among gardens. And, in fact, with the sun just warming up in mid May, slanting steeply past the trees, and making even old weeds shine red and gold, it had the special beauty of untouched woods, where there is still, even among closely farmed lands, a little piece of free nature left, a suggestion of the frontier, primeval forests.

69 “A bit of real wild country,” thought Quick, a townsman for whom the country was a place for picnics. And he felt at once released, escaped. He shouted, “Hullo, hullo, children.” There was no answer. And he stopped, in surprise. Then he thought, “They’ve. gone to meet me—I’ve missed them.” And this gave him both pleasure and dismay. The last time the children had missed him, two years before, having gone a mile down the road and lain in ambush behind a hedge, there had been tears. They had resented being searched for, and brought home; they had hated the humiliating failure of their surprise. But even as he turned back towards the house, and dodged a tree, he caught sight of Jenny, lying on her stomach by the pond, with a book under her nose. Jenny was twelve and had lately taken furiously to reading. Quick made for the pond with long steps, calling, “Hullo, hullo, Jenny, hullo,” waving. But Jenny merely turned her head slightly and peered at him through her hair. Then she dropped her cheek on the book as if to say, “Excuse me, it’s really too hot.” And now he saw Kate, a year older. She was sitting on the swing, leaning sideways against a rope, with her head down, apparently in deep thought. Her bare legs, blotched with mud, lay along the ground, one foot hooked over the other. Her whole air was one of languor and concentration. To her father’s “Hullo,” she answered only in a faint muffled voice, “Hullo, Daddy.” “Hullo, Kate.” But he said no more and did not go near. Quick never asked for affection from his girls. He despised fathers who flirted with their daughters, who encouraeed them to love. It would have been especially wrong, he thought, with these two. They were naturally impulsive and affectionate-Jenny had moods of passionate devotion, especially in the last months. She was growing up, he thought, more quickly than Kate, and she was going to be an exciting woman, strong in all her feelings, intelligent, reflective. “Well, Jenny,” he said, “what are you reading now?” But the child answered only by a slight wriggle of her behind. Quick was amused at his own disappointment. He said to himself, “Children have no manners but at least they’re honest they never pretend.” He fetched himseld a deck chair and the morning paper, which he had hardly looked at befope his early start on the road. He would make the best of things. At fifty-two, having lost most of’

70 his illusiols, he was good at making the best of things. “It’s a lovely day,” he thought, “and I’m free till Sunday night.” He looked round him as he opened the paper and felt again the pleasure of the garden. What a joy, at last, to be at peace. And the mere presence of the childrel was a pleasure. Nothing could deprive him of that. He was home again. Jenny had got up and wandered away among the trees; her legs too were bape and dirty, and her dress had a large green stain at the side. She had been in the pond. And now Kate allowed herself to collapse slowly out of the swing and lay on her back with her hair tousled in the dirt, her arms thrown apart, her small dirty hands with black nails turned palm upwards to the sky. Her cocker bitch, Snort, came loping and sniffing, uttered one short bark and rooted at her mistress’s legs. Kate raised one foot and tickled her stomach, then rolled over and buried her face in her arms. When Snort tried to push her nose under Kate’s thigh as if to turn her over, she made a half kick and murmured, “Go away, Snort.” “Stop it, Snort,” Jenny echoed in the same meditative tone. The sisters adored each other and one always came to the other help. But Snort only stopped a momelt to gaze at Jenny, then tugged at Kate’s dress. Kate made another more energetic kick and said, “Oh, do go away, Snort.” Jenny stopped in her languid stroll, snatched a bamboo from the border, and hurled it at Snort like a spear. The bitch, startled, uttered a loud uncertain bark and approached, wagging her behind so vigorously that she curled her body sideways at each wag. She was not sure if this was a new game, or if she had committed some grave crime. Jenny gave a yell and rushed at her. She fled yelping. At once Kate jumped up, seized another bamboo and threw it, shouting, “Tiger, tiger.” The two children dashed after the bitch, laughing, bumping together, falling over each other and snatahing up anything they could find to throw at the fugitive, pebbles, dead daffodils, bits of flower-pots, lumps of earth. Snort, horrified, over- whelmed, dodged to and fro, barked hysterically, crazily, wagged her tail in desperate submission; finally put it between her legs and crept whining between a broken shed and the wall.

71 Robert was shocked. He was fond of the sentimental foolish Snort, and he saw her acute misery. He called to the children urgently, “Hi, Jenny don’t do that. Don’t do that, Kate. She’s frightened you might put her eye out. Hi, stop —stop.” This last cry expressed real indignation. Jenny had got hold of a rake and was trying to hook Snort by the collar. Robert began to struggle out of his chair. But suddenly Kate turned round, aimed a pea-stick at him and shouted at the top of her voice. “Yield, Paleface.” Jenny at once turned and cried, “Yes, yes—Paleface, yield.” She burst into a shout of laughter and could not speak, but rushed at the man with the rake carried like a lance. The two girls, staggering with laughter, threw themselves upon their father. “Paleface—Paleface Robbie. Kill him-scalp-him. Torture him.” They tore at the man and suddenly he was frightened. It seemed to him that both the children, usually so gentle, so “affectionate, had gone completely mad, vindictive. They were hurting him, and he did not know how to defend himself without hurting them, without breaking their skinny bones, which seemed as fragile as a bird’s legs. He dared not even push too hard against the thin ribs which seemed to bend under his hand. Snort, suddenly recovering confidence, rushed barking from cover and seized this new victim by the sleeve, grunting and tugging. “Hi,” he shouted, trying to catch at the bitch. “Call her off, Kate. Don’t, don’t, children.” But they battered at him, Kate was jumping on his stomach, Jenny had seized him by the collar as if to strangle him. Her face, close to his own, was that of a homicidal maniac; her eyes were wide and glaring, her lips were curled back to show all her teeth. And he was really strangling. He made a violent effort to throw the child off, but her hands were firmly twined in his collar. He felt his ears sing. Then suddenly the chair gave way all three fell with a crash. Snort, startled, and perhaps pinched, gave a yelp, and snapped at the man’s face. Notes and glossary toss (v): to throw something lightly or carelessly totter (v): to fall ambush (n): the act of hiding and waiting and then making a surprise attack dodge (v): to move quickly and suddenly to one side to avoid something

72 languor (n): the pleasant state of feeling lazy and without energy impulsive (aj.): acting suddenly without thinking about the consequences cocker (n): type of dog with soft hair hurl (v): to throw something violently in a particular direction snatch (v): to take something quickly and often rudely hysterically (av): in an uncontrolled way wag (v): move from side to side yield (v): to stop resisting something vindictive (aj): trying to harm or upset somebody seize (v): to capture somebody yelp (n): to give a sudden short cry snap (v): to try to bite somebody Task – 1 A. Complete the following statements choosing the correct alternative from the ones given below them. 1) Robert Quick had ----daughter/s. a) one b) no c) two d) three 2) When Quick came home, the children were ------a) at school b) in the house c) in the garden d) in the street 3) The garden belonged to the ------a) parents b) government c) parents d) children 4) Quick would boast of his ------a) children b) wife c) ancestors d) wild garden 5) The garden had the special beauty in ------a) mid-March b) mid-May c) August d) June 6) Kate was ------year/s old.

73 a) twelve b) eleven c) thirteen d) one 7) Mr. Quick felt that children have no manners but at least they’re ------a) punctual b) honest c) generous d) full of respect 8) The sisters ------each other a) hated b) loved c) adored d) envied B. Answer the following questions in one sentence each. 1) Where were the children when Quick came home? 2) What was the original excuse for the neglect of the garden? 3) What did Quick dislike very much? 4) Whom did the garden belong? 5) What was the country for Quick? 6) How old was Jenny? 7) How old was Kate? 8) How old was Quick? 9) What was Quick good at? 10) What was the name of the bitch? 11) What did the children throw at Snort? 12) Whom did Kate call as Paleface? 4.3 Text part 2 Kate was lying across his legs, Jenny on his chest; she still held his collar in both hands. But now, gazing down at him, her expression changed. She cried, “Oh, she’s bitten you. Look, Kate.” Kate, rolling off his legs, came to her knees. “So she has, bad Snort.” The girls were still panting, flushed, struggling with laughter. But Jenny reproached her sister, “It’s not a joke. It might be poisoned.” “I know,” Kate was indignant. But burst out again into helpless giggles.

74 Robert picked himself up and dusted his coat. He did not utter any reproaches. He avoided even looking at the girls in case they should see his anger and surprise. He was deeply shocked. He could not forget Jenny’s face, crazy, murderous; he thought, “Not much affection there. she wanted to hurt. It was as if she hated me.” It seemed to him that something new had broken into his old simple and happy relation with his daughters; that they had suddenly receded from him into a world of their own in which he had no standing, a primitive, brutal world. He straightened his tie. Kate had disappeared; Jenny was gazing at his forehead and trying to suppress her own giggles. But when he turned away, she caught his arm, “Oh Daddy, where are you going?” “To meet your mother—she must be on her way.” “Oh, but you can’t go like that —we’ve got to wash your bite.” “That’s all right, Jenny. It doesn’t matter.” “But Kate is getting the water and it might be quite bad.” And now, Kate, coming from the kitchen with a bowl of water, called out indignantly, “Sit down, Daddy —sit down — how dare you get up.” She was playing the stern nurse. And in fact, Robert, though still in a mood of disgust, found himself obliged to submit to this new game. At least it was more like a game. It was not murderous. And a man so plump and bald could not allow himself even to appear upset by the roughness of children. Even though the children would not understand why he was upset, why he was shocked. “Sit down at once, man,” Jenny said. “Kate, put up the chair.” Kate put up the chair, the two girls made him sit down, washed the cut, painted it with iodine, stuck a piece of plaster on it. Mrs. Quick, handsome, rosy, good- natured, practical, arrived in the middle of this ceremony, with her friend Jane Martin, Chairman of the Welfare Committee. Both were much amused by the scene, and the history of the afternoon. Their air said plainly to Robert, “All you children — amusing yourselves while we run the world.” Kate and Jenny were sent to wash and change their dirty frocks. The committee was coming to tea. And at tea, the two girls, dressed in smart clean frocks, handed round cake and bread and butter with demure and reserved looks. They knew how to

75 behave at tea, at a party. They were enjoying the dignity of their own performance. Their eyes passed over their father as if he did not exist, or rather as if he existed only as another guest, to be waited on. And now, seeking as it were a new if lower level of security, of resignation, he said to himself, “Heavens, but what did I expect? In a year or two more I shan’t count at all. Young men will come prowling, like the dog’s after Snort. I shall be an old buffer, useful only to pay bills.” The ladies were talking together about a case-the case of a boy of fourteen, a nice respectable boy, most regular at Sunday school, who had suddenly robbed his mother’s till and gone off in a stolen car. Jenny, seated at her mother’s feet, was listening intently, Kate was feeding chocolate roll to Snort, and tickling her chin. Quick felt all at once a sense of stuffiness. He wanted urgently to get away, to escape. Yes, he needed some male society, he would go to the club. Probably no one would be there but the card-room crowd, and he could not bear cards. But he might find old Wilkins in the billiard room. Wilkins at seventy was a crashing, a dreary bore, who spent half his life at the club who was always telling you how he had foreseen the slump, and how clever he was at investing his money. What good was money to old Wilkins? But, Quick thought, he could get up a game with Wilkins, pass an hour or two with him, till dinner-time, even dine with him. He could phone his wife. She would not mind. She rather like a free evening for her various accounts. And he need not go home till the children were in bed. And when after tea, the committee members pulled out their agenda, he stole away. Suddenly, as he turned by the corner house, skirting its front garden wall, he heard running steps and a breathless call. He turned, it was Jenny. She arrived, panting, holding herself by the chest. “Oh, I couldn’t catch you.” “What is it now, Jenny?” “1 wanted to look at the cut.” Robert began to stoop. But she cried, “No, I’ll get on the wall, Put me up.” He lifted her on the garden wall which made her about a foot taller than himself. Having reached this superior position she poked the plaster. “I just wanted to make sure it was sticking. Yes, it’s all right.”

76 She looked down at him with an expression he did not recognize. What was the game, medical, material? Was she going to laugh? But the child frowned. She was also struck by something new and unexpected, Then she tossed back her hair. “Good-bye.” She jumped down and ran off, The man walked slowly towards the club, “No,” he thought, “not quite a game —not for half a seeond. She’s growing up — and so am I.” Notes and glossary reproach(v): to blame or criticize somebody recede (v): to move away from somebody giggle (v): to laugh in a silly way demure (aj): quiet and serious till (n): the drawer where the money is kept stuffiness(n): boredom dreary (aj): dull and not interesting homicidal (aj): likely to kill another person Task -2 A. Complete the following statements choosing the correct alternative from the ones given below them. 1) ------came from the kitchen with a bowl of water. a) Jenny b) Robert Quick c) Kate d) Mrs. Quick 2) Mrs. Quick arrived with her friend ------a) Wilkins b) Robert Quick c) Snort d) Jane Martin 3) ------wanted to look at the cut. a) Jenny b) Kate c) Mr. Quick d) Mrs. Quick B. Answer the following questions in one sentence each. 1. Why did Quick avoid looking at the girls? 2. What type of a woman Mrs. Quick was?

77 3. Who was Jane Martin? 4. Why did Quick want to get away from the tea party? 5. Why would Mrs. Quick not mind Mr. Quick dining with Wilkins? 6. Why did Jenny want to get on the wall? 4.4 Exercises A. Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each : 1) What did Quick find when he came home? 2) What was the original truth about the Quicks? 3) Why would Quick boast of his wild garden? 4) What happened two years ago? 5) What was Jenny doing when Quick caught sight of her? 6) How did Jenny respond to her father’s call “ Hullo”? 7) In what condition did Quick see Kate? 8) How did Snort react when Jenny hurled a bamboo at it? 9) What did Snort do when the children started throwing anything at it? 10) What had happened to Quick’s old relation with his daughters? 11) How did the two girls behave at tea? B) Write short notes : 1) Quick’s garden. 2) The garden in mid-May. 3) The two girls treating the cut 4) Quick’s realization in the end? 5) The two girls and the bitch 6) Mr. Quick, a victim

78 4.5 Vocabulary exercises Complete the following table. Noun Adjective Verb neglect imagination pleasure humiliating meditative laughter suggest hate affectionate develop

E) Give antonyms of the following words. forward, hope, before, tall, like, firm, rough, clean F) Give synonym of the following words. despise, maniac, secure, certain, meditate G) Derive new words by adding affixes (suffixes and prefixes). honest, manner, touch, imagine, appear, pleasure, cover, respect, allow, probable H) Match the words in group A with their meanings in group B. A B 1. snap : to capture somebody 2. recede : to give a sudden short cry 3. seize : to try to bite somebody 4. yelp : to move away from somebody

79 4.6 Summary Robert Quick came home from his business trip. From his wife’s note he came to know that his daughters were in the garden. He went to the garden. Quicks garden was nothing but a wilderness, almost completely neglected by the family. Neither Quick nor his wife had time to look after the garden. In fact, the garden belonged to the children. In the garden, the father caught the sight of Jenny who was reading. To her father’s hullo, Jenny just said hullo and dropped her cheek on the book. To her father’s hullo, Kate, in a faint muffled voice said “hullo daddy”. Both the daughters did not show any affection towards their father. The father thought that they had no manners but were honest, they never pretend. At this time, Snort, a bitch, came loping and sniffing. The girls snatched a bamboo and threw at her. Robert Quick tried to stop them. Suddenly Kate turned round and aimed a pea-stick at him and shouted at the top of her voice, “yield paleface”. Jenny joined her sister. The two girls were staggering with laughter. They threw themselves upon their father. Robert was frightened, he did not know how to defend himself. Meanwhile Snort rushed barking, seized Quick by the sleeve. She gave a yelp and snapped at his face. The bitch had bitten him. Robert had the feeling that something new had broken into his old relation with his daughters, they had suddenly receded from him into a world of their own in which he had no standing. When Quick turned away, Kate came with a bowl of water and called out indignantly, “Sit down daddy! how dare you get up?” She was playing the stern nurse. The two girls made him sit down, washed his cut, painted it with iodine, stuck it with plaster on it. At home, after tea, Quick wanted to get away. Suddenly Jenny came. She wanted to look at the cut. Robert began to stoop. Jenny cried, “No I will get on the wall. Put me up”. He lifted her on the garden wall. “it’s all right” She looked down at him and frowned. She was also struck by something new and unexpected. She tossed her heir and ran off. Robert walked slowly towards the club. He realized that it was not a game. The fact was that she was growing up and so was he.

80 4.7 Answers to the Questions Task – 1 A. 1) two 2) in the garden 3) children 4) wild garden 5) mid-May 6) thirteen 7) honest 8) loved B. 1. in the garden 2. the garden was for the children 3. his dark business suit 4. to the children 5. a place for picnic 6 . twelve 7. thirteen 8. fifty-two 9. making the best of thing 10. Snort 11. pebbles, dead daffodils, bits of flower pots, lumps of earth 12. Robert Quick Task -2 A. 1) Kate 2) Jane Martin 3) Jenny

81 B. 1. in case they should see his anger and surprise. 2. handsome, rosy, good-natured, practical 3. chairman of the Welfare Committee 4. he wanted some male society for which he would go to the club. 5. she rather liked a free evening for her various accounts 6. to make sure that the plaster was sticking. Exercises A) 1. When Robert Quick came home after his business trip, he found a note from his wife. In this note she had written that she would be back at four and that the children were in the garden. 2. The original truth was that neither of the Quicks cared for gardening. Mrs. Quick was busy with family, council and parish affairs whereas Mr. Quick was busy with his office. Both had no time to give to a hobby that bored them. 3. It was different from any other garden in the neighbourhood. For Mr. Quick, it was a triumph of imagination, an original masterpiece among gardens. He found it charming in its wilderness. In mid-May, it had the special beauty. 4. Two years ago, the children had missed their father. They had gone a mile down the road and lain in ambush behind a hedge. They had resented being searched for and brought home. They had hated the failure of their surprise. 5. When Mr. Quick turned back towards the house and dodged the tree, he caught the sight of Jenny. She was lying on her stomach by the pond. Her book was under her nose. 6. Jenny merely turned her head slightly. She peered at him through her hair. Then she dropped her cheek on the book. This meant that she was not eager to see her father. 7. Kate was sitting on the swing. She was leaning sidewise against the rope, with her head down .Her bare legs, covered with mud, lay along the ground, one foot hooked over the other.

82 8. The bitch startled and uttered a loud uncertain bark and approached, wagging her behind so vigorously that she curled her body sideways at each wag. She was not sure if this was a new game or if she had committed some grave crime. 9. Snort was horrified and over-whelmed. She dodged to and fro, barked hysterically, crazily, wagged her tail in desperate submission; finally she put it between piper legs and crept whining between a broken shed and the wall. 10. It seemed to him that something new had broken into his old simple and happy relation with his daughter. They had suddenly receded from him into a world of their own in which he had no standing. It was a primitive, brutal world. 11. The girls knew how to behave at tea. They were enjoying the dignity of their own performance. Their eyes passed over their father as if he did not exist or as if he existed as another guest to be waited on. B) 1. Quick’s garden was a wilderness. Except for a small vegetable patch and a bed of flowers, it had not been touched for years .Quick was proud of the garden. He would boast of it. It was different from the other gardens in the neighborhood. For Quick, it was a triumph of imagination, an original mouthpiece among gardens. He found it charming in its wilderness. 2. In Mid-May when the sun warmed up and slanted steeply past the trees, it made even old weeds shine red and gold. It had then the special beauty of untouched goods where there is still a little piece of free nature left among closely farmed lands, a suggestion of the frontier, primeval forests. 3. Quick was bitten by the bitch. The girls were still laughing. Soon Jenny realized that it might be poisoned. When Quick got up and was about to go, Jenny stopped him. Meanwhile Kate came with a bowl of water. She was playing the stern nurse. She put up the chair. The two girls made the father sit down. They washed the cut and painted it with iodine and stuck a piece of plaster on it. 4. The girls treated the cut and stuck plaster on it. After tea, when Quick was about to go out, Jenny came panting. She wanted to make sure that the

83 plaster was sticking. Quick wondered whether it was a game , medical or material, or whether she was going to laugh. But Jenny frowned. She was also struck by something new and unexpected. She jumped down and ran off. Quick walked slowly towards the club. He realized that it was not a game, not for half a second. She was growing up and so was he. 5. Jenny and Kate were in the garden when Snort came. She tried to push her nose under Kate’s thigh. Kate murmured, “go away”. The sisters adored each other and one always came to the other’s help. They snatched a bamboo and hurled it at Snort. They dashed after the bitch, laughing and throwing anything at the bitch. Snort barked hysterically, wagged her tail in desperate submission. When Quick tried to stop the girls, Snort seized him by his sleeve and snapped at his face. The girls treated the cut afterwards. 6. Robert Quick was fond of Snort. When he tried to stop the girls from hurting the bitch, the two girls threw themselves upon their father. The father was frightened. He did not know how to defend himself. Snort suddenly rushed barking and seized him by his sleeve and snapped at his face. The father was deeply shocked. Kate came with a bowl of water and ordered him to sit down. She was playing the stern nurse. Robert found himself obliged to submit to this new game. A man so plump and bald could not allow himself even to appear upset by the roughness of the children.

84 Vocabulary exercises A)

Noun Adjective Verb Neglect, negligence Negligible, neglectful, ------neglected, negligent ----- imaginary imagine ------Pleasing, pleasant. please ------Pleased, pleasurable Humiliation ------humiliate ------meditation ------Meditate ------Laughable, laughing Laugh ------suggestion Suggestive, suggestible ------Hatred, hate, hater hateful ------affection ------Affect ------Development, developer Developed, developing, ------developmental ---

B) Forward x backward Hope x despair Before x later/back Tall x short Like x dislike/unlike

85 Firm x unstable/shakable/ changeable/unsteady/fluctuating Rough x smooth Clean x unclean/dirty C) Despise = hate/dislike Maniac = madman, fanatic Secure = safe, protected, procure Certain = sure, definite, guaranteed, bound Meditate = contemplate/ reflect/speculate/think over D) Honest - honesty, honestly, dishonest, dishonestly Manner - mannerly, mannerism, mannerist, mannered Touch - touchy, touching, touché, touched, touchiness, touchier, touchiest Imagine - imaginary, imagination, imaginable, imaginative unimaginable, unimaginative Appear - appearance, disappear, disappearance, appearing, disappearing Pleasure - pleasurable, pleasurably Cover - uncover, covering, coverage, covered Respect - respected, disrespect, respectful, respectfully, respectability, respecter, disrespectful Allow - allowable, allowably Probable - probably, probability, probabilistic, probabilistically, probabilism, improbable

86 E) A B 1. Snap to try to bite somebody 2. Recede move away from somebody 3. Seize to capture somebody 4. Yelp to give a sudden short cry 4.8 Writing activity Write a short essay each on the following : 1. Changes in the relationship between you and your parents in the course of time. 2. Describe how eager you were to see your parents after the gap of a few days. 3. Do you now need your parents as much as you needed them in the past? Why ? JJJ

87 Unit-5 The Nalpat House Kamla Das

Content 5.0 Objectives 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Text I 5.3 Text II 5.4 Exercises 5.5 Vocabulary Exercises 5.6 Summary 5.7 Answers to the questions 5.8 Writing Activity 5.0 Objectives In this unit you are going to learn :

G about Kamala Das as an Indian writer in English

G about the ancestral house with its spacious interiors and the surrounding areas

G about the occupants in the house with their striking features

G a few new vocabulary items which occur in this passage.

G how to describe a house or a person 5.1 Introduction Kamala Das was a major Indian poet and litterateur. She was known for her fiery poems and explicit autobiography. Her open and honest treatment of female

88 sexuality, free from any sense of guilt, infuses her writing with power and marks her as an iconoclast in her generation. On 31 st May,2009 aged 75, she died in Pune. In ‘Nalapat House’ she describes the ancestral house in Malabar. All the minute details of the house and its surrounding regions are given in such a way that the very picture of it stands before us. The ancestress Kunji, the aunt, the grand uncle and the Mahatma are some of the occupants in the house that the author focuses on. 5.2 Text part I When the Second World War threatened to grow into an interminable horror my father decided to send us to our ancestral home in Malabar which was called the Nalapat House. The house, though not large by local standards, had an inner courtyard and a temple situated inside the main hall which opened out to the south. There was a gatehouse which had a steep staircase running up to the luxuriously furnished bedroom where my grand-uncle slept at night, a portico supported by pillars that led on to a higher portico where the Ottanthullal dancers performed several times a year, a hall where the men sat down to eat their meals, a dining hall for the women of the house, the servants’ quarters, three small bedrooms on the ground floor, three bedrooms on the first floor overlooking a narrow verandah and an attic where the old trunks and palanquins were stored. To the south of the house was the snake shrine which was at least two thousand years old, where the idols of Renuka and her father Vasuki were worshipped and beyond that stretched the regions of the dead, the Sradhappura, the house built for cooking food for the dead on their death anniversaries, and the coconut estate where after each cremation a tree was planted in memory of the newly deceased. There was a bathhouse near the pond and a crocodile that came out in the afternoon after the servants had also finished their baths, to lie in the sun with its mouth open to trap the dragonflies. To the north there were the usual cattle sheds and the grain-husking yard. Above all those structures like a green canopy hung the leaves of the many trees that my ancestress Kunji had planted during her honeymoon days. Large trees bearing flowers or fruits threw scatter rugs of green shadow all around the house where we played throughout the day, my brother and I.

89 The house was gifted to my ancestress, the fifteen-year-old Kunji by her new and doting husband after she had come to his village, fleeing from the burning city of Cochin, where she had gone with her uncles to attend a relative’s wedding. An aristocrat was to be shown to her at Cochin who was to marry her if she liked his face and if her uncles approved of his deportment. But the English East India Company was not aware of all those delicious schemes, when they decided to blow up the most important trade port to weaken the power of the Dutch from whom they had just then wrested the city. It was at that time beautiful, with well- laid-out streets and gardens. The Portuguese churches had been transformed into warehouses by the Dutch who were not religious but were artistic enough to call their streets by musical names like de Linde Straat and de Bloomendaal Straat. To Spite the Dutch and their last Indian governor, Von Spall, the English governor blew up with gunpowder the magnificent warehouses and the residences of the traders and the Nair barons. Women and children perished in the blaze. The ones who escaped from the burning city with the connivance of the English and their secret allies were too dazed to speak of their ordeal. Kunji, accompanied by a servant, bearing two Dutch trunks painted red and gold, made her way towards home, the principality of Alengad which included Alwaye but was made to change her route by an amorous chieftain who brought her over to his village and married her. He was well versed in astrology and architecture. He chose the site for the Nalapat House and designed it. To the east lay lush paddy fields and also to the north. From the west the blue and frothy Arabian Sea roared at night. Near the snake shrine was the rare Nirmatala tree which burst into bloom every summer with large butter-coloured flowers that filled even the inner rooms with perfume. Glossary Interminable (aj): lasting a very long time and therefore boring or annoying portico (n): a roof that is supported by columns shrine (n): a place where people come to worship deceased (n): dead

90 deportment (n): the way in which a person behaves to spite (v): to deliberately annoy or upset somebody connivance (n): not taking notice of something wrong principality (n): a country that is ruled by a prince Task – 1 A. Complete the following statements choosing the correct alternative given below them 1. The snake shrine was at least ------thousand years old. a) one b) three c) four d) two 2. A tree was planted in the memory of the deceased at the ------estate. a) coffee b) tea c) coconut d) cashew 3. ------was the author’s ancestress. a) Kunji b) Nalapat c) Ammini d) Varahamihira 4. Near the snake shrine was the rare ------tree. a) Fig b) Nirmatala c) Sanjivani d) Bunyan B. Answer the following questions in one sentence each. 1. What was the ancestral home of Kamala Das called? 2 .Why did the father decide to send the family to Malabar? 3. What was the Shradhappura built for? 4. Who gifted the house to Kunji? 5. Why did the East India Company decide to blow up the trade port?

