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Undergraduate Course
CORE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ENGLISH FLUENCY-II
SLM-1 (Unit 1-5)
Table of Contents
Page No.
o Unit 1: In the University Nalini Prabhakar 01-9
o Unit 2: In the Domestic Sphere Dr. Neeta Gupta 10-25
o Unit 3: In Public Places II Deb Dulal Halder 26-39
o Unit 4: In the State II Section 1 Nalini Prabhakar 40-42
Section 2 Deb Dulal Halder 43-48
o Unit 5: Interface with Technology-II Dr. Seema Suri 49-66
SCHOOL OF OPEN LEARNING UNIVERSITY OF DELHI
5, Cavalry Lane, Delhi-110007
1
Unit 1
IN THE UNIVERSITY
Nalini Prabhakar
1.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This lesson will enable you to:
• Understand the importance of arguments in Academic writing and Debates
• Learn how to provide arguments to support your views using facts and
textual evidence
• Understand the difference between good and bad arguments by analyzing
texts suggested for your reading.
1.2 INTRODUCTION
Academic writing is writing produced by students and scholars as part of their academic
work. This includes essays, term papers, dissertations, thesis, etc. where topics/thesis
statements are critically analyzed with facts and evidences gathered from various sources.
These facts and evidences form the basis of the argument in support of the topic. We shall
deal with academic writing in detail in Unit 4 (In the State) of this SLM. In this lesson we
shall limit ourselves to the “argument” aspect of academic writing and also of debate.
The term “argument” in common parlance is used to denote an exchange of opposite
views often in a heated manner. But in the present context of academic writing and
debate, this word has a different meaning. Here, we use “argument” to mean, a reason or
set of reasons given to support/refute a statement, an idea, a claim, or an opinion.
1.2.1 Argument in Academic Writing
In an argumentative essay, a student is expected to thoroughly research a given topic by
collecting and evaluating facts and textual evidences from various sources and establish a
position on the topic. The essay must present arguments from both sides on the issue
before arriving at any conclusion. The progression of arguments should be methodical
and persuasive. All sources referred to should be acknowledged by proper citations.
2
Citing sources, MLA Format
MLA FORMAT
Format Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication, Publisher,
Publication Date.
Anderson, Benedict. Imagined communities: Reflections on the origins and
spread of nationalism. London, Verso,1983
MLA FORMAT:If you are citing from one part of the book (chapter, essay, article),
then you should write the title of the same within quotes(‘‘ ’’ ), before the title of
the book.
Format Last Name, First Name. “Chapter title”, Title of Book. City of
Publication, Publisher, Publication Date.
Example Anderson, Benedict.“The Origins of National Consciousness”, Imagined
communities: Reflections on the origins and spread of nationalism.
London, Verso,1983
Note:In pen and paper examination where you cannot italicize, underline the title of
the book.
1.2.2 Argument in Debate
A debate is oral in nature. The function of argument remains the same as in academic
writing but in this case, it is spoken. Debates occur in public meetings, academic
institutions, legislative assemblies, TV channels, etc. Since debate is oral and a direct
appeal is made to an audience, the elements of emotional appeal, the manner of
presenting the argument, the credentials of the person making the argument also come
into play.
1.2.3 Basic structure of an argument
The purpose ofan argument, whether in academic writing or in a debate is to convince
others and win them over to your point of view on the issue in question. This requires
logical progression of arguments. Each argument should contribute towards making your
claim/position stronger. You can use this basic structure for preparing a paper/essay or
debate.
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1. Introduction: Begin by clearlystating your position. In a debate this would also
mean whether you are For or Against the topic . You must explain the topic and
provide a background or context for the same.
2. Provide arguments to support your position: Here you can use facts and other
textual evidences that you have collected from various sources.
Note: Citations for sources are essential in academic writing. In oral debates you can
simply mention the source in the course of your arguments.
3. Provide major arguments used against the position you have taken.
4. Explain why these arguments are not valid with reasons and evidence
5. Conclusion: Reaffirm your position on the topic.
In oral debates, especially in the introduction you must think of ways and means to garner
the attention of the audience. Your presentation should be persuasive and forceful without
being aggressive. You can also add a little humor by way of anecdotes to make the debate
more interesting.
1.2.4 Differences between academic writing and debate
We have already noted some of the differences earlier mainly pertaining to the mode of
delivery- one is written and is formal in style; the other is oral, less formal and gives the
speaker a good amount of freedom in the presentation style. You must have noticed this
in classroom – Two teachers explaining the same idea using the same content, you may
find one teacher boring and the other interesting. This has a lot to do with the style of
presentation. The article in Kafila suggested for your reading is good example of
academic/formal writing. Refer to Question no.2 in the Exercises section of this unit for
an example of debate.
1.3 LET US NOW TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE TWO TEXTS THAT
HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED FOR YOUR READING.
“Sisters” by Saleem Peeradina is a poem which presents oral arguments between a
daughter and a father. This poem will make you understand all that is undesirable in an
argument;in short, what an argument should not be.
The second text is an article written by Lawrence Liangto understand the implications of
the judgement pronounced by Justice Endlaw in the DU copyright case. This provides a
classic example of how opposing arguments should be resolved. You will note that the
judge has ruled against the Petitioners (The Publishers). After hearing arguments on both
sides, he did not find the arguments valid under the law of the land and used a different
point in law to rule in favor of the Respondents (Delhi University).
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1.3.1 Sisters
Suggested Reading: Saleem Peeradina’s “Sisters”
One, not quite ten
but ahead of the other, younger
whose five plus will never catch up
with the big one’s lead
no matter how good she acts,
or how hard she cheats.
Like any disadvantaged species
she has turned the handicap
in her favor: she’s bolder,
sneakier, sweeter than honey,
obeyer of commands, underminer of rules,
producer of tears, yeller, complete
Turnaround. The older gets
the tough end of it. Most times
blames end up in her sullen face.
Fighting back, she argues, attacks
me for taking the wrong side.
I sweet-talk her the way all parents
At all times have tried explaining
to the elder child. Living up
to her inheritance, she blazes back
at my moralizing. On bad days
I shout her down, immediately
regretting my words.
But even as she retreats
into a simmering silence, she stands her ground
knowing me to be unfair. Secretly,
I rejoice at the lesson never intended
but so well learnt: how to overcome
fathers, real and imaginary.
5
The poem “Sisters” is about two sisters, aged 5 and 10and the role of the father in
resolving disputes between them. This poem is a classic example of all that is
undesirable in an ‘argument’, in short what an ‘argument’ should not be. The
younger daughter uses her age to gain sympathy in disputes. The father instead of
hearing both sides in an unbiased manner, invariably takes the younger one’s side
and explains to the elder one why she should let the younger one have her way.
The argument offered is probably the usual one in such situations, how because of
being older by a few years,the elder sister should be more considerate and
accommodating. At ‘not yet ten’ , this is a heavy burden on the elder one. The
argument offered by the father is a bad argument for two reasons:1.because it is not
based on facts 2. without meaning to, he is teaching her to back out of a situation
even when she is not wrong.
On other occasions, the father when in a bad mood shouts at the elder one to
silence her. This is even worse than the earlier occasion. People in positions of
authority often try this method in arguments to silence others. When they are
criticized and cannot defend themselves they use force, verbal/physical to silence
critics.
But what is interesting is the elder one’s response in both these instances. In the
first instance, she fights back and continues to argue with her father to establish her
innocence. In the second instance although she is silenced, her silence is not the
submissive kind but the ‘simmering kind’. She transforms her silence into an act of
resistance against the unjust attitude of her father. The father in this poem is not
angry at this show of resistance but is instead happy in the knowledge that his
daughter cannot be subdued by any ‘Father Figure’ real or imaginary. As she
asserts herself through her silence, the father is secretly happy that she is learning
to resist authority but does not choose to relinquish his position of authority vis-à-
vis his daughter .
Activity-1:
Imagine you are the elder sister. You lightly slapped your younger sister because…
Argue your case before your father giving strong reasons for your action.
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1.3.2 DU Copyright Case
Suggested Reading: The Radical Significance Of The DU Photocopy Case For
Global Copyright
The article titled “The Radical Significance of The DU Photocopy Case for Global
Copyright” discusses the impact of the decision in the photocopying case on
interpretation of intellectual property rights.
The main issue before the court was “Whether photocopying of academic writing
amounts to infringement of copyright?”. The article presents a background to this
issue by using textual evidence and citing international agreements on IPR such as
TRIPS and the Berne Convention. The article also draws on American
jurisprudence to preface the argument of the petitioners.
The petitioner’s broad argument centered around a system of balance. They argued
that the court, while acting in public interest, must also protect the rights of the
authors. They claimed that since the nation can define an exception to the right of
copyright to indulge free use, the extent of the exception should be discussed and
photocopying may be allowed within that limit, (for example; Allowing a certain
percentage of a book to be photocopied, or royalty to be paid for photocopying).
The publishers argued that students may not buy books anymore and the photocopy
economy will start competing with that of the original work.
The defendants argued that the amount photocopied was very less (8-10%) and
thus it cannot be a violation of copyright.
Justice Endlaw however focused on the question of law and not the extent of
exception. He writes that Copyright is a statutory right and not a natural right.
Since the right of copyright is given by laws, any exception mentioned in the law
also has to be seen as part of the right. Which means that, a law which creates a
right, also limits it. He says that if the legislation has created a law and limited it, it
must have some reason behind it, which must be respected.
Indian legislation he says, has an exception for reproduction of copyrighted work
for educational purposes. The assumption is that this exception has a justified
purpose and does not affect the author’s rights. He concluded by saying that if an
author has a complaint, s/he should approach the legislators and try to change the
law. Otherwise, they must accept the limitation put in a law which grants the right.
7
Check your progress
1. What was the issue before the court?
2. What were the two main arguments made by the Publishers?
3. What was the counter-argument made by DU?
4. Did the judge find the arguments forwarded valid?
5. On what grounds did the Judge dismiss the petition?
Activity-2
Students have petitioned the court against conducting Online exams during Covid
pandemic. Write at least three arguments in favour of the petition , and two
counter -arguments against the petition.
1.4 SUMMING UP
In this lesson we have learnt that in an argument ,if we wish to convince others of
our position, we must:
• state our claim/opinion clearly.
• explain it.
• provide arguments in favour using facts and evidence
• state arguments of the opposing view and say why we disagree.
• conclude by reaffirming our opinion.
1.5 EXERCISES
1.5.1 Read the passage given below and answer the following questions
“In my opinion using English as a medium of instruction is an unsound
policy for morethan one reason. First of all, educationists tell us that
students learn much faster and that they acquire much deeper knowledge
of the subject if they are taught through the mother tongue. Then, the use
of English as a medium inhibits original thinking. Moreover, those
students who attend English medium schools tend to be cut off from the
realities of life. Lastly advanced countries like Japan, Germany, France
and Italy all impart education to their children in their own language.
It is argued that we don’t have good textbooks in Hindi and other Indian
languages. There is some truth in this. But I think that if we do not have
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good textbooks, we must produce them. We should also translate
standard English textbooks into Hindi and Indian languages.
The switch-over from English to Indian languages will help release the creative
energiesof our youth and they will progress faster.
(a) What is the main point the writer wants to establish?
(b) Does he produce some evidence to support his point? In which sentences?
(c) Which paragraph gives the other side of the argument?
(d) How does the writer conclude his argument?
(e) Do you think you can add any other argument to the passage?”
From: Sood,S.C, et al., editors.Developing Language Skills-2.Delhi: Doaba House, 1992.
pp.112-113
1.5.2 Debate
Write two arguments, for and against, for each of the following topics. The first
one has been done for you, do the rest using the same pattern.
1. Topic : Should street food be banned?
Introduction: No, Street food should not be banned.Street foodthelas are an integral part
of the landscape of our city. I wonder if there is a single person here who is a stranger to
street food. We love our golgappa’s and chaatpapdi!
Arguments to support your position: That however is not the reason why I oppose
banning street food. 1. Unemployment as you are aware is a serious problem inIndia .
Street food provides employment to a large number of people and provides them a
dignified way of earning their livelihood. 2. Many underprivileged people, especially
daily wage workers and workers in the unorganized sector are dependent on street food
for their food requirement. Street food is cheap and affordable.
Arguments against your position: Some of you may argue that 1. Street food is
unhygienic and is a cause for infections of various kinds 2. They occupy the footpaths
and also parts of the road , thereby causing inconvenience to others.
Conclusion:I agree that you have a point there, but these problems you are referring to,
are simple problems, which can be set right if authorities put their mind to it. The civic
authority should ensure hygiene by laying down guidelines and ensure strict adherence. It
should designate separate spaces , vending zones to avoid congestion in residential areas.
9
Right to livelihood is a fundamental right of every citizen of this country and the same
should be safeguarded.
1. Democracy in India- success or failure?
2. Social networking sites- boon or bane?
3. Money spent on space exploration should be used to reduce poverty on earth.
1.5.3 Put the following sources in a proper citation format. Refer to the Section 2.1.
in this lesson.
a. Book title:Marxism and Literature
Author: Raymond Williams
Year of Publication: 1977
Name of Publisher: Oxford University Press
Place: London
b. Book title: July’s People
Author: Nadine Gordimer
Year of Publication: 1981
Name of Publisher: Penguin Books
Place: New York
c. Book title: Devlok
Chapter title : Vedic Gods and Goddesses
Author :DevduttPattanaik
Year of Publication : 2017
Name of Publisher : Penguin Books
Place : Gurgaon
d. Book title : A History of the Secret Societies
Chapter title : The Path of the Sufi
Author :ArkonDaraul
Year of Publication : 2002
Name of Publisher : Hermes Inc.
Place : Kolkata
Suggested Readings
• Peeradina, Saleem. “Sisters”, Group Portrait. Madras: OUP. pp. 21-22.
• https://kafila.online/2016/09/20/the-radical-significance-of-the-du-photocopy-
case-for-global-copyright/
10
Unit 2
IN THE DOMESTIC SPHERE
Dr. Neeta Gupta
2.1 INTRODUCTION
Communicating with people is a daily requirement for all of us. We communicate with
family members, with friends, neighbours, co-workers and so many others. What comes
naturally and is also the easiest is of course face to face communication. If that is not
possible we just pick up a phone to talk to the person we need to communicate with.
Writing letters however, is another way of communicating. In today’s age of e-mails,
chats and blogs, it may be difficult for you to believe that letter writing used to be an art
that people in the 18th and 19th centuries worked hard to perfect. For today’s young
people it may even be an unfamiliar thing because their usual mode of communication is
mostly through the electronic medium. A handwritten letter however, can never be
replaced by these modern means of communication. A personal letter carries with itself
the individuality, the feel, the personality of the letter-writer which is what makes it
special.
