Assignment on Rhetoric - Shruti, II BA English

Shruti, M. D, writes..

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or Mahatma Gandhi, The Father of our Nation was one of the greatest leaders and greatest speakers. His speeches were strong enough to inspire the nation and imply the importance and strength of non-violence. He lived a life, holding out to his principles of truth, non-violence, simplicity, faith and vegetarianism. He sets out an example to the world with his life.

The Quit India speech was made by Gandhi on August 8th, 1942, on the eve of the Quit India Movement. He called for determined, but passive resistance the signified the certitude that Gandhi foresaw for the movement is best described by his call to Do or Die. His speech was issued at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, since re-named August Kranti Maidan (August Revolution Ground). However, almost the entire Congress leadership, and not merely at the national level, was put into confinement less than twenty-four hours after Gandhi’s speech, and the greater number of the Congress leaders were to spend the rest of the war in jail.

THE QUIT INDIA SPEECH BY MAHATMA GANDHI

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

Rhetorics or oratory may be simply defined as impactful speaking. Gandhi’s Quit India Movement speech is a good example of Good rhetorics. The speech is strong enough to appeal to the logical, ethical and emotional sense. Gandhi was able to impart his thoughts, beliefs and something of his own personality through the speech. Even while doing this, we see that his tone is humble. His daily habits of reading, conversation and literary instinct are reflected in his speech. His great knowledge, experiences and feeling can be seen in his speech. His style appeals to all and is not confined to any particular class of people. That’s a very important point in rhetorics. The language should be easily understood by all. 

Gandhi’s language has the capacity to captivate his readers and get them to absorb what he’s trying to convey. Gandhi has invented a style to represent himself. He was able to present his ideas and convictions fully and naturally, without disadvantage from an imperfect medium of communication. He is perfectly fluent and natural in conversation. His power over expression has been developed by culture and his words are a spontaneous reflection of his mind’s working.

It is important for a good speaker to choose his words carefully. He should take care, patience and minuteness in the study and choice of words. In this speech, we can see that Gandhi has taken great care in the words he chose to speak. He was able to convey and impress his ideas and yet not leave his humbleness. He has spoken the words with exactness and used language to impart his thoughts rightly.

Gandhi was able to impart the value of non-violence. He taught people to fight Himsa (Violence) with Ahimsa (Non-violence). He could make people believe that Ahimsa was more powerful than Himsa and always had better results. The power of his speech was thus, that people could accept all this and do accordingly. It was not simply, that Mahatma Gandhi’s speeches are described as motivational, persuasive and inspirational speeches.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPEECH

The Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan, August Kranti) was the final call, the definitive organized movement of civil disobedience for immediate independence of India from British rule issued by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942 and made famous by his slogan Do or Die. Unlike the other Gandhi-led movements, Quit India was more controversial, and specifically designed to obtain the exit of the British from the Indian shores.

In 1942, Indians were divided over World War II, as the British had unilaterally and without consultation entered India into the war. Some wanted to support the British during the Battle of Britain, hoping for eventual independence through this support. Others were enraged by the British disregard for Indian intelligence and civil rights and were unsympathetic to the travails of the British people, which they saw as rightful revenge for the enslavement of Indians.

On August 8, 1942 the Quit India resolution was passed at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). At Gowalia Tank, Bombay, Gandhi urged Indians to follow a non-violent civil disobedience. Gandhi told the masses to act as an independent nation and not to follow the orders of the British. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the country responded to the call. Many thousands of revolutionaries who employed violent means were outside the Congress rallied to the call of their non-violent resister brothers and sisters.

Though the revolt shook the foundations of British rule, its forceful and quick suppression did reduce the force of the revolt. By early 1944, India was mostly peaceful again, while the entire Congress leadership was incarcerated. But, the movement in fact had succeeded. The war had sapped a lot of economic, political and military life-blood of the Empire, but the powerful Indian resistance had shattered the spirit and will of the British government, and had made it clear that after the war, even a greater, larger movement would be launched an would succeed, as no excuse or distraction from the issue would remain.

A young, new generation of nationalists had heeded Mahatma Gandhi’s call, suffered trials and tribulations in an extremely critical time, and came out victorious. Being “Quit India graduates,” was a matter of great prestige, the Congress Party had sown the seeds here of a new generation of nationalists who would become the first generation of independent Indians Quit India graduates used to great discipline and spirit they imbibed to brave the tragedy and travails of the Partition of India, and establishing a Constitution of the Republic and developing the strongest enduring tradition of democracy and freedom in post-colonial Africa and Asia, giving birth to the World’s Largest Democracy.