91 5.3 Text – 2 When we went there as children, the Nalapat House had seven occupants, not counting the servants. My grandmother, my aunt Ammini, my grand-uncle, the poet, my great-grandmother, her two sisters and Mahatmaji. ‘Will Mahatmaji approve,’ whispered the old ladies of the household to one another at the beginning of any activity. It was as if Mahatma Gandhi was the head of the Nalapat House. His photographs hung in every room. Even the servants felt his presence in the house and began wearing khaddar, My grandmother spun khadi yarn on a thakli holding it aloft over her head in the afternoon, while the others slept and the old windows creaked in the heat. She was plump, fair-skinned and good-looking. Her throat, whenever I nestled close to her, smelled of sandalwood. She told me of the trip the ladies of the family once made to Guruvayoor to donate their jewellery to the Harijan Fund. Mahatmaji had talked in Hindi and in English which they could not anyway understand, but his smile hypnotized them. All the jewellery was given away. I thought of Gandhiji as a brigand, although I did not speak my mind then. I thought it his diabolic aim to strip the ladies of all their finery so that they became plain and dull. Austerity seemed meaningless at that time of my life. And, a cruel practical joke! My aunt Ammini was an attractive woman who kept turning down all the marriage proposals that came her way. She wore only white khaddar and did not use oil on her wavy hair. She chose to lead the life of an ascetic, but when she was alone in her bedroom facing the fragrant Parijatam tree she sat on the window sill and recited the love songs written by Kumaranasan, whose poetry was fashionable then. It was while listening to her voice that I sensed for the first time that love was a beautiful anguish and a thapasya... My grand-uncle Narayana Menon was a famous poet-philosopher. He occupied the portico where the easychairs were placed and the table with heavy books. There was above his chair a punkah made of wood and covered with calico ruffles, which a servant seated far away could move by pulling on its string. Beside his chair was a hookah which my grand-aunt meticulously cleaned every morning. Grand-uncle

92 looked every inch a king, although he did not have enough money even to buy the books that he wished to read. To the south of the portico was the grilled library ruled by an ill-assorted group consisting of Blavatsky, Gurdjieff, Havelock Ellis and Varahamihira. The Nalapat House had the finest library of palm leaf manuscripts, most of which were written in the Vattezhuthu that probably came to Malabar from the Phoenicians. My grand-uncle must have been a lonely man, for he had no friend living nearby who could discuss with him the subjects he was interested in. With the callers he talked about the petty scandals floating about in the literary world and laughed engagingly, clapping his pink palms. He was witty and eloquent and even towards the end of his life when cataract made reading impossible, he remained cheerful, trying to turn his attention to the study of classical music. At my grand-uncle’s evening durbar there were occasionally brilliant grammarians and writers who came from long distances to stay with him, but they were tongue-tied, and awed by his presence. Notes and Glossary brigand (n): a member of a group of criminals, especially one that attacks travelers austerity (n): leading simple and economical life calico ruffles (n): a type of heavy cotton cloth that is usually plain white meticulously (av): paying careful attention to every detail scandals (n): talk or reports about shocking or immoral things that people have done or are thought to have done eloquent (aj): able to use language and express one’s feeling well when one is speaking in public Task 2 A. Choose the best alternative from the ones given below to complete the following. 1. Narayan Menon was a famous ------. a) poet-philosopher b) poet-lover

93 c) anthropologist d) birdwatcher 2. ------was as if the head of the Nalapat House. a) Mahatma Gandhi b) The father c) The mother d) Narayan Menon 3. To Kamala Das, ______seemed meaningless at that time. a) popularity b) generosity c) property d) austerity 4. ______chose to lead the life of an ascetic. a) Mahatma Gandhi b) Narayan Menon c) Ammini d) Kunji B. Answer the following questions in one sentence each. 1. Whose photographs hung in every room of the Nalapat House ? 2. What seemed a cruel practical joke to Kamala Das, the child ? 3. Who did not use oil in her wavy hair? 4. Who was Narayan Menon? 5. What was there to the south of the portico? 6. Why was the grand uncle called a lonely man? 7. What did the grand uncle talk about with the callers? 8. Who used to be present at the grand uncle’s evening durbar? 5.4 Exercises A) Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each. 1. Describe the ancestral house of Kamala Das in Malabar. 2. Describe the scene to the south of the Nalapat house. 3. Describe the scene to the north of the Nalapat house. 4. What did the English governor do to spite the Dutch? 5. Who were the seven occupants in the Nalapat House? 6. Describe the presence of Mahatma Gandhi in the Nalapat house.

94 B) Write short notes on 1. Nirmatala tree 2. The Grandmother in The Nalapat House 3. Ammini 4. Narayan Menon 5.5 Vocabulary exercises: A) Complete the following table Noun Verb Adjective Perform beautiful inclusion Choose Understandable

B) Match the words from group A with their meaning in group B A B deportment : a place where people come to worship connivance : dead shrine : a roof that is supported by columns deceased : help in doing something wrong portico : the way in which a person behaves C) Give the synonym (sameness of meaning) of the following words. Word Synonym deceased ------beautiful ------plump ------famous ------

95 D) Give the antonym (oppositeness of meaning) of the following words. attractive ------cheerful ------beautiful ------reject ------

5.6 Summary Kamala Das describes the ancestral house called the Nalapat House in Malabar. The house is big, spacious with a number of rooms, a hall for men for their meals, a separate hall for women, a number of bedrooms, separate quarters for servants, an attic etc. To the south of the house, there was the snake shrine, the region for the dead, coconut estate where a tree was planted in memory of the newly deceased. To the north, there were large trees bearing flowers and fruits. Kamala Das also describes the destruction caused by the English to weaken the Dutch. The incident that leads to the marriage of the author’s ancestress, Kunji, has also been dealt with. The house was gifted to Kunji by her husband. To the east was the Nirmatala tree. In summer, its flowers filled the inner rooms with perfume. The Nalapat House had seven occupants. Mahatma Gandhiji was as if the head of the house. His photographs hung in every room. The grandmother spun khadi yarn on a thakli. She remembered the incident when the ladies of the family donated their jewellery to the Harijan Fund. Aunt Ammini was an attractive woman who chose to lead the life of an ascetic. When alone, she recited the love songs. Grand uncle Narayan Menon was a famous poet-philosopher. He was witty and eloquent. His evening durbar was occasionally attended by grammarians and writers. 5.7 Answers to the Questions Task- 1 A. 1) two 2) coconut 3) Kunji 4) Nirmatala

96 B. 1. The Nalapat House 2. The second world war threatened to grow into an interminable horror 3. for cooking food for the dead on their anniversaries. 4. her new and doting husband 5. to weaken the power of the Dutch from whom they had just wrested the city Task -2 A. 1) poet-philosopher 2) Mahatma Gandhi 3) austerity 4) Ammini B. 1. Mahatma Gandhi’s 2. austerity 3. aunt Ammini 4. a famous poet-philosopher 5. the grilled library 6. he had no friend living nearby who could discuss with him the subjects he was interested in. 7. the petty scandals floating about in the literary world. 8. brilliant grammarians and writers. Exercises A. 1) The house had an inner courtyard. It had a temple situated inside the main hall which opened to the south. There was a gate house which had a steep stair case, a portico supported by pillars, a hall, a dining hall, the servant’s quarter, three small bedrooms on the ground floor, three bedrooms on the first floor and an attic. 2) To the south of the house was the snake shrine where the idols of Renuka and her father Vasuki were worshipped. Beyond that stretched the regions

97 of the dead, the Shradhapura, the house built for cooking food for the dead on their anniversary, and the coconut estate where after each cremation a tree was planted in memory of the newly deceased. 3) To the north, there were the usual cattle sheds and the grain-husking yard. Above all those structures hung the leaves of the many trees.. Large trees bearing flowers or fruits threw scatter rugs of green shadow all around the house 4) Von Spall, the English governor blew up with gunpowder the magnificent warehouses. The residences of the traders and the Nair barons were also destroyed. Women and children perished in the blaze. 5) The Nalapat house had seven occupants. They were: the grandmother, aunt Ammini, the grand uncle, the poet, the great –grandmother, her two sisters and Mahatmaji. Some servants also lived there. 6) Mahatma Gandhi was as if the head of the Nalapat house. His photographs hung in every room. Even the servants felt his presence in the house and began wearing Khaddar. The grandmother spun khadi yarn on a thakli in the afternoon. B. 1) Nirmatala tree: Kamla Das describes The Nalapat House and its surrounding regions very minutely. She also remembers the trees growing there. One of such trees is the Nirmatala. The Nirmatala tree was near the snake shrine. It was rare of its kind. Every summer it burst into bloom with large butter-colored flowers. Even the inner rooms filled with its perfume. 2) The grandmother : The grandmother was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. In the afternoon, she spun khadi yarn on a thakli. She was fat, fair skinned and good looking. Her throat smelled of sandalwood. She told the author about the trip of the ladies to Guruvayoor to donate their jewellery to the Harijan Fund. 3 Aunt Ammini : Aunt Ammini was an attractive woman. She had rejected many marriage proposals that came her way. She used to wear white Khaddar only and did not use oil on her wavy hair. She chose to lead the life of an ascetic but when she was alone in her bedroom, she recited love

98 songs. After listening to her voice the author realized that love was a beautiful anguish and a thapasya. 4) Grand-uncle Narayan Menon was a famous poet-philosopher. He used to sit in the easychair with the table full with heavy books. Above his head hung a wooden punkah. Beside his chair was a hookah. He had no friends living nearby. With the callers he talked about the petty scandals in the literary world. He was witty and eloquent. Towards the end of his life he turned his attention to the study of classical music. Brilliant grammarians and writers occasionally attended his evening durbar. Vocabulary Exercises A. Noun Verb Adjective Performance, performer ------performative Beauty, beautician beautify ------include inclusive Choice, chooser ------Choosy understanding understand ------

B. deportment : the way in which a person behaves connivance : help in doing something wrong shrine : a place where people come to worship deceased : dead portico : a roof that is supported by columns C. deceased = dead / departed beautiful = pretty plump = fat famous = renowned/ illustrious

99 D. attractive x repulsive cheerful x cheerless beautiful x ugly reject x accept 4.8 Writing Activity Write a short essay each on the following : 1. Describe your house with its interior and the surrounding regions 2. Describe each of the members of your family 3. describe an incident associated with your childhood. JJJ

100 Unit-6 I Have a Dream Martin Luther King J.

Content 6.0 Objectives 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Text I 6.3 Text II 6.4 Exercises 6.5 Vocabulary Exercises 6.6 Summary 6.7 Answers to the questions 6.8 Writing Activity 6.0 Objectives In this unit you are going to learn about :

G Martin Luther King Jr. as the Black civil rights champion

G the eternal values for which he stood.

G Dos and don’ts for those who fight for injustice

G The speaker’s dream about America as a nation of equals

G figurative language that is a feature of an impressive speech.

G how to speak effectively in English. 6.1 Introduction Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) is one of the greatest men that the world has ever seen. An ardent clergyman, King believed in the principle of equality. He championed the cause of the down-trodden Negroes and fought unceasingly to get

101 them political and social justice. He came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and wielded the weapon of non-violence. In his brief career of eleven years (1957- 68), he led many peaceful demonstration all over America. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Ironically, when he was planning to lead a peaceful demonstration in Memphis, he was shot dead on April 4, 1968. The present passage states briefly the eternal values for which he stood. It also clearly emphasizes the method, aim and purpose of his movement. With religious metaphors he drives home the significance of the non-violent method of agitation. He had a dream which of course was not realized in his lifetime. But the struggle continues with the same zeal till the dream is realized till the bell of freedom rings all over America for the Negroes This address by The Black civil rights champion was made at the ‘March for Jobs and Freedom’. No speech has so powerfully captured the dream of an oppressed minority. 6.2 Text part - I Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak, to end the long night of captivity. But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination, One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatise an appalling condition. In a sense, we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

102 This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of colour are concerned. Instead of honouring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad cheque which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds’. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient “funds in the great vaults of opportunity" of this nation. So we have come to cash this cheque - a cheque that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranqtilising drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

103 The marvellous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our while brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. Notes and glossary score (n): twenty emancipation (n): freedom beacon light (n): a light that is placed somewhere to guide vehicles and warn them of danger sear (v) : to burn the surface of something in a way that is sudden and powerful manacles (n): metal bands joined by a chain, used for fastening a prisoner’s ankles or wrists together segregation (n): the act of separating people of different races, religions or sexes discrimination (n): the practice of treating somebody or a particular group in society less fairly than others languish (v): to be forced to stay somewhere or suffer something unpleasant appalling (aj): shocking, extremely bad default (v): fail to do something that must be done by law sacred (ad): considered to be holy bankrupt (aj): without enough money to pay what you owe hallowed (aj): respected and important tranquilising (aj): making a person or an animal calm or unconscious especially by giving them a drug desolate (aj): empty and without people, making you feel sad or frightened fatal (aj): causing or ending in death sweltering (aj): very hot in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable invigorating (v): making somebody feel healthy and full of energy

104 ghetto (n): an area of a city where many people of the same race or background live, separately from the rest of the population tribulations (n): great trouble or suffering Task -1 A. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative. 1. We refuse to believe that bank of justice is ------a) corrupt b) bankrupt c) unfair d) just 2. It would be ------for the nation to underestimate the determination of the Negro. a) fatal b) harmful c) destructive d) dangerous 3. We must conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and ------a) devotion b) duty c) discipline d) unity B. Answer the following questions in one sentence each. 1. What came as a joyous daybreak? 2. What is the life of the Negro crippled by? 3. In the vast ocean of prosperity where do the Negro live? 4. What did the note promise ? 5. What will a cheque give the Negroes? 6. What do the Negroes refuse to believe? 7. What would be fatal for the nation? 8. When will there be rest and tranquility in America? 9. How long will the revolt continue? 10. How should we not satisfy our thirst of freedom? 11. On what plane must we conduct our struggle?

105 6.3 Text part – II We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, ‘When will you be satisfied?’ we can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’ I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. 1 have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor’s lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be

106 transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day, every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, ‘My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.’ And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Notes and glossary battered (aj): old, used a lot and not in very good condition wallow (v): to enjoy something that causes you pleasure oasis (n): an area in the desert where there is water and where plants grow

107 exalted (aj): of high rank, position or great importance hew (v): to cut something large with a tool jangling (aj): making an unpleasant sound Task-2 A. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative. 1. We cannot walk ------a) fast b) slowly c) alone d) together 2. Let us not wallow in the valley of ------a) frustration b) despair c) desire d) hope 3. One day the children will be judged by------a) their degrees b) the content of their character c) their innocence d) the status of their parents B. Answer the following questions in one sentence each. 1. With what faith should the people continue to work? 2. What is the basis of discrimination in America? 3. What should people be judged by?

6.4 Exercises A. Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each : 1. How is the life of the Negro after a hundred years? 2. What must the Negro do and what not to enter into the palace of justice? 3. What is now the time to do? 4. Where should freedom ring from? And for what? 5. When will the Negro be satisfied?

108 B. Write notes on 1. Martin Luther King ’s advice to the Negroes 2. Martin Luther King ’s Dream 6.5 Vocabulary exercises A) Complete the following table Noun Verb Adjective Oppression Discriminate Satisfactory Symbol Frustrate

B) Match the words from group A with their meaning in group B A B Score : shocking, extremely bad Appalling : old, used a lot and not in very good condition: Fatal : to enjoy something that causes you pleasure: Battered : twenty Wallow : causing or ending in death C) Give the antonym of the following words Word antonym Liberty x Refuse x Gain x Creative x Heavy x Despair x

109 D) Derive new words by adding affixes to the following words equal, just, happy, mind, faith, free 6.6 Summary The passage is in the form of an address by Martin Luther King Jr. It was made at the March for Jobs and Freedom. Hundred years ago, the Emancipation proclamation was signed. People welcomed it thinking that it would end the captivity of Negroes. But still the negro is not free. Even after hundred years there is segregation and discrimination. The negro is in poverty, he is like an exile in his own country. The architects of the republic signed a promissory note- a promise that all men would be guaranteed the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Instead, America has given the negro people a bad cheque which has come back marked insufficient fund. It is unbelievable that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We have come to cash this cheque. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children. It would be fatal to overlook the urgency of the moment. The revolt will continue until the bright day of justice emerges. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds, Let there be no bitterness and hatred, let us maintain dignity and discipline. We can never be satisfied until justice rolls down like water. We must continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. In spite of the difficulties and frustrations, I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up. The sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood, children will be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as brothers and sisters. We will have to work together knowing that we will be free one day. Let freedom ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, then only we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children will be able to join hands and sing the song of freedom. 6.7 Answers to the Questions Task – 1 A. 1) bankrupt 2) fatal 3) discipline

110 B. 1) emancipation proclamation 2) the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination 3) on a lonely island of poverty 4) all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 5) the richness of freedom and the security of justice. 6) that the bank of justice is bankrupt and that there are insufficient funds 7) to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. 8) when the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. 9) until the bright day of justice emerges 10) by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred 11) on a high plane of dignity and discipline Task – 2 A. 1) alone 2) despair 3) their character B. 1) that unearned suffering is redemptive 2) color of the skin 3) content of their character. Exercises A. 1. The life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chain of discrimination. The Negro still lives in poverty languishing in the corners of American society. He finds himself an exile in his own land. 2. The Negro must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. There must not be hatred or bitterness or physical violence. Dignity and discipline must be

111 maintained. The Negro must not distrust the white people and continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. 3. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all. Now is the time to lift the nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood 4. Freedom should ring from every village and every hamlet. It should ring from every state and every city. Only then we will be able to speed up that day when all the people, irrespective of caste, color and creed, will be able to join hands and sing together the song of freedom. 5. The Negro will be satisfied when he will gain lodging in the motels of the highways. He will be satisfied when he will be free to move anywhere and will get the right to vote and believe to vote for something .He will be satisfied when justice will be done to him. B. 1. We must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let there be no bitterness, hatred or physical violence. We must conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline and meet the physical force with soul force. We must not hate the white. We must make the pledge that we shall march ahead until justice is done. We must continue with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. 2. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream that one day this nation will rise and live out the true meaning of its creed. One day the sons of former slaves and of slave owners will sit together like brothers. Oppression will disappear even from a desert state like Mississippi . People will be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.. Black boys and girls of Alabama will walk together with white boys and girls like brothers and sisters.

112 Vocabulary exercises A. Oppression - oppress- oppressed/oppressive Discrimination- discriminate - discriminating/discriminatory Satisfaction satisfy satisfactory Symbol- symbolize(se) symbolic, symbolist Frustration frustrate frustrating/frustrated B. Score = twenty Appalling = shocking, extremely bad Fatal- = causing or ending in death Battered = old, used a lot and not in a very good condition Wallow = to enjoy something that causes you pleasure C. Liberty x slavery, confinement, restriction, restraint etc Refuse(v) x accept ,agree Gain x loss, lose Creative x unimaginative, conventional Heavy x light Despair x hope D. Equal - unequal, equality, inequality, equalize, equalizing, equally, equalizer etc Just - unjust, justice, injustice, justify, justifiable, justification, justly, justified, justifier, etc Happy - unhappy, happily, happiness, unhappiness, etc

113 Mind - minded, minder, mindful, mindless, etc Faith - faithful, faithless, faithfully, unfaithful Free - freely, freedom, etc. 6.8 Writing activity Write a short essay each on the following : 1. Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution to The Indian Freedom Struggle Movement 2. Principles of Gandhism 3. Casteism in India JJJ

114 Unit-7 Money Philip Larkin

Contents 7.0 Objectives 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Text of the Poem 7.2.1 Check your progress 7.3 Summary 7.3 Notes and Glossary 7.4 Key to check your progress

7.0 Objectives After reading this unit, you will be able to

G Understand power of money

G Understand relation of money and life

G Understand relation of man and money

G Understand timely use of money

7.1 Introduction Money is a poem written by Philip Larkin. First, we will understand the importance of Philip Larkin as a modern poet. Philip Larkin grew up in Coventry, England. He is one of the most important poets of England of the modern times. He worked as the librarian for libraries in Wellington, Leicester and Belfast. He was popular in England and also in other countries. Philip Larkin is one of the leading poets after Word-War II Larkin won many academic and literary awards. In fact Larkin was thought as not only best English poet but one of the best in Europe. Larkin was observer of

115 contemporary English society. He is a sort of realistic reporter. Larkin's poetry, by and large, is a reflection of his own personal experience and his personality. He wrote poems of boredom, loneliness, failure, helplessness and fear of death. He freely wrote about human problems and suffering.

7.2 The Text of the Poem: Money 1. Quarterly, is, it, money reproaches me: 'Why do you let me lie here wastefully? I am all you never had of goods and sex. You could get them still by writing a few cheques. 2. So I look at others, what they do with theirs: They certainly don't keep it upstairs. By now they've a second house and car and wife: Clearly money has something to do with life 3. __In fact, they've a lot in common, if you enquire: You can't put off being young until you retire, And however you bank your screw, the money you save Won't in the end buy more than a shave. 4. I listen to money singing. It's like looking down From long french windows at a provincial town. The slums, the canal, the churches ornate and mad In the evening sun. It is intensely sad. 3.2.1 Check your progress I) Comprehension Questions : A) Skimming and scanning Question. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each : 1. Why does money reproach the speaker? 2. What does money ask the speaker to do?

116 3. What have the others done with their money? 4. Why is the scence seen from the French window sad? B) Answer the following question in 2-3 sentence each : 1. Who reproaches the speaker? Why? 2. How does the poet know that others do not keep their money upstairs? 3. What does the poet mean by ''You can't put off being young''? 4. What does Money advise us to do? C) Write short Notes on : 1. The poet's reflections on money. 2. Money and Life. 3. The central idea of the poem. D) Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative given below : 1. The poet is keeping money ...... a) on the upstairs b) in a bank c) in the safe d) in a locker 2. The theme of the poem is ...... a) using money to enjoy life b) saving money c) keeping money safe d) keeping money for retirement 3. In the third stanza of the poem, the poet warns that. a) others will spend your money b) the value of money will go down c) you won't be able to buy a house. d) your money may be stolen. II. Vocabulary Exercises : I) Synonyms and Antonyms Synonym means a word of similar meaning, For example. enquire (v) - to ask about ornate (n) - decoration goods (n) - movable property

117 Antonym means a word of opposite meaning, for example rich (adj.) x Poor borrow (v) x lend dry (adj.) x wet alive (adj.) x dead Give synonyms for the following words. clever = happy = problem = belief = Give antonyms for the following words : tall x black x legal x open x II) Complete the following table filling the gaps where possible : Noun Verb Adjective Adverb - reproach - - - - provincial - - - - Wastefully - retire - Now use all these words in your own sentences.

118 7.3 Summary The poem begins with question by money. Money asks the poet why he has kept money as it is for the last three months. Money assures poet of goods, properties and a life full of sex. Poet only needs to write cheques. Money reproaches the poet so he looks at other people to see what other people are doing with their money. He understands that the people are using money to purchase second house and a car and a wife. Money is useful for buying property and amenities for life. And this makes life a pleasant experience. Certainly money is powerful and it has big role to play in the life. Use of money among people is very common. In fact money and life have lot in common. We don't want to grow old but we grow old. We may save money but it is of no use. You can hardly use money in your old age. Poet listens to money's singing as he watches through french windows at town, slums and churches which are ornate and mad.

7.4 Notes and Glossary : quarterly (adj.): Once in three months. reproach (v): to scold, find fault with somebody goods (n): movable property, personal belongings I am ... sex: (the money) 'I'/represent goods and sex that you can buy enquire (v): to ask about, question provincial (adj.): of a province, local, narrow. however you bank: no matter how you save your screw (''bank'' as verb here) your salary or earnings. Screw: Salary retire (v): retire from your job french windows: pair of outer doors with square glass panels, opening out on to a garden in a house. (French windows here represent life of luxury) ornate (n) : decorated, much adorned, richly ornamented intensely (adj.): attentively, exceedingly.

119 7.5 Key to check your progress (A) 1. Money reproaches the speaker because he has kept money as it is for the last three months. 2. Money asks the speaker to use it to buy goods and sex 3. The other people with their money have bought second home and a car and a wife 4. The scence seen from the windows is sad because the speaker sees slums the canal and the churches ornate and mad. (B) (1) Money reproaches the speaker because the speaker has not used money for the last three months. Money asks the poet that he should not allow money to lie wastefully and he can buy goods and sex. He only needs to write a few cheques. (2) Money reproaches the poet for keeping money as it is for the last three months. So the poet looks at others to know what other people are doing with their money. He comes to know that people are using money and they have bought second home and a car and a wife. (3) Write on your own (4) Write on your own (C) (1) Write on your own (2) Money is essential for life so it is very important. People work hard to earn money all through their lives or before they retire from their job. They earn their salary and try to save money by keeping it in a bank or at home. Money reproaches the poet for keeping money as it is for the last three months. Then the poet looks at other people to see what they are doing with their money. He understands that people are using money to buy second home and a car and a wife. It means money has big role to play in the life. In fact money is success and happiness. But if you save it all your life at the end of your life you realise that money is hardly useful to you. So money should be used properly for various pleasures of life. You only grow old and you can't remain young. So timely use of money is very valuable.

120 (3) Good poem always ends in wisdom. Money ends in wisdom of life. Money is success and happiness. Everybody wants big salary or to earn more money in life. But saving money is important habit of many men and women. In Money the poet urges us to question the wisdom of frugal spending in youth. Life should be lived completely and happily. You do not remain young all your life. So money should be spent and should not be kept as it is for the years. In the old age money can hardly buy anything for you. Life should be enjoyed and we should not be mere spectator of life. Money and life are related to each other. Life without money is not a pleasant experience. So proper use of money in life is essential for better life. (D) (1) in a bank (2) Using money to enjoy life. (3) The value of money will go down. III. Vocabulary Exercises : synonyms of the following words. Happy = glad, joyous, Clever = intelligent, smart, etc. Problem = write on your own Belief = write on your own Antonyms of the following words 1. Tall x short 2. Black x white, fair, etc. 3. legal x write on your own 4. Open x write on your own II) Write on your own

JJJ

121 Unit-8 The Blind Boy Colley Cibber

CONTENTS 8.0 Objectives 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The Text of the Poem 8.3 Self-check Exercises 8.4 Summary 8.5 Notes & Glossary 8.6 Key to self check Exercises 8.7 Recommended Reading 8.8 Writing Activity

8.0 Objectives: After studying this unit you will be able to: Understand the feelings of a blind boy. Learn the opinions of others about the visually impaired. Learn eagerness of a boy to know the blessings of sight and live a happy life. Compare and contrast the boy with eyesight and visually impaired /or the blind. 8.1 Introduction: Colley Gibber was an English actor, a manager, a playwright and poet. He was the Poet Laureate of his time. He wrote his autobiography entitled “Apology for the

122 Life of Colley Gibber” (1740). He started an English trend of anecdotal autobiographies. The poem ‘The Blind Boy’ is about the boy who is visually impaired. The views of the blind boy and his feelings are expressed in the poem. 8.2 The Text of the Poem My day or night myself I make, Whene’er I sleep or play; And could I ever keep awake, With me ‘twere always day.