2.2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this Unit we are going to look at two different types of writing namely epistolary
writing and descriptive or expository writing. After going through this Unit you will be
able to
• Understand what is Epistolary writing
• Understand the format of an Informal letter
• Know the points to be kept in mind for writing a good, interesting and effective
informal letter
• Write an Informal letter
• Understand what is descriptive writing
• Write a descriptive piece
2.3 EPISTOLARY WRITING
The name ‘epistolary’ comes from ‘epistle’ which means a letter. In epistolary writing
these letters are personal and are written in an informal style and when a series of such
letters are put together they create a single literary work which may be a novel like
Richardson’s Pamela or Alice Walker’s The Colour Purple, or a play like A R Gurney’s
Love Letters which was later recreated by Javed Siddiqui as Tumhari Amrita in Hindi for
the Indian audience/readers. In today’s modern times epistolary writing has come to
include other means of communication such as e-mails, chats, blogs, diary entries, journal
entries newspaper articles etc. Whenever a story is told using all or some of these
documents it is known as epistolary writing. But originally it meant writing that contains
a series of letters. The content of these letters carries all the ideas the feelings and
concerns of the letter writer.
The two suggested readings for this Unit are both examples of epistolary writing. While
the three letters of Savitribai Phule to her husband Jyotirao Phule give us a glimpse into
11
the life of this radical and fiercely reformist couple from Pune in the nineteenth century,
Karen Payne’s book Between Ourselves: Letters Between Mothers and Daughters 1750-
1982, provides an interesting insight into the mother-daughter relationship through letters
exchanged between them. You can see how these personal letters become a powerful
means of connection between people and also a vehicle for propagation of ideas that they
hold close to their heart.
2.3.1 Points to remember
Letters between two people are very personal and carry within them the mark of the
person writing them which is evident in the writing style, the tone, the content. Some
people can write very long letters while some say it in a few words but every good letter
has some features in common.
• When we want to write letters to one another, the first thing we should do is to write
in a clear manner and have something definite to say. That is to say, if we are not able
to convey to others what we wish to say then we are wasting our opportunity and
another person’s time.
• When writing a personal letter we should imagine ourselves talking to the person. It is
like having a one way conversation.
• A letter should be written in a simple, straightforward and conversational style.
• Simplicity of style should go hand in hand with the ability to think clearly. If one’s
thoughts are confused or vague, language by itself cannot make them clear or precise.
• Since a letter is not just any piece of writing, it is a message from one person to
another, it should be personal in nature. The tone of the letter should be personal It
should bear the special touch of the writer and should not just convey some
information.
2.4 THE FRAME
Like in any piece of good writing content is very important so it is important here too. It
should be interesting, well organized, easily understandable and readable. In epistolary
writing however the frame for that content is equally important. The format of the letter
provides that frame which is governed by a few principles of letter writing as explained
below:
2.4.1 Informal or Friendly/Personal Letter
Informal and personal letters can be written to friends and relations. The tone of such
letters is friendly/intimate and the style is casual and conversational. It may read almost
as though you are talking to the person you are writing to. Such letters can touch on a
variety of subjects, but you should always be careful about your spellings, punctuation
and grammar. Remember also that letters should be written out neatly on a clean sheet of
paper.
Given below are the basic rules for writing an informal letter.
12
i. Your address: You begin by writing your address to which a reply to
your letter can be sent. This is written on the right hand side of the page.
Write only your street address in the first line and then the city, state and
code in the second line. As mentioned above, the most popular format of
writing informal letters begins on the right hand side of the page and then
moves towards the left. These days however beginning on the left hand
side and keeping the entire letter towards the left margin is also followed.
ii. Date: After writing your address, leave a line blank and then write the
date on which the letter was written. You may follow the format of writing
the month first followed by the date and then the year, for example,
January, 15, 2020. The other format is 15 January 2020.
iii. Greeting/Salutation: Between the date and the salutation you need to
leave a line blank. Then begin your salutation or greeting by addressing
the person you are writing to. Address the person as Dear (the name of the
person), My dear…… Put a comma after the salutation, for example, Dear
Amrita, . If you have begun your letter by writing your address in the right
hand corner then salutation should be written towards the left side of the
page and rest of the letter will also keep towards the left margin.
iv. Main text: This is the main body of the letter and begins in the next line
just after the salutation. The main text should be divided into short
paragraphs with a blank line between each paragraph.
v. Subscription/Closing: This indicates that the letter has ended. It comes in
the line just after the main text is over and usually ends with Sincerely,
Sincerely yours, Affectionately yours, Thank you etc. Only the first letter
of the closing begins with a capital letter.
vi. Signature: Your signature will come in the next line right after ‘Sincerely
yours.’ After having written out the letter, the format for it would look
somewhat like the samples provided below. In the first sample we have
followed the block format in which all of the writing is towards the left
margin. In sample 2 we have followed the second format in which we
begin the letter on the right hand side then move left and then write the
closing again towards the right.
13
Sample 1 : Block format (all the writing towards the left margin)
Your Address (Line 1)
Your Address (Line 2)
Date.
Dear _______,
Main Text Paragraph 1 ...……………………….......……………........…………....
…………………………………………….............………………………………….....
.................……………………....……….....................…………………………………
Main text paragraph 2 .….....………………....…......…………………………......
……………………………………....……………………………………………..........
............……………………....…………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Main text paragraph 3 …………………….......………………………………….....
....…………………………………....……………………………………………..........
............……………....……………………………………………………..……………
Closing (Sincerely),
Signature.
14
Sample 2 : Begins on the right hand side then moves left and then closes on the right.
Your Address (Line 1)
Your Address (Line 2)
Date.
Dear __________,
Main text paragraph 1 ……………………………..................……….......………
………………………………………....………………………...................................
..........……………………………………………………....…………………………
Main text paragraph 2 …….…………………..................……………………...........
………………………………………………………....………………………….......
.............…………………………………………………....………………………….
Main text paragraph 3 ………………………….................……………………........
………………………………………………....………………………………….......
.............………………………………………....……………………………………..
Closing (Sincerely),
Signature.
In friendly or informal letters the format shown in Sample 2 is followed more often than
usual, you may, however, use any of the two formats shown above.
2.4.2 Salutation and Subscription/Closing
The form of the subscription or closing should always be in keeping with the salutation or
greeting. Some examples are given below:
i. For family members
Salutation: My dear (Father, Mother, Uncle, sister etc.).
15
If the addressee is younger to you then address him/her by name such as My dear
Manju, Ravi etc.
Subscription : Yours affectionately
OR
Your loving son; Your affectionate son/daughter/brother/ nephew/ father etc.
ii. For Friends
Salutation: Dear Chirag; My dear Chirag
Subscription: Yours sincerely (This is suitable for any degree of friendship that is
well established ). Sincerely Yours
iii. For Acquaintances
Salutation: Dear Mr. Khanna or Dear Miss Aggarwal.
Subscription: Yours truly OR Yours faithfully
2.4.3 Some Other Ways to Begin and End Letters
There are many other ways of beginning and ending personal/informal letters. Given
below is a list of some of these beginnings and endings:
Ways to begin a letter
Thanks a lot for…
Thank you so much for …
Thank you so much for writing….
Sorry for….
It seems ages since I last wrote to you
It was good to hear from you
It was wonderful to hear from you
I hope you are all OK and that things are going well for you.
Ways to end a letter
look forward to …
We must meet up
Please write again soon
Looking forward to hearing from you
Do take care and write again
Give my regards to….
To indicate that the letter is coming to a close:
That’s all the news I have for you.
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Anyway, I shall finish now as I am running out of space.
Well, that’s all I have to tell you for the moment.
Signing off
Love
Take care and God bless
Love and best wishes
Lots of Love
2.5 SOME LETTERS FROM THE ‘DOMESTIC SPHERE’
In this Section we will be looking at some letters from the ‘domestic sphere,’ that is
between family members. Section 5.1 takes up the letters from Savitribai Phule to her
husband Jyotirao Phule. And Section 5.2 will deal with communication between mothers
and daughters particularly with reference to Karen Payne’s book Between Ourselves:
Letters Between Mothers and Daughters 1750-1982. The openings and endings of
Savitribai’s letters or of Helen Claes’s letter to her daughter excerpted from Karen
Payne’s collection are examples of a very personal style of writing. Because these are
personal letters you will notice that the style followed is casual and there is a sense of
intimacy and closeness in them.
2.5.1 Letters from Savitribai Phule to her husband Jyotiba Phule
Savitribai Phule is known as the first woman teacher and a pioneer of women’s
education in India. She along with her husband Jyotiba Phule worked tirelessly for the
upliftment and emancipation of the economically deprived and socially outcast segments
of the Indian society. The couple’s dream was to have a society that would be free from
all prejudices and where people would live in harmony with one another, where there
would be no discrimination based on caste and no one would go hungry. It would be a
society where there would be no bonded labour and everyone would live with dignity.
Savitribai Phule’s collection of letters to her husband give us a glimpse into the life of
this radically reformist couple. These letters were written to Jyotirao Phule also known as
Jyotiba, over a timespan of twenty years. They were originally written in Marathi but
have been translated into English. Three of her letters have been selected as Suggested
Reading and they together give us a fair idea of the closeness that the couple shared. They
were bound together not just by marriage but were committed to the same cause. This
comes through very clearly in these letters.
I shall summarize these letters for you but you can read these letter on the net by using
the link given below:
https://scroll.in/article/801848/to-jyotiba-from-savitribai-phule-these-arent-love-letters-
but-tell-you-what-love-is-all-about.
17
2.5.1.1 The First Letter
The first letter was written in October of the year 1856. Savitribai addresses her husband
lovingly as “My lord Jyotiba” and calls him “The Embodiment of Truth” (Savitribai
Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October, 1856). She then salutes him and begins her
letter. The first paragraph is all about family. First and foremost she informs her husband
that she has recovered from her illness and for that she gives credit to her brother who
worked tirelessly to restore her health. She promises to be back in Pune soon and asks
Jyotiba not to worry about her.
In rest of the letter Savitribai describes an exchange that she had with her brother. She
writes how he opposes her work with the untouchables and wants her and Jyotiba to stop
it. Savitri writes that her brother wants them both to follow the customs of their caste i.e.
live as the Brahmins want them to (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October,
1856).
Without getting angry with her brother Savitribai is able to explain to him what a great
work her husband is doing. She calls Jyotiba a “god-like man” who thinks that the
“Untouchables must learn and attain freedom. He confronts the Brahmans and fights with
them to ensure Teaching and Learning for the Untouchables because he believes that they
are human beings like other and they should live as dignified humans. For this they must
be educated,” (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October, 1856). She further
clarifies that she also teaches them for the same reason.
Savitribai’s letter reinforces her commitment to a shared cause and brings out the love
and reverence that she has for her husband. Recalling how Jyotiba had been honoured for
his work by the British Government and how much resentment it had caused for those
who opposed him, Savitribai reminds her brother that “[her] husband doesn’t merely
invoke God’s name or go on pilgrimages like others.” According to her he is “doing
God’s work” in the real sense and she emphasizes how much pride and joy she gets out of
assisting him (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October, 1856).
In the last paragraph Savitribai writes how her brother finally comes around and repents
for forgiveness. She ends her letter by boosting the morale of her husband and writes
“We shall overcome and success will be ours in the future. The future belongs to us”
(Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule, October, 1856).
She ends the letter by sending her “humble regards” and signs off as “Yours Savitri.”
2.5.1.2 The Second Letter
The second letter is dated 29 August 1868 and is written from Satara. It begins with the
same salutation as the previous one. It is about something that was considered taboo in
those times - an affair between a Brahmin boy and a girl from the Untouchable Mahar
Community. The girl is pregnant when the relationship is exposed. The village people get
to know about the affair. They are enraged and parade the couple through the village
18
“threatening to bump them off” (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule, August,
1868).).
Savitribai writes that this is when she had to step in and save the couple by pointing out
to the villagers the British law against such killings. The people back off and the grateful
couple falls at Savitribai’s feet. However, the villagers insist that the boy and the girl
leave the village. Savitribai ends the letter by telling Jyotiba that she is sending the
couple to him for safety. This time she signs off by just writing “Yours Savitri”.
In both letters summarized above you can see that the content tells us a lot about the
writer. They are not merely about mundane and routine matters. In both letters Savitribai
is writing about the cause that is close to her heart and that she shares with her husband.
We get to know about their reformist work, people’s objection and opposition to it and
also the persuasive and skillful manner in which Savitri argues and convinces her brother.
Both letters take up the issue of the upliftment of the downtrodden, the untouchables the
socially outcast. The first letter’s emphasis is on making education accessible to all and
doing away with the Brahmin’s monopoly of the same. They believe that only education
can help these people live with dignity. In the second letter Savitri bravely takes up the
cudgels to help the unfortunate inter-caste lovers who are facing the wrath of the
community. Through these letters we get a glimpse into the person Savitri. She is brave,
she is intelligent, she is committed and she is devoted to her husband. We also get to
know the social situation that prevailed in the times in which she was writing. Thus we
can see how even a personal letter can convey a great deal of information.
2.5.1.3 The Third Letter
The third letter is about a devastating famine and the work done by Savitribai and the
Satyashodhak volunteers.
The letter is well organized and carries a lot of details. In her introductory paragraph
Savitribai describes how the famine is affecting people. She writes about how people and
animals are dying because there is no food or fodder. She writes about how their hunger
is driving some of them to even selling their children. She then moves on to write about
the people who have come forward to help and names some of them. She includes bits of
dialogue and conversation wherever necessary and this is put within inverted commas.
The letter conveys the misery of the affected people as well as the frustration of those
who are trying to help them. She writes about how the moneylenders are exploiting the
situation and even the volunteers are being arrested on false charges. Savitri assures
Jyotiba of her support but wishes more people would come forward to help. In one line
she is able to convey how disturbed she is when she ends the letter by saying “I do not
want to write more”. (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. 20 April 1877).
The letter is given below for ready reference. Savitribai writes:
19
20 April, 1877
Otur, Junner
The Embodiment of Truth, My Lord Jyotiba,
Savitri salutes you!
The year 1876 has gone, but the famine has not – it stays in most horrendous forms here.
The people are dying. The animals are dying, falling on the ground. There is severe
scarcity of food. No fodder for animals. The people are forced to leave their villages.
Some are selling their children, their young girls, and leaving the villages. Rivers, brooks
and tanks have completely dried up – no water to drink. Trees are dying – no leaves on
trees. Barren land is cracked everywhere. The sun is scorching – blistering. The people
crying for food and water are falling on the ground to die. Some are eating poisonous
fruits, and drinking their own urine to quench their thirst. They cry for food and drink,
and then they die.
Our Satyashodhak volunteers have formed committees to provide food and other life-
saving material to the people in need. They have formed relief squads.
Brother Kondaj and his wife Umabai are taking good care of me. Otur’s Shastri,
Ganapati Sakharan, Dumbare Patil, and others are planning to visit you. It would be
better if you come from Satara to Otur and then go to Ahmednagar.
You may remember RB Krishnaji Pant and Laxman Shastri. They travelled with me to the
affected area and gave some monetary help to the victims.