National Level Scientific Writing Contest..:

The National Aademy of Sciences invites entries - scientific write-up on Mission Green Earth - from students of B.Sc.(any Branch) / B.Tech.(any Branch) of Indian Universities by January 15, 2009 for evaluation and further participation (for selected entries / write-up only) in On the Spot Contest to be held on February 26, 2009 at Allahabad. The idea is to generate scientific temperament among students and also make them aware about the current scientific and environmental issues. The rules for Entries / Scientific Write-ups on Mission Green Earth is available on the websites of NASI at www.nasi.org.in and www.nasi.nc.in

Assignment on Rhetoric - Madhavan, M, II BA English

Assignment on Famous Rhetorical Speech of President George W.Bush

Submitted by: Madhavan, M

My greatest responsibility as President is to protect the American people. And that's your calling, as well. I thank you for your service, your courage, and your sacrifice.

... ... ...

After September the 11th, 2001, I told the American people that the road ahead would be difficult, and that we would prevail. Well, it has been difficult -- and we are prevailing. Our enemies are brutal, but they are no match for the United States of America, and they are no match for the men and women of the United States military.
May God bless you all.

Assignment on Rhetoric - Supraja, II BA English

SUPRAJA, P, writes..:

Rhetoric Analysis:

The above speech of John F.Kennedy is to educate the young audience of American University. This speech is about peace. He talks about a permanent solution for the global crisis called War. He was the right person to speak about peace because it was the time when there was a cold war between soviet union and America. This message was delivered in a ceremony of the American University. Sponsored by the Methodist Church, founded by John Fletcher Hurst and First opened by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. There are large amounts of live audience and even an external targeted audience such as Mass media.

SPEECH CONTENT AND STRUCTURE:

The whole content of this speech is about peace and the current affairs of that time. He says that “Total war makes no sense in an age where great powers can maintain large and relatively invulnerable nuclear forces and refuse to surrender without resort to those forces.”
He says that a single nuclear weapon contains almost 10 times of the explosive sources delivered by all allied airforces in the second world war, which can spoil wind, water, soil and sea to far corners of the globe and to generations yet unborn. He talks about the attitude of the two countries towards peace. The attitudes of both countries should change. He talks not only about the peace of America but about the universal peace too. He says that a series of concrete actions and effective agreements in his interest should be adopted not only by one or two nations but by many. He requests each country should live at least in mutual tolerance by submitting the disputes to a just and peaceful settlement. The enmities between the nations do not last forever. Then he generally talks about the different disputes between US and Soviet union and the disputes within other nations. He confesses that there is a certain defect in the attitude of US towards Soviet Union.

Finally he concludes his speech by stating that Americans will never start a war and the Americans would be prepared to stop the war started by other countries.

The Speech Conclusion:

Like the opening, the concluding remarks are also quite interesting. The conclusion here is quite concise and memorable. Here he calls all the Americans to say ‘No’ to war. There is no interaction with the audience. The message was focused on the word ‘WE’

LANGUAGE:

The language used here is simple and appropriate for the audience. The sentences here were a bit long but was easy to understand.

INTANGIBLES:

This speech was convinceable and a must hear address. It was very interesting that we would hear it once again.

Assignment on Rhetoric - Dolly, M, II BA English

Choose any one famous speech of Dr.Abdul Kalam that interests you and analyse its structure from a rhetorical perspective and comment on its historical significance.

Submitted by: Dolly, M, II BA English

Kalam's Indian Vision - 2020

"I have three visions for India. In 3000 years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds. From Alexander onwards, The Greeks, the Turks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not done this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and Tried to enforce our way of life on them. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others...
... ... ...

"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY"
Lets do what India needs from us.
Thank youAbdul Kalaam

Rhetoric is all about listening, speaking, reading and writing, where the oratory part is not given importance in the educational institutes, which is a drawback in the upgrowth of children. Rhetoric in a broad sense means 'to convince'. We can see this quality in most of the best orators like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Barack Obama, Abdul Kalam.

To talk about the speech from a rhetorical perspective, I've taken the famous speech of Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. Its known with a title "Kalam's Indian Vision 2020." This speech is known to be one of the most inspirational speech given by Abdul Kalam to the people of India.

The speech is started by directly approaching the main point. The main idea of the whole speech is given in the first sentence itself.

"I have three visions for India."

The three main canvas of Rhetoric;
* Logos - using logic thus to appeal to the reason.
* Ethos - using ethics thus to appeal to the ethical principal and
* Pathos - Emotion is cleverly and satisfactorily used by Mr.Kalam in this speech.