With heavy sighs I often hear You mourn my hapless woe; But sure with patience I can bear A loss I ne’er can know.

Then let not what I cannot have My cheer of mind destroy; Whilst thus I sing, I am a king Although a poor blind boy.

O say! What is that thing call the Light Which I must never enjoy? What are the blessings of the sight? O tell your poor blind boy!

You talk of wondrous things you see’ You say the sun shines bright; I feel him warm, but how can he Or make it day or night?

123 8.3 Self – Check Exercises: I. A) Answer the following question in one words / phrase sentences: 1) What does the speaker hear with a heavy sigh? 2) What does the speaker call himself even though he is poor blind boy? 3) Who cannot make day or night for the boy? 4) Whose warmth does the speaker feel? B) Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct alternative : 1) When the speaker sings, he is a ------I) poet III) singer II) king IV) poor boy 2) The speaker never enjoyed a ------in his life. I) day III) light II) blessings IV) none of the above II) Comprehension Questions: A) Skimming and scanning questions: Answer the following questions in one to two sentences each: 1) Whom is the poem about? 2) Does the speaker enjoy life? 3) What does the speaker always hear? 4) What do the people talk to the blind boy about? 5) How does the speaker feel when other says the Sun shines bright? B) Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each: 1) About which things the speaker is aware of? 2) How are the days of the speaker divided? 3) Is the speaker unhappy? If yes tell how? 4) When did the speaker lose his eye sight? 5) What is the speaker approach towards life?

124 C) Write Short Notes on: 1) The theme of the poem 'The Blind Boy' 2) The Blind boy and his life. 3) Compare and Contrast the boy with eyesight and the boy without eyesight. D) Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative given below: 1) The speaker in the poem is ______a) a school boy b) a village boy c) a poor boy d) a visually challenged boy 2) The speaker cannot enjoy______a) a movie b) food c) light d) life 3) The speaker is______a) unhappy b) happy c) lucky d) unlucky 4) The others mourn over______a) death b) loss c) helpless woe d) separation E) Vocabulary Exercises : Give the synonym of— blessing, heavy, patience Give the antonyms of - blessing, woe, bright, day, poor 8.4 Summary This poem deals with a feeling of boy who is visually impaired. He is well aware of his blindness. He makes a day or night and could keep himself awake as if it were always a day. He often hears with a heavy sign people mourning over his helpless situation. But, he bears a loss of sight with patience. He feels that worrying about what is not with him will destroy his happiness. Thus, he is quite happy with what he has. Whenever he sings, he feels he is a king although he is a poor blind boy. He is very much eager to know the blessings of the sight which he never enjoyed in his life due to his blindness. He hears people talking about wonderful things they see around them. They talk of the sun which shines bright. He feels him warm as he can’t make a day or night for him. Thus poem tells a story of a bind boy who is happy with what he has.

125 8.5 Notes and Glossary: Wonderous (aj)- wonderful hapless (Aj) -helpless Cheer of mind (N) - happiness Bear (V) - carry Shine (V) – reflect light Mourn (V) – feel or show regret for Patience(N)-suffering inconvenience 8.6 Key to Self – Check Exercises I. A) 1) The speaker hears with a heavy sigh people mourn over his hapless woe. 2) The speaker calls himself a poor blind boy. 3) The sun cannot make day or night for the boy. 4) The speaker feels the warmth of the sun. B) 1) King 2) Light II. A) Write on your own. B) Write on your own. C) Write on your own. D) Write on your own. E) Write on your own. 8.7 Recommended Reading: 1. John Milton: On His Blindness 2. P.B. Shelley: To A Skylark 8.8 Writing Activity: Interview a blind who lives nearby your house and try to know his/her feelings. JJJ

126 Unit-9

English for Consumer Advertising

Index : 9.0 Objectives 9.1 Introduction 9.2 English for consumer advertising 9.2.1 Section – 1 Check your progress 9.2.2 Section – 2 Check your progress 9.2.3 Section – 3 Check your progress 9.3 Summary: 9.4 Terms to Remember: 9.5 Key to check your progress 9.6 Exercises 9.0 Objectives After reading this unit, you will be able to:

G Understand consumer advertising and its importance in the commercial world.

G Explain different media of advertising.

G Learn importance of language as a tool in consumer advertising. 9.1 Introduction In the previous unit entitled ‘Preparing a C V and Writing a Letter of Application’ you have studied the techniques of preparing your C V and writing a

127 letter of application. Your C V is the sum and substance of your efforts and academic history and indicates the direction of the career you have chosen. However it should display reliability and arouse interest in the prospective employer. It should assure that you are an outstanding applicant liable for the job you have applied. Therefore your C V is like a ‘Personal Advertisement’. You may have all the abilities necessary for a particular position but your C V is a failure if the employer does not at once come to the conclusion that you possess ‘what it takes’. The same is applicable to consumer advertising. Advertising is, generally, the practice of creating print, audio, and video messages intended display a product or service and attract a customer to purchase that product or service. Thus, in the previous unit, we have seen, the appeal is made through C V and letter of application. In the present unit appeal is made through advertising. Employer has to select an able candidate for his purpose; here, buyer as well has to choose one from the range of products. As attempts are made to submit a remarkable C V, in the same way, every attempt is made by the companies to attract the consumers in order to motivate them to purchase their brand. Unlike industrial advertising, which is directed towards businesses, Consumer advertising is intended for domestic markets such as individuals and families. Consumer advertising aims to introduce or re-introduce products and services to people for everyday- use. This includes variety of products or services like vehicles, household appliances, home electronic devices, books, movies, clothes, travelling and just about anything else commonly found in routine practice. In the present unit you are going to learn the way English is used in consumer advertising. The copy writers prepare the ad using language as their tool. While doing this they use variety of language devices using their creativity. Sound Related, Vocabulary related, Sentence Types related, Figures of speech related Devices and ‘Code-mixing’ are some common devices. They even artistically break language rules to make the ad memorable. It is this skill appeals the consumer and makes advertise a success. Here, the text is followed by Self Assessment Questions which will help you to understand the unit. Tasks are intended to offer you practice so that you will be able to apply the techniques studied in the unit practically.

128 9.2 English for consumer advertising In this unit, you are going to learn: 1. Consumer advertising and its importance in the commercial world. 2. Different media of advertising. 3. Importance of language as a tool in consumer advertising. Can we imagine a newspaper, radio or television without an advertisement? Very difficult! Every magazine opens with it and each T.V. program starts with it. It has become a part and parcel of our routine life. After all, Advertise is a powerful tool for the flow of information from the seller to the buyer. It is a form of mass communication and closely related with the commercial world. 9.2.1 Section-I I. Advertising: What-Why-When? The word ‘advertise’ in English is originated from Latin root ‘advertere’ which means ‘to turn towards’, ‘to bring into notice’ or ‘to draw attention to something’. In the same way advertise influences and persuades people to believe in the appeal made in it. Among the two major types of advertising include Industrial or institutional advertising and Consumer advertising. Consumer advertising is a favorable representation of a product to make consumers and general public aware of it. There are several reasons for advertising. For example-announcing a new product or service, announcing a modification of or in change of price, expanding the market to new customers, challenging competitions and so on. If the consumers are not made aware of the products available in the market they will not buy the product even if it was for their advantage. Advertising helps people find the best product for themselves, compare the range of products and get what they desire after spending their valuable money. Though the great breakthrough in advertising came only in the late 19 th century after the advent of technology; the form of advertising for the transmission of information dates back to ancient Greece & Rome. The newspaper advertising began to develop in the 17 th century in the various parts of the world. However, there is a

129 great revolution in the field of advertising with the advent of radio and television as a popular media of mass communication. II. Advertising: Its media Media of advertising is means of communication by which message of advertising is communicated to the consumers at large. There are two major types of media: 1. Print Media: Print Media, even called as non-electronic media, includes newspapers, books, magazines, journals, leaflets and even banners and posters. Print media is comparatively affordable; moreover, it is within reach of every locality. 2. Electronic Media: Now a day’s electronic media is the most popular mode of advertising. It is an advertisement by means of radio, T.V. or Internet. With the increase of internet users web advertisements also getting more popular with time. It is through this media one can cover a wide range of audiences. It is the most viable platform through which you can get your advertisement reached to every corner of the world within seconds. III. Language of Advertising: It’s Creativity Though advertise can reach to us through different media; it has language as its main tool. In the era of globalization English is known as an international language. Naturally, typical use of English in advertising has become a matter of curiosity. Though English in advertising has evolved from common language; its effective use has transformed it into ‘Informal Professional Language’ with its unusual use of words and style. There is a great change in use of English in advertising with advancement of science & technology, as well as, changes in social lifestyle. Now a day it is known as a creative language. It can make a powerful impact over people and their behavior. Despite the fact that visual content and design in advertising have a great influence on the consumer, it is its language that helps people to identify and remember a product .That’s why in advertising one has to consider the emotive power of the words to arrest the attention. To attain proper effect the language of advertising is beautified with the use of various devices.

130 The analysis of advertising language brings forth some common characteristics. Let us have a look over them: 1. Dependence on persuasive keywords and phrases. e.g. ‘Let’s Make Things Better’ – (Philips) 2. Use of short words, short sentences and short paragraphs for effortless reading. e.g. ‘Intel inside’ – (Intel) 3. Deliberate use of concrete and familiar words. e.g. ‘See It, Hear It, Feel It’ (SONY T.V.) 4. Intentional departure from language rules. e.g. ‘I’m Loving It!’ (McDonalds) 5. Reference of surprising element and a dramatic appeal to the consumers e.g. ‘DRIVE THE CHANGE’(RENAULT Car) 6. Frequent occurrence of interrogative sentences. e.g. ‘Why Should Boys Alone Have All The Fun?’- (Scooty Pep) 7. Use of figures of speech as simile, idioms and ironical expressions. 8. Utilization of sound related devices like rhyme, rhythm, alliteration etc. to make the ad memorable. For e.g. ‘Not just thunderous – but wondrous.’ (Videocon) 9. Frequent use of superlatives and hyperbole. For e.g. ‘Better than the best’. 10. Use of imperative statements. 11. Making use of emotional appeal. e.g. ‘I’m A Complain Boy – I’m A Complain Girl’ – (Complain) IV. Persuasive words and phrases in advertising: Here are some common words and phrases that frequently occur in advertising language often with some emotional as well as factual value: Words: suddenly, now, announcing, miracle, magic, free, amazing, quick, hurry, easy, revolutionary, wanted, offer, starting, remarkable, improvement, bargain, challenge, sensational, introducing, new, the truth about, compare, great, good, wonderful, fresh, big, real, rich, bright, extra, special, approved, enjoy. elegant, modern, masterpiece, original, secret, legendary, advanced, call, crafted, exclusive, millions, natural, strong, safe, sale, enriched, save

131 Phrases: just arrived, it is here, last chance, a must, best quality, brand – new, prime-quality, reduced rates. act now, a Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. , free trial offer, high class, wide variety, call today, don't delay, excellent quality, high- tech, introductory offer, unbeatable value, advice to V. Advertisement: It’s Structure Advertisement in print media more or less carries its own structure. It helps to attract the prospective consumer. It is as follows –It consists of four elements. Let’s try to understand this with the help of an advertisement of ‘Lizol, a home cleaner.

GRASP HIGHLIG REQUEST SUPPORT HT

through- Layout, Picture, Monogram, Slogan (Example: Slogan: ‘Do Your Children Fall Ill Often?’)

through- Images, Features of product (Example: Features: ‘Kills 99% germs in just 60 seconds’ etc.)

to- Buy, Try (Example: Request: ‘For clean and healthy home, trust only Lizol’)

for Buying (Exam ple: Support: ‘Recommended by Indian Medical Association’)

132 Thus, this journey begins from capturing the attention to inducing the consumers for buying the product. Generally, slogans are in Block capitals and easily read. They are catchy, economical, having brand name of the product with its essential features and qualities. VI. Slogans: Slogans or catch lines are short phrases/sentences stuffed with attractive and brilliant words. They are closely associated with the brand name. These catch lines are not just easy to remember but even difficult to forget! Here are some examples:

‘The Taste of India’ (Amul Milk) ‘Have A Break, Have A Kit-Kat’ (Kit-Kat) ‘Life’s Good’ (LG) ‘Sharp Minds, Sharp Products’ (Sharp) ‘Connecting People’ (Nokia) ‘The Complete Man’ (Raymond’s)

Task – 1 (A) Collect advertisements of the following products of different brands and compare their headlines concentrating on sound related devices:-

Bath Soap, Anti Dandruff Shampoo, Cold Drink, Detergent Powder, Shirt, Car, Mosquito – Repellant, Tooth-Paste, Cell Phone.

(B) Prepare slogans for the following products: Fan, digital Camera, Music system, Biscuit, Solar Water heater.

133 1.2.2 Section-2 VII. Use of Language Devices in Advertising: While copywriting advertising agencies use various language devices to achieve desired effect, with the use of these devices the language. It brings a creative touch, so that the intended message in advertisement gets artistic value. i) Sound Related Devices : a.) Rhyme These devices are related to the technique using sounds elements in advertising language. Similar to poetry rhyme, rhythm, alliteration or repetition techniques are used to bring musical quality in the advertising message. See below the ad of the newspaper ‘Loksatta’ ‘SHARP PERSPECTIVES. INSIGHTFUL VIEWS. TRUTHFUL NEWS’ You might have understood that the words ‘Perspectives, Views, News’ have the same sound at the End. This device is known as ‘rhyme.’ b.) Alliteration – In this device the words which begin with the same sound are brought together. This technique is widely used in advertising headlines / slogans. Here is the ad of Cotton King Shirts – ‘Feel The So fter Side of Shirts’ Here the sound ‘s’ makes us feel the very softness, of shirts, and the same effect renders the sound ‘f’ in the following ad of ‘The Financial Express’ Your favorite financial daily with a fresh perspective everyday. c.) Rhythm – Copywriters often use language with rhythmical patterns. Reader or listener may not notice it but s/he feels it in inner mind, This makes the slogans memorable. Similar patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables create rhythm regularity. The slogan of ‘AMWAY Nutrilite’ goes like this – ‘Aging is a natural process….But aging healthy is a choice…’

134 Don’t you feel the inner rhythm in it? d.) Repetition – Repetition of key words is an important feature of advertising language. Let us see an advertise of a tea brand. ‘Leaf tea or CTC, blended teas or dust, Darjeeling tea, Green tea or tea from the gardens of Assam, Tea that is full bodied or tea that is light, Whatever your preference in tea , you are sure to find it with AMEZ. So, go ahead and discover your cup of tea’ . Here the repetitive use of ‘ tea’ not only creates desire in the minds of readers but enhances musical interest in the message. ii) Vocabulary related devices – a.) Adjectives – Adjectives are used to describe the striking features of product and ads abound with the adjectives like fresh, smart, beautiful and so on. Feel these adjectives how they arouse within you an expectation for your dream home. Did you grow up in a sunny home full of laughter, or a sober home full of serious purpose? Was it airy , or was it cozy ? Cluttered or orderly ? Generally, language of advertising is exaggerative in character. It is the reason there is increased number of comparative and superlative adjectives like super white, extra energy, extra vitamin etc. Study this one. ‘THE BEST SOURCE OF NUTRITION IS ALSO THE MOST AFFORDABLE ONE AN EGG.’ b.) Formation of New Words: Now a day, it has become a routine practice to form new words and expressions in order to support the creative aspect of advertisement. So as to achieve the proper

135 impact they have to use different devices of word building. You might have come across to the following ad: ‘An ordinary word just cannot Describes the amazing taste of Kellogg’s Extra Muesli. So we made a new one – Heavenlicious !’ Here – the word ‘Heavenlicious’ is blending of the words ‘heavenly’ and ‘delicious’. Another product of the same company is named after ‘Tastexplosion’ which is blending of the words ‘taste’ and ‘explosion’ respectively. ‘Get that Pepsy Feeling.’ We know the word ‘Pepsy’ as noun but here it has become an adjective. ‘No Waiting for Chocolating!’ This ‘Eclairs Candyman’ ad uses unusual word ‘Chocolating’ which is a verbal noun. Sometimes the advertising slogan echoes or refers to another famous quotation. ‘The World’s Online Market Place’ This slogan unmistakably reminds us the famous quotation of William Shakespeare, we all know, ‘The world’s a stage. Naturally, slogan becomes memorable. In short, as there is no end to your imagination, no end to such a word play! Hence, the field of advertising calls for your creativity. Task 2: (A) Write an advertisement copy for a Motor-Bike and describe its features with the use of various adjectives. (B) Prepare an advertisement copy for a new Refrigerator. Use as many word formation devices as you can. 1.2.3 Section-3 iii) Skillful Use Of Sentence Types : You have studied the four types of sentences–i.e. Statements, Questions, Commands and Exclamations. Advertisers use these sentence types very skillfully and make emotional appeal.

136 For the same purpose ads abound with the first and second person pronouns. ‘I’, ‘We’, ‘You’, help friendly atmosphere and give personal touch. As a result the reader or listener will easily accept the message as if a close friend recommended them. ‘We value your trust’. This slogan of Jindal Aluminum is not just a statement but more than that. The same intimate relationship develop the following slogans – ‘The Choice Is Yours’ ‘The Honour Is Ours’ (Ford Car) ‘Bring out the champion in you’ (Nestle Milo) ‘My perfect morning begins with ‘Loksatta’’ The use of questions is also preferred a lot. These friendly questions force you to think over the implied message. Here is the ad of land Rover car. ‘Why get a car when you can get a Land Rover?’ Thus questions are nothing but indirect commands . in their ad KESARI Travel company asks you. – ‘Is your name on waiting list?’ It implies, ‘hurry up to register your name in a confirmed list!’ In an another ad LAKME assures you a perfect fairness through polite command. (Only if you buy their product.) ‘Remove All 6 Fairness Blocks, Reveal Your Perfect Fairness.’ The same is about- ‘Recharge Your Emotions’ (Essel World) ‘Taste the Thunder’ (Thums up) ‘Don’t Compromise the Life of Your Engine’ This slogan of ‘Castrol’ seeks positive response through negative command. KESARI reminds us their specialty in tours in typical exclamatory expression – ‘After all, you need to travel smart to arrive fresh!’

137 iv) Figurative Devices : Expressions in ads are laden with figurative or rhetorical devices. It means, they suggest multiple layers of meaning. These are the devices in which there is a departure from ordinary forms of expression in order to produce a greater effect. These effects are achieved through various figurative devices – like simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, irony and so on. See the ‘Apollo Tire Makes Everyone Feel Safe. Like You Do’ or ‘Using Computer Is Easy As Dell’ The device used here is simile . But in a very different way, to evoke their unique performance. Sometimes the products are spoken of as having life and intelligence. EVERY JAGUAR CAN DO THINGS MACHINES CAN’T. The implied meaning is – ‘our car is not just machine, it is a jaguar known for its agility and speed. This device is personification . In the same way – ‘CEAT Tyres Are : Born Tough !’ and MRF Tyres Are - Tyres With Muscle! Below is an example of irony – ‘The secret The maintaining my figure? I EAT !’ Striking one! But this eating does not mean your routine diet containing high calories but ‘Kellogg’s Special’ with low calories! Likewise, in advertising language there can be used variety of figures if you have striking ideas. VIII. ‘Code-mixing feature’ of Advertising: Usually, while watching T.V. or reading newspaper you come across the ads mixed with two languages. Code is a multilingual style of language. In a multilingual

138 country like India this type of communication is socially accepted and we do not feel anything wrong in it. Let us see the examples below: ‘Navratna Oil is – ‘ Thanda Thanda Cool Cool’ ‘Pepsi’s slogan reads as : ‘Yeh Dil Mange More’ One should taste ‘Maggie Ketchup’ so that- ‘Taste Bhi , Health Bhi .’ Here is another example of code – mixing between English and Marathi by ‘Pond’s Cold Cream’ - Milva Pond’s White Beauty Facewash Mofat Pond’s Cold Cream Sobat .

IX. Monologue, dialogue and Humour: It is the technique used to share the positive experiences of others regarding the product. Generally this type of advertisements are largely used in audio and visual media like radio, T.V. etc. In monologues there is a single participant who shares his/her experiences about the product. Very often persons in the monologues are celebrities like a film star or cricketer. Whatever media may be; light humour and fun create lively atmosphere in advertise. It is the reason most of the advertises are funny. All of us, from kids to the elders, enjoy such ads. It is but natural that people pay more attention to a humourous ad than a serious or foctual one. you might be enjoying ‘Gems’ T.V. commercial in which an elderly woman is thrown up in the sky while picking up the ‘Gems’ fallen on the ground ...... ‘No Umar for Lalch!’ or an ad of ‘Knorr’ vegetable soup with actress Kajol.You like it, know? ‘Tummy Bole snacks? Sat Baje? Mummy bole, No! Dinner kaun khayega? Tummy ki suno ya Mummy ki?

139 Tummy...Mummy.... yummy! Naya Knorr Soup.....Itna tasty ki Tummy khush ! Itna healthy ki Mummy Khush !’ X. Language of Advertising: The Art of Rule Breaking For successful advertising there should be a strong appeal and attraction in its language. For the same reason; every attempt is made to bring novelty in it. There is no exception of grammatical rules as well. Sometimes copywriter misspells some words purposefully, sometimes there is addition of some prefix or suffix to the common words to make the ad more vivid,interesting and striking. for example: ‘We know eggsactly how to sale Eggs’ Here the word ‘eggsactly’ is the variation of ‘exactly’ and it echos the word at the end of slogan.See below a sentence from an ad for candy it reads- ‘From you to you.’ Here, there is purposeful deviation from natural use of reflective pronoun. In a simple language the above expression could be -‘for yourself.’ In an another ad for ‘7-Up’ cold drink they use the word, ‘uncola’ however according to the language rules is not permitted to use prefix (un) before a noun (cola) but everything is possible in advertisment! To sum up: Accordingly, the use of English in advertising is a matter of skill, artistic attitude alongwith wide knowledge languages and ongoing commercial trend. If you are interested in the field of advertising there is a range of lucrative careers. The job in this field is categorized into two sides or departments. The executive department understands client needs and the creative department prepares the advertisment copy; as per the need of the product. There is an opportunity even in the field of ad films. You can make your career in private advertising agencies or public sector companies. Similarly, one can have an option as freelancer in this discipline. The advertising sections of newspapers, magazines, journals, radio, television or market research organisations are in search of your talent. ***

140 Task 3: (A) Draft an advertisement copy of the following keeping with its structure and using the essential words, phrases and various sentence types. Invent names for these products: Two wheeler for Ladies, Washing Machine, Mixer Grinder (B) Study the advertisements of the following products and note down the characteristics of language in them. Chocolate, After Shave lotion, Tooth Brush, Laptop. (C) Prepare headlines for the following products/services using code mixing feature. Travel Company, CFL Bulb, Sweets, Hand wash, Water Purifier.

9.2.1 Section – 1 Check your progress Choose the correct alternative from the options given below and complete the sentences: 1. ------is a powerful tool for the flow of information from the seller to the buyer. a) Advertise b) Television c) Radio d) Newspaper 2. ------advertising is a favorable representation of a product to make consumers and general public aware of it. a) Industrial b) Consumer c) non-consumer d) colorful 3. Advertise is a form of ------communication. a) mass b)cross c) group d) specific 4. Now-a-days ------media is the most popular mode of advertising. a) Non-electronic b) electronic c) Print d) audio 5. Newspapers, books, magazines, journals, leaflets, banners and posters are examples of ------media. a) audio b) electronic c) audio- visual d) print

141 6. ------media is comparatively affordable. a) non-electronic b) audio c) Visual d) audio- visual 7. The newspaper advertising began to develop in the ------century. a) 16 th b)17 th c) 18 th d) 19 th 8. Code is a ------style of language. a) monolingual b) digital c) multilingual d) none of the above 9. In advertising------is used as a main tool. a) media b) language c) emotion d) copy 9.2.2 Section -2 Check your progress a) Say whether true or false. 1. Advertise is a form of mass communication and closely related with the commercial world. 2. Advertise influences and persuades people to believe in the appeal made in it. 3. The newspaper advertising began to develop in the 18 th century in the various parts of the world. 4. Media of advertising is a means of communication by which message of advertising is communicated to the consumers. 5. Print media is called as non- electronic media. 6. Print media is expensive. 7. Electronic media is an advertisement by means of radio, television or Internet. 8. Slogans are short phrases / sentences stuffed with attractive and brilliant words. 9. Code is a multilingual style of language. 10. Magazine is a print medium.

142 b) Match the items under Column A with those under Column B: Column A Column B 1. T.V., Radio a. speech of one person 2. Slogan b. a product 3. Code-mixing c. advertisement 4. Monologue d. multilingual 5. Bath soap e. catch lines f. media c) Write short notes on: 1. Media of advertising 2. Code-mixing 3. Creativity in Language of advertising 4. Use of Monologue and Dialogue in Consumer advertising 9.2.3 Section-3 Check your progress A) Prepare advertisement to be sent to the print media for the following products: 1. Toothpaste 2. Shampoo B) Draft the advertisement of the following based on the description given below using essential words, phrases, and abbreviations . AQUA PURE is a new product of India Lever Limited. It is different from traditional water purifiers. Their slogan is –‘Be Sure with Aqua Pure’. Its new technology gives you pure and safe water as compared to boiling water. You can enjoy a tension free life because there will not be water borne diseases. Its unique safety system consists of nine stage purification system which gives relief from all kinds of water diseases. Moreover it restores minerals and natural taste in the water.