The moneylenders are viciously exploiting the situation. Bad things are taking place as a
result of this famine. Riots are breaking out. The Collector heard of this and came to ease
the situation. He deployed the white police officers, and tried to bring the situation under
control. Fifty Satyasholdhaks were rounded up. The Collector invited me for a talk. I
asked the Collector why the good volunteers had been framed with false charges and
arrested without any rhyme or reason. I asked him to release them immediately. The
Collector was quite decent and unbiased. He shouted at the white soldiers, “Do the Patil
farmers rob? Set them free.” The Collector was moved by the people’s plights. He
immediately sent four bullock cartloads of (jowar) food.
You have started the benevolent and welfare work for the poor and the needy. I
also want to carry my share of the responsibility. I assure you I will always help
you. I wish the godly work will be helped by more people.
I do not want to write more.
Yours,
Savitri
[https://scroll.in/article/801848/to-jyotiba-from-savitribai-phule-these-arent-love-letters-
but-tell-you-what-love-is-all-about.]
You can see that the above letter is written in the format of an informal letter as explained
above. It is written in the first person, gives the date and the senders address and it has a
salutation and a subscription with the entire matter kept towards the left margin. As we
20
have seen with the previous two letters a good letter is not just about the format. It is
about the content and style too. Savitribai’s letter brings out the pain and suffering of the
people affected by the ongoing famine and at the same time it talks about the volunteer
work being undertaken and the difficulties being faced by the volunteers.
You can see how a letter can be descriptive and emotional depending on the subject
matter. It can also be reformist either directly or by implication as we have seen in the
previous two letters. Thus the topic on which you are writing will determine your content
and to write effectively you need to organize that content, have clarity of thought and
present it in simple language.
2.5.2 Letters Between Mothers and Daughters
The relationship between a mother and a daughter is very special. The two can share the
experiences of their lives, learn from one another, be each other’s biggest support if the
need arises and can understand each other’s situation like nobody else can. Mothers, who
are a generation older than their daughters, usually want their daughters to have all that
they aspire for, and also all that their own circumstances probably denied them. The need
for communication through letters between mothers and daughters arises in the event of
both being separated by distance. When modern means of communication did not exist,
when there were no telephones, no e-mails and no chat platforms, letters were the only
way they could communicate. Karen Payne’s book, Between Ourselves: Letters Between
Mothers and Daughters 1750-1962, listed as Suggested Reading in your syllabus, is a
compilation of just such letters, collected from various women, and covers a period of
over two centuries and is a fine example of epistolary writing.
Between Ourselves takes us into the lives of famous and ordinary women alike. So we
have letters from women like Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria, Sylvia Plath, Anne
Sexton, Helen Keller, Louisa M Alcott and also from ordinary women like teachers,
office workers, secretaries, housewives etc. The letters cover not only a wide span of time
(200 years) but also a wide range of topics as well. The book is divided into ‘Parts’ and
each Part deals with a particular aspect of women’s lives, how it affects them and shapes
their individuality. The detailed Table of Contents gives us a fairly clear idea of the range.
For example Part Two of the book called ‘Men in our Lives’ deals with the relationship
of these women with men. Thus we have letters that talk of friendship, marriage, divorce
even rape. Another Part of the book deals with ‘Having Children’ while yet another
focuses on their desire to break free from the shackles of society, be liberated, have
careers of their own and fulfil their aspirations and their dreams.
What is worth noting in these letters is the fact that most mothers, being aware that their
daughters have more choices available to them than they ever had, welcome the same. It
is interesting how in one letter after another, while there is apprehension about the future
there are also words of supportive advice from these mothers to their daughters who are
setting out into the world. Thus when Helen Claes’s daughter Christine, decides to move
to New York for employment, she has only words of encouragement for her. An ordinary
middle class woman herself, Helen is scared for her daughter but does not want to curb
her freedom. When she writes to her she stresses on her individuality, her ambitions and
her goals which she wants her to achieve. The letter is written in the month of October,
1974. Helen Claes writes thus:
21
October 1974
Dear Tina,
I've told several people of your proposed move and among them only Aunt
Dorothy gives her unvarnished blessings (I even read her your letter and she
thinks you're brave and wonderful). Others took the news with varying degrees of
horror with the [next-door neighbours] being the most disturbed. They feel you
should be so grateful that you have parents that were willing to send you to
college. That you should find some nice 'solid' boy from the 'engineering
department' who would be a serious and stabilizing influence on you. Well, that's
how it goes - you can't win 'em all! Dad, of course is worried (so am I) but you
are you and no matter where you go I'll never lose you (dead or alive). I'll fear for
your welfare at the same time envying your strength of purpose to endeavor to do
what you must. Your letter reminded me of my own about Chicago written so
many years ago; when my life was new and exciting. I hope with all my heart you
have the guts I lacked to keep the fragile flame flickering.
With love and happy hope,
Mom
[Excerpted from Payne, Karen ed. Between Ourselves: Letters Between Mothers
and Daughters. 1983 p. 6]
In Karen Payne’s book you will find innumerable such letters from mothers to their
daughters and also from daughters to their mothers. What is worth noting is the tone and
content of these letters where the tone is always loving and caring as one would expect in
any communication between parent and child, and in the case of a letter from a mother
the content is almost always full of encouragement and also advice. The closeness is
evident in the endearing ways in which some mothers address their daughters using their
nicknames or some loving phrases. Daughters too at times have nicknames for their
mothers so when signing off on a letter the mother uses this name which is another sign
of the bond they share.
Now let’s take a look at one letter which is from a daughter to her mother. This letter was
written by the famous poet Sylvia Plath to her mother Aurelia. Sylvia’s father was very
dominating and kept the upper hand in his marriage. Consequently her mother, though a
trained teacher, had to give up her dreams after marriage to take care of her home, her
husband and children. After her husband passed away, she took care that her children
were able to study and pursue their dreams and did her best to help them fulfil their
aspirations. It is evident from Sylvia’s letter how her mother became an inspiration for
her. The letter is dated 3 March 1956 and begins with Sylvia addressing her mother as
“Dearest Mother, ” and she signs off by writing “much, much love, Sivvy” (Karen
Payne, p.8). In her letter she talks about how much her mother’s letters mean to her and
how much she has admired her for “[her] work, [her] teaching, [her] strength “ and for
the fact that she worked hard to create a beautiful home for both her children and
provided the best education for them. Sylvia ends by writing how much she “love[s] and
revers[s]” all that her mother has done for them. (Karen Payne, pp.8-9).
There are many such letters in this compilation that bring forth the intimacy of a mother-
daughter relationship where the mothers’ love and care filters through their words of
encouragement and advice while the daughters reciprocate that love through various ways
22
sharing their hopes, their success, even their troubles. At times they share their happiness
like Louisa M. Alcott who hides her first novel in her mother’s stocking and informs her
about it in a letter dated 25 December 1854. She begins it with “Dear Mother” and signs
off with a very personal touch as “I am ever your loving daughter Luoy” (Karen Payne, p.
114). At other times a daughter shares her pain as Florence Nightingale does when she
writes on March 7, 1862, to her mother Fanny after losing her close friend Sidney Herbert
and expresses the regret she now feels at having chosen not to marry. (Karen Payne,
p.107).
The range of topics is vast and the style of writing varies from person to person. Through
these letters the book gives us insights into the personal lives of these mothers and
daughters. The letters are all informal, personal, intimate and give us a very good idea of
the many different ways a personal letter can be written. In all these letters the format
followed is that of an informal letter but it is the content, the tone and the style of the
letters that creates variety and takes us close to the person writing the letter as well as the
person receiving it.
2.6 ACTIVITY
Now that you have are familiar with the format of an informal letter and have seen
examples of the same, try and attempt the activities give below. The topics provided all
fall in the category of informal letters. You shall therefore follow the format for an
informal letter in all of these. The tone will convey a sense of closeness and will remain
conversational. Guidelines have been provided for the first three which you can follow
for writing these letters. With the help of these guidelines try and attempt writing these
letters on your own.
Activity 1: Imagine you have taken admission in a college that is in a city far from home.
You are staying in a rented accommodation and are sharing it with three more students.
Write a letter to you mother describing your experience.
Guidelines: Make your letter convey the closeness that you share with your mother while
you make it interesting and descriptive as well. You can address her as ‘Dear Mom …’ or
‘Dear Mother….’ You can divide the content of the letter in two or three paragraphs
where you can write a little bit about the new city, something about the place where you
are staying. Include some details of the three students you are sharing the accommodation
with. If you like you can write about any difficulties you faced and also that you are
feeling a little homesick. Before signing off you can end the letter by saying how you
cannot wait to come home in the holidays. And end the letter by signing off with ‘Your
loving son/daughter….’ or ‘Lovingly….’ or ‘Lots of love….’ or any other suitable
endearment that you may want to use. Lastly write your name.
Activity 2 : Write a short letter to thank an aunt for a birthday present.
Guidelines: This letter shall be written in an informal style and with a tone that conveys
closeness as well as respect. You can begin with ‘My dear Aunty______’ and end with
“with much love________” or “Affectionately yours________”. In the main text you can
express your happiness at receiving a lovely birthday present from her. You may even
add that you had always wanted such a thing.
23
Activity 3: Congratulate a cousin who has performed extremely well in his/her final
exams.
Guidelines: This letter shall be written in an informal format. You may begin with an
informal address such as ‘My dear______’ or ‘Dear_______’ and end with “Love and
best wishes_______’ or ‘With love______’ or ‘with good wishes_______’ In the main
text of the letter you may express your happiness at the good news and convey your best
wishes for the future.
Activity 4: You are staying at a hostel and are in need of some advice regarding a friend
who has been fighting with you. Write a letter to your mother outlining the problem and
seeking her advice.
Activity 5: You are working in another city and your brother has just confided in you and
told you about his wish to pursue a career in You-Tubing. He has asked you to tell your
parents about it. Write a letter to your mother informing her about the issue, requesting
her to take a positive view and ask her to gently tell your father too.
2.7 DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
This Section will acquaint you with Descriptive Writing. As is obvious from the term
itself Descriptive Writing deals with descriptions These descriptions can be of people you
know or have met, places you have visited or things that you see around you. What you
have to remember is that descriptive writing includes a lot of details. It uses a lot of
adjectives and also figurative language like similes, metaphors personifications etc. For
example if you have to write about a rose you cannot just say that rose is a flower. In a
descriptive paragraph about a rose you will include many details such as :
➢ what kind of plant it grows on,
➢ in which season it flowers,
➢ how many different colours it can be found in,
➢ what a beautiful fragrance it has,
➢ how it is considered a symbol of beauty,
➢ how it is used in the perfume industry and also for medical purposes
The more details you add the more interesting your description would be. In writing these
details you will have to use language that makes the description interesting. For example
if you are talking about its fragrance you can include an adjective that would describe it.
Instead of writing that the rose flower is fragrant you can write that the rose flower has a
sweet fragrance. The detail is sensory and the reader can immediately recognize the smell
from this detail. Similarly when you are writing about its colours rather than simply
saying that the rose flower comes in many colours you can write that the rose flower
comes in a variety of vibrant colours such as red, yellow, orange, peach white and so on.
2.7.1 Techniques for Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing is like creating a picture in words. No picture is complete without
details. Use as many details as you can to make the picture come alive. While describing
24
the person, place or object, you can also write how you feel about the same. Include some
emotion in your description too. You can express whether something appealed to you or
fascinated you and so on. Some techniques listed below may be helpful:
• Use words that are descriptive. For example you can use adjectives or add a sensory
detail to the description, for example:
The girl with the golden brown hair wore a stunning dark red dress with matching
shoes.
• If you are describing an action you can use adverbs to add detail to the action words
that you are using, for example:
The little kitten peered around timidly before lapping up the milk hungrily from its
bowl.
• You can use figures of speech such as similes and metaphors to enhance your
descriptions.
Even amidst all the noise in the class the teacher looked as cool as a cucumber.
(simile)
Her hands were as cold as ice when he touched them. (simile)
His plan was a house of cards and soon fell apart. (metaphor)
No one could reach him in his sea of sadness. (metaphor)
• You can use other figures of speech too to make your descriptions interesting such as
personification:
The trees sighed as the wind blew past them. (personification)
The sun smiled at him from above. (personification)
• While describing an experience you can make use of sensory words that depict your
emotions and how you felt at that time. You can describe how it looked, how it
smelled, sounded, tasted, or felt on touch. Words related to the five senses can be
chosen appropriately to describe that experience. For example if you need to describe
something that you ate you can begin by first describing how it looked, then go on to
how it smelled, how it felt on touching and finally to how it tasted.
A bowl of tomato soup can be described thus :
The bowl of bright red tomato soup was steaming hot and its wonderful aroma
matched its equally delicious taste.
A dip in the lake can be written as :
The calm blue water of the lake was ice cold and sent a shiver down his spine as
he dived in.
As is clear from the points listed above, descriptions can be made vivid and interesting by
inclusion of details and use of variety in the language used. Clarity of thought and
organization of ideas must go hand in hand with it. A vivid word picture can thus be
created for anything that you need to or choose to describe.
Suppose you visited the city of Chandigarh and are asked to describe it. How would you
go about it? One way of doing it is given in the short description included below:
25
Chandigarh is a modern town with wide roads and a magnificent lake formed by
building a dam across a hill-stream. The lake is so attractive that one can spend
hours enjoying oneself, boating, swimming or just lazing around in the green
grass all around it. In addition, the Rose Garden in the city with its infinite variety
of roses and its riot of colours, is a treat for the eyes. The Rock Garden on the
other hand makes one marvel at the ingenuity of man and how beautiful
sculptures can be made out of recycled things.
Although Chandigarh is a fairly newly developed town, the countryside around it
has not been spoiled so that there are many pleasant walks with which a visitor
can fill his evenings. Such a walk, with dust settling over the landscape and the
hills standing guard against the lighter evening sky can be a relaxing experience.
There are a number of reasonably priced small hotels where one can stay.
Delicious Punjabi food is readily available in the markets if hunger strikes while
one is shopping. Within reasonable distance of Chandigarh there are many
interesting places that are worth a visit such as the Mughal Gardens at Pinjore.
With long walks in the countryside and swims in the lake one can return fit as a
fiddle from this beautiful and modern city.
2.7.2 Activity
• Describe a person who has been an inspiration for you.
• Describe an event that took place in your neighbourhood.
• Describe a place that you have recently visited
• Describe a new phone that you have just bought for yourself.
References
• Mani, Braj Ranjan and Pamela Sardar, editors. A Forgotten Liberator, The Life
and Struggle of Savitrabai Phule. New Delhi, Mountain Peak, 2008.
• Payne, Karen, ed. Between Ourselves: Letters Between Mothers and Daughters
1750-1982. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 1983
• https://scroll.in/article/801848/to-jyotiba-from-savitribai-phule-these-arent-love-
letters-but-tell-you-what-love-is-all-about.
26
Unit 3
IN PUBLIC PLACES II
Deb Dulal Halder
3.1 INTRODUCTION
The essence of human civilization lies in the distinction and colours of the conversations
that we involve ourselves in, for various purposes. You already know that human
communication is what makes us very different from other animals and also that we
communicate all the time through our language, body language such as postures,
gestures, eye contacts, facial expressions, etc. In this unit, we will explore conversations
– small conversations that we hear all around us. We will look at some of the essential
features of conversations and will figure out how conversations can be made effective.