Secondly, comes his style. Style is the manner of expressing thought in language; and more over particularly giving it skillful expression with fitting dignity and distinction. As its said that a man style is mirror of his mind and character, we see that Mr.Kalam's style represent his humanity and humble nature. We can see that his interest, lies in developing not only the nation but also the mind set of the people of the nation.

This speech has its own style and the expression is direct and easily said so that even a layman can understand without any difficulty.

Assignment on Rhetoric - Priya, P, II BA English

Priya, P, writes..:

I Have a Dream Speech by Martin Luther King

Analysis from a Rhetorical Perspective:

Studying other speakers is a critical skill, and quite an essential skill for a public speaker because through this ability to analyze a speech (will) gives some new strength of my heart.

The Speech Objectives:

In this speech by Martin Luther King’s goal is to get freedom from everything in America. I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King speech is full of educated and motivate the people of his own country. In this speech of Martin Luther King’s primary message being delivered. Such is that “to get freedom.” Why the Martin Luther King delivering this speech means to know about their rights, they can live in the country of their own land, to come together to win sweet land of liberty. Exactly he is a right person. So that only the people of Negro listened his speech and followed his ways.

The Audience and Context for the Speech:

I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King is used different kinds of techniques to connect with an audience.

King delivery of the speech on August 28, 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the march on Washington for jobs and freedom was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Speech Content and Structure:

The content and structure of the speech is selected and organized to achieve the primary speech objective. The content of the speech is freedom and structure is long.

The Speech Opening:

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King opening with clear establish the intent of the presentation and its opening with memorable.

The Speech Body:

The author Martin Luther King organized the famous sketch of his ‘I Have a Dream’ is easy to follow everybody, and he presented smoothly from one part of the presentation to the next.

The Speech Conclusion:

‘I Have a Dream’ is appropriate there – a call to action. Delivery skills and techniques:- Martin Luther knows the best speakers know precisely when to use every tool how to use and for what purpose.

Historical Significance:

“I Have a Dream” is the popular name given to the historic public speech by Martin Luther King Jr, when he spoke of his desire for a future where blacks and whites among others desire for a future where blacks and whites among others would coexist harmoniously as equals. King’s delivery of the speech on August 28, 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln memorial during the march on Washington for jobs and freedom was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Delivered to over 2,50,000 Civil Rights supporters, the speech is often considered to be one of the greatest and most notable speeches in history and was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century by a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.

Conclusion:
The ‘I Have a Dream’ speech by Martin Luther king featured is in the form of extracts, passages or lines from the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King. This speech can be described as a motivational speech, persuasive speech or inspirational speech. The celebrated Martin Luther King had excellent powers of oration which are highlighted forever in History by the dream speech by Martin Luther King.

Assignment on Rhetoric - Nadhiya, N, II BA English

Nadhiya, N, writes:

Famous Speech of Martin Luther King:

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C

“I Have a Dream” is the popular name given to the historic public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., when he spoke of his desire for a future where blacks and whites among others would coexist harmoniously as equals. King’s delivery of the speech on August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Delivered to over 2,50,000 civil rights supporters, the speech is often considered to be one of the greatest and most notable speeches in history and was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century by a 1999 poll of scholars of public address. According to U.S Representative John Lewis, who also spoke that day as the President of the student Non-violent coordinating committee. “Dr.King had the power, the ability and the Lincoln Memorial into a modern day pulpit. By speaking the way he did, he educated, he inspired, he informed not just the people there, but people throughout America and unborn generations.

At the end of the speech, King departed from his prepared text for a partly improvised peroration on the theme of “I Have a Dream”, possibly prompted by Mahalia Jackson’s cry, “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” He had delivered a speech incorporating some of the same sections in Detroit in June 1963, when he marched on Woodward Avenue with Walter Reuther and the Reverend C.L. Franklin, and rehearsed other parts.

In this historic speech, King said he had a dream that white and black children would one day walk hand in hand and that one day sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners would be able to agree to live together.

The 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were tremendously difficult times for African-Americans. They were not treated like white Americans simply because of their skin colour. And the laws protected the bad treatment they got. Laws requiring “separate” hotels, restaurants, schools and even drinking fountains were common in many states.

Martin Luther King was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, a drive to get more equal treatment for all Americans, not just white Americans.

This speech was important in several ways:

It brought even greater attention to the Civil Rights Movement, which had been going on for many years. King’s speech was part of the March on Washington, a gathering of more than 250,000 people in the nation’s capital. African-Americans still were not treated as equals. Marches like this one and ones earlier in Detroit and other cities called attention to this fact.