143 You can get ten to 12 liters of water in an hour. Its auto -switch- off technology means no tension. It has five star rating so very low electricity consumption. In addition, it is available in an affordable price. In short, to buy AQUA PURE means to experience satisfaction. 9.3 Summary: Advertising has become a part and parcel of our day-to-day life. Advertise is a powerful tool for the flow of information from the seller to the buyer. The word advertise in English is originated from Latin root ‘advertere’ which means ‘to turn towards’, ‘to bring into notice’ or ‘to draw attention to something’. Equally, advertise influences and persuades people to believe in the appeal made in it. There are two major types of advertising i.e. Industrial or institutional advertising and Consumer advertising . In the present unit we are dealing with Consumer advertising. It is a favorable representation of a product to make consumers and general public aware of it. Though the art of advertising dates back to ancient times; there is a great revolution in the field of advertising in the modern age with the introduction of Print Media like newspapers and Electronic Media like radio and television or Internet. Now a day’s electronic media is the most popular mode of advertising. Language of Advertising: It’s Creativity Advertise uses language as its main tool though it appeals us through different media and variety of languages. However, in the present age of globalization English is known as an international language. Naturally, typical use of English in advertising has become a matter of interest. Even if, English in advertising has developed from common language; its typical usage of words and style has made it an ‘Informal Professional Language’. English in advertising is modified with progression in science & technology, as well as, changes in social lifestyle in general. That is to say; English in advertising is known as a creative language. There are some common characteristics of advertising language. They are as follow: 1. Persuasive keywords and phrases. 2. Short words and sentences. 3. Use of familiar words. 4. Intentional departure from language rules. 5. Dramatic appeal to the consumers 6. Frequent use of interrogative sentences. 7. Use of figures of

144 speech. 8. Utilization of sound related devices 9. Recurrent use of superlatives. 10. Use of imperative statements. 11. Emotional appeal. Advertisement in print media more or less carries its own structure . It helps to attract the prospective consumer. It consists of four elements: 1. GRASP - attention is caught through the use of Layout, Picture, Monogram or Slogan 2. HIGHLIGHT - product is highlighted through Images and Features of product 3. REQUEST - to- Buy, Try the product 4. SUPPORT -rationale for buying the product Slogans: Slogans or catch lines are short phrases/sentences stuffed with attractive and brilliant words ‘The Taste of India’ (Amul Milk) ‘Have A Break, Have A Kit-Kat’ (Kit-Kat) Use of Language Devices in Advertising: While copywriting advertising agencies use various language devices to achieve desired effect. They bring a creative touch, so that the intended message in advertisement gets artistic value. ii) Sound Related Devices: These devices are related to the technique using sounds elements in advertising language. Similar to poetry rhyme, rhythm, alliteration or repetition techniques are used to bring musical quality in the advertising message. Rhyme-This device consists of the repetition of the same sound at the End. Alliteration –In this device the words which begin with the same sound are brought together. Rhythm –In this device similar patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables create rhythm regularity. Repetition –Repetition of key words creates desire in the mind of readers and even enhances musical quality.

145 ii) Vocabulary related devices – Adjectives –Adjectives like fresh, smart, beautiful etc. are used to describe the striking features of product. Mostly, language of advertising is exaggerative in character. It is the reason there is increased number of comparative and superlative adjectives like super white, extra energy, extra vitamin etc. Formation of New Words: It has become a usual practice to form new words and expressions in order to support the creative aspect of advertisement. For e.g. the word ‘Heavenlicious’ is a blending of the words ‘heavenly’ and ‘delicious’. iii) Skillful Use Of Sentence Types : You know that there are four types of sentences –i.e. Statements, Questions, Commands and Exclamations. Advertisers use these sentence types in very skillfully way. So that the reader or listener will easily accept the message as if a close friend recommended them.The slogan of Jindal Aluminum ‘We value your trust’ is not just a statement but more than that. Likewise; The use of questions is also preferred a lot. These friendly questions force you to think over the implied message. polite commands like ‘hurry up to...’is a regular feature of advertising language. Similarly, use of typical exclamatory expression easily catches our attention. iv) Figurative Devices : Language in ads is loaded with figurative or rhetorical devices. It means, they suggest multiple layers of meaning. In these devices there is a departure from ordinary form of expression in order to produce a greater effect. These effects are achieved through various figurative devices–like simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, irony and so on. ‘Code-mixing feature’ of Advertising: While watching T.V. or reading newspaper you come across the ads mixed with two languages. Code is a multilingual style of language. In a multilingual country like India this type of communication is socially accepted and we do not feel anything wrong in it. For e.g. -‘Pepsi’s slogan: ‘Yeh Dil Mange More’

146 Monologue, dialogue and Humour: In monologue there is a single participant who shares his/her experiences about the product. Very often persons in the monologues are celebrities like a film star or cricketer. However dialogue consists of two or more persons. Generally this type of advertisements are largely used in audio and visual media like radio or T.V. Light humour and fun create lively atmosphere in advertise. It is the reason most of the advertises are funny and all of us enjoy such ads. Language of advertising is so innovative that it is known as the art of rule breaking. For successful advertising there should be a strong appeal and attraction in its language. For the same reason; every attempt is made to bring novelty in it. There is no exception of grammatical rules as well. Sometimes copywriter misspells some words purposefully, sometimes there is addition of some prefix or suffix to the common words to make the ad more vivid,interesting and striking. Thus, use of English in advertising is a matter of skill, artistic attitude. it requires wide knowledge of languages and ongoing commercial trend. If you are interested in the field of advertising there is a range of lucrative opportunities. *** 9.4 Terms to Remember: Consumer : a person who uses a product Slogan : a short catchy phrase used in advertising Code-mixing : mixing of two or more languages in ads Media : various means of mass communication (print & electronic) Monologue : a speech by one person Layout : the way in which advertising is planned Copy : the text of an advertisement Monogram : initials representing several words in a name Brand : an identifying trade mark or label

147 9.5 Key to check your progress: 2.1 1. Advertise 2. Consumer 3. mass 4. electronic 5. print media 6.non-electronic 7. 17 th 8. multilingual 9. Language 2.2 a) Answers to check your progress: 1-true 2- true 3- false 4- true 5- true 6- false 7- true 8-true 9- true 10- true 2.2 b) Answers to check your progress: 1-f 2-e 3-d 4-a 5-b 2.2 c) 1. Media of advertising Advertising: Its media It is through different Media the message of advertising is communicated to the consumers. The newspaper advertising began in the 17 th century in the various parts of the world. Yet, there is a great revolution in this field with the advent of radio and television as a popular media of mass communication. These media can be divided into two major types: 1. Print Media 2. Electronic Media Print Media includes newspapers, books, magazines, journals, leaflets and even banners and posters. This media is even called as non-electronic media. Print media is comparatively affordable; moreover, it is within reach of every locality. Electronic media consists of electronic means of communication like radio, T.V. or Internet. In this modern age advertisement through electronic media is the most popular mode of advertising. With the increase of internet users web advertisement is also getting more and more popular. It has one benefit over Print Media is that this media can cover a wide range of consumers. It is the most feasible platform through which one can transmit advertising message to every corner of the world instantly.

148 2. Code-mixing Now a day the feature of Code-mixing is widely used in all types of media. Code is a multilingual style of language. While watching T.V. or reading newspaper we come across the ads mixed with two languages. Generally English is mixed with Hindi or some other local language. In a multilingual country like India this type of communication is socially accepted and we do not feel anything wrong in it. Here are some examples of this kind: In the ad of Navratna Oil their slogan says ‘Navratna Oil is – ‘ Thanda Thanda Cool Cool’. Thus Hindi word ‘Thanda’ is mixed with English ‘Cool’ in the same way‘Pepsi’s slogan reads as : ‘Yeh Dil Mange More’ Eating ‘Maggie Ketchup’ means-‘Taste Bhi , Health Bhi .’ Here is another example of code – mixing between English and local language Marathi by ‘Pond’s Cold Cream’ - Milva Pond’s White Beauty Facewash Mofat Pond’s Cold Cream Sobat . In short the feature of Code-mixing is well-accepted and widely used in advertising world. 3. Creativity in Language of Advertising Language is used as a main tool in Advertising. English has achieved worldwide importance in this age of globalization and it is known as an international language. Therefore, Advertising in English is preferred as it is understood and spoken worldwide. So, the study of English in advertising has become a matter of curiosity and interest. Though the foundation of English in advertising is laid down with common English; its unusual use of words and style has transformed it into ‘Informal Professional Language’. With an advancement of science & technology and changes in social lifestyle English has undergone a lot of modification. Everyday it is enriched by new words and new terms. The same impact can be seen in the world of advertising. English in advertising is used in its all possible way to make the ad impressive. And this makes English a creative language. This artistic use can make a powerful impact over the behavior of people. visual content and design play

149 important role in advertising, yet it is its language that helps people to identify and remember a product . The language of advertising is beautified with the use of various devices to produce proper result. Here are some common characteristics of language of advertising: 1. Persuasive keywords and phrases. 2. Short words and sentences. 3. Use of familiar words. 4. Intentional departure from language rules. 5. Dramatic appeal to the consumers 6. Frequent use of interrogative sentences. 7. Use of figures of speech.8. Utilization of sound related devices 9. Recurrent use of superlatives. 10. Use of imperative statements.11. Emotional appeal. In short language of advertising is very creative and twisted for the purpose of striking effects. 4. Use of Monologues and Dialogues in Consumer advertising Monologues and Dialogues are examples of audio and visual media. The advertisements on radio and television make use of monologues and Dialogues in advertising a product. In monologues there is a single participant who shares his/her experiences about the product. It is the technique used to share the positive experiences of others regarding the product. However dialogue consists of two or more persons. Generally this type of advertisements is largely used in audio and visual media like radio or T.V. To make dialogue more interesting humourous and funny situations are purposefully used. It is the reason most of the advertises produce laughter and no feeling of boredom even if we watch them again and again. It is the reason most of the advertises are funny and all of us enjoy such ads. It is but natural that people pay more attention to a humourous advertise than a serious or foctual one.

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153 9.6 Exercises: A) Prepare an advertisement for the following products for the print media: i) Cell Phone ii) Washing Machine iii) Wrist watch iv) Foot wear Consider the following suggestions: *Imagine a brand name for the products. * Make use of proper Headline or a Slogan. * Use code-mixing feature * Use Repetition of words/phrases * Use proper adjectives * Give main features of the product B) Draft the following advertisement by using the essential words/phrases and abbreviations: SAMCON T.V. is one of the leaders in innovation. Its slogan is ‘Go watching, go enjoying’ It has launched a new slim LCD T.V. ‘BLASTER’ with variety of features. The T.V. gives you a theatre –like experience with high quality digital picture. Its body comes with high gloss finish for its ever new look. It has USB support. It comes with 225 channels and sound equalizer. Moreover, you can use it as a computer. It is even provided with ‘Picture in picture’ facility to watch two channels at a time. Its full remote control functionality means additional comfort. Not only that, it comes with 3 years of warranty against manufacturing defects. JJJ

154 Unit-10 Information Transfer and Interpretation of data

CONTENTS 10.0 Objectives 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Information Transfer and Interpretation of Data 10.2.1 Section I - Check your progress 10.2.2 Section II - Check your progress 10.2.3 Section III - Check your progress 10.2.4 Section IV - Check your progress 10.2.5 Section V - Check your progress 10.3 Summary 10.4 Notes and Glossary 10.5 Key to check your progress 10.6 Exercises 10.0 Objectives:- After studying this unit you will be able to:

G narrate the given information.

G compare the given information.

G classify information by using tables.

G draw the diagrams for presenting information.

G explain the relation between given data and charts and that between data and diagram.

155 10.1 Introduction:- In the previous unit entitled “English for Consumer Advertising” you have learnt how language is used to attract the attention of the consumer towards the particular product. This unit deals with presenting visual forms so that it can be grasped easily and can be interpreted accurately. Unless information is presented it cannot be interpreted accurately. And unless there is accurate interpretation no effective decision can be taken. Modern information technology has brought various forms of presenting data yielding to easy and accurate interpretation. These forms of presentation are tables, bar diagrams, tree diagrams, pie diagrams, flow chart and so on. These forms are visual so they can be interpreted easily as well as accurately. The process of interpretation generally includes generalization, comparison, contrast and prediction. The text is followed by self- assessment questions that could help you to have accurate knowledge of the topic. Finally you will be able to apply the skill of presenting information and interpreting the given data in different situations. 10.2 Information Transfer and Interpretation of Data Information means ‘something told’ or ‘knowledge acquired in any manner; fact, data etc. It is a great skill to present information in a precise way. Visual presentation of the information is unanimously accepted way of presenting information in the world of Information Technology. It is time saving and helpful in many respects. • Complex facts and figures can be much more easily understood. • It makes comparison easy. • Graphs and diagrams are the visual aids that give immediate and accurate comprehension of the data. • Information presented through charts and diagrams impress the reader more effectively than going through a long narrative in writing or in speech. Information can be presented in different forms such as table, charts, maps, graph, tree diagram, pie diagram, flow chart and out-line form which give the required information at a glance.

156 Information Transfer: Information transfer means transferring information from one form of presentation to the other. For example, Information presented in the narrative paragraph can be transferred to table, bar diagram, pie diagram, flow- chart, tree diagram or in the out-line form highlighting the important points in the information. Even information in bar diagram can be transferred to table or pie diagram. Interpretation of Data: To interpret data means to explain its meaning and make it to understand at ease. There are three steps of interpreting data- generalization, comparison and contrast and prediction. Generalization: making the general statements about data. Comparison: Comparing and contrasting the figures under the heads. Prediction: Observing the trend in the data and making statements about its present or future position. Now let us see some of the important devices of presenting information and how each of them is useful in the respective situation. I) Table: It is one of the most useful devices of presenting information. We get information at a glance with the help of the table. • Percentage or figures are normally presented in tables with suitable headings. • Table helps to classify the information under different heads. • Table is useful to show the information of the object and its features, cause and its effects, reason and its result and so on. Here is narrative paragraph/ passage giving information about Occupational distribution of working population in India over the years 1981-2007. Working population of India has been distributed under three different heads namely, Primary sector, Secondary sector and Tertiary sector. It has been observed that during the year1981, 68.7% of working population was working in primary sector, 13.8% in the secondary sector and 17.5% in the tertiary sector. There was some change in occupational distribution of the working population in the year 1991.

157 The percentage in working population in primary sector was decreased and became 62.7%. On the contrary the percentage of working population in secondary and tertiary sector was increased which became 14.9% and 22.4% respectively. In the year 2001, 59.3% population was busy in the primary sector, where as 18.2 % people were working in the secondary sector and 22.5% in the tertiary sector. According to the economic survey in 2007, the percentage of working population was engaged in primary sector has been reduced to 52.7%. There is considerable growth in the percentage working population in the tertiary sector which became 28.5%. There is slight increase in the percentage of working population which became 18.8%. Note you have to make a lot of repetition in such narration. You have to state again certain words, verbs and the years etc. Here is the tabular presentation of such information. Distribution of Working population Occupation 1981 1991 2001 2007 Primary sector 68.7% 62.7% 59.3% 52.7% Secondary sector 13.8% 14.9% 18.2% 18.8% Tertiary sector 17.5% 22.4% 22.5% 28.5% Total 100 100 100 100 Occupational Distribution of Working Population in India. Interpretation of the data: Generalization: From the data given above you can make the general statements such as, 1. The above information shows that there is a shift of workforce from primary sector to secondary and tertiary sector. 2. It appears that is a consistent growth in the percentage of working population in the tertiary sector. 3. It seems there is a gradual increase in the percentage of working population in the secondary sector.

158 Comparison: You can make statements of comparison such as: 1. It appears from the information given above that the percentage of working population in the primary sector is greater than that of secondary and tertiary sector. Over the years from 1981 to 2001. 2. The percentage of working population in the secondary sector is less than that of primary sector and tertiary sector in the respective years 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2007. 3. The percentage of working population in the tertiary sector is quite less than that of the primary sector over the years. Contrast: You can contrast the information given above by saying: It can be seen from the information given above that the percentage of working population in the secondary sector is the lowest one in contrast to that of primary sector over the years 1981 to 2007. Prediction: 1. It appears from the above information that there is shift of workforce from primary sector to the secondary sector and tertiary sector during the three and half decades given. 2. The information given above shows that there is a gradual growth in Indian economy. 3. From the year wise figures given in the information above we can predict that there is consistent increase in the percentage of working population in the tertiary sector. Study the structures which are used for making statements: 1. The above information shows that…… 2. It appears from the information given above that…… 3. According to the above information we can say ……… 4. The information indicates that ………

159 5. It can be seen from the information above…….. Use of tenses 1. Simple present tense is used to state the general tendencies or trends e.g. use of is, are. 2. Past tense is used to talk about the information related to previous years. was increased, decreased etc. 3. Future tense is used to indicate the position. e.g. will increase, will go, etc. Following expressions can be normally used to make statements of comparison, more than, less ….than, …er….. than. To indicate contrast in two different things ‘in contrast to’ can be used. 10.2.1 Section I Check your progress: A) Read the following table accurately and complete the statements given below it :- 1. This table shows that the production of food grains (MT) in the year 2009- 10 is ______that of in the year 1950-51. 2. In the year 1991-92 the production of pulses (MT) to was ______that of sugarcane (MT). 3. In the year 1950-51 the production of oilseeds (MT) was ______than that of in the year 1991-92. 4. The production of sugarcane (MT) was ______in the year 1991-92 that of in the year 1950-51. 5. The production of the ______was the lowest compared to other agriculture products in the year 1950-51. B) Say true or false- 1. Generalization means making general statements about the data. 2. Transferring information means making notes from the given information.

160 3. Table form is useful to show the family analogy. 4. Prediction means making statement about future position regarding the data. 5. The production of sugarcane was the lowest one in contrast to that of the products in the year 2009-10. Task-1: A) Narrate the information in the table given below: Agriculture Production (Million Tonnes) Commodity 1950-51 1991-92 2001-02 2008-09 2009-10 1. Food grains (m.t) 51.0 167.0 212.9 234.4 218.2 2. Pulses (m.t) 8.4 12.0 13.4 14.6 14.6 3. Sugarcane (m.t) 69.0 249.0 297.2 285.0 277.7 4. Oilseeds (m.t) 5.1 18.3 20.7 27.7 24.9 B) 1. Make a general statement about the topic 2. Make the statements of comparison and contrast based on the information given. 3. Make the statement of prediction based on the above information. II) Tree- diagram: Tree – diagram is useful for representing different components of any particular object. It is useful to present classification of data, relationship in family ancestry/ analogy and hierarchical relationship of management in any office or organization. Thus tree-diagram shows division, sub-division and hierarchical relations. Look at the following tree-diagram which describes the classification of Account-

161 Accounts

Personal Impersonal

Natural Artificial or legal Representative Real Nominal

Ram Rita Prepaid Capital Drawing Accounts Accounts Accounts

Government Companies Clubs Co-operative Societies Let us see how this tree diagram can be presented in a descriptive form. There are two main types of accounts: personal account and impersonal account. Personal accounts is of three types and is classified as natural account, artificial or legal account and representative accounts. Natural personal account can be the account of Ram and Rita. Artificial or legal personal account is further classified as Government’s accounts, Company’s accounts, Club’s accounts and the accounts of Co-operative societies. Similarly Representative personal accounts are sub-divided into Pre-paid accounts, Capital accounts and Drawing accounts. Impersonal accounts can be Real accounts and Nominal accounts. The following structure can be used to describe a tree-diagram: divided into, further divided into, sub-divided into, classified into, further classified into etc. 10.2.2 Section II Check your progress Say true or false- 1. Hierarchical structure of any organization can be shown easily through table form.

162 2. Tree diagram is useful for presenting different components of any particular object. 3. Real and nominal accounts are the types of personal accounts. 4. Government, companies, clubs and co-operative societies are the types of personal accounts. 5. The accounts of Ram and Rita are the example of real accounts. Task-2 A) Here is a tree-diagram giving information about modes of transport. Read it and narrate it into a paragraph. Modes of Transport

Land Water Air Trans port Transport Transport

Roadways Railway Inland water transport Shipping

Rivers Canals Coastal Over Seas Shipping Shipping

National State District Rural Highway Highway Roads Roads Domestic International Air transport Air transport B) Transfer the following information in to a tree-diagram. There are four types of markets namely, local markets, regional markets, national markets and international markets. Local markets are divided as markets for perishable goods such as butter, eggs, milk and vegetables, and market for bulky goods where brick, sand and stones are sold. Semi durable goods are sent to regional markets. Durable goods and industrial items are sent to national markets. The

163 precious commodities like gold and silver are transacted in the markets at international level. I) Flow chart Flow-chart provides information in short about the processes. It depicts the various steps taken to complete the process. It is used to tell the recipe of any dish or procedure of producing any item or process of doing certain activities such as taking admission in the college or opening a bank account etc. Look at the following flow-chart that provides various stages in the procedure of accounting.

Generating financial Recording Classifying the data information Transactions and filing the data

Interpreting the Analyzing the data Summarizing the data & preparing given in the data in the form of the reports financial statement financial statement

Submitting the reports to the end users This is a flow chart that gives procedure of aspects of accounting generating financial information. All business transactions of financial characters evidenced by some documents such as sales bill, pass book, salary slip etc. are recorded in the books of accounts. Then the classification of the records data is made under separate heads. After that the classified data is summarized and presented in the form of financial statements. Then the data in the financial statements is analyzed in the simplified form. After that the recorded financial data explained and interpreted which will help to know about the financial condition and profitability of the business operations. Finally the interpreted information is transmitted to the end users to make rational decisions.

164 10.2.3 Section III Check your progress Say true or false- 1. Flow chart provides information about the processes. 2. Flow chart can be used to tell the process of making tea. 3. Flow chart is generally used to classify any data. 4. Data given in the financial statement is analyzed after summarizing the classified data. 5. Interpretation of the data is the final step in the process of accountancy. Task-3: A) Here is a flow-chart showing procedure of giving contracts. Write a paragraph narrating this procedure.

Advertising Calling Opening Finding board quotation out the the nature of envelops meeting lowest work- inviting before them quotations quotation

Explaining Get the If agreed ask agreement the the terms Inviting signed by the companies and the party managing Solicitors to conditions director and draft an the contractor agreement

B) You know how coffee powder is prepared. Present a flow-chart of making coffee powder giving all the important stages. III. Pie-diagram Pie-diagram represents a circle which is further divided into the different parts to indicate different components.

165 When a circle is sub-divided into various component sectors it is called a pie- diagram. The whole circle is 100% which can be divided into pies as per the data. It gives a visual impression of the information. Pie-diagram is supplementary to tabular data. Here is a pie-diagram about monthly expenditure of a family. Pie-diagram

The information in the above pie-diagram can be narrated in the following way. The above pie-diagram shows the monthly expenditure of a family. The family spends 40% of its income on food. After food the great expenditure is made on clothing; its percentage is 20%. Below the clothing there is house rent for which the family expends 15%. The expenditure on education is 10%. Similarly the family expends 6% of its income on fuel and electricity and its miscellaneous expenditure is 10%. ‘There is’-used to express general facts. 10.2.4 Section IV Check your progress Say true or false- 1. In a pie diagram the circle is divided into rectangular pies. 2. In a pie diagram a circle is sub-divided into different component sectors.

166 3. Pie diagram is supplementary to flow chart. 4. In a pie diagram percentage is used to measure data. 5. From the above pie diagram we learn that family expends maximum amount of its income on education. Task-4: A. Prepare a Pie-diagram representing the data given. Distribution of Revenue Source % of Revenue Customs 14 Excise 40 Income Tax 30 Corporate Tax 10 Miscellaneous 06 Total 100

B. 1. Make the Statements of generalization based on the data above. 2. Make the statements of comparison and contrast about the data.

IV. Bar-diagram Bar-diagrams are called one dimensional diagram because only the length of the bar is taken into account and not the width. The length of the bar easily shows the contrast between two sets of information. The vertical and horizontal bars, or X-axis and Y-axis are used to present information. There length shows the frequency of the variable and width provides visual impacts See for example the following Bar Diagram showing information about the literacy rate in different states in India in 2001.

167 Literacy Rate in various states in India States % Literacy Rate Kerala 90.86 Goa 82 Maharashtra 77 Himachal Pradesh 77 Tamilnadu 73 Rajasthan 60 Uttar Pradesh 60 Bihar 47 The above bar-diagram gives us the information about the literacy in different states in India. The highest literacy rate is found in Kerala which is 90.86 %. It is followed by the state Goa where literacy rate is 82%. Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh have equal literacy rate and it is 77%. Tamilnadu states its position having the literacy rate of 73%. The percentage of literacy rate in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh is 60%. The lowest literacy rate is found in Bihar, it is 47%. General Statement: 1. As per the information given in above bar-diagram Kerala state achieves the highest position in the literacy rate in India. 2. The literacy rate in the state of Bihar is the lowest. Statement of Comparison: 1. The literacy rate in Kerala is higher than that of Goa, Maharashtra and Tamilnadu. 2. The literacy rate in Rajstan and Utter Pradesh is less than that of Goa and Himachal Pradesh. 3. Bihar is far behind in its literacy rate compared to other states in India. Statement of Contrast: The literacy rate in Kerala is the highest one in contrast to that of Bihar.