Moreover, we will focus on how to put these conversations as dialogues in writing. Apart
from conversations, we will also explore the idea of a narrative and how in a narrative,
transitions and connectives have a great role to play in binding the writing. This lesson is
divided into two sections – first section deals with Conversations and the second section
deals with Narrative.
3.2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this lesson, we will learn about :
• Conversations – Everyday conversations that happen all around us
• Writing Dialogues – how to write dialogues
• Narrative – what is a narrative and some essential ways of writing a narrative
• Transitions – use of transitions in writing
3.3 CONVERSATIONS
Human beings usually tend to love socializing and having conversations with people
around them. Even with strangers, we often get into conversations. For example, while
travelling long distance by trains, we strike conversations with fellow passengers to kill
time. We engage in conversations for the sake of our work, for our personal needs, for
shopping, for other financial transactions, for getting our voices heard, for killing time
and for various other innumerable reasons. While conversing we follow certain norms –
linguistic, social, cultural – which make conversations effective.
Usually when we get into conversation in public places, we need to be very conscious of
the words we use, the expressions that we match with the words and the gestures and
postures. Public place demands certain decorum and it should be followed in
conversations to make it effective as well as acceptable.
Example of Some Conversations in Public Places:
Meeting a Fellow Student for the First time in the College
Sourav: Hi, I’m Sourav.
Rahul: Hello, I’m Rahul.
27
Sourav: Haven’t seen you earlier. Are you a new student?
Rahul: Yes, it’s my first day today.
Sourav: Why didn’t you come for classes earlier?
Rahul: I was not in Delhi. Had to visit my grandfather. He wasn’t keeping well. I
left immediately after taking admission.
Sourav: Oh! Okay. How is he now?
Rahul: Good! He has recovered and is feeling a lot better.
Sourav: Great. Nearly a month has passed that classes have begun. Anyways, I’ll
introduce you to the rest of the class.
Rahul: Thank you very much. …
Dialogue between two friends about decision to go for a movie
(Two friends, Mayur and Anmol, meet in college canteen.)
Mayur: Hi Anmol. Through with your classes?
Anmol: No, yaar. One more class after a gap of two periods.
Mayur: I am thinking of going for a movie.
Anmol: I would have loved to join you, but you know I don’t want to miss my
classes.
(Anmol’s Phone beeps and he takes out his phone to see the msg.)
Good news dear, our class got cancelled as the teacher is on leave. Let us
go for the movie.
Which movie you wanna watch?
Mayur: You decide.
(Anmol opens Bookmyshow app in his mobile and starts looking at it.)
Mayur: Why not go for Bahubali 2?
Anmol: Let me see if tickets are available.
(Anmol looks intently at his mobile trying to book tickets. Mayur too fixes
his eyes on Anmol’s mobile.)
Tickets are available, but they are in the second row from front. What do
you say? Should I book?
Mayur: Do it yaar, it doesn’t matter.
(Anmol books the tickets)
Anmol: Done. Now let us go and grab a quick bite and proceed towards Metro.
Mayur: Chal, yaar.
(They both proceed towards the Canteen Food counter)
The above two examples of the conversations probably have given you some notion of
how we converse in public places. We need to converse in public places for numerous
28
purposes. Some such conversations are noted down, though it is advised that you follow
people’s conversations in public places more attentively from now on to learn the norms,
etiquettes, language, body language of people while communicating. Such observations
will make you an effective communicator in the public place and will prepare you for
life, both personal and professional.
Suggested Readings
A 12-year-old Syrian refugee’s heartbreaking letter to the King of Sweden
Ahmed, a twelve year old Syrian refugee, in a Swedish School, narrates to his school
Counselor, Pooja Sharafi about the terrible experience of how his happy life in Syria with
his parents and brother came to an end due to war and how they had to undergo the
painful journey to seek asylum in Sweden. Ahmed in the short letter to King Gustav talks
about the traumatic experience in the following words –
“Hey King Gustav! My name is Ahmed and I am 12 years old. I have a mother, a father
and a brother. We have always lived in a beautiful house filled with joy in Aleppo, Syria.
My dad had a large factory and shops for children's clothing. He bought many gifts and
toys for us. My parents had cars and we lived happily until the war started with the sound
of missiles, shooting and terror. Dad's factory burned down, nothing is left of it and the
joy that we experienced began to cease. I could not go to school anymore because my
teacher was killed by a shot right before our eyes … I cannot forget those seconds. They
were my worst moments.”
Based on the 12-year-old Ahmed, the Syrian refugee boy and his school counselor Pooja
Sharafi, let us construct an imaginary conversation of their first encounter.
(Ahmed approaches the Counsellor’s Cabin in the far-end of the school building. He
pushes the door of the Cabin, and the following conversation between Ahmed and the
school counsellor, Pooja Sharafi follows.)
Ahmed: Hello, Ma’am!
Pooja (enthusiastically): Hello. How are you doing?
Ahmed (smiling): Good.
Pooja: What’s your name?
Ahmed: Ahmed.
Pooja: New to School?
Ahmed: Yes. I came from Syria. I had to leave Syria because of war.
Pooja: So sorry for that. Are you liking it here?
Ahmed (with a sad face): Not so much. In Syria, it was much better. We had all we
wanted, and life was happier.
Pooja: I see. So, what brings you to my office?
29
Ahmed: I want to write a letter to King Gustav about what I and my family faced.
Pooja: Why do you want to do so?
Ahmed: I want the King to know the pains we went through.
Pooja: A very good idea. Have you already written the letter?
Ahmed: No, I haven’t. I was thinking to write, but I don’t know if it will reach him.
Pooja: It definitely will. You write and give it to me.
Ahmed: Thank you. I will.
Pooja: Next time you come to see me; you bring the letter with you.
Ahmed: Yes, Ma’am. Thanks. Bye.
Pooja: Welcome, Ahmed. Take care.
Ahmed. You too.
The above conversation between Ahmed and the school counsellor Pooja is imaginary –
you can imagine such conversations and can write down the dialogues between the
characters. What you need to do is to follow certain norms of conversations.
Like all kinds of writing, there are three parts of any conversation – the introduction – the
body and the conclusion. In case of a conversation or a dialogue, the three parts are –
(i) Welcoming the person whom one is conversing with – one can start with a
“Hi” or “hello” or “Namaskar” or any such term which can be a conversation
starter. The next step in this also is to ask how one is doing and asking each
other’s name so as to get acquainted with each other (if the two people do not
know each other). The starting of the conversation is very important as it
decides where the conversation will lead to.
(ii) The body of the conversation where one talks about the main idea on which
the conversation is taking place or the main theme of the conversation.
(iii) Conversation should always be closed with thanking as well as the usual
norms of asking to take care and saying “bye” or “goodbye” or promising to
meet soon.
If you look at the conversations (examples discussed above), you will notice that the three
sections are well marked out.
Things to keep in mind while writing Dialogues:
• In any conversation, a person does not speak for a long time; but speaks
for a short while and then gives the other people a chance to speak. So, it
is to be kept in mind to write short sentences. Dialogue writing should be
similar to the way you speak.
• Dialogues must have three distinct parts - Welcoming – Main
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conversation - saying Goodbye. Keep that in mind while writing
dialogues.
• Dialogues should be conversational in tone, therefore should follow the
characteristics of oral communication. While writing dialogues keep in mind
that you are speaking and not writing.
• Always remember the context or the setting in which the dialogue is
happening. The setting of the dialogue matters as two people
conversing in a formal atmosphere would converse in a very different
way than in a casual meeting. So, the setting would decide what kind of
a conversation it would be. It is better to write in brief the setting of the
dialogue before writing the conversation.
Activity
Based on the norms that we have just talked about, attempt to do the following activity.
Suppose you are appearing for a job interview for a post of HR trainee. You enter the
room of HR Manager of ABC Company. The starting conversation between you and HR
Manager is provided. Based on the starting conversation, complete the interview by
writing dialogues.
Me: (Opening the door of the Interview room): Sir, May I come in?
HR Manager: Yes. Come in.
Me: Good Morning, Sir. I am Raghav Bansal.
HR Manager: Good morning, Raghav. Please have a seat.
Me: Thank you Sir. (You sit straight and make yourself comfortable)
HR Manager: Tell me more about yourself.
Me: ….
3.4 NARRATIVE
When one is narrating, one is primarily telling a story. Narration is not merely
description; it is different from descriptive writing; in the sense that a narrative is written
from a definite point of view. You have witnessed an incident and you are asked to write
about it. If you are simply describing the incident, then it is descriptive writing. But if you
are writing a narrative, then you need to relate the incident from a point of view. Suppose
the incident that you witnessed is a road accident. When you are narrating the incident,
then you can take a perspective in terms of the urgency which makes people violate the
traffic rules. Or you can take a perspective of how rash driving was the cause of the
accident. It may also be that one of the drivers had a family problem and he was mentally
disturbed while driving. As he was driving, he was thinking of something else and his
mental disturbance caused the accident. When the writer takes a perspective and writes
from that point of view then the readers find something new in writing and gets involved
in the narrative.
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Description of an Accident
A Santro car and an auto rickshaw collided at the Pitampura red light when the
speeding car broke the traffic rules by disobeying the red light and was taking a
right turn. It hit the auto rickshaw and the two passengers of the rickshaw were
thrown out of the vehicle. One passenger whose head hit the footpath is in coma
and admitted to Max Hospital. Doctors are of the view that he is in a critical state
and nothing can be said till he regains consciousness; while the other passenger
and the driver of the auto rickshaw were released after first aid. The driver of the
car has been taken into police custody.
The Same accident narrated.
A young woman and her little girl are sitting in a bench of Max Hospital holding
each other with tears rolling down their cheek and waiting for the doctors to come
and announce that the woman’s husband and little girl’s father is out of danger.
After a sumptuous breakfast, all three of them had gone to the little girl’s school
where there was a parents-teachers meeting. After the meeting, the little girl
stayed back in the school and the parents took an auto rickshaw to head back
home. Instead of reaching home, the father went into coma as a speeding Santro
car, disobeying traffic light, hit the rickshaw in which they were travelling. The
incident happened at the same place where the young man and the woman had
met for the first time, a red light at Pitampura. The young woman sitting on the
bench is hoping that the place where they met for the first time would provide
them a second chance in life. The information that the driver of the car has been
arrested, is of no consequence to her. What is of consequence is whether her
husband would be able to walk out of the hospital.
A Comparison between the Two Paragraphs
Both the paragraphs talk about the same incident when a speeding Santro Car collided
with an auto rickshaw while taking a right turn disobeying the traffic light. But the first
paragraph is merely descriptive which provides the readers the details about how the
accident happened, whereas in the second paragraph the incident is narrated from the
perspective of a woman who was also a passenger of the autorickshaw and the wife of the
person who is in coma. The narrative, told from a point of view, creates a sense of
sympathy for the young woman.
Source: Technical Writing and Communication: Theory and Practice. by Deb Dulal
Halder, Anjana Neira Dev and Prerna Malhotra. Book Age Publications, New Delhi.
For more Details on Narrative and other kinds of writing, you can consult the book
Technical Writing and Communication: Theory and Practice.
3.4.1 Narrative Logic
As a mode of writing, the narrative approach, more than any other, offers the writer a
chance to think and write about what s/he thinks. The experiences are lodged in our
memories, which we share with readers. These memories can be fused with the present
incident to make the narrative more convincing and interesting. Narrative writing should
be done from a definite point of view so that the readers feel involved while reading. For
example, in the road accident narrated above, the paragraph was written from a definite
point of view – from the point of view of the wife of the man who is injured and is in
coma.
Moreover, in narrative writing, the most significant information is usually not stated at
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the beginning of the writing to keep an element of suspense which keeps the interest of
the readers alive in your writing. For example, in a detective narrative (fiction), who has
done the crime is postponed till the end of the story as once you know who the criminal
is, the element of suspense in the story will be lost.
The logic of a narrative is thus very significant as it is the logical progression of the
writing in a narrative which ensures that the reader enjoys the story.
“We Sinful Women” by Kishwar Naheed
WE SINFUL WOMEN
It is we sinful women
who are not awed by the grandeur of those who wear gowns
who don’t sell our lives
who don’t bow our heads
who don’t fold our hands together.
It is we sinful women
while those who sell the harvests of our bodies
become exalted
become distinguished
become the just princes of the material world.
It is we sinful women
who come out raising the banner of truth
up against barricades of lies on the highways
who find stories of persecution piled on each threshold
who find that tongues which could speak have been severed.
It is we sinful women.
Now, even if the night gives chase
these eyes shall not be put out.
For the wall which has been razed
don’t insist now on raising it again.
It is we sinful women
who are not awed by the grandeur of those who wear gowns
who don’t sell our bodies
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who don’t bow our heads
who don’t fold our hands together.
From: We Sinful Women: Contemporary Urdu Feminist Poetry (with original Urdu
poems)
Publisher: The Women’s Press Ltd, London, 1991.
Kishwar Naheed’s poem “We Sinful Women” is a feminist statement where the poet
states that the women who do not sell their bodies or bow their heads or fold their hands
together are women who do not follow the strict patriarchal codes of society and
therefore are considered as “sinful women”. Any woman who abides by the patriarchal
norms is usually thought to be goddess and anyone who questions, critiques or opposes
them is considered to be “sinful”. Kishwar Naheed celebrates the “sinful” women in the
poem as they are the one’s who rebel against the male dominance. These women are the
champions of feminist causes and try to make the world a better place for themselves as
well as for other women. Thus, the poem “We Sinful Women” is a celebration of
women who assert their identity as individuals and question the notion of “sin” that is
associated with women who rebel against patriarchal norms.
Example of an Activity:
Write a paragraph in 100 to 150 words about any woman that you know/heard of
who thinks and acts independently.
Women are thought to be sinful when their words and actions do not abide by the
norms of the male dominated society. My mother is one such woman who never
let the social norms dictate her life. When I decided to choose humanities as my
further course of study after my school, my relatives, friends and well-wishers
were against the idea as it meant I will end up being nothing if I choose to pursue
my B.A. and M.A. Even some suggested that it is a feminine thing to do. My
mother supported me and asked me to pursue what my heart wanted to. She
makes rational choices. She may not be rebellious, but she stands her ground and
always makes us proud of her choices and deeds. Even today, whenever I suffer
from any moral dilemma, I call my mother and she directs me to the right path.
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Self-Check Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Suppose you are writing an essay on “A Visit to a Forest – A Memorable Day”,
and you conclude the essay by stating that you visited in a dream. What primary
mode of writing will you choose?
(a) Narrative
(b) Descriptive
(c) Expository
(d) Argumentative
Ans. (a) Narrative
Explanation: Narrative mode of writing will be chosen as the visit to the
forest is an imaginary one. Some elements of descriptive writing can be
used in between, but it will be primarily narrative.