The speech was given in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, the monument honouring President Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the Southern States. By giving his speech there, King was wanting to call attention to how things were terrible a century before (during the Civil War) and how some things hadn’t changed so very much in 100 years.

It brought Martin Luther King and his message of non-violence to a nationwide (and worldwide) audience. The speech was carried on radio and was reprinted in newspapers and magazines all over the United States and all over the world. After this speech, the name Martin Luther King was known to many more people than before.

It made Congress move faster in passing the Civil Rights Act. This set of laws was finally passed the next year, in 1964. Many of these laws gave African-Americans more equal treatment than they ever had before.
Martin Luther King continued to speak out for Civil rights and for non-violence. Sadly, he was killed in 1968. But the memory of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech and the message it continues to live on.

Assignment on Rhetoric - Rajesh Kumar, N, II BA English

Rajesh writes..:

Clinton Speech - Farewell Address:

My fellow citizens, tonight is my last opportunity to speak to you from the Oval Office as your President.

I am profoundly grateful to you for twice giving me the honor to serve, to work for you and with you to prepare our nation for the 21st century. And I'm grateful to Vice President Gore, to my Cabinet secretaries, and to all those who have served with me for the last eight years. This has been a time of dramatic transformation, and you have risen to every new challenge. You have made our social fabric stronger, our families healthier and safer, our people more prosperous.

You, the American people, have made our passage into the global information age an era of great American renewal. In all the work I have done as president, every decision I have made, every executive action I have taken, every bill I have proposed and signed, I've tried to give all Americans the tools and conditions to build the future of our dreams, in a good society, with a strong economy, a cleaner environment, and a freer, safer, more prosperous world. I have steered my course by our enduring values: opportunity for all, responsibility from all, a community of all Americans.

I have sought to give America a new kind of government, smaller, more modern, more effective, full of ideas and policies appropriate to this new time, always putting people first, always focusing on the future. Working together, America has done well. Our economy is breaking records, with more than 22 million new jobs, the lowest unemployment in 30 years, the highest home ownership ever, the longest expansion in history.

Our families and communities are stronger. 35 million Americans have used the family leave law. Eight million have moved off welfare. Crime is at a 25-year low. Over 10 million Americans receive more college aids, and more people than ever are going to college. Our schools are better. Higher standards, greater accountability and larger investments have brought higher test scores, and higher graduation rates.

More than three million children have health insurance now, and more than 7 million Americans have been lifted out of poverty. Incomes are rising across the board. Our air and water are cleaner. Our food and drinking water are safer. And more of our precious land has been preserved, in the continental United States, than at any time in 100 years. America has been a force for peace and prosperity in every corner of the globe. I'm very grateful to be able to turn over the reins of leadership to a new President, with America in such a strong position to meet the challenges of the future.

Tonight, I want to leave you with three thoughts about our future. First, America must maintain our record of fiscal responsibility. Through our last four budgets, we've turned record deficits to record surpluses, and we've been able to pay down 600 billion dollars of our national debt, on track to be debt free by the end of the decade for the first time since 1835. Staying on that course will bring lower interest rates, greater prosperity, and the opportunity to meet our big challenges. If we choose wisely, we can pay down the debt, deal with the retirement of the baby boomers, invest more in our future and provide tax relief.

Second, because the world is more connected every day in every way, America's security and prosperity require us to continue to lead in the world. At this remarkable moment in history, more people live in freedom than ever before. Our alliances are stronger than ever. People all
around the world look to America to be a force for peace and prosperity, freedom and security. The global economy is giving more of our own people, and billions around the world, the chance to work and live and raise their families with dignity.

But the forces of integration that have created these good opportunities also make us more subject to global forces of destruction, to terrorism, organized crime and narco-trafficking, the spread of deadly weapons and disease, the degradation of the global environment.

The expansion of trade hasn't fully closed the gap between those of us who live on the cutting edge of the global economy and the billions around the world who live on the knife's edge of survival. This global gap requires more than compassion. It requires action. Global poverty is a powder keg that could be ignited by our indifference.

In his first inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson warned of entangling alliances. But in our times, America cannot and must not disentangle itself from the world. If we want the world to embody our shared values, then we must assume a shared responsibility. If the wars of the 20th century, especially the recent ones in Kosovo and Bosnia, have taught us anything, it is that we achieve our aims by defending our values and leading the forces of freedom and peace. We must embrace boldly and resolutely that duty to lead, to stand with our allies in word and deed, and to put a human face on the global economy so that expanded trade benefits all people in all nations, lifting lives and hopes all across the world.