168 Statement of Prediction: By observing the information in above bar-diagram we can say that major states in India are proceeding towards achieving cent percent literacy. 10.2.5 Section V Check your progress - V Q. Say true or false- 1. Bar diagram is multidimensional diagram. 2. Vertical bars are used to present percentage. 3. The highest literacy rate is found in the state Goa. 4. The literacy rate in the state of Maharashtra is equal to that of Tamilnadu. 5. The literacy rate in Bihar is the lowest one. Task-5: A. Present the following information in bar-diagram. Literacy Ratio Census year Males Female 1951 25.0 7.9 1961 34.4 13.0 1971 39.4 18.7 1981 56.4 29.75 1991 64.1 39.3 2001 75.85 54.16 B. 1. Compare and contrast the information given and make many such possible statements. 2. Make the statements of prediction based on the above information. 10. 3 Summary:- This unit began with five objectives. Different types of information transfer are discussed in this unit. The data presented in the visual form helps to interpret the information quickly and easily. The devices used for visual presentation are table, tree diagram, flow chart, pie diagram and bar diagram. Data is transferred to these devices for interpretation. The devices of information transfer interpret data by

169 generalisation, comparison, contrast and prediction. There are objective type of questions to check your progress followed by the key to answers, which help you to assess your answers. 10.4 Notes and Glossary : Information :- knowledge gained or given, facts, news. Narration :- the act or process of telling something. Generalization :- form general opinion or speak in general terms. Compare :- to examine terms or facts to see what differences or similarities they have. Contrast :- difference or dissimilarity between things that are being compared. Prediction :- act of foretelling. Pie-chart :- a diagram used to display statistical data, consisting of a circle divided into sectors each of which contains one category of information. Flow Chart :- a diagram representing the nature and sequence of operations to be carried out. 10.5 Keys to check your progress:- Section - I A) 1. Greater than 2. In contrast to 3. Quite less 4. Higher than 5. Oilseeds B) 1. True 2. False 3. False 4. True 5. False Section - II 1. False 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. False Section - III 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. False Section - IV 1. False 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. False Section - V 1. False 2. True 3. False 4. False 5. True

170 10.6 Exercise: 1. Transfer the following information into a pie-diagram.Interpret the data given. Percentage of failures of B.Com – I students in various subjects: English - 35% Accounting - 20% Marketing - 10% Management - 10% Economics - 15% Insurance - 10% 2. Write a paragraph on the process of making cement with the help of the following flow chart: Transfer it to a Take lime stone and Grind the mixture cylindrical rotating clay, ratio 3:1 to a fine powder kiln

Cement clinker is Heat it to the Grind the mixture formed. Now allow it temperature of to a fine powder to cool 1400 0c

Add 3 % gypsum into it

2. Represent the following information into the form of a tree diagram: We can divide all things in nature as animate and inanimate. The animate things can be divided into humans, animals and plants; whereas inanimate things can be man-made and natural. Humans can be divided into Negroid, Mongols, Asiatics and Europeans. Animals can be divided in to wild and tame. JJJ

171 Unit-11 Writing Notice, an Agenda, and Minutes of Meeting

11.0 Objectives. 11.1 Introduction. 11.2 Presentation of subject matter 11.2.1 Notice Check your progress-I 11.2.2 Agenda Check your progress-I 11.2.3 Minutes Check your progress-I 11.3 Summary 11.4 Key to check your progress. 11.5 Exercises. 11.0 Objectives After studying this unit, you will be able to • Understand the nature of meeting notice, its agenda and minutes • Explain the specific use of language made in them • Find relation among these official documents 11.1 Introduction: Dear friends, you are the students of Commerce faculty. This faculty is basically concerned with commerce. The dictionary meaning of the word is ‘trade, business’. That is to say, in this faculty you study the way business is managed. In this paper, you will study the way English language is used to carry out business. As for the use of language in business, you might have realized that the language used in business and its management is different from your everyday use of language. In case of Marathi, your mother tongue, you can easily identify this distinction, because you are well aware of the varieties of the language. However, in case of English language,

172 you might say that you have not learned English to the extent to which you have learned Marathi. Therefore, identification and use of ‘different’ English in the management of business is a little difficult task. Still you should not worry because this SIM will help you identify those differences and will also assist to learn its use. Trade or business is carried out both on small scale and large scale. Each one has its own management features. Due to globalization, privatization and liberalization the nature of business has changed to a very great extent. The small traders as well as the big business companies have their organizations. The communication between these traders is a part of business communication. Similarly, a big commercial company has many workers and officers. They also have to communicate among themselves. Business communication addresses the issues involved in the communication processes used by these organizations. Some registered organizations like various professional organizations, housing societies, clubs, etc. also have to communicate with each other. The present paper, particularly the ‘Communication Skills’ therein, are devoted to the discussion of various forms of communication, their nature and the language employed for it. Units 1, 2, 9 and 11 of your text book deal with these processes. Unit 1 deals with the electronic media in the communication process such as telephone, fax and emails. Unit 2 is devoted to the discussion of written communication in the light of notices, office orders and circular letters. The nature of this unit is very close to that of Unit 11. Unit 9 specifically deals with the use of English in consumer advertising. In fact, language in advertising is used very judiciously because, with the help of advertisement, the company intends to increase the sale of its product. Unit 10 is devoted to show how English can be used in an impersonal and formal manner while information is transferred and data are interpreted. Unit 11 also discusses the use of English in formal situations. Here too, impersonal and formal nature of language is underlined. The common thread in all these ‘communication skill’ units is the specific manner of using language to carry out certain functions. Let us now look at the way language is used in notices, agenda and minutes of meeting and what their nature and structure is? The word notice is used in many areas like public notice, office notice, meeting notice, etc. Public notices are generally published in news papers; office notice is displayed on the notice-board of an office. You might have also seen notices displayed on the notice-board of your college. However, here we are concerned only

173 with meeting notice. Therefore, it is essential to understand the nature of meeting. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines the word ‘meeting’ as ‘an assembly of people for a particular purpose, especially for a formal discussion’. Thus meting refers to an assembly of people; that is, coming together of people. But it is not casual and unintentional coming together. The members generally have a particular purpose. The people who participate in the meeting are members of a specific group. Moreover, such meeting is formal in nature. That means it has to follow a particular set patterns. In such a formal assembly discussion of a particular issue or issues take place. The formal nature of meeting means it is conducted by following a procedure. The three words in the title of this unit – notices, agenda and minutes – indicate the same procedure followed in conduction of meeting. As a student, while talking to your friends, classmates, teachers, you could have used the word ‘meeting’ many times. For you the meaning of the word could be ‘informal get together’. Still you might have seen the use of the word by many people around you, particularly your teachers. It means you also have some knowledge of the way ‘formal meetings’ are conducted. Even in your college you might be aware of the formal meeting of class representatives convened by the principal of your college. Moreover, since you are a student of commerce faculty, you would be acquainted with the working of various organizations like housing societies, various trusts, educational institutes, sport clubs and many national and multinational companies. All these institutes are registered organization. A registered organization works with the approved rules and regulations. The same rules and regulations require the members of the institute to come together in order to discuss some issues of importance and to arrive at certain decisions. The procedure of asking people to come together, discus certain issues and to arrive at decisions is carried out by preparing written documents. In the conduction of such meeting therefore notices, agenda and minutes play a very important role in keeping records. An official meeting of the members of an institution is a very important event because it is convened to discuss important issues. It needs help of several written documents. These written documents are carefully prepared by the secretary of the organization in consultation with the chairman. The chairman is the chief of the body and the secretary looks after all the documentation of the body.

174 11.2 Presentation of Subject Matter 11.2.1 Notice What is a notice? A notice of a meeting is the official declaration of the meeting scheduled in the future. There should be a gap of some time (some days/weeks, as per the practice of the institution) between the issuing of the notice and the scheduled time of the meeting. Usually, such a notice is printed on the letterhead of the organization. The notice always includes the following points: 1. Name of the committee/official body/ group of people who are expected to meet. 2. The scheduled day, date and time of the meeting. 3. The venue/ place of the meeting (with specific details like room numbers or name of the hall). 4. The agenda of the meeting. The following are some of the examples of meeting notices: 1. A Meeting of the Executive Council of Shivaji University Teachers’ Association will be held on Friday 24 January 2013 at 4.30 p.m. at SUTA office, Kolhapur to discuss ……

2. There will be a meeting of the Executive Council of Shivaji University Teachers’ Association on Friday 23 January 2012 at 4.30 p.m. at the SUTA office Kolhapur to discuss …..

3. The second General Body Meeting of Sharad Sports Club is scheduled on 19 February 2012 at 5.00 p.m. at the Club’s Office.

4. All the members of Sharad Sports Club are hereby informed that the second General Body Meeting of the club will be held on 19 February 2012 at 5.00 p.m. at the club’s office.

175 The following are some important points regarding the use of language in notice: Usually a notice begins as follows: A meeting of ----- is scheduled A meeting of ------will be held Look at the language here. The phrase ‘a meeting’ shows that it is an indefinite meeting. This is followed by the particulars of the body whose meeting is scheduled. The blank area can be substituted by the name of the organization, committee, etc. The preposition ‘of’ after the word ‘meeting’ specifies the name of the body. However, changes can be introduced in this structure as per requirement. For example, instead of using an indefinite meeting at the beginning of the notice like ‘a meeting’, very specific mention of the nature of the meeting can be communicated, as in the example 3 above: ‘The Second General Body meeting of ……’ The use of such phrases at the beginning help the secretary to point at the specific details like the meeting is the ‘second’ and not the ‘first’ or ‘third’ and it is a ‘general body’ meeting as opposed to only the Executive Council (EC) meeting. This is followed by the verb of the sentence: ‘is scheduled’ ‘will be held’ These verbs are used in passive aspect. You might have learnt the active and passive voice. Generally a notice is realized in passive construction. Sometimes, in informal situations, instead of using passive construction, notice can be realized in active form using the dummy subject ‘there’, as in example 2 above. As the example 4 indicates, at the beginning of the notice, the people addressed to can also be included, like ‘all the members of …..’. Sometimes, as shown in example 6, the phrase ‘all members’ can also be used as follows: To, All members,

176 When the number of the members called for the meeting is limited and/or when such members are socially/officially important, their proper names are used, as follows: To, Mr. X Y Z Another important element in the notice is that in the beginning the word ‘NOTICE’ or phrases like ‘Meeting Notice’ or Notice of Meeting’ are generally used at the centre of the page, and to the next line, the name of the organization may appear, as in example 5. The following are some more examples of meeting notice: 5. NOTICE City Council Meeting The Common Council of the City of Blair will hold its regular monthly business meeting on Monday, June 8, 2013, commencing at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Room in the City Hall. Secretary

6. Notice of Meeting To, All Members, Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Members of All India Commerce and Management Teachers’ Association will be held on 22 August 2013 at 4.00 p.m. at Dept. of Commerce and Management, University of Delhi, New Delhi to transact the following business: 1. ……… 2. ………

177 3. ……… 4. ………

New Delhi August 10, 2013

Secretary, All India Commerce and Management Teachers’Association

The examples 5 and 6 demonstrate that the person to whom the notice is addressed are either directly mentioned below the word ‘To’ or indirectly referred to in the content of notice. The notice, as we have seen earlier, is prepared and issued by the secretary of the organization. Therefore, at the end of the notice the word – ‘Secretary’ and the name of the organization appear. Sometimes, the day on which the notice is issued and the place are also mentioned in the notice. Remember that there should be a gap of appropriate period of time between the issuance of the notice and the actual date of the meeting. Sometimes, a meeting is scheduled and the notice of the meeting is also sent to the members concerned. But due to certain reasons, it needs to be postponed. In this situation, the concerned people need to be informed about it. This can be done using the following kind of notice: 7. Pande Finance Ltd. 15/08/2013 Members of the Board of Directors of Pande Finance Ltd. are hereby informed that the Meeting of the Executive Committee scheduled to be held on 25 August 2013 at 4.00 p.m. has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. The new date of the meeting will be communicated shortly. Secretary

178

In the task I of the textbook, students are asked to prepare notices. Let us now prepare those notices: 1) The NSS department of your college has organized a work camp of the students who have enrolled themselves for NSS activities. As a preparation for the camp, the in-charge NSS teacher has called a meeting of all these students. Imagine the relevant details. NOTICE 15/12/2013 All the students who have enrolled their name for NSS during the year 2013–14 are hereby informed that a meeting is scheduled on 25 th December 2013 to discuss issues related to the work camp at 4.00 pm. in the auditorium of the college. In-Charge National Social Service Scheme

2) You are the secretary of the Lotus Housing Society. Prepare a notice for the regular monthly meeting of the members of the society giving details like day, date, time, place, etc. NOTICE OF MEETING LOTUS HOUSING SOCIETY March 22, 2014

To, All members, The fifth monthly meeting of the members of Lotus Housing Society will be held on 25 th March 2014 in the meeting hall of the society at 6.00 p.m. The following issues will be discussed in the meeting: 1. ------

179 2. ------3. ------4. ------Secretary Lotus Housing Society

Check Your Progress I: Identify True/False of the following: 1. The Secretary of the body in consultation with the Chairman prepares the notice of the meeting. 2. Notice should be conveyed to the concerned members prior to the meeting. 3. Usually phrases like ‘is scheduled’ ‘will be held’ are used in the body of a notice. 4. A notice should clearly include the details like time, date and venue of the meeting. 5. In case a meeting is postponed, members should be informed about it with another notice. 11.2.2 Agenda: A meeting always has a purpose – to discuss certain issues and arrive at acceptable conclusions. The issues/items that are discussed during the meeting are referred to as ‘agenda’. The word ‘agenda’ is a plural of the word ‘agendum’. However, the word ‘agenda’ is commonly seen used in singular. Sometimes the word ‘business’ is also used instead. Agenda is the most important part of the meeting, because it decides the development of the discussion at the meeting, minimizes the chances of irregular discussion and preserves continuity. Agenda of a meeting is usually prepared by the secretary in consultation with the chairman. It is also the responsibility of the secretary to see that each member who is invited to participate in the meeting gets it. Generally, Agenda of the meeting is sent with the meeting notice. If the list of the items in the agenda is small, it is given below the notice (as in example 6 above). But in case of a large list, a separate sheet is used for it and is sent as an enclosure with the meeting notice.

180 Agenda follows a specific sequence. Usually the first item of agenda is the ‘approval of the minutes’ of the earlier meeting. On the basis of the discussion taken place in the meeting, the secretary prepares the minutes after the meeting. These minutes are put before the next meeting of the same members in order to get the details approved. During the process of approval, some members may raise an issue related to the items in the minutes. Therefore, the second item of the agenda is the ‘issues raised out of Minutes’ or ‘Matters arising’. Sometimes a special entry of these items raised is not made in the agenda. After this item, the other important items for which the meeting is organized are included in the agenda. When these issues are discussed, the members with the permission of the chairman, or even the chairman, if time permits, can raise an issue which is not included in the agenda. This item is referred to as ‘any other business with the permission of the chair’ or simply, ‘Any other business’. Usually, the last item of the agenda is the date of the next meeting. Before the meeting ends, the members finalize a date for the next meeting of the body. To indicate this, item like – ‘Date of Next Meeting’ or simply, ‘next meeting’ are included. There are two methods of writing items in the agenda: 1) Items in the form of Nouns or Noun Phrases, etc. • Appointment of a security personal/ clerk • Proposal of a function • Membership drive • Fund collection • Review of activities 2) Use of infinite construction: • To appoint a security personal/ clerk • To consider a proposal for arranging a function • To organize a membership drive • To collect funds • To review activities

181 Instead of using such dots or bullets, numbers can also be used. The use of such numbers is dependent on the number of the meeting and also the number of the item in the meeting. Such use of number further helps to note down the minutes in a systematic way. The agenda for the notice given in example 2 above can be furnished in the following manner using numbers: 2.1 Confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting 2.2 Matters arising out of the minutes 2.3 Purchase of 2 new table tennis boards 2.4 Appointment of a new attendant 2.5 Any other business with the permission of the chair 2.6 Date of the next meeting Since it is the second meeting, the figure 2 before dot indicates the number of the meeting and the figures after the dot show the item number in the agenda. Sometimes, instead of using both numbers and bullets, ‘time’ is used to indicate the period allotted for the discussion of items on the agenda. Accordingly, the above items can be written in the following way: PM 5.00 Confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting 5.15 Matters arising out of the minutes 5.20 Purchase of 2 new table tennis boards 5.40 Appointment of a new attendant 6.00 Any other business with the permission of the chair 6.15 Date of the next meeting In the task II of the textbook, students are asked to prepare agenda for the following notices. Let us now prepare those agenda. 1) Prepare an agenda for the meeting of the All India Commerce and Management Teachers’ Association mentioned in example 6 above. Imagine relevant details.

182 AGENDA • Confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting • Matters arising out of the minutes • Membership drive • Elections for Executive Members • Conference • Any other issue with the permission of the chair • Next Meeting 2) Prepare an agenda for the meeting of the Boards of Directors of Pande Finance Ltd. called for the appointment of an Auditor. Imagine relevant details. Pande Finance Ltd. Agenda 3.1 To approve the minutes of last meeting 3.2 To discuss the issues raised 3.3 To appoint an auditor 3.4 To appoint two office clerks 3.5 To discuss other issues with the permission of the chairperson 3.6 To finalize date of the next meeting

Check Your Progress II: Q. Answer the following 1. What is the purpose of a meeting? 2. What is agenda? 3. Why is agenda important? 4. What is the first item in agenda, usually? 5. What is the last item on the agenda? 11.2.3 Minutes: Minutes are the official record of the issues raised and decisions taken during the meeting. All companies and organizations (both registered and non-registered)

183 require to maintain the record of the minutes of the meetings. Since minutes contain the decisions arrived at by the members of the meeting, they need to be precise and clear. Such minutes are often written in formal and impersonal style. Since a meeting is called in order to invite suggestion of the members on a particular issue or to arrive at some decisions, the transaction of the meeting is useful for the further necessary actions in future. As we have seen, these minutes are read out in the next meeting and once approved by the members; they are signed by the chairman. Such signed minutes are legal documents and can be produced as evidence in future. The following are the essential components of the minutes: 1) Name of the body whose meeting is conducted, the nature of the meeting, e.g. the meeting of the Board of Directors of Pande Finance Ltd., the annual general meeting of SUTA, etc. 2) Day, Date, Time and Venue of the meeting 3) Name of the Chairman and the names of members present for the meeting 4) Name of the person ‘in attendance’, i.e. any invited official like the auditor, who are not the members of the company. 5) Leave of absence to those who were absent for the meeting, for e.g. Mr. XYZ and Mrs. PQR intimated their inability to attend the meeting and they were granted leave of absence. After this, the business carried out according to the agenda of the meeting is included. In the light of this discussion, let us study the following example carefully: Rotary Club, Kolhapur Minutes of 7 th Monthly Meeting Minutes of the seventh monthly meeting of the members of the Managing Committee of Rotary Club Kolhapur, held at 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25 2013, in the meeting hall of the club. The following members were present for the meeting: 1) Shri A. S. Inamdar Chairman 2) Smt. V. B. Pardesi Member

184 3) Shri Y. C. Phadatare Member 4) Dr. P. D. Pradhan Member 5) Shri. D. B. Patil Member 6) Shri D. V. Kambale Member 7) Smt. Ramaswamy Member The following members were absent at the meeting: 1) Shri. S. S. Chougule Member 2) Smt. B. T. Lanjewar Member 3) Shri P. R. Sonatakke Member 7.01 The minutes of the 6 th monthly meeting held on 23 December 2012 were read out by the secretary and the same were confirmed by all the members. Since no amendment was suggested, the minutes were singed by the Chairman. 7.02 In last meeting Smt. V. B. Paradesi and Shri. D. B. Patil were entrusted the responsibility of organizing ‘a tree plantation programme’ at XYZ College. Accordingly, they informed the committee about the progress and the date of the same. They further presented the required financial provision and the committee approved it. 7.03 Since S. S. Chougule, Smt. B. T. Lanjewar and Shri P. R. Sontakke communicated their inability to attend the meeting, they were granted ‘leave of absence’. 7.04 The Rotary Club office has to be shifted to the new specious building. Resolution : It was decided that the secretary should look into the matter and hire the required manpower for the same. 7.05 Purchase of required furniture in the new office building. Resolution : It was resolved that Dr. P. D. Pradhan and Shri D. V. Kamble should pursue the matter and put the proposal of required financial provision before the committee in the next meeting. 7.06 In the view of constant demand for membership of the club, it was suggested that membership drive be started from 1 st February to 15 th February 2013.

185 Resolution : It was decided that the club should start the membership drive from 1 st February to 15 th February 2013. 7.07 Considering the infrastructure of the new building, one more watchman is required. Accordingly, Shri Raghunath Khamkar (an Ex-serviceman) who applied for the job was interviewed and selected by the concerned committee. Resolution : The committee approved the appointment and it was decided that the new watchman should join his duties from 1 st February 2013. 7.08 Discussion was held on financing the foreign tour of two members of the club. Resolution - It was resolved that for this year the financial assistance for foreign tour be given to ABC and XYZ. Proposed by Smt. Paradesi Seconded by Shri Kambale 7.09 Organization of a stage show on ‘Environmental crisis’ is discussed. Resolution - It was resolved that the play of the renowned dramatist Kolekar- ‘Worries of Dharatimata’- be staged in all the schools of the district. 7.10 Shri B. V. Kamble suggested that next meeting be called on 28 th February 2013. Resolution : It was resolved that the next monthly meeting be called on 28 th February 2013. Since there was no matter for discussion, the meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair. Secretary Chairman

The close examination of the above minutes leads to the following conclusion regarding the use of language in it: 1) Predominant use of simple past tense, for example The Secretary read out ……. Shri. Kamble suggested ……. The meeting ended ……. 2) Recurrent use of passive voice, for example the following verb phrases

186 ……is discussed….. ……be staged….. …… were entrusted ….. 3) Decisions and resolutions are recorded in impersonal passive voice, as in It was resolved …… It was decided …… They were granted …… On the basis of the detailed specimen of minutes given above, now try to solve the task III from your text book. Check Your Progress III: Q. : Answer the following 1. Who signs the minutes, once they are approved? 2. What is granted to the members who cannot attend the meeting? 3. Who reads out the minutes of the earlier meeting? 4. Which tense is used to write minutes? 5. Which grammatical construction is predominantly used to write minutes? 11.3 Summary: Notice, agenda and minutes are the essential parts of formal meeting. Notice is the declaration of the day, date, time and venue of the meeting to the concerned members. Agenda refers to the list of issues to be discussed in the meeting. This list can be either written just below the notice on the same page or a separate page can be attached. Minutes are the detailed account of the transaction taken place during the meeting. These minutes are written in simple past tense using passive construction. 11.4 Key to check your progress. Check Your Progress I: 1. True 2. True

187 3. True 4. True 5. True Check Your Progress II: 1. To discuss certain issues and arrive at acceptable decisions 2. The list of issues to be discussed in the meeting. 3. Because it decides the development of the discussion of the meeting and preserves continuity. 4. Approval of the minutes of earlier meeting. 5. Date of next meeting. Check Your Progress III: 1. Chairman 2. Leave of absence 3. Secretary 4. Simple past tense 5. Passive constriction 11.5 Exercises : (A) Draft the following Notices: 1. A notice inviting students to participate in the Elocution Competition organized by your college. Mention day, date, time and the topics of the competition. 2. The secretary of teachers association of a college calls the meeting of all teachers to discuss pros and cons of semester system. Imagine relevant details. 3. The secretary of the Mehata Enterprises calls the 2 nd monthly meeting of the Board of Directors. Give details of day, date, time and place.

188 (B) Draft the agenda for the following meetings: 1. Meeting of the Board of Directors of Atul Cooperative Bank to decide the general policy for lending loan, purchase of furniture and forthcoming elections. 2. A meeting of the members of Prathamesh Housing Society, Sangli to discuss the appointment of a residential watchman, plantation around the building and re-colouring of the building. (C) Write minutes based on the agenda of the meetings in (B). JJJ

189 Unit-12 The Worker Walter Wykes

Index 12.0 Objectives 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Check your progress 12.3 Text 12.4 Check your progress 12.5 Terms to Remember 12.6 Key to check your progress 12.7 Summary 12.8 Broad Questions, Characters 12.9 Short answer type questions. 12.10 Exercises 12.11 Writing Activity 12.12 Recommended Reading.

12.0 Objectives After studying this One- Act -Play you will be able to :

G Learn about how recession in America has affected family life of corporate employees.

G Explain how an individual in this ultra modern age has to struggle for survival

G Find relationship between work life and family life and how essential it is to balance work life and family life.

190 G Learn about how a person fails to balance between work life and family life.

G Learn about the insecurity and uncertainty in life and its consequences.

G Learn about the callous system and helpless employee. 12.1 Introduction Walter Wykes is an American playwright and actor, born on 30 October, 1969. He has produced 30 plays has received the American College Theatre Festival Award for Excellence in playwriting. His dramas have an absurdist or surrealistic bent. He creates nightmarish atmosphere in his plays which reflects the senseless nature of the world we inhabit. The present on act play, “The Worker” depicts the plight of an employee who is under the tension of getting fired. He struggles hard, does all sorts of work to please management. It is the story of wife and husband who lived in the time of Recession in America. The husband spends too much time at work, neglects his wife and her aspirations. The wife feels lonely; she craves for a child. As a solution on the problem. She makes a fake child and spends time with it. The husband fails to balance work life and family life. The message comes like thunderbolt that he is fired. The husband is broken. He loses on both the fronts work as well as family. The play portrays struggle of modern man between work and family life which creates dilemma. Despite hard work, efficiency and devotion the worker is a loser. 12.2 Check Your Progress A) Choose the correct alternative and complete the following sentences. 1. Walter Wykes is an ------playwright. a) English b) Australian c) American 2. The theme of ‘The Worker’ is ------. a) Recession in America b) Modern family life c) Loneliness of the wife 3. The wife in this one-act-play ------to cope up with her loneliness.

191 a) cooks in the kitchen b) makes a fake child c) chats with her neighbours 4. The husband spends most of his time in ------. a) The office b) the parties c) the meetings 12.3 Text THE WORKER A dark comedy in one act By: Walter Wykes CHARACTERS Man Woman Messenger [A nondescript apartment. There is nothing to differentiate this apartment from any other apartment in any other building in any other city. A young WOMAN, also nondescript, sits in a rocking chair, cradling an infant tenderly in her arms. Lost in thought, she is slow to notice the scuffling of feet just outside the apartment door. Suddenly her eyes grow wide—she lunges out of the chair, looks about the room in a panic, stuffs the baby into a bureau drawer, and disappears into the hallway. A few moments later, a young MAN enters carrying an enormous stack of files and papers. He places this stack carefully in the middle of the room—then exits and returns with another stack. Again, he exits, this time returning with a briefcase and a computer. He repeats these steps, stumbling in and out of the apartment, until he has fashioned a gigantic mound in the middle of the room which includes a fax machine, two printers, a garbage can, a paper shredder, several trays of office supplies, a filing cabinet, an entire desk—perhaps even a whole cubicle, complete with wall-dividers, potted plants, and a fish tank. Finally, he closes the door behind him.] MAN : [His usual greeting.] I'm home.

192 [He loosens his tie and waits for a response, but none is forthcoming. He hesitates.] MAN : I'm ... I'm home. [Still no response. He scratches his head, puzzled.] MAN : Hello? WOMAN : [Offstage.] In here! MAN : I said I was— WOMAN : In the kitchen! MAN : Aren't you going to— [The WOMAN scurries into the room wearing an apron and oven mitts. She kisses her husband dutifully on the cheek and scurries back towards the kitchen.] MAN : Wait. [The WOMAN stops.] What are you doing? WOMAN : I'm just finishing up dinner. MAN : It's ... it's not ready? [Pause.] I don't understand. It's always ready. When I walk in the door, it's— [Pause.] Am I early? [He checks his watch.] WOMAN : No, you're right on time. MAN : Was there some sort of natural disaster? An earthquake? Is there something you're not telling me? Are you injured?! WOMAN : No, I just— [Noticing the gigantic mound of work-related items in the center of her living-room] What's all this? MAN : Oh ... nothing. Just a few things from work. WOMAN : A few things? Why, it's practically you're whole— [A sudden realization.] Oh my god! You’ve been fired! MAN : No! WOMAN : No? MAN : No, nothing like that.

193 WOMAN : Oh, thank heavens! [Pause.] I don't understand. You haven't been fired ... but you're entire office is sitting in the middle of our living room. MAN : It's not the entire office. Just my cubicle. And ... you know, my desk. And a few other little things. WOMAN : [At a loss.] Do you want me to wash it? MAN : No, I ... [Pause.] All right, look ... I didn’t want to tell you, but I’ve fallen behind. WOMAN : What do you mean? MAN : At work. I’ve fallen behind. I can't keep up. WOMAN : Why not? You spend practically every waking moment there. MAN : Well... recently, they’ve ... ahh ... they’ve let a few people go. WOMAN : That's awful! How can they treat people like that? Just lay them off! It's heartless! Don't they have any sense of social responsibility? MAN : Well, they didn’t lay them off exactly ... not in the traditional sense. WOMAN : What then? MAN : Let's just say they’ve been encouraged to move on. WOMAN : Isn’t that the same thing? [Pause.] MAN : I really shouldn’t talk about it. WOMAN : All right. MAN : Anyway, the point is that every day there are fewer and fewer people doing the same amount of work. They have me running the accounting department entirely by myself! WOMAN : You’ve been promoted to management?!