2. In a narrative writing, the most significant information is usually __________.
(a) stated in the beginning of the narrative
(b) postponed till the end of the narrative
(c) not provided in the narrative at all
(d) spread over the narrative to create suspense
Ans. (b) postponed till the end of the narrative
Explanation: Narrative writing works on the element of suspense which
makes the reader pursue reading the narrative. Therefore, it is essential that
we keep the significant information postponed till the end so that the
readers’ interest remains alive and he or she continues to read till the end.
Activity:
You have heard about many sportswomen who have excelled. Try to gather some
information on any sportswoman and write a paragraph in about 100 to 150 words
celebrating her achievements both in her professional and personal life.
3.4.2 Transitions and Connecting Words
One can have a great idea, but if that idea is not presented in a smooth and logical
manner, then everyone would miss the greatness of the idea. No writing can be effective
if it is not bound together by a string of thoughts and ideas and if the links between the
words and sentences and paragraphs are not tightly bound. For connecting sentences and
paragraphs, one needs to use words which binds together the writing. It is achieved
through the use of synonyms, lexical sets, pronouns, verb tenses, time references,
grammatical reference, transitional words and phrases, etc. For example,
• ‘First of all’, ‘then’ and ‘after that’ help to sequence writing.
• ‘However’, ‘in addition’ and ‘for instance’ link ideas and arguments.
35
• first … second … third …. finally … can be used to again bring a sequence to
writing.
• For comparing, contrasting or evaluating facts, ideas, events, etc. the following
can be used - similarly/ in the same way/ in a different way/ but/ on the one hand
… on the other hand/ in contrast/ though/ however/ moreover/ in addition/ on top
of that/ whereas, etc. can be used.
• When one is arguing one can use because/ consequently/ therefore/ as a result, etc.
In other words, if one wants to bring cohesion in one’s writing, then use of transitions and
connecting words are a must. Without connecting words, the readers will not be able to
make the connections between sentences and paragraphs. For example, let us have two
sentences.
1. Ram is a good boy.
2. Teachers do not like Ram.
These two simple sentences apparently seem disconnected as one cannot find any relation
between the two. But if one writes these two sentences in the following manner, then it
makes sense.
Ram is a good boy. Despite that, teachers do not like him.
Or
Ram is a good boy. However, teachers do not like him.
The connecting words “despite that” or “however” builds the bridge between these two
sentences, making the readers have a clear notion of what the speaker or the writer wants
to say.
Self-Check Multiple Choice Questions
1. Connecting words provide ___________ to writing.
(a) commentary
(b) cohesion
(c) coherence
(d) legality
Ans. (b) Cohesion
Explanation: Connecting words or transitions are important in writing as they
provide cohesion to writing leading to the disparate elements in writing
achieve a unity.
Transition Function
Addition
again, also, and, and then, besides, equally important, finally,
first, further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, last,
moreover, next, second, still, too
Comparison also, in the same way, likewise, similarly
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Contrast
although, and yet, at the same time, but at the same time, despite
that, even so, even though, for all that, however, in contrast, in
spite of, instead, nevertheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary,
on the other hand, otherwise, regardless, still, though, yet
Concession granted, naturally, of course
Emphasis certainly, indeed, in fact, of course
Example/
Illustration
after all, as an illustration, even, for example, for instance, in
conclusion, indeed, in fact, in other words, in short, it is true, of
course, namely, specifically, that is, to illustrate, thus, truly
Summary
all in all, altogether, as has been said, finally, in brief, in
conclusion, in other words, in particular, in short, in simpler
terms, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to put it
differently, to summarize
Time Sequence
after a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as long as, at last,
at length, at that time, before, besides, earlier, eventually, finally,
formerly, further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, in
the past, last, lately, meanwhile, moreover, next, now, presently,
second, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, soon, still,
subsequently, then, thereafter, too, until, until now, when
Place/Direction above, below, farther on, nearby, to the right
Relationships therefore, so, consequently, for this reason, since
Self-Check Activity
The following paragraph has been written based on the poem “We Sinful Women”,
where some transition words have been used. Read the paragraph carefully and underline
the transition or connecting words that are used in it.
Women are considered to be sinful, when they do not follow the norms of the
male-dominated society. As women are being subject to much suffering and pain
by patriarchy, some of them try to assert themselves, instead of suffering in
silence. Though, women’s voices are usually silenced, but some women defy the
patriarchal dictates to assert their identities and rights. These women not only
fight for themselves, but for the whole human race. Therefore, they can be called
crusaders of justice, though some may like to term them as Feminists. Kishwar
Naheed’s poem “We Sinful Women” is a brilliant rendition of this feminist
concern. Here, the poet asserts how women should take the risk of being called
“sinful” so that they can claim their rights which have been denied to them for
centuries; instead of merely submitting themselves to male dominance.
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3.5 LET’S SUM UP
In this Unit, we have learnt that –
• The essence of human civilization lies in the distinction and colours of the
conversations that we involve ourselves in with for various purposes.
• Dialogues must have three distinct parts - Welcoming - Main
conversation - saying Goodbye. Keep that in mind while writing
dialogues.
• When one is narrating, one is primarily telling a story.
• While writing a narrative, you need to relate the incident from a point of view.
• The logic of a narrative is very significant as it is the logical progression of the
writing in a narrative which ensures that the reader enjoys the story.
• For connecting sentences and paragraphs, one needs to use words which binds
together the writing.
3.6 GLOSSARY
• Dialogue - The conversation between characters or persons
• Feminism - Feminism is a movement of socio-cultural and political nature to
provide a just world to half of the human kind (women) who have been living
under oppression and suppression for centuries without even realizing that they
have a right to have their own desires, wishes, dreams and moreover voices.
• Narrative -Narrative is a collection of events in a particular order that tells a
story, which may be true or not, and recounted through either telling or writing.
• Narrator - One who tells a story, the speaker or the “voice” of an oral or written
work.
• Patriarchy – Patriarchy is a socio-cultural system in which males are primary
authority figures, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and
property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege and is dependent on
female subordination.
• Setting - The time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a situation
or conversation occurs.
• Theme - A common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a
writing.
3.7 SUGGESTED UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS
1. Write a conversation between you and your friend that you had on WhatsApp
about visiting a mall for doing shopping and watching a movie. The initial few
dialogues of the conversation are provided below. Based on that, carry on the
conversation between Bharti and Mukul.
Bharti: Hi, Mukul.
Mukul: Hi, how are you doing?
Bharti: All well. You?
38
Mukul: Good. Let’s meet sometime.
Bharti: Anytime.
Mukul: Let’s go for shopping tomorrow.
Bharti: Yes, we can. We can also watch a movie.
Mukul: ………
2. Based on the following introduction of a paragraph, complete the paragraph using
at least 5 transitions.
Team leadership should focus on the goal of satisfying the needs of team
members and promoting their effectiveness as a team. To do so, the leader
needs to be a visionary and he should be able to visualize the roles that the
team members need to perform so as to accomplish the work at hand.
3. Based on Kishwar Naheed’s poem “We Sinful Women”, write a conversation
between you and your teacher regarding an assignment that your teacher has
asked you to submit in next 10 days. The initial few lines of the conversation are
provided. Based on it, carry on with the dialogues.
You: Good Morning, Ma’am.
Mam: Good Morning.
You: Ma’am, can you spare a few minutes to discuss the assignment that
you asked us to do?
Mam: Yes. Tell me.
You: Ma’am, I have read the poem “We Sinful Women” in class with you,
but I cannot locate the poem. None of my classmates I know, has it. Can
you please provide us the poem?
Ma’am: …..
4. Some ideas are provided below. Based on those pointers try to write a narrative
paragraph using transition and linking words.
You are in a Forest alone – state how you reached there – describe the
trees, plants and animals you see there – you see a pond – you sat beside it
and pondered over your life.
(Remember that you should not merely describe, but narrate a story based
on the above points)
5. Write a paragraph using the linking words which deals with sequencing. For
example, you can describe the process of making a cup of tea or making Maggi
noodles.
6. Rewrite the following as a dramatic scene with dialogue:
Rahim saw Ram in a metro station after years and was reminded of the
bitter fight that they had years back which led to their enmity, though they
were the closest of friends during their college days. Rahim came forward
and looked at Ram’s eyes but could not see any sense of hostility. He
smiled and Ram stretched his arms to hug him. They talked for a while
and then boarded the metro for Gurgaon.
7. The following is an introduction to an essay. Read it carefully and write two body
paragraphs (60 words each) and a suitable conclusion (of about 30 to 40 words).
39
A forest is known as an intricate ecosystem that is densely covered with
trees, shrubs, grasses and mosses. The trees and other plants that form a
part of the forests create an environment that is healthy for the breeding
several species of animals. These are thus a habitat for a large variety of
wild animals and birds. They are responsible for maintaining a fine
equilibrium of life which supports all forms of life on our planet.
8. The following is an introduction to an essay. Read it carefully and write two body
paragraphs (60 words each) and a suitable conclusion (of about 30 to 40 words).
Plastic pollution, caused due to plastic waste, has reached alarming heights
and is increasing rapidly with every passing day. It has become a cause of
global concern as it is destroying our beautiful planet and having negative
repercussions on all kinds of living beings. The first and the most
important step towards beating plastic pollution are to avoid the usage of
plastic products.
3.8 RECOMMENDED READINGS
• https://www.businessinsider.com/a-12-year-old-syrian-refugee-wrote-this-
heartbreaking-letter-to-the-king-of-sweden-2016-2?IR=T
• “We Sinful Women” by Kishwar Naheed from We Sinful Women: Contemporary
Urdu Feminist Poetry. Translated and edited by Rukhsana Ahmed. The Women’s
Press, 1991.
• Deb Dulal Halder, Anjana Neira Dev and Prerna Malhotra. Technical Writing and
Communication: Theory and Practice. Book Age Publications, New Delhi.
40
In the State II Unit 4
Section -1
Nalini Prabhakar
4.1 INTRODUCTION
You must have understood by now that writing, especially serious writing, requires a lot of
hard work. Writing is a process which involves:
1. Prewriting- deciding on a topic and collecting information related to the topic
2. Writing- organizing and presenting ideas /information in a logical and coherent manner,
neatly divided into paragraphs
3. Revising and Editing- re-reading your draft to see if the topic is stated correctly in the
introduction and the paragraphs progress logically. You will also correct grammatical
and syntactical errors and see if all the sources you have used are properly
acknowledged in the citations.
In this Unit, we intend to familiarize you with some important facets of writing which can
sharpen and hone your writing skills.
4.2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this Unit, you will learn about:
• The basic structure of an essay with the help of suggested reading
• Paragraph writing
• Punctuation
4.3 BASIC STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY
Every good essay consists of three parts: introduction, body and conclusion. The
introduction, introduces the topic and provides the necessary background information which
will enable the reader to place the topic in a context. The main body of the essay will be
made up of several paragraphs, wherein arguments are developed in support of the topic. It is
here that you will make use of details, facts and information that you have gathered from
various sources. The conclusion basically brings together all that has been done in the essay.
Audre Lorde’s paper The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action is
suggested for your reading, to help you understand how an essay should be organized. This
paper was presented by her at Modern Language Association’s ‘Lesbian and Literature
Panel’ in 1977. It is a deeply personal and reflective paper on the need for women to have a
voice and agency.
Lorde, in the introduction launches into the topic straightaway by positioning herself as a
black, a woman, a lesbian, and a poet and the necessity of speaking even at the risk of being
“bruised and misunderstood.” She also provides the context for this. She was diagnosed with
breast tumor and the intervening period between the diagnosis and surgery was one of fear
and also introspection. This incident made her realize that silence was not an option and she
must transform silence into language and action.
In the body of the essay, she tries to convince others why silence should not be an option.
She writes that in the face of mortality, her greatest regret was her ‘silence’. She did not
41
speak of what she believed in, because of fear of the consequences. Having come face to face
with death- the eternal silence, put her “fear into a perspective” which gave her strength. Her
illness proved two things:1. She was not only a ‘casualty’ but also a warrior 2. All her
silences did not protect her from possible death.
People, especially women, do not speak even in the face of extreme violence and
discrimination, because of fear of contempt , censure or annihilation. Being a black woman in
America makes Lorde visible and this visibility also makes her vulnerable. Silence will not
protect her neither will it take away the fear. It is this perspective which made her abandon
her silence and reorganize her priorities.
She next analyses the importance of language. She writes that one must recognize the power
of language and should reclaim it. Language is not simply a tool for communication, it has
structures of power built into it, which are used by oppressors to keep the others submissive
and silent. She proposes that one must start by questioning the ‘truth’ of the language in
which we speak. To do this, one should speak to expose and destroy all those power
structures in language that make discrimination normal and acceptable.
She is fully aware that questioning the dominant structures of power might bring about pain
and death but nonetheless is willing to challenge the same because by being silent in the face
of tyranny she would suffer much pain and die many deaths. Women, blacks, and people who
do not conform to heterosexual norm according to her have been conditioned “to respect fear
more than the need to respect language and self- definition”.
In the body of the essay Lorde has addressed the following issues:
1. How she put her fear of speaking out, in perspective.
2. The reason why people especially women remain silent and put up with violence and
oppression
3. Why women must reclaim language and use it to break the chains of patriarchal
tyranny
4. The inevitable consequences of questioning power structures
5. The need to respect language and self-definition rather than fear
In the conclusion we can see Lorde the poet at work. She reaffirms the topic of her
presentation with a powerful image, “While we wait in silence for that final luxury of
fearlessness, the weight of the silence will choke us.”
EXERCISES:
1. Write the introductory and the concluding paragraph, in about 50 words
each, to the passages given below:
(a) Indian audience need to broaden its interest to include other traditional sports such
as kabbadi and hockey. Too much focus on cricket has made both money and
energy going into one sport so much so that other sports have got completely
neglected. This is disheartening for those athletes who pursue them.
(b) The Finance Minister proposed that no person will accept from any person any
loan/deposit/advance, in relation to transfer of an immovable property, in cash for
Rs 20,000 or more. Also, it is proposed that no person will repay any
loan/deposit/advance, in relation to transfer of an immovable property, in cash for
Rs 20,000 or more. This will help curb generation of black money.
42
2. Write the body paragraph(s), in about 100 words, to the paragraphs given
below:
Introduction: From the time that man became an agriculturist and husbandman,
thereby enabling himself to overcome the natural constraints that had kept the
numbers of his predecessor – the hunter and forager – within the environmental
capacity, man’s impact on his environment has been largely disastrous.
Conclusion: As examples, one could consider the Cradle of Civilization, West
Asia, now largely arid, as a monument to man’s misuse of the land. A number of
ancient civilizations seem to have culminated in deserts in the same way – Egypt,
the kingdom of West Asia, Carthage and the Indus Valley Civilization.
43
Section-2
Deb Dulal Halder
4.4 PARAGRAPH WRITING
A paragraph can be defined as a group of sentences that expresses a single idea,
supported by facts, evidences, examples, anecdotes, quotations, etc. Paragraphs primarily
indicate the beginning and end of a new idea to the readers. Thus, it helps the readers in
assimilating the contents in an organized manner without much difficulty. In paragraph
writing, therefore the writer can develop just one idea. When one is writing something
longer like an essay or a report, each paragraph explains or demonstrates a key point or
thought of the central idea, usually to inform or persuade. Writing good paragraph is
essential for two reasons:
• It helps one as a writer as one remains focused while writing.
