UNIT II
5. AND THEN GANDHI CAME
Jawaharlal Nehru writes about the timely arrival of Gandhiji to Indian politics. He emphasizes his dynamic leadership. He was a beam of light that removed the darkness. When the First World War came to an end people expected peace, relief and progress. But it brought repressive rule and martial law. They were being humiliated. Many became unemployed and suffered poverty and misery. It was at this critical period that Gandhiji came. It was like a powerful current of fresh air. He taught the lessons of fearlessness and non-violence. He was an ordinary man. He was one among us. Fear was disappeared to a large extent. It was like a psychological change. People felt ashamed of being under foreign rule. Here came a need in the minds of the people to throw away the foreign rule. Gandhiji came with a two-fold action. One was to challenge and resist the foreign rule and the other was to fight against our social evils. At this time the fundamental objective of the Congress was to attain political freedom. Several people were ready to give up British titles. New values and a new simple way of life were implemented with the powerful leadership of Gandhiji. Gandhiji had his own ideas and dreams of free India. He sent volunteers for the rehabilitation of Indian villages. According to him an ideal India would be free from class distinctions and rigid caste systems the curse of untouchability, intoxicating drinks and drugs. Nehru says that Gandhiji was truly proud of his Hindu inheritance. He tried to give Hinduism a kind of universal attire which included all religions. Indian culture according to him is a fusion of all. He effected a psychological revolution even among his opponents.
6. The Price of Flowers
Mr Gupta meets a teenaged girl in a restaurant. She lives with her widowed mother in a poor neighbourhood. Her only brother Frank is in India serving the British army. They have no information from him for several months and they are worried. Mr Gupta visits their home. Mrs Clifford, the mother requests him to look in to the crystal on a ring sent by Frank from India, having magical powers and a Hindu will be able to see the future and past looking to it. Mr Gupta tries but fails. This disappoints her. Later Mrs Clifford falls ill. Maggie requests him to look once again into the crystal and tell her mother that Frank is alright. He agrees to tell this harmless lie and she recovered. But by the time he tells this, Frank was already dead. When Mr Gupta returns to India, Maggie gives him her hard earned one shilling to buy flowers for Frank’s grave. Review The story is a really touching one. The one shilling that Maggie gives him is hard earned money. At first Mr Gupta thinks of returning it. But later he decides to take it as he does not want to deny this joy of sacrifice. What is the price of those flowers? It is not certainly one shilling. The flowers are priceless when we consider Maggie’s feelings towards her brother. So the title of the story is an apt one. The western misconception of India is revealed through the words of Maggie and Mrs Clifford on many occasions. The story opens and ends with the meeting between Mr Gupta and Maggie. The characters are portrayed with utmost care. The careful selection of words and phrases arranged in a simple language adds to the beauty of the story. There is an abundance of dialogues in the story, which helps the reader to build an emotional connection with the characters.
7. Death the Leveller
The death will come for everyone regardless of any social status. There is no way to avoid the calling of Fate. Death comes to kings as well as farmers. When kings are buried the vestments are not superior to farm implements. The men with swords often win battles, and get both fame and glory. But all are overpowered by death and must surrender in defeat at some point of time. No prizes and achievements will last. A victor will also turn into a victim. In the end, they shall be buried under the earth. However, man may die but his actions won’t. If one has been just and fair in one’s life, then one’s actions can never be buried.
إرسال تعليق