194 MAN : No, it's just me—there's no one to manage! I do everything! The whole department! WOMAN : The whole department? By yourself? MAN : That's not all! I'm also expected to take incoming calls because there's no receptionist, fix the computers because there's no tech department, field customer complaints because there's no customer service! I'm in charge of the mail room, the cafeteria, janitorial services, research and development! Last week, human resources was let go, the whole department, and I received a memo—which I’d actually typed myself because there's no secretary—instructing me to familiarize myself with all applicable state and federal guidelines! Tomorrow, I'm supposed to start mediating all employee disputes! I have no idea what I'm doing! I'd ask the legal department for advice, but I’ve never studied law so I wouldn’t know what to tell myself! And to top it all off, I have to take the CEO's dog out to poop four times a day! At regular intervals! He has stomach problems and he's on a very strict schedule! WOMAN : Well, you’ll just have to tell them it's too much. MAN : I can’t. WOMAN : Why not? Maybe they’ll hire some of those poor people back. MAN : You don't understand. It's too late for that. WOMAN : Why is it too late? [Pause.] MAN : Look ... there’s really nothing to worry about. I shouldn’t have said anything. I'm just going to have to do some work from home if I want to catch up, that's all. WOMAN : Work from home? [He nods.] But ... that's our time! If you work from home, I’ll never see you! We’ll never have time to— MAN : I don't really have much choice.

195 [Pause.] WOMAN : All right. Fine. [Pause.] I’ll just finish dinner. [She goes. The MAN sighs and rubs his eyes. He looks around the room, pushes the couch out of the way, and begins setting up his cubicle. He takes a pile of papers and looks for a place to put them—opens the bureau drawer. His face turns dark as he pulls the “baby” from the drawer.] MAN : What is this?! WOMAN : [Offstage.] What is what? MAN : THIS! What is THIS?!!! [She enters—finds him holding the “baby.”] MAN : How many times have I told you?! WOMAN : You didn’t say— MAN : There will be no children in this house! WOMAN : It's not— MAN : No talk of children! No representations of children! No dolls, no drawings, no finger puppets! WOMAN : But it's only— MAN : I don't care! Get rid of it! [He throws the doll at her.] WOMAN : What? MAN : You heard me. WOMAN : You ... you want me to— MAN : Destroy it! Burn it! Crush it into little pieces! Leave it in an alley somewhere! I don’t care! But it can’t stay here! I won't allow it! Not in this house! [She glares at him, then turns and exits with the doll. She returns a moment later with the doll stuffed under her dress. Perhaps she has added a pillow or blanket as well to

196 help disguise the doll. It gives her the appearance of being pregnant. After a few moments, the MAN senses her presence but does not look at her.] MAN : Please try to understand. I don't mean to be cruel. It's for your own good. I'm only trying to protect you. WOMAN : Protect me? MAN : Yes. WOMAN : From what? [Pause.] MAN : You ... you wouldn’t understand. WOMAN : You don't think I'd make a good mother! That's what this is all about! You don't think I'm prepared! But how would you know? You’ve never given me the chance! MAN : No. It's not— [He notices her belly for the first time.] What's this? WOMAN : What does it look like? MAN : What do you think you’re doing? Give it to me. WOMAN : No! MAN : Have you lost your mind? WOMAN : I'm going to keep this baby. I won't let you hurt her. If you touch one hair on her head, I will never forgive you! MAN : You don't mean that. WOMAN : Never! MAN : Listen to me ... it's not a baby. WOMAN : I don't care! It's mine! She's mine! She's all I have! MAN : It's just an object. It has no feelings. WOMAN : She does! She does have feelings! More than you! MAN : That's enough.

19 7 WOMAN : Who do you think I talk to when you leave me all alone in this house?! Who do you think listens to me and keeps me from going completely insane?! Who do you think I share my dreams with?! Not you! You’re never here! Who do you think comforts me and holds my finger when you call to say you’re going to miss dinner again?! She’s more real to me than you ever were! MAN : I’m not going to argue with you. WOMAN : Get away from me! [He grabs her and sticks his hand up her dress.] WOMAN : Help! Help! Someone— [She struggles, but he removes the doll.] Give her back! MAN : No. [He grabs his coat and moves toward the door. She tries to hold him back.] WOMAN : Where are you going with my baby?! What are you going to do?! MAN : Let go. WOMAN : [Blocking the door.] No! I won't let you! MAN : Get out of my way. WOMAN : Please! Don't do this! Don't— [He drags her, screaming, from the door. Realizing that she cannot stop him, she collapses on the floor and begins to sob uncontrollably.] MAN : When I return, I expect dinner to be waiting. [In the midst of her sobbing, she begins to laugh, softly at first, but it grows louder and overpowers the tears.] MAN : What's so funny? WOMAN : Do you really expect me to cook for you after this? MAN : Of course. WOMAN : If I do, it’ll only be to poison you and end your miserable life!

198 MAN : You say that now—you're angry. It’s to be expected. But in time you’ll forgive me. You may even realize I was right. And if not, well ... I'm capable of feeding myself. I didn’t starve before I met you. WOMAN : There are other things I can withhold. MAN : What? WOMAN : Other things I do for you ... in the dark ... secret things ... places I go ... services I perform ... words that I say ... certain indignities that I allow ... what if I were to ... forget? Forget how to do these things? Forget how to find these ... places? MAN : Are you serious? [She folds her arms, defiant.] MAN : Fine. You can keep it. WOMAN : Do you mean it?! Really?! MAN : On one condition. WOMAN : [Taking the doll from him and cradling it gently.] Anything! Anything! MAN : No one must ever see it. No one. Not even me. I mustn’t know it's here. If I find it, I will destroy it. WOMAN : But ... [Pause.] Shouldn’t you ... MAN : Shouldn’t I what? WOMAN : Shouldn’t there be some ... well, some shared responsibilities? I mean, I shouldn’t have to raise her alone. MAN : You want to give me responsibilities? WOMAN : Yes. MAN : For the— WOMAN : The child. Our child. MAN : Fine. If it misbehaves, I’ll punish it.

199 WOMAN : No. You'd be too harsh. MAN : What do you want from me? WOMAN : You could put her to sleep. And if she wakes during the night, you could hold her and pat her back. MAN : It'd better not wake! I have to work in the morning! WOMAN : You can't expect a baby to always sleep through the night. And if you're tired, you could take a day off every now and then. You have sick days. MAN : I never take sick days! WOMAN : That was before. Work was your only priority. Now there's a child to think of. MAN : You see! This is how it starts! WOMAN : How what starts? MAN : There was a reason I wouldn’t allow you to have this child! WOMAN : Because you're selfish and only think of yourself! MAN : No, because suddenly you expect me to take sick days and buy diapers and leave early to see it perform in school plays! You’ll start calling me during work hours to tell me it's crawling or talking or taking its first poop! Word starts spreading that I'm not committed to my job anymore, and next thing you know, I end up like the others! WOMAN : What others? The ones who were fired? MAN : Yes! No! I told you, they weren’t fired! WOMAN : Then what? [Pause.] What? MAN : [Under his breath—almost a whisper.] They were killed. WOMAN : What? MAN : They were murdered! Executed! WOMAN : Murdered?

200 MAN : Yes! Put to death! WOMAN : Who murdered them? MAN : The company! Who do you think? WOMAN : But ... if the company wasn’t happy with their performance, why didn’t it just let them go? I mean, in the old fashioned sense? MAN : I don't know. You can't expect me to understand the company's actions. It’s a giant corporation. It doesn’t think the way we do. Maybe it didn’t want them to share trade secrets with the other companies. Maybe it didn’t want to pay unemployment. Maybe it just wanted to avoid paperwork. WOMAN : But ... they can't get away with that! Those poor people! We should call the authorities! MAN : Shhh! Not so loud! Someone might hear! Besides, the authorities don't want to get involved. And, to be honest, these were not the best employees. I mean, they really did deserve some sort of punishment. Not death, you know, but they weren’t pulling their own weight, and it was all handled very nicely. They threw a party beforehand and— WOMAN : A party? MAN : Yes. WOMAN : Before they ... [She motions slitting her throat. He nods.] It seems a little strange. To throw a party for someone and then ... MAN : It was the company's way of thanking them for whatever small contribution they'd made over the years. Each of them had a cake. One candle for every year of service. It was really quite touching. Some of them cried. WOMAN : But— MAN : I shouldn’t have told you any of this, but I want you to understand my position. They mustn’t question my dedication to the company. Not for one moment. [She nods.] Good. I'm glad you

201 understand. If I’ve been harsh with you, it's only because I knew what the consequences of certain actions might be. You can see now that it wasn’t out of arrogance or selfishness. I was looking out for us ... for the two of us. For our family. Now, we won't speak of this again. Ever. To anyone. It isn’t safe. Agreed? [Pause.] Promise me. WOMAN : I just think ... those poor people ... someone should— MAN : Promise. [Pause.] WOMAN : All right. I promise. MAN : Good girl. [He kisses her.] We have to look out for ourselves. There's nothing more we can do. It’s not realistic. We go about our jobs—do the best we can—and try to be happy. [There is a knock at the door.] MAN : Who's that? WOMAN : I don't know. MAN : Did you invite someone for dinner? WOMAN : No. [The MAN looks through the peephole.] Who is it? MAN : I don't know. I can't tell. WOMAN : Let me look. [He steps out of the way. She looks through the peephole.] MAN : Can you see anything? WOMAN : No. [There is another knock at the door.] Should we answer? MAN : I don't know. WOMAN : Maybe they’ll go away. MAN : What if it's something important? WOMAN : Like what? MAN : I don't know.

202 [Pause. Another knock—louder. The MAN opens the door. A MESSENGER stands in the doorway holding a clipboard.] MAN : Hello? THE MESSENGER: I have a message for employee nine-zero-zero-eight-five-six- one dash B dash H dash three-three-three. MAN : That’s me. THE MESSENGER: [Reading from his clipboard.] The company wishes to inform you that there will be a party held in your honor Monday morning. MAN : A ... a party? THE MESSENGER: [Still reading.] Cake will be served promptly at 8:00 AM. MAN : There ... there must be some mistake. THE MESSENGER: As always, tardiness is frowned upon. MAN : But— THE MESSENGER: What kind of cake would you like? MAN : You don't understand! THE MESSENGER: Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry? MAN : I'm a model employee! THE MESSENGER: Chocolate, vanilla, or— MAN : I’ve never even taken one sick day! Not one! THE MESSENGER: Chocolate— MAN : I'm running more than a dozen departments all by myself! I’ve just memorized the entire human resources handbook! The entire thing! I can quote it for you! Verbatim! I can quote it backwards! I'm a useful employee! Ask anyone! I’ll ... I’ll … I’ll work for free! I’ll even forfeit my— THE MESSENGER: CHOCOLATE, VANILLA, or STRAWBERRY?!!! [Pause.] Look ... I'm just trying to do my job. I have to look out for myself, you know. It’s nothing personal.[Pause.] Chocolate, vanilla, or—

203 MAN : It doesn’t matter. THE MESSENGER: You have to choose. MAN : I don't care. THE MESSENGER: Chocolate then. [The MESSENGER makes a note on his clipboard.]How many years of service? MAN : What? THE MESSENGER: How many years have you been with the company? The candles. You get one for every— MAN : I ... I don't remember. It's been— THE MESSENGER: It’s all right. I can check your file. Just sign here. [The MAN signs reluctantly. The MESSENGER exits. Silence.] MAN : I don't understand. [Pause.] I did everything they asked. Everything. I followed every rule. I never spoke out of turn. I brought donuts once a week. How could they question my ...[Pause.] Wait ... you ... you didn’t tell anyone—did you? WOMAN : Tell what? MAN : About the child! The doll! WOMAN : No. I ... I don't think so. MAN : You don't think so?! WOMAN : I ... I don't— [A sudden realization. Horrified, she covers her mouth.] MAN : Who?! Who did you tell?! WOMAN : The other day, at the grocery store, I ... I ran into that woman, you know, from the company picnic ... the one with no bra ... with the cigarettes and the stringy hair— MAN : My god! She hates me! How could you— WOMAN : I only mentioned it to make her jealous!

204 MAN : You might as well have cut my head off yourself! That woman's had it out for me since day one! She wants my job! She’s been watching like a hawk—waiting for me to slip up! She must have told them. [Pause.] WOMAN : What are we going to do? MAN : Nothing. WOMAN : But— MAN : There's nothing we can do. It’s over. WOMAN : Maybe ... maybe you can tell them it was a mistake? Tell them she’s lying! She made the whole thing up! Out of jealousy! MAN : They'd find out the truth. WOMAN : I’ll deny it! I never said anything! She doesn’t have any proof! [Pause. He considers this.] MAN : We'd have to destroy all the evidence. WOMAN : What do you mean? What evidence? [He looks at the doll. She clings to it protectively.] No. Please. MAN : It’s the only way. WOMAN : You don't know what you're asking. MAN : I know what the … the child means to you. But it’s her or me. There’s really no choice. [Pause.] Is there? [Pause.] Surely you wouldn’t choose that thing over me. [Silence.] WOMAN : Her … her name is Emma. MAN : They’re going to kill me. [Pause.] WOMAN : She discovered her feet the other day. I wish you could’ve seen it. MAN : Do you understand what I’m telling you.

205 WOMAN : She can make animal sounds too. She can do lion, doggie, monkey, and duck. MAN : I’m going to die. They’re going to chop off my head. WOMAN : She whacked the cat on the head this morning, and I told her that wasn’t nice and she should say she was sorry. So she petted the cat on the head and said, “Sorry, Meow.” Then she got the cat brush and started brushing him and said, “There go, Meow.” It was so sweet. MAN : She can’t do that. She’s an infant. WOMAN : She’s very advanced. MAN : What am I saying? She’s not even an infant—she’s a doll! WOMAN : She can count to ten. MAN : She cannot! WOMAN : She can. Sometimes she skips “seven” because it’s harder than the others. MAN : You’re making that up! WOMAN : No. MAN : All right, then make her do it! C’mon! Right now! WOMAN : She isn’t in the mood. MAN : Not in the mood! WOMAN : She’s not a trained monkey, you know. [Pause.] MAN : You’re … you’re really going to let me die? [Pause.] WOMAN : Maybe you’ve misunderstood. Maybe they’re really throwing you a party. Just a party. Maybe they want to thank you for all the extra hours you’ve put in. [Pause.] You should probably get your work done. Just in case. We’ll leave you alone now. I’m sure you

206 don’t want any distractions. [Pause.] Emma and I will keep our fingers crossed for you. [To the doll.] Won’t we, Emma? [Pause.] Tell Daddy, “Bye-bye.” [Pause.] Bye-bye, Daddy. [The WOMAN exits. The MAN remains standing, motionless.] 12.4 Check your progress. A) Complete the following statements choosing the correct alternative from the ones given below : i) When the man comes home, the woman is ………………….. a) watering the plants b) cooking dinner in the kitchen. c) cradling the doll in her arms d) dressing up for the party. ii) The man spends every waking moment in the office. The statement indicates ………………….. a) He works the whole day in the office. b) He does overtime job to earn extra money. c) He is hard working and devoted employee. d) He doesn’t like to go home. iii) The man does all sorts of work in the office except management, because ………….. a) He lacks managerial skill. b) All employees are on leave. c) All the employees have been fired except manager. d) He hates management. iv) Seeing the doll in the drawer, the man ……………….. a) becomes happy b) becomes sad b) becomes sorry for the woman d) becomes angry v) The woman wanted the baby doll because………… a) It was very expensive b) her husband gifted it to her. c) It was her companion when she feels lonely. d) it looks like a real baby. vi) Before dismissing the employee, the company …………….

207 a) forces the employee to submit resignation. b) makes the employee to work hard. c) compels the employee to go on leave. d) arranges a party in the honour of the employee. vii) The messenger’s message is about ………….. a) The party arranged. b) the promotion of the man. c) the expedition of the man d) an urgent meeting. viii) The woman had told about the baby to …………… a) The messenger b) the neighbour. c) the woman from the picnic d) the friends in the office. B) Answer the following in one or two sentences each. i) How many characters are there in the play ? ii) What does the woman hide when the man comes home ? iii) How does the man react after finding the doll ? iv) What does the company do before firing the employee ? v) What are the flavors of cake the company offers ? vi) What is the name of the baby doll ? 12. 5 Terms to remember – Lunge (V) - sudden forward movement of the body Panic (N) - a sudden feeling of great fear. Gigantic (adj.) - of great size. Cubicle (N) - a small room made of a larger room cubicles are used for dressing or sleeping. Scurry (v) - to run with short quick steps. Oven mitts (n) - gloves for taking hot dishes out of oven. Fire somebody (v) - to dismiss an employee from a job. Waking movement (np.) - almost all the time except sleeping hours. Lay off (v) - to dismiss a worker temporarily from job when there is no work. Cafeteria (n) - a restaurant found in factory or college where customers collect their meals from a counter.

208 Janitorial services (n) - caretaking services. Janitor (in us) - caretaker – a person who is employed to look after a house, building. Mediate (v) - try to get agreement between two or more people. Alley (n) - a narrow a passage. To glare (v) - to stare. To stuff (v) - to fill tightly with something. Insane (adj.) - mad, foolish, not same. To grab (v) - to take something roughly. To withhold (v) - to keep something back. To have sick days - to have medical leave permission to be absent from work because of illness. To commit to something (v) - to care a lot about, willing to give a lot of time, energy. To slit throat - to cut throat Dedicate (v) - to devote oneself to good cause Dedication (n) - Arrogance (n) - showing too much pride. Tardy (adj.) - slow to act, move, or happen Tardiness (n) - Frown upon (v) - to disapprove of somebody / something. Verbatim (adj.) - exactly as spoken or written word for word. Forfeit (n) - a penalty. To run into (v) - meet by chance. Stringy (adj.) - long and thin. Hawk (n) - a strong prey bird. - A person who favours aggressive policies. To slip up (v) - to make a careless mistake. To discover feet - to learn to walk. To chop off (v) - remove from something by cutting.

209 To whack (v) - hit or beat, a heavy blow. 12.6 Answer to check your progress 12.2 1) c 2) a 3) b 4) a 12.4 A) i) c ii) c iii) c iv) d iv) c vi) d vii) c viii) c B) i) three ii) the baby doll iii) he gets angry iv) Arranges a party in the honour of the employee v) Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. vi) Emma.

12.7 Summary – This One Act Play deals with the disaster of recession in America. The writer points at the consequences of recession on family life. He has portrayed how husbands spending too much time in the office can affect wife. The play explores the struggle of individual to keep balance between his different roles in the society. What happens when an individual fails to balance his roles and fails to reach expectations of family and society. The play also depicts how depressed and defeated a modern man feels when he is fired for no fault of his own. The husband in the story is efficient, hardworking and loyal employee. He spends most of the time in office. His wife feels lonely and makes a fake child to spend time with it. When all the colleagues of the husband are fired, he alone handles all sorts of work in the office. He is under the impression that the company would never dismiss him. Unfortunately he is also fired. He is disturbed. When told to choose between he and the baby doll; his wife chooses the baby doll. The husband thus loses on both the fronts family life and work life. 12.8 Broad questions & characters The Man in The Worker ‘The Man’ in The Worker is the major character. When the One-Act-Play opens, we see him busy in keeping all the things he has brought from the office, in the living

210 room. It seems he has brought the whole office to home. At home, the man is a typical husband. He expects that his wife should welcome him warmly and should keep dinner ready before his arrival. When his wife asks why he has brought the whole office at home; he explains that much of the work is pending and he has to finish it. Through the dialogue between both of them we come to know that the man spends most of his time working in the office. He cant spare time for his family life. This makes his wife feel lonely. We also realize that the man works hard and does all sorts of work in the office. He struggles hard to secure his job. Almost all the employees have been fired by the company. The man tries to please the management doing all sorts of work without complaint. In this struggle he ignores his wife. She craves for child. But the man can’t fulfill her desire because more responsibilities at home would mean less efficiency and devotion at office. He deprives his wife from the joy of being a mother. As a solution the wife fashions a fake child. She spends time with her fake child. The man even doesn’t allow her to have this joy. He is afraid of getting fired. The company doesn’t allow him to have a personal life. He secures his job at the cost of family life and personal joys, but this sacrifice also is in vain. The man is shattered when the messenger brings the news of the party arranged by company in his honour. He realizes that he has lost battle on both the fronts family and work. He blames his wife and her fake child. At the end the wife chooses the fake child over him. The man is completely lost. The man represents the husband who lived during recession. The man’s struggle is a struggle of an individual to balance the different roles he plays. The man’s plight is a plight of modern man who struggles between work and life and how this struggle creates dilemma and destroys family life. In the office, the man is hard working, loyal, devoted and dedicated employee. He gives his best for the company. The Woman in The Worker. The woman who plays the role of wife of ‘The Man’ a miserable woman. She is a loving, caring, dutiful wife. But her husbands spending most of the time at the office makes her lonely. She wants a companion to spend time with. At last she finds a solution. She takes a baby doll & treats the doll as her child. She imagines this baby doll doing many activities. To cope up with her loneliness she plays with this fake child. But her husband doesn’t like this. He is afraid that if the company would come

211 to know about his wife’s aspiration for a baby the company would be doubtful about his dedication towards work. He doesn’t want to get fired. The wife hides the baby and secretly plays with it. Despite his devotion and dedication, the husband is fired. The wife is no more attached to her husband emotionally at the end. Rather she is more attached to the baby doll. The woman is a dissatisfied wife and a craving mother. She represents the plight of a woman who lived during recession. 12.9 Short answer types questions What is the theme of “The Worker ? The worker is a story of a husband and a wife who lived in the time of great depression. It portrays how the husbands spending too much time at work can affect wife. The wife fashions a fake child to cope with her loneliness. It explores the struggle of individual to balance the different roles society expects to play and what happens when the roles clash. This struggle of modern man between work and life creates dilemma and destroys family life. 12.10 Exercises I) Answer the following questions in three to four sentences. 1) What are the things that the man in the play has brought from the office ?. 2) Why the woman is so fond of the baby doll. ? 3) What sorts of work the man has to do in the office ? Why ? 4) How does the company honours the employee before firing ? 5) What message the messenger has brought for the man ? 6) How does the man react to the message ? 7) Why does the woman choose the baby doll over the man ? 8) What is the theme of this One-Act-Play ? II) Write short Notes on; 1) The Woman 2) The Man 3) The theme of ‘The Worker’ 4) The story of ‘The Worker’

212 Vocabulary Exercises 1. Match the words from group ‘A’ with their meanings in group ‘B’ A B Panic Not sane, mad. Fire (somebody) Caretaking service Insane Slow to act Janitorial services Of great size Sick days A bird of prey Tardy Feeling of fear Hawk To dismiss the employee from the job Verbatim Medical leave Gigantic Short quick steps. Scurry Word to word.

B) Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the phrases given below. Make changes where necessary. to have sick days, lay off, frown upon, to run into, to discover. 1. Due to recession a number of employees in IT sector were………….. 2. His wife insisted upon ……………….. as he suffered from flu. 3. Environmentalists …………………. Industrial growth. 4. In a marriage ceremony of a friend Sheela ………….. her college friend. 5. While watering the plants, I …………….. the two offspring’s of a pigeon. 12.11 Writing Activity Write the story of your favourite movie? 12.12 Recommended Reading One-Act-Play The Hour of Truth by Percival Wilde. JJJ

213 Unit-13 Leisure W. H. Davies

Index: 13.0 Objectives 13.1 Introduction 13.2 The Text 13.3 Self-Check Exercises 13.4 Notes and Glossary 13.5 Key to Self-Check Exercises 13.6 Summary 13.7 Exercises 13.8 Writing Activities 13.0 Objectives :- After studying this poem you will be able to

G Learn about modern life-style

G Know how modern man is busy in his routine work

G Know how man is deprived of happiness in the simplest things in life

G Enjoy the beauty of nature 13.1 Introduction:- William Henry Davies (1871-1940) William Henry Davies was a Welsh poet and writer. He spent most of his life as a tramp. The “Autobiography of a Super-Tramp” is an account of his times in the USA from 1893 to 1899. His first book of poetry (1905) brought him success and established his reputation as a poet.

214 In the poem “Leisure” he comments on modern life style which has become very mechanical . According to him man is full of anxiety and in a hurry. He has no time to stop for a moment to admire nature. The poet brings our attention towards the beauty of our surroundings that we miss just because of our hastiness. Similarly he warns if our life remains full of worries and problems with no opportunities to enjoy its simple pleasures, it will be very poor and miserable. 13.2 The Text : Leisure What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her mouth can,

No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

- William Henry Davies

215

13.3 Self – Check Exercises A) Choose the correct alternative from the ones given below each of the following: 1. The life is full of ______, according to the poet. a) Joy b) unhappiness c) care d) worries 2. We have no time to ______. a) admire nature b) enjoy life c) look after our family d) look after self. 3. Sheep or caws stare at______. a) boughs b) nature’s simple beauty c) life d) man. 4. The squirrels hide their nuts in ______. a) a hole b) the grass c) the buses d) the tree. 5. We don’t have time to see how beauty ______. a) sings b) moves c) dances d) passes B) Answer the following questions in one sentence each. 1. Why cannot we enjoy nature? 2. What does the squirrel do in the grass? 3. Whom does the poet compare with? 4. Whom does the part compare the streams full of stars? 5. Who according to the poet, stands and stares at nature? 13.4 Notes and Glossary: leisure (n) - free time, time sprit on non-compulsory activities stare (v) - to look fixedly boughs (n) - branches of tree woods (n) - forests pass (v) - to go forward

216 hide (v) - put or keep out of sight glance (n) - brief look, flash

13.5 Key to Self – Check Exercises:- 13.3 A) 1. care 2. admire nature 3. nature’s simple beauty 4. the grass 5. dances B) 1. We have no time to stand & stare 2. The squirrel hides nuts in grass 3. The beauty 4. Skies at night 5. Sheep and cows stand and stare at nature 13.6 Summary:- The poem is about the availability of time for enjoying various delights of life. In fact, life is simple but we have made it perplex through our hectic routines. The poet brings our attention towards the beauty of our surroundings that we miss just because of our hastiness. The poet says that, we are living poor life because of not having leisure. Life is full of beauty but man has no time to look at the simplest things in nature. He is in hurry and shows little interest in those things. The poet enumerates many things for which there is no time. He compares human condition to that of sheep and cows because these animals can stand and stare as long as they can. A man travels by the wood. He has no time to see where squirrels hide their nuts in the grass. The speaker mourns that man has no time to see in broad day light

217 streams full of stars, like skies at night. He has no time to watch the beautiful dance of a maiden and admire the skill of her dancing feet. Moreover, he can’t spare time to see beautiful smile playing at her face. The poet expresses his grief at the fact that modern rush of life has deprived man of many commonplace pleasures. Man runs around after material comforts. So, crazily that he gets no time to spend in a relaxed manner. The poet warns if man’s life remains full of worries and problems with no opportunity to enjoy its simple pleasures, it will be very miserable life. Human beings can’t enjoy natural and beautiful things because they are bogged down with responsibilities and worries. 13.7 Exercises:- A) Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each: 1. What does the poet mean by “full of care”? Why do we not stand and stare? 2. What according to the poet are the beauties of nature that we miss out? 3. How do the streams appear by broad daylight? When do we normally see skies full of stars? 4. How does the city life affect on the life of human being? 5. What are the simplest pleasures of nature that man can’t enjoy? Why? B) Write short notes on: 1. The central idea of the poem ‘Leisure’. 2. Description of nature in the poem ‘Leisure’. 3. Contrast between city life and village life described in the poem. 13.8 Writing activities: 1. Describe the changes in nature in any beautiful morning. 2. Write a paragraph about the man’s life in the city. JJJ

218 Unit-14 One Thousand Dollars O. Henry (1862-1910)

Index : 14.0 Objectives 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Check your Progress 14.3 Text : One Thousand Dollars 14.4 Check your Progress 14.5 Notes and Glossary 14.6 Key to check your progress 14.7 Summary 14.8 Theme of the Story 14.9 Characters in the Story 14.10 Exercises 14.11 Writing Activities 14.12 Recommended Reading 14.0 Objectives : After reading this unit, you will be able to :

G Study human tendency

G Define true love

G Judge an act of sacrifice

G Learn the twisted ending

G Learn that money is never an end

G Examine what people do and should do for love

219 14.1 Introduction : O. Henry is an American short story writer. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on September 11,1862. He was christened William Sideny Porter. Later he took a pen name O. Henry and published hundreds of short stories. He was, however, a voracious reader. He had to live a hard life. He worked as a shepherd, a mail carrier and a salesman in drugstore. O. Henry’s varied life is reflected in his stories. Most of them describe the life in the city of New York. He loved to depict with compassion and tenderness, the dull lives of those ordinary people in his short stories. His short stories are known for their wit, warm characterization and clever twist endings. His stories have been telecasted on T. V. and are very famous for the perfection of the technique of the unexpected or twisted ending. The tragedy of his own life taught him a chivalrous tenderness for the unlucky. O. Henry died in New York city on June 5,1910. ‘One Thousand Dollars’ is a modern short story of Mr. Gillian who gives up his claim for the fortune left by his uncle late Mr. Old Gillian for Miss Hayden in whose love he falls. Though she refused his love proposal, he tried to make her happy. It has an unexpected ending. 14.2 Check your Progress A) Fill in the blanks : 1 ------better known by his pen name O. Henry. 2 O. Henry was an ------writer. 3 O. Henry was born in ------, North Carolina. 4 O. Henry died in ------City. 14.3 Text : One thousands Dollars “One thousand dollars," repeated Lawyer Tolman, solemnly and severely, "and here is the money.'' Young Gillian gave a decidedly amused laugh as he fingered the thin package of new fifty-dollar notes.