• It makes the writing more readable as the reader can easily figure out that a new
idea has been introduced and elaborated.
4.4.1 Topic Sentence
The first sentence in a paragraph is usually known as the Topic Sentence and it
introduces the main idea of the paragraph. In other words, it is a sentence in which the
main idea of a paragraph is summarized so that the readers can figure out what they can
expect in the rest of the paragraph. Though this may not always be true, as the Topic
Sentence can also be elsewhere in the paragraph, depending upon the demand of the
writing. One should keep in mind here that the topic sentence should relate to the thesis
statement and in some way should uphold the thesis.
The following points should be kept in mind while writing the topic sentence –
• The topic sentence is not about just stating a fact; but it is about a point of view. A
point of view that the writer is about to develop in the rest of the paragraph.
• Every sentence in the paragraph should support the topic sentence.
4.4.2 Supporting Sentences
Supporting sentences are sentences which support or uphold the topic sentence and make
the body of a paragraph. The supporting sentences support by providing facts, details and
examples to logically present the argument.
One should keep in mind to provide specific details to show how the ideas are valid.
• While stating facts, examples, studies, experts’ opinions, etc. be specific.
• Use the experts’ names and other details.
• Examples should also be specific in terms of their names, places, dates, etc.
• Use specific numbers and dates.
• In case of scientific studies, explain in short how the study was done.
• Use vivid descriptions to provide details.
• One should make sure that all the details provided in the supporting sentences are
relevant; otherwise, the reader may lose interest and focus with unnecessary
digressions.
• Try to explain things in detail so that the readers do not have to think too hard to
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figure out the significance.
• Supporting sentences should not be used to merely repeat your topic sentences in
other words, but they should be the explanations, justifications, interpretations and
analyses of the topic sentence.
• One should also make sure that all the supporting sentences are in a logical order.
4.4.3 Concluding Sentence
The last sentence of the paragraph is termed as the concluding sentence which is usually a
review of the paragraph. It should emphasize on the main point or the topic sentence. It is
advisable not to end the paragraph therefore with a quotation, but to end with your own
words and idea.
Some Examples of Paragraph Writing
“No Man is an Island”
Human beings are social animals who cannot live in isolation. As we are social creatures
therefore, we need to communicate with other fellow human beings for the sake of our
survival. It is only through communication with others that we form relationships and
these relationships become our identity to a large extent. You are a friend only when you
have a bonding of friendship with someone. You are a lover as you love someone.
Building human relationships is such a basic need of the people that all the time we are
longing to enhance our associations with the world. It is usually said that food, clothes,
house are necessities of human beings. But once these necessities are fulfilled, we all
think in terms of building associations with other beings as that is our natural
temperament. Thus, it can be easily concluded that “no man is an island”
Effective Communication is the Key to Success
Communication plays a vital role in all walks of life whether it is academics, business,
professional or in building relationships, whether personal or political or financial.
Effective communication is the core of any business as it is in effective communication
with your employees or subordinates or seniors or your workers that one can think of
building up a team which can then drive itself towards better results. Every organization
needs to develop a sound communication strategy to come to its desired results.
Therefore, all good organizations follow a communication network which will facilitate
its objectives. It can be said that success of a business organization or that of a person
depends on the kind of communication that a person or an organization develops.
Therefore, we see that managers always need good communication skills to manage the
organization. A good administrator needs also similarly good communication skills for
success. Success, thus, of any individual depends on how well the person organizes his or
her communication with others, it is essential that one masters effective communication
skills to bring success to oneself and to the organization in which one is working.
Exercises:
Using the topic sentence given, write a paragraph of about 100 words
• Burning solid waste should be immediately banned to reduce pollution
• LED lights can help reduce the carbon-footprint of a household.
• Advertisement is for wooing potential customers.
45
• Corruption is the primary evil.
• Role of Cricketers in Advertisements
• Role of Computers in Education
• Apart from food and fun, College canteen is also a significant place in the
college as it makes students from different courses come together to make
college an interesting place.
• Though it is argued that examinations cause stress and tension in students,
they are important for evaluating the students’ knowledge.
4.5 PUNCTUATION
Suggested Reading
Sharma, Natasha. Squiggle Takes a Walk: All About Punctuation. Penguin/Young Zubaan
and Puffin: 2014.
Natasha Sharma’s Book Squiggle Takes a Walk: All About Punctuation deals with
punctuation from a very interesting comic perspective. Read the book and enjoy how
Squiggle finds out about Punctuation marks.
You already know about the punctuation marks and have been using them in your
writing from your childhood. It is not that you are not aware of the punctuation marks,
this section is to just make you go through the uses of punctuation marks in details
once again so that you are conscious of them while writing and use then with much
sharper focus when you write the next time.
For sake of convenience we will take one punctuation mark at a time and then discuss
its uses in point form to keep them for ready reckoning.
• Full Stop: What is called “Full stop” in British English is termed as a “Period”
in American English which is symbolized by a (.) and is usually used at the end
of a sentence expressing a statement.
For example: I was playing a new game in my Xbox console (.)
The sentence is a statement and this at the end of the sentence a full stop is
used.
Full stop is also used in Abbreviations.
Examples: Mr. , Mrs. , Corp. , Ltd. , Etc.
• Comma (,): Comma is where there is a small pause while speaking a sentence.
Some of the uses of comma are –
(a) when we are giving a list in writing, we usually use comma, such as “milk,
bread, jam and butter”
(b) In direct speech, before the dialogue, for example, Meena said, “Let’s go for a
movie.”
(c) Often to mark out additional information comma is used, for example,
“William Wordsworth, a Romantic poet and a poet laureate, was a lover of
nature.”
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• Semicolon (;): Semicolon is used in the following circumstances –
(a) Separate two related sentences where there is no conjunction (such as
“and” or “but”), and where using only a comma would be ungrammatical.
Example: She is a good singer; she has released many music albums.
(b) Organizes syntax thought where many commas are used Example: We
bought stationery items such as pen, pencils, erasers; medicines like
Saridon and Rantac.
• Colon (:): Colon is used in the following cases –
(a) To Separate statements which are in dramatic opposition, such “Man
proposes: God disposes.”
(b) To starts list: Example, Store: (a) Pens, (b) Pencils (c) Notebooks.
(c) To Separate characters forming a dialogue, for example, “Ram: “How do
go to College?”
• Quotations (“...”): Quotation marks are used to quote someone or some
speech or writing. For Example: Jadu said, “I will be in the mall before noon.”
• Dashes and brackets/parentheses ( — ( ) ): Dashes are used in writing to
separate a comment (i.e. a parenthetical remark) from the rest of the sentence.
For example, “One week later — who knows why — she made a decision to
join the office.”
• The apostrophe (’): Apostrophes are used in genitive forms, contracted forms,
abbreviations and plurals of abbreviations, For example, the workers'
complaints, We landed at Delhi Int’l Airport or the CEO’s of the two
companies.
• Capital letters: Capital letters are used in the following circumstances:
(a) at the beginning of sentences and quotations
(b) for names of people, places, works of literature, the days of the week, the
months, nationalities, and all the planets except the earth (but not for the
sun, the moon or the seasons)
• The hyphen ( - ): Hypens are used in a number of cases such as
a. Compound nouns - example, a passer-by (plural passers-by)
b. Compound adjectives - example a ten-kilometer journey, a two-minute silence
c. Coordination compounds- example staff-student ratio
d. Numerals and fractions- example twenty-two, two-thirds
e. Prefixes- example anti-terrorist, anti-colonial, etc.
• The Exclamation Mark (!): Exclamation marks are used when we are too
happy or sad about something which is done to suggest and signal emotions
such as surprise, anger, interest, fear etc. For example, “That’s great!”, “Be
careful!”, “You idiot!”
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• The Question mark (?): The question mark indicates a question, such as,
“Where do you stay?”, “What’s your name?”, etc.
• The slash (/): The slash (/) is used as a punctuation to indicate a series of
alternatives (equivalent to either/or and and/or), in contrast to the use of the
hyphen to signal coordination. for example, The actor /actress.
• The triple dot (suspension point — dot dot dot) (…): Often while reading
research papers and other significant documents you will notice that three dots
(…) are used within quotation marks or at the end of sentences. This is done
for two purposes –
(a) Within quotation marks, it is used to suggest that some words are missing
within the quotation. For example, “Life is a tale told by an idiot …. Signifying
nothing.”
(b) The three dots (…) can come at the end of the sentence to suggest that the
sentience was incomplete.
Now that you have learnt about the various punctuation marks that are commonly used
in English language to punctuate the writing (both formal and informal) you should
practice more and more to understand the ways in which you can use them properly in
your writing. Merely theoretical knowledge will not help in making yourself better in
this business.
Exercises
Here is a list of sentences without any punctuation marks, punctuate them and
rewrite:
(a) shyam is going to school by bus though he loves to go by car
(b) wow thats a nice jacket
(c) the more you eat the more you become healthy
(d) he said bring me an umbrella it will rain soon
(e) the sound of rain the smell of drops of rain on parched mud and the cool wind on
the faces of the kids playing in the ground after a harsh summer was a sight to be
enjoyed
Answer key
a. Shyam is going to school by bus, though he loves to go by car.
b. Wow! That’s a nice jacket!
c. The more you eat, the more you become healthy.
d. He said, “Bring me an umbrella; it will rain soon.”
e. The sound of rain, the smell of drops of rain on parched mud and the cool wind on
the faces of the kids playing in the ground after a harsh summer, was a sight to be
enjoyed.
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4.6 LET’S SUM UP
In this Unit, you have learnt that
• Writing is a process and you must follow the process to develop and strengthen
your writing.
• Essays have a basic structure – introduction, body and conclusion.
• At the centre of all writing is the paragraph, and how to write effective
paragraphs.
• Punctuation rules can make your writing much better and give precision to what
you mean to convey through your writings.
4.7 SUGGESTED READINGS
• Sharma, Natasha. Squiggle Takes a Walk: All About Punctuation. Penguin / Young
Zubaan and Puffin: 2014.
• Lorde, Audre. “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action”. Sister
Outsider. Random House: New York, 1984. pp. 40-44.
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Unit 5
Interface with Technology – II
Dr. Seema Suri
5.1 Introduction
This section of the Study Material will focus on the following topics prescribed in your
course;
- social media presence;
- WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter; and
- effective and poetic expression / rhetoric.
In addition, you have to read the first chapter of this novel;
Salman Rushdie. Haroun and the Sea of Stories. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 1991,
pp. 15-23.
All references to the novel in this study material are to this edition. The study-guide
in section 5.2 will help you understand the recommended reading in your course.
Objectives
This study material aims to;
- familiarize you with some of the most popular social networking sites,
- draw your attention to how language is being affected by technology, and
- discuss the potential for self-expression on social media.
5.1.1 Interface with Technology: Social Media
Do you know what the phrase 'Interface with technology' means? It simply means using
technology to interface or communicate with the social world. It could be through social
networks like Facebook; media sharing sites like Instagram and YouTube; and consumer
review networks like Zomato and Yelp. Social media is how people stay connected now.
When your grandparents were your age and wanted to communicate with their friends
and relatives; or apply for a job, they would have written a letter on a sheet of paper, put
it in an envelope, gone to the post office, bought a stamp to fix on it and put it in the
mailbox. It would have taken a few days to reach its destination. Most of you, I am sure,
wouldn't even have seen a stamp. If you ever get the opportunity, do visit a post-office
and buy a couple of stamps. All over the world, a lot of young people have taken up
stamp-collecting as a hobby. Nowadays communication is so simple; all you need to do is
type out your message or status update and click on a button to send it to as many people
as you like, anywhere in the world.
Social media is very simple to use; even senior citizens can learn to and are actually
using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All that is required is a smart phone and good
internet connection. Almost everyone is using WhatsApp and some of you might already
have an account on Facebook or Twitter. In case you don’t, the best way to learn about
50
their features is to create accounts and start using them. If you need help, do watch some
online YouTube tutorials that explain how to register on and use Facebook and Twitter,
in simple language.
In the year 2020, we have seen the world change in unexpected ways. Forced to work
and study from home; afraid to go out to meet friends or relatives and unable to travel, we
have become more dependent on technology. Almost everything is being done online;
paying college fees, attending classes, shopping, or staying in touch with people. It is not
surprising that the time we spend on our mobile phones, iPads or laptops has increased
manifold. As a student, it is an important part of your education to be aware of, and
informed about what is happening around you. Social media is now a very important part
of our existence.
The manner in which you interact with the world through networking sites like
Facebook or Twitter is what makes up your social media presence. Starting with the
profile photo on your social media accounts, the posts you send out, and the opinions you
share on Twitter; or pictures you share on Facebook or Instagram: all these make up your
online presence.
Social media has also impacted the manner in which English is used. In the following
sections I will briefly discuss language use on some popular networking sites.
5.1.2 WhatsApp
These days there is hardly a mobile phone that doesn't have the green icon above on the
home screen. For many people, their day begins by checking their WhatsApp messages-
even before they read the newspaper. There could be multiple messages from a family
group chat; maybe it’s your cousin’s birthday and everyone in the group has sent their
greetings; or it could be a message from your hair salon, offering you a discount on their
services.
WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging service in the world and used by over
a billion people. This, in spite of the fact that it is banned in China, the most populous
country on earth. You can send a message to friends or family members, from anywhere
in the world, without worrying about it costing you money, whereas a SMS still costs
money. All you need is a basic data plan. You can also make voice and video calls; share
photos, videos, and documents and share links to websites. Its Status feature is also very
popular. Sending a message on WhatsApp is extremely simple; even people who are not
proficient in technology can use it.
Founded in 2009, by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, WhatsApp was acquired by
Facebook, the social networking company in 2014, for a record-breaking price of $19
billion; the largest acquisition in history. Prior to 2016, users were charged an annual fee
of one dollar. Now it is free and only uses data to exchange messages and calls.
Indians are the biggest users of WhatsApp and according to a survey done in July
2019, 400 million people are using WhatsApp, (https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/26/
whatsapp-india-users-400-million/). The main reason for the popularity of this messaging
service in India is that, in addition to English, people can send messages in ten regional
language; amongst them Punjabi, Urdu, and Telegu. People from socio-economically
51
disadvantaged sections of society also feel comfortable using it. For a large section of the
population that has a hard time typing or reading, WhatsApp has the option to send and
receive audio messages.
Writing on WhatsApp
As a student in school, you must have been taught about the importance of punctuation,
correct spellings, and grammar while writing/speaking in English. You would also have
been taught about the rules to be followed while writing; especially in formal situations-
like starting a letter with a greeting and ending with a polite salutation. However, if you
take a look at messages written in English on some WhatsApp chats, you will notice that
English is used in a totally different way. Let us read some messages from a group chat
on WhatsApp, where some students from different universities are discussing their
exams;
Divam
Hiii ppl!!! Whats up
upupup
Hope y'all are well and
safe. Exams kab hai DU ke
Payal
Hellooooo! oh you're still having
exams How are they conducting it?
Ayushi
OBE, they're saying it will start from 17 August
Babita
how are jnu waale taking it?
And why omg
Manpreet
Online
And jo nhi de sakte woh baad me offline
Divam
Why do they make us take exams
-ughhh
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Let us examine the English used in this chat;
- the language is a mixture of English and Hindi. English letters are used to write
common Hindi words like 'kal' (tomorrow) and 'Haan' (Yes);
- there are no full stops at the end of the sentences and the first letter of most
sentences are not in capitals. Some proper names are not in capital letters; like 'jnu'
(JNU);
- many abbreviations are used – omg (oh my god), ppl (people);
- spellings are changed freely. 'Hiii' instead of 'Hi' or 'Hellooooo' instead of 'Hello';
and
- in place of words, emoticons and emojis are used to convey feelings.
There is nothing wrong with writing like this. It’s just a group of young students chatting
about their lives and having fun, so it doesn't matter if they are careless about
punctuation, spellings, or writing in correct English. As long as they understand each
other, it is not important. In fact, there is a special name for this mixed language,
Hinglish; a combination of Hindi and English. And it has been in use in our country much
before WhatsApp became so popular. Hinglish has always been the preferred language of
the young college crowd, in TV and print advertisements, and Bollywood film titles and
songs. You may have heard of the popular film title, Shaadi ke Side Effects or the lyrics
for the very popular TV ad for Coca-Cola in 2014; ‘life ho to aisi.’ Amazon.com’s virtual
assistant Alexa, is now programmed to respond to Hinglish questions like ‘Volume
badhao’ (increase the volume), on its Echo smart speakers.
The problem begins when students start using this kind of language in their exams or in
formal communications; writing 'ppl' in place 'people' or 'munshi premchand' in place of
'Munshi Premchand'. Take a look at this WhatsApp message, sent by a student to his
teacher;
Payal
in my university there are no q/a
exams just research and things.
Babita
I wish they did it that way in du
Payal
Haan it's better
I feal like I'm learning more and doing
actual research.
mam', can you tell me result kab ayega
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In formal messages like this, avoid using a mix of two languages. A formal greeting and
polite request should be added;
To illustrate with a different example; if you are going to attend your cousin’s
wedding, you wouldn’t wear a track pant and t-shirt but take out the time to dress in a
nice saree or suit, put on make-up, and wear jewelry. Similarly, we must not forget the
distinction between formal and information situations and use the appropriate language.
What you need to remember is that if you are sending a message to a teacher, a senior
colleague or older relative, you should follow the same rules of etiquette that you would
follow in oral communication.
The kind of casual language you use while chatting with your friends on WhatsApp is
also not acceptable in your exams. While writing assignments for college, pay attention to
spellings and punctuation, and avoid abbreviations. The most common mistake made by
students is not being careful about capitalization of proper names and the first word of
each sentence.
In addition to using suitable language, it is important to be careful about the content
you share. If you are a participant in a group chat you should be careful about what you
post; personal photographs, political opinions / views, and motivational quotes are to be
avoided. There are many online guides that discuss this topic at length; you could read
this one;
'The Golden Rules of WhatsApp Groups'
[ https://www.webafrica.co.za/blog/generalknowledge/]
Activity 5.1
i) What is the difference between an emoji and an emoticon?
ii) Analyze the last ten posts from your favourite WhatsApp group chat.
5.1.3 Facebook
Facebook is an American company that provides social networking services. Membership
on Facebook is free and the company earns revenue through advertisements on its
website. It is the largest social media network in the world, with more than 2 billion
users. India has 3.24 million users, more than any other country in the world. As with
WhatsApp, it is possible to change the language on your Facebook page, from English to
any one of twelve regional Indian languages.
New users on Facebook can create a Profile and upload photos or videos. Facebook is
designed to allow users to connect with other users through its ‘Search’ option and add
them as ‘Friends.’ They can post content on their personal profile page, now known as
Timeline, a space where their friends can post comments. Its Privacy settings permit users
Good morning, ma’m. Could you please let
me know when our results will be declared?
54
to decide who can see content on their Timeline. The Newsfeed feature informs users of
changes to their friends’ profiles and status. Friends and followers are the heart of social
networking and most sites have some sort of 'like' button; stylized as a heart or a thumbs
up image that you can click on, to express your reactions to a post or video. Facebook
provides six options if you long-press on the like button, a thumbs up; ‘love’, ‘haha’,
‘wow’, ‘sad’, ‘angry’ or ‘care’. The last one was added after the Corona pandemic.
Facebook started off as a way to connect with old friends but it has evolved into so
much more. Businesses use it as a tool for social media marketing; they can deliver their
ads directly to those people who might be interested in their products or services. Its
Marketplace feature is also very popular. Many educational institutions, government
departments, cultural and spiritual organizations are on Facebook and regularly post
information about their activities.
Facebook has a large number of embedded apps as well. In the Menu, there is one
labelled ‘Events’ and if you click on it, you get information about all kinds of events
happening around you, listed according to category.
Facebook Events
Suppose you wish to invite your old school friends for lunch at your place. Instead of
calling them up individually, you could send an invite through Facebook. All you need to
do is to go the Events tab, select 'Hosting Event, go to ‘Create Event', choose the Private
Event option and fill in the required information. Add a photo if you feel like and send it
to the friends you wish to invite.
However, there are occasions when you would like to contact a large audience; for
instance, if you are one of the organizers for a seminar or a handicraft fair. You can create
a Public Event page for it. In addition to basic information like the venue, time, and name
of the event, it is important to choose a category for your event and a brief description.
This will help people who are browsing public events on Facebook to find it. You can
invite friends from your list, members of a group, or followers of a page. Watch this
online tutorial to learn how to create a public event;
"What is a Facebook Event? How to Create a Facebook Event."
YouTube, uploaded by Kay Kaise, Sep. 26, 2013.
[ https://youtu.be/JStnon1lm94]
Information about a Public Event spreads very quickly on Facebook. If someone clicks
on the 'Going' button, the information shows up in their Newsfeed where it can be seen
by other people. Organizers can instantly get in touch with a large, interested audience
without having to place an ad in a newspaper or getting pamphlets printed.
Take a look at this Public Event on Facebook:
55
DRAWING COMPETITION Organized by
WOMEN’S POWER NGO REGD.
in collaboration with Rotary Club, Faridabad City
VENUE: Community Centre, Sector 23
DATE: 2 October, 2020
TIMING: 7 a.m. onwards
Interested Going Share More
Details
Happy to announce that there is one color competition for kids where they can showcase their talents and earn attractive gifts. So hurry up . . . . More
As you can see, in addition to the details about date, time, and place there is a small
description about the event. Adding interesting and attractive visuals, like a good photo,
will help generate interest in the Event. There are many online tools and templates
available to help you design the visuals for a public event.
It is also possible to add a short video, between 30 seconds to five minutes, to promote
your Event. However, experts suggest that videos shouldn’t be longer than two minutes
as people will lose interest if it’s too long.
Activity 5.2
i) You want to invite some relatives to your sister’s birthday party. Create a Private
Event on Facebook.
⚫ ⚫ ⚫
56
ii) The student's union of your college is organizing a blood donation camp. Create a
Public Event.
5.1.4 Twitter
These headlines appeared in newspapers in India in September/ October 2020.
Twitter India introduces new emojis for IPL 2020
By Rahul Roy, September 13, 2020.
The IPL is like a festival of cricket. Millions of fans will be rooting for their respective teams. So Twitter India has introduced some new emojis for IPL 2020. Twitter has made the logo of each IPL team into twitter emojis and has made hashtags with it. The fans can show their support for their IPL teams by tweeting with the hashtags.
(https://technosports.co.in/2020/09/13/twitter-india-introduces-new-emojis-for-ipl2020/ )
Fresh Tamil vs. Hindi war fires up Twitter
D. Govardhan, TNN, updated September 7, 2020
Just months ahead of the assembly poll in TN, a political storm over language started brewing on the internet as “Hindi Theriyadu Poda” ( I don’t know Hindi, go.) became the top-trending hashtag on Twitter on Sunday.
(https://timesofindia.com/city/chennai/fresh-tamil-vs-hindi-war-fires-up-twitter/ )
80-year-old couple from Delhi running Baba Ka
Dhaba lose income in pandemic. Viral video
unites Twitter. A heartbreaking video of an elderly couple narrating their ordeal and how they have lost their income in the pandemic united Twitter to help them out. . . After the video was shared, it instantly went viral on Twitter and managed to garner more than 1.7 million views.
(https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/ )
57
Are you familiar with Twitter or words like ‘trending’, ‘viral’, 'emoji', or 'hashtag'? Do
look up their meanings in an online dictionary. Social media like Twitter have added so
many new words to the English language and changed the meaning of many others.
What is Twitter?
Twitter is an online news and social networking site where people communicate in short
messages called tweets. It is also described as a micro-blogging site that allows registered
users to share their observations, thoughts, and feelings about events happening around
them. However, Twitter has a unique feature; a user cannot post a tweet that is more than
280 characters long; characters would include letters, numbers, spaces, and other
punctuation marks. The hashtag # or an emoji would also count as a character. The
Twitter hashtag refers to the topic, keyword, or phrase preceded by the # symbol; as in
#musiclessons.
Twitter is easy to use, both as a broadcaster or receiver. To use Twitter, you need to
create a free account with a user name, popularly known as a Twitter handle, and
broadcast short messages, as frequently as you like, through the 'What’s Happening' box
next to your profile image. Twitter also allows users to share short videos that are not
more than 140 seconds long; and it recently introduced audio tweets; as the ‘tweet your
voice feature.’ Like Facebook, Twitter allows users to connect with other users by
clicking on the ’Follow’ button and receive their tweets. The navigation menu has a
section ‘Trending’, where the most popular topics for discussion are listed.
Why do people tweet?
People tweet to share their opinions, political comments, or even philosophical
observations in a few words. It is especially popular amongst celebrities; film-stars,
politicians, and sportspeople. In India, actor Amitabh Bachchan and cricketer Virat Kohli
are amongst the most followed personalities. Twitter makes it easy for celebrities to stay
connected with their fans. Having a large number of Likes or Followers becomes a matter
of pride.
Social media is also recognized as an important indicator of public opinion. Twitter
comments fill in the gaps left by traditional journalism, as you will observe from the
newspaper headlines. Sometimes, opinions clash, leading to online battles between public
figures. At the same time, a single tweet can be effective in creating awareness about
problems and bring people together to find solutions. Government organizations and
policy makers use Twitter to get direct feedback and ideas from the public. The Prime
Minister’s Office also has an official Twitter account.
Like Facebook, Twitter is also used as a marketing tool; thousands of people advertise
their services and retail businesses on it. But there is one side of Twitter that not many
people are aware of. Twitter is used as a space to write poetry.
Getting your writing published is very difficult but on Twitter it is possible for a person
to write short poems and publish them online. Lack of confidence in writing skills,
hesitation in expressing feelings, or the fear of being ridiculed prevents many talented
writers from sharing their poems with friends or colleagues. Twitter gives them a great
degree of anonymity and freedom to express themselves and share their work with like-
minded people.
58
Poems on Twitter are very short because of the 280-character limit and they are also
known as micro-poetry or twi-poetry. Let no take a quick look at this poem on Twitter;
This short poem has received some comments; you can read one comment below the
poem and it has received 42 Likes. It has also been retweeted 15 times.
Note that the poem has very short lines and no punctuation. You might wonder why
the rules of good writing are ignored here. As explained earlier, how you use the English
language differs from situation to situation. When writing poetry, it is acceptable to
ignore rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling to create an effect. This is known as
'poetic license'. However, on Twitter, the character limit is another reason why there is
little punctuation.
Activity 5.3
i) Read some poems on Twitter.
ii) Write a poem that you could publish on Twitter.
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5.1.5 Summing up
In the preceding section I have, very briefly, talked about some popular social networking
channels and how technology affects our language. On the instant messaging service
WhatsApp, the language used by young, educated people is almost always Hinglish or a
mix of English and some regional language. Twitter has given rise to a whole new set of
terms; hashtag, trending, twitterati, Follow, and DM or direct message.
Social media is a valuable networking tool for people trying to reach an audience.
Being able to use different features of social networking sites has become an essential
skill. Do explore the Events app on Facebook to observe how many different categories
of events have been advertised.
With around 145 million daily users, the microblogging site Twitter is a good place for
people to publish their creative writing. Many people write poetry but are shy about
showing it to their friends. But on Twitter, it is possible for them to share it with like-
minded people and feel the joy of appreciation.
5.2 Haroun and the Sea of Stories: A Study Guide
5.2.1 Introduction
In the previous sections, you have read about how technology is changing the way we
use the English language in our communications. At the same time, it is important for us
to appreciate the manner in which writers play around with language and there is no
better example of this than Salman Rushdie, the famous Indian novelist, author of
Midnight’s Children (1981). The recommended reading in your course is an extract from
Salman Rushdie's novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories, about a twelve-year old boy
Haroun and his quest to restore his father's lost gift of story-telling.
The extract is from the beginning of the novel, from the first chapter titled `Shah of
Blah'. It is a brilliant illustration of Rushdie's ability to create a magical world through
his rich, innovative language. Rushdie had written The Satanic Verses in 1988, which
was banned in many countries, including India, for its irreverent depiction of the Prophet
Muhammad. Copies of the novel were burnt and many people lost their lives in the
violent protests following its publication. Ayatollah Khomeini, Supreme Leader of Iran,
issued a death warrant or fatwa against him. As Rushdie was a British citizen, the British
government provided him with protection and he remained underground for nearly ten
years.
Rushdie wrote this novel after a long gap when his ten-year old son Zafar complained
that he never wrote anything for children. Haroun and the Sea of Stories, published in
1990, was the first book that he wrote after going into hiding and it is dedicated to his
son, Zafar. It is written in the fairy tale tradition, like The Arabian Nights, Alice in
Wonderland, or The Wizard of Oz but there are autobiographical elements in the troubled
relationship between Rashid and his wife Soraya, the love between father and son, and
the writer's/ storyteller's predicament when faced with the loss of his freedom to tell
stories. Many readers have noticed the similarity of the names Rashid and Rushdie.
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Read the short story carefully, paying special attention to Rushdie’s brilliant use of
language. His ability to use words in unexpected and unique ways is the hallmark of his
style. Do make a list of all the new or unfamiliar words that you come across in the
story.
Objectives
This part of your study material aims to;
▪ familiarize you with the background to the extract from the novel Haroun and the
Sea of Stories,
▪ draw your attention to Salman Rushdie's literary style and his brilliant
imaginative power, and
▪ help you understand the underlying theme of this story.
This unit includes a summary of the plot of Haroun and the Sea of Stories, a
critical commentary, glossary, some self-check questions, and a key to those questions.