220 "It's such a confoundedly awkward amount," he explained, genially, to the lawyer. "If it had been ten thousand a fellow might wind up with a lot of fireworks and do himself credit. Even $50 would have been less trouble." "You heard the reading of your uncle's will," continued Lawyer Tolman, professionally dry in his tones. "I do not know if you paid much attention to its details. I must remind you of one. You are required to render to us an account of the manner of expenditure of this $l,000 as soon as you have disposed of it. The will stipulates that. I trust that you will so far comply with the late Mr. Gillian's wishes." "You may depend upon it,'' said the young man, politely, “in spite of the extra expense it will entail. I may have to engage a secretary. I was never good at accounts.'' Gillian thrust the package of notes into his coat pocket and went to his club. There he hunted out one whom he called Old Bryson. Old Bryson was calm and forty and sequestered. He was in a corner reading a book, and when he saw Gillian approaching he sighed, laid down his book and took off his glasses. "Old Bryson, wake up," said Gillian. "I've a funny story to tell you." "I wish you would tell it to someone in the billiard-room," said old Bryson. "You know how 1 hate your stories." "This is a better one than usual,'' said Gillian, rolling a cigarette; "and I'm going to tell it to you. It's too sad any funny to go wish the rattling of billiard balls. I’ve just come from my late uncle's firm of legal corsairs. He leaves me an even thousand dollars. Now, what can a man possibly do with a thousand dollars?" "I thought," said Old Bryson, showing as much interest as a bee shows in a vinegar cruet, "that the late Septimas Gillian was worth something like half a million." "He was," assented Gillian, joyously, "and that's where the joke ,.comes in. He's left his whole cargo of doubloons to a microbe. That is, part of it goes to the man who invents a new bacillus and the rest to establish a hospital for doing away with it again. There are one or two trifling bequests on the side. The butler and the housekeeper get a seal ring and $10 each. His nephew gets $1,000."

221 "You've always had plenty of money to spend," observed Old Bryson. 'Tons,'' said Gillian. “Uncle was the fairy godmother as far as an allowance was concerned." "Any other heirs?'' asked Old Bryson. "None." Gillian frowned at his cigarette and kicked the upholstered leather of a divan uneasily. "There is a Miss Hayden, a ward of my uncle, who lived in his house. She's a quiet thing – musical - the daughter of somebody who was unlucky enough to be his friend. I forgot to say that she was in on the seal ring and $10 joke, too. I wish I had been. Then I could have had two bottles of brut, tipped the waiter with the ring and had the whole business off my hands. Don't be superior and insulting. Old Bryson- tell me what a fellow can do with a thousand dollars." Old Bryson rubbed his glasses and smiled. And when Old Bryson smiled Gillian knew that he intended to be more offensive than ever. "A thousand dollars," he said, "means much or little. One man may buy happy home with it and laugh at Rockefeller. Another could send his wife South with it and save her life. A thousand dollars would buy pure milk for one hundred babies during June, July, and August and save fifty of their lives. You could count upon a half hour's diversion with it at faro in one of the fortified art galleries. It would furnish an education to an ambitious boy. I am told that a genuine Corot was secured for that amount in an auction room yesterday. You could move to a New Hampshire town and live respectably for two years on it. "You could rent Madison Square Garden for one evening with it, and lecture your audience, if you should have one, on the precariousness of the profession of heir presumptive." "People might like you, Old Bryson," said Gillian, always unruffled, "if you wouldn't moralize. Tasked you to tell me what I could do with a thousand dollars.'' "You?' said Bryson, with a gentle laugh, "Why, Bobby Gillian, there's only one logical thing you could do. You can go buy Miss Lotta Lauriere a diamond pendant with the money, and then take yourself off to Idaho and inflict your presence upon a ranch. 1 advise a sheep ranch, as I have a particular dislike for sheep."

222 "Thanks," said Gillian, rising. "I thought I could depend on you, Old Bryson. You've hit on the very scheme. I wanted to chuck the money in a lump, for I've got to turn in an account for it, and I hate itemizing." Gillian phoned for a cab and said to the driver : "The stage entrance of the Columbine Theatre.” Miss Lotta Lauriere was assisting nature with a powder puff, almost ready for her call at a crowded matinee, when her dresser mentioned the name of Mr. Gillian. "Let it in," said Miss Lauriere. "Now, what is it, Bobby? I'm going on in two minutes.'' “Rabbit-foot your right ear a little," suggested Gillian, critically. "That's better. It won't take two minutes for me. What do you say to a little thing in the pendant line. I can stand three ciphers with a figure in front of ’ em.” "Oh, just as you say," carolled Miss Lauriere. "My right glove, Adams. Say, Bobby, did you see that necklace Delia Stacey had on the other night? Two thousand two hundred dollars it cost at Tiffany's. But, of course pull my sash a little to the left, Adams." "Miss Laurier for the opening chorus!" cried the call boy without. Gillian strolled out to where his cab was waiting. "What would you do with a thousand dollars if you had it?" he asked the driver. "Open a s'loon." said the cabby promptly and huskily. "I know as place I could take money in with both hands. It's a four- story brick on a comer. I' ve got it figured out. Second story- Chinks and chop suey; third floor- manicures and foreign missions; fourth floor-pool-room. If you was thinking of putting up; the cap.”- "Oh, no," said Gillian, "1 merely asked from curiosity. I take you by the hot'. Drive till I tell you to stop." Eight blocks down Broadway Gillian poked up the trap with his cane and got out. A blind man sat upon a stool on the sidewalk selling pencils. Gillian went out and stood before him. "Excuse me," he said, "but would you mind telling me what you would do if you had a thousand dollars?"

223 '' You got out of that cab that just drove up, didn't you?" asked the blind man. "I did," said Gillian. "I guess you are all right," said the pencil dealer,' 'to ride in a cab by daylight. Take a look at that, if you like." He drew a small book from his coat pocket and held it out. Gillian opened it and saw that it was a bank deposit book. It showed a balance of $1,735 to the blind man's credit. Gillian returned the book and got into the cab. "I forgot something," he said. "You may drive to the law offices of Tolman & Sharp, at-, Broadway.'' Lawyer Tolman looked at him hostilely and inquiringly through his gold- rimmed glasses. "I beg your pardon," said Gillian cheerfully, "but may I ask you a question? It is not an impertinent one, I am sure. Was Miss Hayden left anything by my uncle's will besides the ring and the $10?” "Nothing," said Mr. Tolman. "I thank you very much, sir." said Gillian, and out he went to his Cab. He gave the driver the address of his late uncle's home. Miss Hayden was writing letters in the library. She was small and slender and clothed in black. But you would have noticed her eyes. Gillian drifted in with his air of regarding the world as inconsequent. "I've just come from old Tolman's," he explained. "They've been going over the papers down there. They found a- “Gillian searched his memory for a legal term- they found an amendment or a postscript or something to the will. It seems that the old boy loosened up a little on second thoughts and willed you a thousand dollars. I was driving up this way and Tolman asked me to bring you the money. Here it is. You'd better count it to see if it's right." Gillian laid the money beside her hand on the desk. Miss Hayden turned white. "Oh!" she said, and again "Oh!" Gillian half turned and looked out the window.

224 "I suppose, of course," he said, in a low voice, "that you know I love you." "I am sorry," said Miss Hayden, taking up her money. "There is no use?" asked Gillian, almost light-heartedly. "I am sorry," she said again. "May I write a note?" asked Gillian, with a smile. He seated himself at the big library table. She supplied him with paper and pen, and then went back to her secretaire. Gillian made out his account of his expenditure of the thousand dollars in these words: "Paid by the black sheep, Robert Gillian, $1,000 on the account of eternal happiness, owed by Heaven to the best and dearest woman on earth." Gillian slipped his writing into an envelope, bowed and went his way. His cab stopped again at the office of Tolman & Sharp. "I have expended the thousand dollars," he said, cheerily, to p Tolman of the gold glasses,' “and I have come to render account of it, as I agreed. There is quite a feeling of summer in the air-do you not think so, Mr. Tolman?" He tossed a white envelope on the lawyer's table. "You will find there a memorandum, sir, of the modus operandi of the vanished dollars." Without touching the envelope, Mr. Tolman went to a door and called his partner, Sharp. Together they explored the caverns of the immense safe. Forth they dragged as trophy of their search a big envelop sealed with wax. This they forcibly invaded and wagged their venerable heads together over its contents. Then Tolman became spokesman. "Mr. Gillian," he said, formally, "there was a codicil to your uncle's will. It was instructed to us privately, with instructions that it be /not opened until you furnished us with a full account of your handling of the $1,000 bequest in the will. As you have fulfilled the conditions my partner and I have read the codicil. I do not wish to encumber your understanding with its legal phraseology, but I will acquaint you with the spirit of its contents. "The codicil promises that in the event that your disposition of the $1,000 demonstrates that you posses any of the qualifications that deserve reward, much

225 benefit will accrue to you. Mr. Sharp and I are named as the judges, and I assure you that we will do our duty strictly according to justice - with liberality. We are not at all unfavorably disposed toward you, Mr. Gillian. But let us return the letter of the codicil. If your disposal of the money in question has been prudent, wise, or unselfish, it is in our power to hand you over bonds to the value of $50,000 which have been placed in our hands for that purpose. But if- as our client, the late Mr. Gillian, explicitly provides- you have used this money as you have used money in the past - I quote the late Mr. Gillian- in reprehensible dissipation among disreputable associates - the $50,000 is to be paid to Miriam Hayden, ward of the late Mr. Gillian, without delay. Now, Mr. Gillian, Mr. Sharp and I will examine your account in regard to the $1,000. You submit it in writing, I believe. I hope you will repose confidence in our decision." Mr. Tolman reached out for the envelope. Gillian was a little the quicker in taking it up. He tore the account and its cover leisurely into strips and dropped them into his pocket. "It's all right," he said, smiling. "There isn't a bit of need to bother you with this. I don't suppose you'd understand these itemized bets, anyway, I lost the thousand dollars on the races. Good-day to you, gentlemen." Tolman & Sharp shook their heads mournfully at each other when Gillian left, for they heard him whistling gayly in the hallway as he waited for the elevator. 14.4 Check your progress A) Answer the following questions in one word, phrase or sentence each: 1) Who is Mr. Gillian ? 2) Who is Tolman? 3) What is the name of Tolman’s firm? 4) What will a cab-driver do with 1000 dollars? 5) What did the uncle leave for Gillian in his will ? 6) What did the uncle leave for Miss Hayden in his will? 7) What is the climax of the story?

226 B) Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative : 1) Mr. Tolman was a ------a) Teacher b) Lawyer c) Cab-driver d) Narrator 2) Gillian’s uncle wrote a------a) book b) note c) will d) poem 3) Gillian’s uncle leaves him ------and he had to write an account on how he spent them a) a real estate b) 1000 dollars c) a house d) a diamond pendant 4) Gillian’s uncle leaves Miss Miriam Hayden …………………………… a) 10 dollars and a seal ring b) a diamond pendant c) a house d) nothing 5) As per the will & his uncle, if Gillian spent the money wisely he would get ………… a) 1000 dollars b) 50000 dollars c) 20000 dollars d) 30000 dollars 6) Old Bryson suggested Gillian that he could buy Miss. Lotta Lauriere, a showgirl------a) a gold pendant b) a silver pendant c) a diamond pendant d) a bronze pendant 7) The blind man has also an amount of ------in his bank account a) $ 785 b) $ 1,785 c) $ 1,285 d) $ 85 C) Say true or false : 1) The blind man was selling pens. - 2) The blind man has also an amount of $ 1,785 in his bank account. 3) The story takes place in Washington. 4) A codicil about the legacy left for old Bryson. 5) Gillian sacrifices his love and happiness for Mirium’s satisfaction. 6) O. Henry died on June 5, 1910.

227 14.5 Notes and Glossary: rend (V) - to tear, to split, to disturb violently solemnly (adv.) - seriously, not happily severely (adv.) - extremely bad or serious confound (V) - to confuse or surprise genially (adv.) - kindly sequester (V) - to remove from public view, to separate rattle (V) - to produce a series of short, sharp, rapid sounds billiard (N) - a game for two people played with cues & three balls on a long table covered with green fabric. crue (N) – Small glass bottle containing oil or vinegar for use at meals. microbe (N) - an extremely small living thing that you can only see under a microscope & that may cause disease. bacillus (N) - Straight rod-shaped bacterium bequest (N) - something left by will upholstered (V) - usually passive, to cover a chair etc. with soft material offensive (adj) – upsetting or annoying fortify (V) - to strengthen auction (N) – a public event at which things are sold to the person who offers the most money for them. presumptive (adj) - based on likelihood unreffled (adj) - calm, unperturbed moralize (V) - to tell other people what is right & wrong in order to emphasize that your opinions are correct carolled (V) - to sing in a cheerful way. ciphers (N) - a secret way of writing especially one in which a set of letters or symbols is used to represent others importance.

228 stroll (V) - to walk leisurely along, to go from place to place. manicure (N) - the care & treatment of a person’s hands & nails cab (N) - a hired carriage impertinent (adj) - rude & not showing respect who is older or more important. inconsequential (adj) - not important or worth considering amendment (N) - a small change or improvement that is made to a law or document memorandum (N) - a record of a legal agreement which has not yet been formally prepared & signed /a report on a particular subject. immense (adj) - extremely large or great wag (V) - to shake your finger or your head from side to side often as a sign of disapproval. encumber (V) - to make it difficult for to do or to happen client (n) - a person who employs a lawyer, a customer at a shop. codicil (n) - a short note added at the end of a will. reprehensible (adj) - a deserving blame dissipation (n) – wasting, worthless disreputable (adj) - causing a lack of repute bet (n) - an arrangement to risk money, etc. on the result of a particular event. mournfully (adv) - very sad. gayily (adv) - in cheerful manner to whistle (v) - to make a shrill sound by blowing through the teeth or lips. stipulate (v) - to make an express condition of agreement. corsair (n) - Pirate or pirate ship attacking ships of European countries. assent (v) - to agree to heir (N) - a person having a right to property of another after his death frown (v) - to look displeased, a stern look.

229 14.6 Key to check your progress 14.2 A) 1) William Sydney Porter 2) American 3) Greensboro 4) New York 14.4 A) 1) a clumsy young man, rich heir to his late uncle who spends his money wastefully 2) Tolman is a lawyer 3) Tolman & sharp 4) Open a salon 5) $ 1000 6) 10 dollars and a seal ring 7) When Tolman told Gillian that a codicil of his uncle’s will is found and it is not to be opened unless he submits the account of the expenditure of $ 1000 B) 1 b - lawyer 2 c - will 3 b - 1000 dollars 4 a - 10 dollars & a seal ring 5 b - 50,000 dollars 6 c - a diamond pendant 7 b - $ 1,785 C) 1 False 2 True 3 False 4 False 5 True 6 True

230 14.7 Summary This is a typical modern humorous short story about love and human decency. It is a story about what people do and should do for love. The story opens with a brief and polite conversation between a young man and a lawyer. The lawyer offers the young man one thousands dollars, his apparent inheritance from a recently deceased uncle. Mr. Gillian, the young man in question, chuckles at the peculiar and specific amount of his inheritance. He marvels that, had his uncle bestowed a much larger or a much smaller amount of money upon him, he would better understand the bequest. As it stands, however, he is puzzled and stunned by the legacy of one thousand dollars exactly. Mr. Gillian gives up his claim for the fortune left by his uncle late Mr. Old Gillian for Miss. Miriam Heydan in whose love he falls, not even leaving behind a single clue as to why he did so. The only reason for this act is obviously to be found in his intense love for the girl who had served for a long period as a ward to Mr. old Gillian. We come to the conclusion that how people change themselves, become unselfish to make someone happy whom they love a lot. Gillian through his behavior proved his true love for Miss. Hayden. Though she refused his love proposal, he tried to make her happy. 14. 8 Theme of the story ‘One Thousand Dollars’ Sacrification for True Love: O. Henrys short stories frequently have surprise endings. His stories are also known for witty narration. In majority of his stories dealing with both the rich and poor, he doesn’t give too much importance to money. Money is never an end. The present story ‘One Thousand Dollars’ depicts young millionaire Mr. Gillian who has sacrificed his status and claim for the fulfillment of his heart’s desire. Mr. Gillian gives up his claim for the fortune left by his uncle Late Mr. Old Gillian for Miss Miriam Heyden, in whose love he falls, not even leaving behind a single clue as to why he did so. The only reason for this act is obviously to be found in his intense love for the girl who had served for a long period as a ward to Mr. Old Gillian. The theme of the story is quite clearly love and human decency as well as sacrification for love. It is a story like many of O. Henry’s stories about what people

231 do and should do for love. Young Gillian is characterized as something of a playboy. He clearly wastes money at clubs and on showgirls. His uncle has not liked this about him and has left him $ 1000. His uncle, old Gillian in his will writes the only sum of $ 1000 to him out of his huge fortune and a meagre $ 10 to Miss. Heyden. She is an unfortunate girl who had been working as his ward and staying in the family for a long time. The story begins with the exposition in which important background is revealed. Lawyer Tolman hands over $ 1000 to young Gillian as a legacy left to him by his late uncle Old Gillian. His uncle was familiar with young Gillian’s behaviour and hence he had mentioned in his will that Gillian must provide an account of the manner of expenditure of $ 1000. Young Gillian gets confused and asks for suggestions about how to spend $ 1000 from whomsoever he meets. He seeks the ways of spending $ 1000 from his friend old Bryson. Bryson suggests him many tricks to spend them in good ways. Following the suggestions of Bryson, Gillian meets Miss Lauriere in order to offer her a diamond pendant. But her expectations were too high that could not be fulfilled. Gillian asks even to his driver and the blind man who was selling pencils. But the blind man has also an amount of $1,785 in his bank account. Finally, Gillian turns towards Miss. Heyden, a ward of Gillian’s late uncle. He confesses his love for her eventhough she denies it. He writes an account of expenditure and seals it in the envelop. The climax of the story comes when Tolman, one of the lawyers told Gillian that a codicil of his uncle’s will is found and it is not to be opened unless he submits the account of the expenditure of $1000. Gillian understands the implications of the codicil and feels sorry for the kind of disbelief his uncle had in his mind about his nature and behaviour. To the best of his conscience he has spent the money for the right cause. He has paid the money to the girl not out of sympathy but because she deserves to be rewarded, for the services she has rendered to family. He has the note of expenditure and is about to show and submit it to the judges. But the moment he listens to the statement that if he spends $1000 in reprehensible dissipation among disreputable associates, the $50000 is to be paid to Miriam Hayden, ward of the late Mr. Gillian without delay. He tears the envelop containing the statement of account of the expenditure of $1000 into strips and drops them into his pocket. He declares that he lost $1000 in races. As a result of this and as per the will of his uncle late Gillian, the money would go to Miss Hayden whom he loves. So we come to the

232 conclusion that how people change themselves, become unselfish to make someone happy whom they love a lot. Gillian through his behaviour proved his true love for Miss. Haydan. Though she refused his love proposal, he tried to make her happy. The end of the story seems to be unexpected. O. Henry has given a perfect example of true love. It shows what people can do for their love. Gillian shows the best side of love here. He knows that Miriam will not love him no matter how rich he is. So he sacrifices his happiness for her. It is true that the theme of this story is pure love. He knows best that she is not going to love him back. Nevertheless, he wants to make her happy. He will double her happiness by a white lie at the end of the story, by telling that he had spent the money on gambling. So he simply kisses good-bye to that amount, just because of his love. 14. 9 Characters in the story : Young Gillian : Mr. Gillian is the young rich heir to his late uncle old Gillian. He is characterized as a clumsy young man who spends his money wastefully. His uncle leaves him $ 1000 and he had to write an account on how he spend them. The late Mr. Gillian leaves the butler, the housekeeper and Miss Miriam Hayden who was the daughter of an old friend of Mr. Gillian - $10 and a seal ring. Young Gillian loves Miss Hayden but she doesn’t return this love. Gillian doesn’t know how to spend $ 1000 properly. He goes to an old friend, old Bryson to ask him for advice. Old Bryson suggested that he could buy a house, gamble, buy paintings, rent Madison Square Garden, move to New Hampshire, or he could buy Miss Lotta Lauriere, a showgirl - a diamond pendant. A cabbie said that if had this amount of money he would open a salon. Young Gillian decides to give the money to Miss. Hayden and went back to the lawyers. He found out that, if he spent the money wisely he would get the dollars $50000 but if he didn’t Miss. Hayden would taken them. He decided that Miss. Hayden would never love him no matter how rich he is. So he decided to give her all the money. So, he didn’t tell the truth of expenditure to the lawyer and torn the envelop in which it was written that he had handedover that money to Miss. Hayden. Instead, he told that he lost that money in races. As a result of this and as per the will of his uncle late Gillian, the money would go to the Miss. Hayden.

233 Here, Gillian shows the best side of love here. He knows that Miriam will not love him no matter how rich he is. So he sacrifices his happiness for her. We come to the conclusion that ‘people can give value to their life by not being greedy’. People can also give value to their lives by making change for what that person finds to be the better. Young Gillian was proud of his decision to stop using money selfishly and start being wiser. 14.10 EXERCISES A) Answer the following questions in two or three sentences each. 1. What did old Bryson suggest to Gillian about spending money? 2. What is the end of the story? Is it twisted or unexpected end? Why? 3. Who was Miss. Mariam Hayden? What was the amount mentioned in the will for Hayden? 4. Comment on the moral of the story? 5. Write a brief note on the significance of the title? 6. Describe in brief Young Gillian - Miss. Hayden relationship? B) Write short notes 1. Young Gillian. 2. Various suggestions given to Young Gillian by people. 3. Theme of sacrification for true love. 4. Miss. Miriam Hayden. 5. Will of late uncle, old Gillian. C) Match the words from group A with their meanings in group B A B bequest taxi offensive legacy heir angry cab person with the legal right to receive property frown insulting

234 D) Complete the following table : Sr. No. Noun Verb Adjective 1 Proposal -- -- 2 --- Suggested --- 3 Happiness ------4 ------laugh ------5 ------Presumptive

14.11 Writing Activities 1. Write a summary of any short story which is about a scarification for true love. 2. Try to collect the list of short stories on the scarification for true love. 14.12 Recommended Reading 1 K. A. Abbas : The Sparrows 2 R. K. Narayan : The Guide JJJ

235 Unit-15 Beautiful Mandakini Ruskin Bond

Index : 15.0 Objectives 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Text: Beautiful Mandakini 15.2.1 Part – I Check your progress I 15.2.2 Part – II Check your progress II 15.2.3 Part – III Check your progress III 15.3 Notes and Glossary : 15.4 Summary: 15.5 Key to check your progress 15.6 Exercises 15.7 Writing Activity

15.0 Objectives After reading this unit, you will be able to learn about:

G the beauty of natural objects around you

G the visual style of writing

G the importance of ancient structures in and around your area

236 15.1 Introduction: Ruskin Bond, born 19 May 1934, is a well known Indian writer of British descent. Ruskin’s father was with the Royal Air Force in India. He was born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. He has dedicated himself to writing as a full time occupation at the age of 20.Since then he has been writing novels, poetry, essays and short stories for almost half a century now. He worked for some years as a journalist in Delhi and Dehradun. Since 1963 he has lived as a freelance writer in Mussoorie, a town in the Himalayan foothills. His famous fictional works include the Neighbour’s Wife and other Stories, My First Love and other Stories, Angry River, The Blue Umbrella, The Man- eater of Manjari and other Stories . His interest in the paranormal led him to write popular titles such as Ghost Stories from the Raj , A Season of Ghosts, A Face in the Dark and other Hauntings. Moreover, he has expertly compiled and edited a number of anthologies over the years. He has been awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957 for his first novel The Room on the Roof ’, the Sahitya Akademi Award for his short story collection, Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra , and the Padma Shri in 1999 for his contributions to children’s literature. Several of his short stories have been made into popular films like ‘Junoon’ directed by Shyam Benegal. Ruskin Bond is internationally known as one of India’s most prolific writers in English for children, youths and adults alike. The present passage ‘Beautiful Mandakini’ is taken from The Best of Ruskin Bond: Delhi is not Far published in 1994.It is a fantastic narration about the writer’s visit to the Mandakini river valley where the two rivers, Alakananda and Mandakini, have their splendid confluence. He delineates the beauty, memories and myths prevalent in Rudraprayag and encircling villages. As a true ^raveler, he visits number of temples mainly dedicated to the various forms of god Shiva. Ruskin Bond, a nature lover, unable to forget the place that has captured his mind and heart. The narrative style has a potential to make us relive the enchanting experience writer has enjoyed. 15.2 Text : Beautiful Mandakini 15.2.1 Part – I To see a river for the first time at its confluence with another great river is, for me, a special moment in time. And so it was with the Mandakini at Rudraprayag,

237 where its waters were joined with the waters of the Alaknanda, the one having come from the glacial snows above Kedarnath, the other from the Himalayan heights beyond Badrinath. Both sacred rivers, both destined to become the holy Ganga further downstream. I fell in love with the Mandakini at first sight. Or was it the valley that I fell in love with? I am not sure, and it doesn’t really matter. The valley is the river. While the Alaknanda valley, especially in its higher reaches, is a deep and narrow gorge where precipitous outcrops of rock hang threateningly over the ^raveler, the Mandakini valley is broader, gentler, the terraced fields wider, the banks of the river a green sward in many places. Rudraprayag is hot. It is probably a pleasant spot in winter, but at the end of June it is decidedly hot. Perhaps its chief claim to fame is that it gave its name to the dreaded man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag who, in the course of seven years (l9l8- 25), accounted for more than 300 victims. It was finally shot by the fifty-one-year- old Jim Corbett, who recounted the saga of his long hunt for the killer in his fine book, The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag . The place at which the leopard was shot was the village of Gulabrai, two miles south of Rudraprayag. Under a large mango tree stands a memorial raised to Jim Corbett by officers and men of the Border Roads Organisation. It is a happy gesture to one who loved Garhwal and India. Unfortunately several buffaloes are gathered close by, and one has to wade through slush and buffalo- dung to get to the memorial-stone. A board tacked on to the mango tree attracts the attention of motorists who might pass without noticing the memorial, which is off to one side. The killer—leopard was noted for its direct method of attack on humans; and, in spite of being poisoned, trapped in a cave, and shot at innumerable times, it did not lose its contempt for man. Two English sportsmen covering both ends of the old suspension bridge over the Alaknanda fired several times at the man-eater but to little effect. It was not long before the leopard acquired a reputation among the hill folk for being an evil spirit. A sadhu was suspected of turning into the leopard by night, and was only saved from being lynched by the ingenuity of Philip Mason, then Deputy Commissioner of Garhwal. Mason kept the sadhu in custody until the leopard made his next attack, thus proving the man innocent. Years later, when Mason turned

238 novelist and (using the pen-name Philip Woodruff) wrote The Wild Sweet Witch, he had as his main character, a beautiful young woman who turns into a man-eating leopard by night. Corbett’s host at Gulabrai was one of the few who survived an encounter with the leopard. It left him with a hole in his throat. Apart from being a superb story-teller, Corbett displayed great compassion for people from all walks of life and is still a legend in Garhwal and Kumaon amongst people who have never read his books. Check your progress I A) Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative. 1. The river Mandakini has its confluence with the river...... a. Godawari b. Alaknanda c. Yamuna d. Bhagirathi 2. The man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag was finally shot by the well-known hunter...... a. Jim Corbett b. John Corbett c. Atkinson d. Philip Mason 3...... was suspected of turning into the leopard by night. a. a villager b. a sadhu c. an evil spirit d. the deputy Commissioner of Garhwal 4. Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers become one with the holy ……….. a.Kashi b. Narmada c. Ganga d.Yamuna B) Say whether the following statements are true or false: 1. The narrator, at first sight, fell in love with the valley as well as the river Mandakini. 2. At the end of June, Rudraprayg remains very cold. 3. It was the ‘sadhu’ who turned into leopard by night. 4. Mandakini comes from the glacial snows above Kedarnath. 5. Alaknanda comes from the Himalayan heights beyond Badrinath.