The summary will help you understand the theme of the novel.
5.2.2 Summary of the novel
Haroun is the only child of the famous storyteller Rashid Khalifa, the Ocean of Notions
or the Shah of Blah and Soraya. Rashid, busy with his storytelling and travelling, begins
to neglect his wife Soraya. Feeling lonely, she becomes friendly with their neighbour, Mr
Sengupta, a dull clerk who convinces her that she will be happier with him. One day
Soraya runs away with Mr Sengupta. This leaves Rashid heartbroken, and he loses his
gift of storytelling. When he opens his mouth all that comes out is a barking sound ‘Ark,
Ark, Ark’. Haroun feels he started the problem, by asking his father ‘What's the point of
telling stories that aren't even true?’, when his mother left him, so he must fix it and help
his father. Soon, however, Haroun discovers that Rashid has already cancelled his
subscription to the magical story waters of Kahani, which give all storytellers their
imagination and in order to reverse the cancellation Haroun must go to Kahani, a hidden
moon of the earth.
Thus, Haroun goes on a magical journey to Kahani, meaning ‘story’ in Urdu, in a
quest to restore his father's powers. Kahani has two parts, divided by a twilight zone.
There is the land of Gup where it is always daylight and stories are everywhere and the
city of Chup, ruled by the evil villain Khattam-Shud, whose name means `The End,' or
`completely finished'. He is attempting to poison the Sea of Stories and render Kahani
silent. His followers in the land of Chup are working round the clock to manufacture a
giant Plug to stop the source of the stories under the sea. In the Sea of Stories, each story
takes the form of stream or current of unique colour. He has also started a war with Gup,
the central city where stories are made, by kidnapping the king's daughter, Princess
Batcheat and angering her fiancé Prince Bolo.
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Haroun, along with various interesting characters such as Iff the water-genie, Butt, the
mechanical hoopoe, the eggheads at the P2C2E (Processes Too Complicated To
Explain) House, Mali the floating gardener, the Walrus and a pair of rhyming fish;
Goopy and Bagha, set out to stop Khattam-Shud, thus saving Rashid, Batcheat, Kahani,
and the stories of the world. They have many magical adventures and, in the end,
Khattam-Shud is killed by a piece of his own ice-statue. Rashid regains his storytelling
powers; Soraya returns home and Haroun’s family is together again. The sad city
remembers its name, which is Kahani and cheerfulness returns to the city.
5.2.3 Critical Commentary
page 15-16: the `sad city' and the `cheerful storyteller'
Read the first two paragraphs carefully. Notice how Rushdie creates the overpowering
image of the sad city in Alifbay; a city that has forgotten its name. He uses a number of
closely related adjectives, metaphors, and similes to create an overpowering atmosphere
of dull despair;
the ‘sad city’, `the saddest of cities', `stood by a mournful sea'
it has `sadness factories' whose smoke was `like bad news'
the sea has `glumfish' that made people 'belch with melancholy'
its ruined buildings ‘looked like broken hearts'
Against this sad backdrop, the cheery storyteller Rashid Khalifa stands out by contrast.
Rashid is famously known as the Ocean of Notions and the Shah of Blah. Don't miss the
brilliant use of rhyme to create these titles for Rashid. His son Haroun is `a happy young
fellow' and his wife Soraya sings sweetly. Rashid is ‘stuffed with cheery stories’ and into
this picture of the happy family Rushdie introduces a sense of impending trouble.
Suddenly Haroun's mother stops singing. It is a sign that something is wrong but no one
knows exactly what.
i) Describe the city in Alifbay?
ii) What is the difference between Rashid’s two nicknames, ‘Ocean of Notions’ and
‘Shah of Blah’?
pages 16-18: Haroun and Rashid
Haroun travelled frequently with his father, who was a very busy man and in great
demand. When he started telling his long tales, even animals and birds would listen.
The charismatic Rashid tells stories like a ‘juggler’ and ‘magician’; weaving fascinating
elements together. Not only are his stories full of interesting characters and plots, they
have catchy tunes accompanying them.
With a child's natural curiosity, Haroun keeps asking his father about the source of his
stories. Every time, he gets the same reply: `From the Great Sea Story…'. Rashid tells his
son that he drinks the hot water from an invisible tap installed by a Water-Genie. He
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orders his stories from the Great Sea Story which is located on Kahani (Hindi word for
story), a hidden moon of the earth. The stories are sent to Rashid through a hidden tap.
Haroun does not believe him and when he becomes too inquisitive Rashid asks him to be
content with the stories and enjoy them.
Towards the end of each section Rushdie builds up the reader's sense of anticipation by
hinting at tragedy around the corner:
Except that one day Haroun asked one question too many, and then all
hell broke loose.
There are clear hints that Rashid Khalifa, busy with his storytelling, rehearsals and public
events, does not notice the change in his wife's behaviour or her resentment.
i) What effect did Rashid’s stories have on the listeners?
ii) What metaphors does Rushdie use to indicate Soraya’s growing resentment?
iii) Mention the different characters that made up Rashid’s stories?
pages 18-20: Haroun's house and the Senguptas
Don't miss the rather unusual simile of a cake to describe Haroun's colourful house;
The Khalifas lived in a small concrete house with pink walls, lime-green
windows, blue-painted balconies and squiggly metal railings, all of which
made it look (in Haroun’s view) more like a cake than a building.
Rushdie knows how to create a fantasy world that will fascinate children. There is the
description of the city, with its poor and rich inhabitants. The atmosphere of impending
tragedy becomes more and more explicit, “ . . . Haroun was lucky: but luck has a way of
running out without the slightest warning.”
Haroun is a typical child, constantly bothering his parents with questions. He wants to
know why they did not have any more children. His mother sadly expresses their failure
but Rashid, as usual, gives a more colourful answer.
At this point the Senguptas, Haroun's neighbours, are introduced. Mr. Sengupta is a
clerk and his wife Oneeta is fond of Haroun as they do not have children of their own.
The dull Mr. Sengupta is the exact opposite of Rashid the storyteller; practical,
unimaginative, cold and lacking a sense of humour. He is described as ‘the man who
hated stories and storytellers.’ Whereas his wife is fond of Haroun and gives him gifts
and hugs him all the time, Mr. Sengupta is indifferent towards him.
Mr. Sengupta spends a lot of time chatting with Soraya and Haroun frequently
overhears him talk ill of his father, but one sentence sticks to his mind and troubles him:
`What's the use of stories that aren't even true?'
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Mr. Sengupta always criticizes Rashid’s work. This question is significant as it indicates
an unimaginative attitude to life, without the fun, laughter, and creativity that Rashid
Khalifa represents. Haroun, with a child's instinct, perhaps, senses Mr. Sengupta's
dishonourable intentions and dislikes him. It is clear that the lonely Soraya, neglected by
Rashid and full of resentment, is getting influenced by her neighbour. She begins to find
Mr Sengupta attractive because he is practical, not like her husband, whose head is full of
‘make-believe.’
You must remember that Rashid and Mr. Sengupta represent two opposing attitudes to
life. Not only are they different temperament-wise but their physical appearance is also
contrasting. Rashid is plump and `stuffed with cheery stories', symbolizing the abundant
joy that he shares with everyone in the form of stories, whereas the peevish Mr. Sengupta
looks mean and `sticky-thin.' Even his voice is ‘whiny'; when he talks it sounds as if he is
complaining. Rashid is very popular and politicians come to him so that he can tell
stories at their election rallies and entertain people.
i) How is Haroun’s house different from the others in the neighbourhood?
ii) What does Mr. Sengupta do?
iii) Why does Oneeta pamper Haroun?
iv) Compare Rashid Khalifa and Mr. Sengupta.
pages 20-22: Soraya runs away with Mr Sengupta
One day Haroun returns home to find his father crying and he learns the terrible news;
his mother has run away with Mr. Sengupta. In a fit of rage, Rashid has broken all the
clocks in the house and the clocks stop at exactly eleven o’clock. Soraya has left a note
that blames Rashid, saying that his brain is `full of make-belief.' She apologizes to
Haroun for going away. Traumatized by being abandoned by his mother Haroun shouts
at his father:
'What's the use of stories that aren't even true?'
It is the same question that Mr. Sengupta asked Soraya, when he criticized Rashid’s work
and which Haroun overheard. Without realizing it, Haroun repeats the question. The
result is unfortunate because, soon after this, ‘the Unthinkable Thing’ happened. Rashid
loses his storytelling powers. It is indeed a tragic consequence because Rashid is famous
for his storytelling and it is the only work that he has the talent for. As soon as Haroun
says the words, he wishes he could undo the damage.
i) Describe the weather on the day Soraya ran away?
ii) What did Soraya write in the letter for Rashid?
iii) What was the effect of Haroun’s question on Rashid?
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5.2.4 Summing Up
Rushdie succeeds in creating a fantasy world for young readers. There is an imaginary
city where sadness is manufactured, an ocean of stories, water-genies, and a loving father
with magical powers. It is in the classic fairy tale tradition, where a young hero, Haroun
travels to a magical land, is helped by supernatural creatures to defeat the villain and
succeeds in his mission. On one hand there is the `cheery' Rashid, busy entertaining
people, full of gripping tales, and a man who never gives a straight answer. His immense
popularity is clear from the fact that all types of politicians woo him and even animals
pause to listen to him. Against him is the sad city which has forgotten its name and the
unimaginative clerk Mr. Sengupta, who is obviously jealous of Rashid. Mr. Sengupta
wins a temporary victory by running away with Rashid's wife but in the end of the novel,
in true fairy tale tradition, Soraya comes back to her family and Haroun gets his father's
storytelling powers back.
Salman Rushdie wanted to write a story that celebrates the triumph of the imagination
and freedom of expression against fundamentalism and powers that seek to curb and
stifle the writer's freedom of expression. Rushdie spent many years underground and in
isolation, experiencing first-hand what it meant to be the target of forces that sought to
repress his voice. There is so much in common between Rashid Khalifa and Salman
Rushdie; both are story tellers, share a special bond with their sons, and are persecuted
because of their special gift. However, even without being aware of the autobiographical
elements and the deeper meaning underlying the story, the novel is entertaining. If you
have enjoyed reading this unit you could read the complete novel.
The novel is an assertion of the importance and value of stories/ literature in our lives.
In the end of the novel, when Haroun finally confronts the evil Khattam-shud, who is the
‘Arch-Enemy of stories and the Prince of Silence’, he asks him, ‘But why do you hate
stories so much . . . ? Stories are so much fun.’ He replies that stories constitute a world
that he cannot rule or control. In the extract in your course, although the villain Khattam-
Shud does not appear, it is the practical and dull Mr. Sengupta who is the villain. Rashid
is the opposite; full of laughter, fun, and stories.
Salman Rushdie has used colourful language to create a magical world. Another
distinguishing feature of his writing is his unusual combination of words; for instance,
‘witchy-fingers’, ’sticky-thin’ and ‘super-poor.’ ‘Iffing’ and ‘butting’ are also uncommon
words.
Activity 5.4
Make a list of unusual word combinations used by Rushdie in the story.
5.2.5 Glossary
Alifbay : an imaginary country. Its name comes
from the Hindustani word for alphabet.
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glumfish : Rushdie's own coinage. It means sad
fish.
Haroun and Rashid : Haroun and Rashid are both named after
the legendary Haroun-al Rashid, Caliph
of Baghdad, who features in many
Arabian Nights tales. The surname
Khalifa actually means Caliph.
Ocean of Notions : this nickname of Rashid's would mean
full of ideas
Shah of Blah : another name for Rashid, means the king
of nonsense
raggedy : torn, frayed clothes
alley : a narrow back-lane
saga : a long, detailed story
wobbly stomach : shaking because of the layers of fat
witchy : here it would mean magical
great Story Sea : in the novel, the magical story waters are
on Kahani, a hidden moon of the earth
Water Genie : there is a water-genie in the novel and he
is called Iff.
mingy : mean, stingy
politico : politician or a person who is interested in
politics
panjandrum : mock title for an important person
5.2.6 Key to Check your Progress Questions
page 15-16: the sad city and the cheerful storyteller
i. The sad city in Alifbay has forgotten its name. The sea, the fish in it and the
people who ate the fish were all very sad. There was so much sadness in this city
that it was manufactured, packaged and sent to other countries.
ii. The two nicknames of Rashid Khalifa are Ocean of Notions and Shah of Blah.
People who admire his cheerful stories call him the Ocean of Notions, which is a
metaphor for his abundant store of stories. Those who are jealous of his
popularity call him the Shah of Blah, or the king of nonsense.
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page 16-18: Haroun and Rashid
i. Rashid was a professional storyteller and whenever he started to tell his tales
everyone, including cows and monkeys, would stop to listen to him. It was as if
he had magical powers and cast a spell on his listeners.
ii. Rashid’s stories were full of all types of colourful characters that he made up. He
knew the art of entertaining people and his tales were full of heroes, villains,
princesses and gangsters. The stories were set in faraway lands, had exciting plots
and even included some music.
page 18-20: Haroun’s house and the Senguptas
i. Haroun’s house had a very cheerful appearance- pink walls, lime-green windows
and blue painted balconies. Haroun thought that it looked like a cake. The poor
people of the sad city lived in shacks that were made of cardboard boxes and
plastic sheets whereas the super-poor did not have homes and slept on the
pavements or doorways of shops.
ii. Mr. Sengupta, Haroun’s neighbour worked as a clerk at the office of the City
Corporation. He was an extremely thin, mean and with a voice that sounded as if
he was complaining.
iii. Mr. Sengupta’s wife, Oneeta was always pampering Haroun. The Senguptas were
childless and maybe that is why she paid so much attention to Haroun.
iv. Rashid and Mr. Sengupta represent two opposing attitudes to life. Not only are
they different temperament-wise but their physical appearance is also contrasting.
Rashid is plump and `stuffed with cheery stories', symbolizing the abundant joy
that he shares with everyone in the form of stories whereas the peevish Mr.
Sengupta looks mean and `sticky-thin.' Even his voice is ‘whiny.' He is the man
who ‘hates stories and storytellers.’ Whereas Rashid has a store of endless tales.
Mr. Sengupta, as Soraya writes in her letter, has no imagination at all. Even his
job is dull and boring.
page 20-22: Soraya’s runs away with Mr. Sengupta
i. It was the first rain of the season on the day Soraya ran away with Mr.
Sengupta. The air was cool and clean as the rain had washed away the smoke.
For a change, even the sea was full of pomfret, instead of glumfish.
ii. Soraya’s letter echoed the words that Mr. Sengupta spoke against Rashid. She
wrote that he did not take life seriously, was only interested in pleasure and
that his head was full of make-belief. Soraya told Rashid to tell Haroun that she
loved him.
iii. When Rashid discovered that Soraya had run away, he broke all the clocks in
the house in a fit of anger. The time was exactly eleven o’clock at that
moment.
iv. Haroun was upset that his mother had run away and he shouted the exact words
that he had heard Mr. Sengupta use against Rashid. Soon after this something
terrible happened; Rashid lost his storytelling powers.