239 15.2.2 Part – II In June, one does not linger long in the steamy heat of Rudraprayag. But as one travels up the river, making a gradual ascent of the Mandakini valley, there is a cool breeze coming down from the snows, and the smell of rain is in the air. The thriving little township of Agastmuni spreads itself along the wide riverbanks, and further upstream, near a little place called Chanderpuri, we cannot resist breaking our journey to sprawl on the tender green grass that slopes gently down to the swiftly flowing river. A small rest-house is in the making. Around it, banana fronds sway and poplar leaves dance in the breeze. This is no sluggish river of the plains, but a fast moving current, tumbling over rocks, turning and twisting in its efforts to discover the easiest way for its frothy snowfed waters to escape the mountains. Escape is the word! For the constant plaint of many a Garhwali is that, while his hills abound in rivers the water runs down, and away and little if any reaches the fields and villages above it. Cultivation must depend on the rain and not on the river. The road climbs gradually, still keeping to the river. Just outside Guptkashi my attention is drawn to a clump of huge trees sheltering a small but ancient temple. We stop here and enter the shade of the trees. The temple is deserted. It is a temple dedicated to Shiva, and in the courtyard are several river-rounded stone lingams on which leaves and blossoms have fallen. No one seems to come here, which is strange, since it is on the pilgrim route. Two boys from a neighbouring field leave their yoked bullocks to come and talk to me, but they cannot tell me much about the temple except to confirm that it is seldom visited ‘The buses do not stop here.’ That seems explanation enough. For where the buses go, the pilgrims go, and where the pilgrims go, other pilgrims will follow. Thus far and no further. The trees seem to be magnolias, judging by the scent and shape of the flowers, and the boys call them Champa, Hindi for magnolia blossom. But I have never seen magnolia trees grow to such huge proportions. Perhaps they are something else. Never mind; let them remain a sweet-scented mystery.

240 Check your progress II A) Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative 1. The deserted temple outside Guptkashi was dedicated to ...... a. Sadashiva b. Kedarnath c. Shiva d. Vishnu 2. There is a little town named …………..along the wide riverbanks. a. Agastmuni b. Chaderpuri c. Gulabrai d. Gharwal B) Say whether the following statements are true or false: 1. The village Guptkashi has still maintained its traditional appearance compared to some other growing hill towns. 2. According to the writer; the cultivation in the villages around Rudraprayag depends on the river and not on the rain. 3. The beauty of tender green grass and a fast moving current of river attract the travelers. 15.2.3 Part–III Guptkashi in the evening is all a bustle. A coach-load of pilgrims (headed for Kedarnath) has just arrived, and the tea-shops near the bus-stand are doing brisk business. Then the ‘local’ bus- from Okhimath, across the river-arrives, and many of the passengers head for a tea-shop famed for its samosas. The local bus is called the bhook-hartal-‘hunger strike’ bus. ‘How did it get that name?’ I ask one of the samosa-eaters. ‘Well, it’s an interesting story. For a long time we had been asking the authorities to provide a bus service for the local people and for the villagers who live off the roads. All the buses came from Srinagar or Rishikesh, and were taken up by pilgrims. The locals couldn’t find room in them. But our pleas went unheard until the whole town — or most of it, anyway- decided to go on hunger- strike. That worked. And so the bus is named after our successful hunger-strike.’ ‘They nearly put me out of business too,’ said the tea-shop owner cheerfully. ‘Nobody ate any samosas for two days!’

241 There is no cinema or public place of entertainment at Guptkashi, and the town goes to sleep early. And wakes early. At six, the hillside, green from recent rain, sparkles in the morning sunshine. Snow-capped Chaukhamba (23,400 ft.) is dazzling.The air is clear, no smoke or dust up here. The climate, I am told, is mild all the year round, Okhimath, on the other side of the river, lies in the shadow. It gets the sun at nine. In winter it must wait till afternoon. And yet it seems a bigger place, and by tradition the temple priest from Kedamath passes winter there when the snows cover that distant shrine. Guptkashi has not yet been rendered ugly by the barrack-type architecture that has come up in some growing hill towns. The old double-storeyed houses are built of stone, with grey slate roofs.They blend well with the hillside. Cobbled paths meander through the old bazaar. One of these takes us to the famed Guptkashi temple, tucked away above the old part of the town. Here, as in Benares, Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, and two underground streams representing the sacred Yamuna and Bhagirathi rivers feed the pool sacred to the god. This temple gives the town its name-Guptkashi, the ‘Invisible Benares’ just as Uttarkashi on the Bhagirathi is ‘Upper Banares.’ Guptkashi and its environs have so many lingams that the saying ^ravel kankar itne Sankar —‘As many stones, so many Shivas’—has become a proverb to describe its holiness. From Guptkashi, pilgrims proceed north to Kedarnath, and the last stage of their journey—about a day’s march—must be covered on foot or horseback. The temple of Kedarnath, situated at a height of 11,753 feet, is encircled by snowcapped peaks, and Atkinson has conjectured that ‘the symbol of the linga may have arisen from the pointed peaks around his (God Shiva’s) original home’. The temple is dedicated to Sadashiva, the subterranean form of the god, who, ‘fleeing from the Pandavas took refuge here in the form of a he-buffalo. ‘We leave the Mandakini to visit Tungnath on the Chandrashila range. But I will return to this river. It has captured my mind and heart.

242 15.3 Notes and Glossary: confluence (n): the meeting of two rivers glacial (adj) : of ice and glaciers destine (v) : to settle the future of gorge (n) : narrow steep-sided valley precipitous (adj) : very steep outcrop (n) : projecting part of an underlying layer of rock terrace (n) : a raised level place sward(n) : land covered with short grass dread (n) : great fear saga (n) : old heroic story wade (v) : walking laboriously slush (n) : melting snow or mud to tack (v) : to join contempt (n) : scorn lynch (v) : put to death without trial ingenuity (n) : cleverness ascent (n) : upward slope upstream (adj) : against the current to sprawl on: to sit or lie spreading arms and legs sway (v): to move from side to side poplar (n): a tall straight tree sluggish (adj) : slow to tumble over: to fall rapidly frothy (adj) : covered with a foam of fluid plaint (n) : complaint

243 clump (n) : a close group yoke (n) : a device for joining a pair of animals together bustle (v) : an exciting activity shrine (n) : a place of worship meander (v) : to follow winding course environ (v) : to surround conjecture (v): imagine subterranean (adj) : underground refuge (n) : a shelter Check your progress III A) Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct alternative 1. Lord Shiva is worshipped as……… at Guptkashi. a. Vishwanath. B. Sadashiva c. Kedarnath d. Kashinath 2. According the ancient belief Sadashiva, the god, took refuge in the form of...... a. he-buffalo b. she-buffalo c. a lion d. a lioness B) Say whether the following statements are true or false: 1. The village Guptkashi has still maintained its traditional appearance compared to some other growing hill towns. 2. The local bus is called the bhook-hartal-‘hunger strike’ bus. 3. There are two underground streams representing the sacred rivers Yamuna and Ganga. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS: I) Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each. 1. Which was the river Mandakini joined with? 2. How does the writer describe the Mandakini valley?

244 3. How is the atmosphere of Rudraprayag? 4. What, according to the writer, is the chief claim to the fame of Rudraprayag? 5. What is the name of the village where the leopard was shot? 6. What was the leopard noted for? 7. What was the ‘sadhu’ suspected for? 8. Why, according to Ruskin Bond, the tourists did not visit the temple of Shiva? II) Match the words from group A with their meanings in group B. A B 1. confluence a. slow to act / respond 2. bustle b. guess 3. sluggish c. energetic activity 4. meander d. underground 5. conjectured e. union 6. subterranean f. wander aimlessly III) Write short notes on the following. 1. Beauty of the river Mandakini 2. The man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag 3. Guptkashi 15.4 Summary: This beautiful passage is divided into two parts. The first part is a portrayal of eye-catching scenery of the two rivers Alakananda and Mandakini and his homage to the well known hunter Jim Corbett. The second part deals with writers visit to some interesting places at Rudraprayag and encircling villages. Ruskin bond visits Rudraprayag where the two rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda have joined together. Mandakini comes from the glacial snows above Kedarnath, and Alaknanda from the Himalayan heights beyond Badrinath.

245 Afterwards both of these rivers meet the holy Ganga. Writer falls in love at first sight with the river Mandakini and the valley in which it flows. While the Alaknanda valley is full of terror; the the Mandakini valley is broader and gentler. Here, at Rudraprayag writer reminds the dreadful account of man-eating leopard which killed more than 300 people; in the course of seven years during the years l9l8 to 25. Finally, it was shot by Jim Corbett who has given an account of his long hunt in his fine book, The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag. The place at which the leopard was shot was the village of Gulabrai, two miles from Rudraprayag. There is a memorial-stone but it is neglected and just a board nailed on to the mango tree reminds us the event. The killer-leopard was noted for its direct method of attack on humans; and in spite of being poisoned, trapped in a cave, and shot at innumerable times could not be killed. As a result the leopard acquired a reputation among the people for being an evil spirit. Writer tells us an event in which a sadhu was suspected of turning into the leopard by night. People were about to kill him but was saved from Philip Mason, the then Deputy Commissioner of Garhwal. Mason kept the sadhu in custody until the leopard made his next attack, thus proving the man innocent. Corbett displayed great compassion for people from all walks of life and is still a legend in Garhwal and Kumaon amongst people who have never read his books. * There is a little town named Agastmuni along the wide riverbanks, and further a little place called Chanderpuri is situated. The beauty of tender green grass and a fast moving current of river attract the ^ravelers. Writer observes that there is little use of this water to the fields and villages above it and cultivation must depend on the rain. The road climbs gradually towards Guptkashi where writer’s attention is drawn to huge trees sheltering a small but ancient temple. It was a temple of Shiva but no one seems to come here even it is on the pilgrim route. Probably because ‘The buses do not stop here.’ Here at Guptkashi Bond hears an interesting account about the ‘local’ bus from the nearby village Okhimath; which is strangely called as the bhook-hartal - ‘hunger

246 strike’ bus. When writer asked; he learns the history that the local people of Guptkashi had been asking the authorities to provide a bus service; for a long time. All the buses came from Srinagar or Rishikesh, and were taken up by pilgrims and the locals couldn’t find room in them. But their request was ignored. In that case the whole town decided to go on hunger- strike which was continued for two days. It was that hunger- strike the bus was named after. The village Guptkashi has still maintained its traditional appearance as compared to some other growing hill towns. There is no barrack-type architecture. The old double-storeyed houses are built of stone, with grey slate roofs and stone paved paths run through the old bazaar. One of these paths goes to the famous Guptkashi temple. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, and two underground streams representing the sacred Yamuna and Bhagirathi rivers feed the pool sacred to the god. This temple gives the town its name-Guptkashi, the ‘Invisible Benares’ just as Uttarkashi on the Bhagirathi is ‘Upper Banares.’ Guptkashi and its surrounding area have so many holy Lingams.From Guptkashi, pilgrims proceed to Kedarnath where the temple is dedicated to lord Sadashiva. This beautiful place of river Mandakini has captured the mind and heart of the writer. 15.5 Key to check your progress I. A) 1. b Alaknanda 2. a Jim Corbett 3. a sadhu 4. c Ganga B) 1. true 2. false 3. true 4. true 5. true

247 II) A) 1. c) Shiva 2. a) Agastmuni B) 1. true 2. false 3. true III) A) 1. a) Vishwanath 2. a) he-buffalo B) 1. true 2. true 3. false I) 1. The river Mandakini was joined with the waters of the Alaknanda. 2. The Mandakini valley comes from the glacial snows above Kedarnath . 3. The atmosphere of Rudraprayag is hot. 4. According to the writer, the chief claim to the fame of Rudraprayag is that it gave its name to the dreaded man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag. 5. Gulabrai is The name of the village where the leopard was shot. It is two miles at south of Rudraprayag. 6. The leopard was noted for its direct method of attack on humans. 7. The sadhu was suspected of turning into the leopard by night. 8. According to Ruskin Bond, the tourists did not visit the temple of Shiva because the buses did not stop there. II) 1. e) union 2. c) energetic activity 3. a) slow to act / respond 4. f) wander aimlessly 5. b) guess 6. d) underground

248 III) 1. Beauty of the River Mandakini On the way towards Rudraprayag Ruskin bond comes across the beautiful river Mandakini. It is a special moment in the life of writer to see meeting spot of the rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda. Mandakini comes from the glacial snows above Kedarnath, and Alaknanda from the Himalayan heights beyond Badrinath. Afterwards both of these sacred rivers become one with the holy Ganga. Writer got impressed with this beautiful sight at once. In his intense feelings he could not decide whether it was valley or the river that he fell in love with. But he observes that the valley itself is the river. Another thing the writer observes that the Alaknanda valley in its higher reaches has a deep and narrow space. Here steep outcrops of rock hang threateningly over the travellers that must be very frightening experience. But it is not the case with Mandakini. The Mandakini valley is broader and gentler. Its terraced fields are wider and banks are full of green grassy surface. Another observation writer shares with us is that; in June the town Rudraprayag remains steamy hot. But as one travels up the river through Mandakini valley, refreshing cool breeze comes down from the snows with the smell of rain. Ruskin Bond is so much astonished by its captive beauty that no wonder when he says,’ I will return to this river. It has captured my mind and heart.’ Thus, the arresting scenery of Mandakini and its valley proves to be an unforgettable pleasant experience for travellers. 2. The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag In this passage Ruskin bond tells us an exciting story of the dreaded man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag who took more than 300 lives in the course of seven years; between l9l8 to 25. The killer-leopard was noted for its direct method of attack on humans. In spite of many attempts of poisoning, trapping in a cave, and shooting at numerous times, it could not be killed. The hill folk took it to be, not leopard but, an evil spirit .Even they suspected a sadhu thinking that he turns into the leopard by night and attacks the people. In their fury they were about to hang him but was only saved by Philip Mason, then Deputy Commissioner of Garhwal. Mason kept the sadhu in custody until the leopard made his next attack, thus proving the man innocent. Years later

249 Mason uses this experience in his novel in which his main character, a beautiful young woman, turns into a man-eating leopard by night. Finally it was shot by the well-known hunter Jim Corbett. He narrated the saga of his long hunt for the killer in his fine book, The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag . At Gulabrai, there stands a memorial raised at the place where the leopard was shot; reminding us the great hunter Jim Corbett and the dreadful leopard. 3. Guptkashi Guptkashi is small town near Rudraprayag however in the evening is full of activity of pilgrims and local passengers gathering at the tea-shops near the bus- stand. There is no cinema or public place of entertainment at Guptkashi, as a result the town goes to sleep early and wakes early. At six in the morning the hillside, green from recent rain, sparkles in sunshine. The sight of Snow-capped Chaukhamba is amazing. The air is clear, no smoke or dust up here. The climate, I am told, is mild all the year round; Guptkashi has still maintained its traditional appearance. There is no barrack-type architecture. The old double-storeyed houses are built of stone, with grey slate roofs and stone paved paths run through the town. One of these paths takes us to the famous Guptkashi temple where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath. There are two underground streams representing the sacred rivers Yamuna and Bhagirathi which supply the pool sacred to the god. It is due to this temple the town is known as Guptkashi that means the ‘Invisible Benares’; just as Uttarkashi on the Bhagirathi is ‘Upper Banares.’ There are so many holy Lingams in the surrounding area of Guptkashi. Therefore, the saying ‘jitne kankar itne Sankar’ -‘As many stones, so many Shivas'- has become a proverb to describe its holiness. Thus Guptkashi is striking in its impression, humble in its appearance and religious in its spirit. 15.6 Exercises I) Answer the following questions in four/ five sentences each. 1. What does the writer say about the sacred rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda?

250 2. What does the writer say about the man eating leopard of Rudraprayag? 3. Why was the ‘sadhu’ kept in custody? 4. What does the writer say about the deserted Shiva temple? 5. How was the local bus named as the hunger strike bus? II) Find out as many adjectives as you can from the article and give their noun forms : for e.g. great-greatness, steamy-steam III) Give synonyms for the following words: pleasant, contempt, dedicate, mystery, innumerable IV) Give antonyms for the following words:- mild, sacred, attract, gradual, recent 15.7 Writing Activity : 1. Ruskin Bond says, “I will return to this river. It has captured my mind and heart”. Has any such place captured your mind? Describe the place of your attraction in about 100 words. Consider the historical significance, geographical attraction, cultural or religious relevance etc. of that place. JJJ

251 Unit-16 First, They Said Alice Walker

Index : 16.0 Objectives 16.1 Introduction 16.2 The Text 16.3 Self-Check Exercises 16.4 Summary 16.5 Key to Check Your Progress 16.6 Exercises

16.0 Objectives : After studying this poem you will be able to:

G learn about racial discrimination

G know a binary opposition between the oppressor & the oppressed

G know how the white oppressor community employs language

16.1 Introduction : Alice Walker, an African-American writer, was born on February 9, 1944, in Eatonton, Georgia. She is the eighth and last child of sharecroppers Willie Lee and Minnie Lou Grant Walker. She attended Spelman College and received a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. She is a voluminous writer having many collections of poems, novels and essays to her credit. Her books of poetry include Hard Times Require Furious Dancing (New World Library, 2010); A Poem Traveled Down My Arm: Poems And Drawings (Random

252 House, 2003); Absolute Trust in the Goodness of the Earth (2003); Her Blue Body Everything We Know: Earthling Poems, 1965-1990 Complete (Harcourt, 1991); Horses Make the Landscape More Beautiful (1984); Goodnight, Willie Lee, I'll See You in the Morning (1979); Revolutionary Petunias and Other Poems (1973); and Once: Poems (1968). She is also a well-known fiction writer. Among her novels and short story collections are Possessing the Secret of Joy: A Novel (New Press, 2008); The Way Forward is with a Broken Heart (Random House, 2000); By the Light of My Father's Smile (1998); Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992); The Temple of My Familiar (1989); To Hell With Dying (1988); The Color Purple (1982), which won the Pulitzer Prize and American Book Award; and You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down (1981). Her collections of essays include Dreads: Sacred Rites of the Natural Hair Revolution (Artisan, 1999. With Francesco Mastalia and Alfonse Pagano); Anything We Love Can Be Saved: A Writer's Activism (1997); The Same River Twice: Honoring the Difficult ; Living by the Word: Selected Writings, 1973-87 (1988); and In Search of Our Mother's Gardens: Womanist Prose (1983). She has also written a memoir, The Chicken Chronicles (The New Press, 2011). Walker has won numerous awards and honors, including the Lillian Smith Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rosenthal Award from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute, a Merrill Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. She lives in Mendocino, California. The present poem is concerned with the way language has been employed to maintain a binary opposition between the oppressor and the oppressed. This is a political act deliberately committed to safeguard the superiority of the oppressor. The poet shows that the oppressor and the oppressed are on talking terms. This provides an opportunity to her to refute the age-old charges levied against the oppressed. In a way, with the help of this poem, Walker has tried to reveal how the white oppressor community employs language to continue their superiority and the practice of racial discrimination.

253 16.2 The Text First, They Said First, they said we were savages. But we knew how well we had treated them and knew we were not savages.

Then, they said we were immoral. But we knew minimal clothing did not equal immoral.

Next, they said our race was inferior. But we knew our mothers and we knew that our race was not inferior.

After that, they said we were a backward people. But we knew our fathers and knew we were not backward.

So, then they said we were Obstructing Progress. But we knew the rhythm of our days and knew that we were not obstructing Progress.

Eventually, they said the truth is that you eat too much and your village take up too much of the land. But we knew we and our children were starving and our villages were burned to the ground. So we knew we were not eating too much or taking up too much of the land.

Finally, they had to agree with us. They said: You are right. It is not your savagery

254 or your immorality or your racial inferiority or your people’s backwardness or your obstructing of Progress or your appetite or your infestation of the land that is at fault. No. What is at fault is your existence itself.

Here is money, they said, raise an army among your people, and exterminate yourselves.

In our inferior backwardness we took the money. Raised an army among our people. And now, the people protected, we wait for the next insulting word coming out of that mouth.

16.3 Check Your Progress : Answer the following questions in one word/phrase/sentence each: 1. What makes the narrator of the poem to say that ‘we’ are not savages? 2. What, according to the narrator of the poem, cannot be equated with ‘immorality’? 3. What is the charge against the oppressed regarding their food and land? 4. What is the final assessment of ‘they’ regarding the ‘we’? 5. Why do the oppressors give money to the oppressed? 6. What makes the oppressed to accept money from the oppressor? 7. What does the oppressed wait for?

16.4 Summary The poem vividly presents the imaginative interaction between two parties – ‘they’ and ‘we’. It seems that ‘we’ stands for the oppressed black people, whereas

255 ‘they’ stands for the oppressor, colonizer, white people. In the poem Alice Walker has clearly presented the attitude of the white colonizer towards the black. The oppressor – ‘they’ - accuses the oppressed – ‘we’ – with various phrases like ‘savage’, ‘immoral’, ‘of inferior race’, ‘backward people’, ‘as obstructing progress’, ‘eat too much’, ‘taking too much land’, etc. However, after each accusation, ‘we’ refutes and challenges the idea expressed earlier in the stanza. The last stanzas present a dramatic change where after ‘raising an army’ the oppressed would not tolerate a single future accusation. Critical Commentary In order to understand the poem and what Walker says, it is essential to get acquainted with certain facts and ideas. Alice Walker is a black writer living in America. Presently such writers are called African-American writers. These writers present the experiences of the black community in America. Originally the blacks are from Africa, but they were brought to America as slaves by the white landlords. That is to say, these people worked as slaves of the white. The white did not treat the black as normal human beings, and deprived them of their natural rights. Therefore, the terms ‘oppressor’ and ‘colonizer’ are used to refer to the white, whereas the blacks are always called ‘oppressed’, ‘colonized’. The oppressor denied any right to the black by arguing that they are not like the white. The very identity of the white is considered to be the norm and that which does not match to the norm are denied rights. The terms used by ‘they’ in the poem are the qualities that separate the blacks from the white. This difference of the black from the white is responsible for the accusation. Such difference is deliberately created and maintained by the white. This makes the white superior to the blacks. But in the poem, Walker has uncovered this politics of the white. Let us see what Walker has said in the poem: The poem consists of nine stanzas. The first seven stanzas present the accusation made by the oppressor. In stanza eight, the oppressor gives money to raise an army to the oppressed in order that they kill each other. But in the last stanza, Walker presents the dramatic change and shows how the oppressed are equipped with the same ‘money’ given by the oppressor and are ready to fight for themselves. Thus Walker has not only refuted and denied those charges but also warned the oppressor to stop doing the same in future. Thus the poem begins with the imposition of an identity on the oppressed and ends with the assertion of the self identity by the

256 oppressed. The poem thus shows that the negative image of the oppressed as ‘savage’, ‘immoral’ has been deliberately framed by the oppressor. In this formation of the image language plays a very crucial role in that deliberately a binary opposition (as civilized / savage, moral / immoral, etc.) has been created. Such image formation creates an inferiority complex in the oppressed which leads to their acceptance of the oppressor as superior. However, by changing the scenario at the end of the poem, Walker shows that the blacks have stopped accepting the image created by the white and are themselves capable of creating their own identity.

16.5 Key to Check Your Progress: 1. Because they have treated the oppressor in a good manner 2. Minimal clothing 3. That they eat too much and have taken up too land 4. That the basic fault with the oppressed is their existence itself 5. To raise an army to kill themselves 6. Their inferior backwardness 7. They wait for the next insulting word from the oppressor

16.6 Exercises A) Answer the following questions in one to two sentences each: 1. Who are ‘they’ and ‘we’ in the poem? 2. What are the charges against the ‘we’ by ‘they’? 3. What happens to the children and villages of ‘we’? 4. What advice do ‘they’ give to ‘we’? 5. Do the ‘we’ accept the charges labeled against them? B) Answer the following question in 2-3 sentences each: 1. How does the narrator refute the charges of ‘savages’ labeled against ‘we’? 2. How does the narrator communicate disapproval of the charges labeled against ‘we’?

257 3. How according to ‘they’, the ‘we’ have exploited the land? 4. What remedy do ‘they’ propose for the ‘faulty’ existence of ‘we’? 5. Why does the narrator say ‘we wait for the next insulting word’? C) Write Short notes on the followings: 1. Theme of Racial Discrimination in the poem 2. Encounter between the ‘we’ and ‘they’ 3. Language of politics JJJ

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