Third, we must remember that America cannot lead in the world unless here at home we weave the threads of our coat of many colors into the fabric of one America. As we become ever more diverse, we must work harder to unite around our common values and our common humanity. We must work harder to overcome our differences. In our hearts and in our laws, we must treat all our people with fairness and dignity, regardless of their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation and regardless of when they arrived in our country, always moving toward the more perfect union of our founders' dreams.

Hillary, Chelsea, and I join all Americans in wishing our very best to the next President, George W. Bush, to his family and his Administration in meeting these challenges and in leading freedom's march in this new century.

As for me, I'll leave the presidency more idealistic, more full of hope than the day I arrived and more confident than ever that America's best days lie ahead. My days in this office are nearly through, but my days of service, I hope, are not. In the years ahead, I will never hold a position higher or a covenant more sacred than that of President of the United States. But there is no title I will wear more proudly than that of citizen.

Thank you. God bless you, and God bless America.

The William Jefferson Clinton Speech - Farewell Address:

The William Jefferson Clinton Speech - Farewell Address featured is in the form of extracts, passages or lines from the William Jefferson Clinton Speech - Farewell Address. A speech by Bill Clinton can be described as a motivational speech, persuasive speech or inspirational speech. A Quote or citation from the William Jefferson Clinton Speech - Farewell Address provides an illustration of, or allusion to, the famous events of the day during the era of Bill Clinton. Use the William Jefferson Clinton Speech - Farewell Address with passages and lines taken as direct citations from this famous Presidential Speech using the language and words used by Bill Clinton in their own language and dialect within the content of the Presidential speech. This well-known Presidential speech by Bill Clinton, famed for its powers of verbal and oral communication, makes excellent use of the words and language. Use of native tongue of Bill Clinton within the speech makes it powerful and relevant to historic occasions. A persuasive, motivational and inspirational speech by Bill Clinton. An American President's speech, such as those by Bill Clinton can contain various subjects and topics ranging from inaugural, farewell, ceremonial, tribute, acceptance and commemorative but each President speech is informative. The celebrated Bill Clinton had excellent powers of oration which are highlighted forever in History by the William Jefferson Clinton Speech - Farewell Address

Assignment on Rhetoric - Hebzibah Nancy, G, II BA English

Hebzibah Nancy, G, writes...:

Barack Obama’s Rhetorical Skill, His ability to captivate and Inspire Audiences with his powerful speeches:

What is the secret of his success – the word themselves, the way he delivers them, or the historical change he represents?

“I believe Barack Obama embodies, more than any other politician, the ideals of American eloquence," says Ekaterina Haskins, professor of rhetoric at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

His speeches, she argues, are shaded with subtle echoes of great speeches past, consciously creating a sense of history, purpose and continuity.

Past ghosts

"He has certainly studied all of his predecessors, he is quite aware of the rhetorical heritage that he draws on," Ms Haskins explains. "He clearly sees himself as a descendant of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King."
"He is summoning the ghosts of previous leaders and presidents who Americans have learnt to revere."

On winning the election, his Chicago address echoed two of the most famous speeches in US history - Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Gettysburg address and the words spoken by assassinated civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King the day before his death.
Philip Collins, a speech-writer for former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, is in no doubt that Mr Obama owes his success to his oratorical gifts.
"He has shown the power of brilliant rhetorical force," says Mr Collins, a leader writer for the UK's Times newspaper.
Initially, Mr Obama's speeches, peppered with references to lofty ideals like "change", "promise" and "belief" prompted criticism that they were devoid of content and policy.
He began to add policy detail as the campaign progressed but his speech at the Democratic Convention was regarded as less engaging by some observers, precisely because of the number of concrete proposals it contained.

Peopled by personalities

Ms Haskins argues that Mr Obama has other techniques for avoiding the charge of pure rhetoric, adding weight and depth to the abstract with solid illustrations.

"Rhetoric always has the connotations of being about appearances rather than reality but he doesn't sound false. He plays with the patriotic abstractions that allow for a certain kind of rhetorical manoeuvring and fills them with specific concrete examples," she says.
His victory speech, delivered in Chicago, channelled broad ideas of the struggle of a generation through the eyes of 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper, who has become a celebrity in her own right.
But does the poetry of his campaign risk stumbling when it faces the more prosaic role of holding office?

Many commentators pinpoint the "A More Perfect Union" speech, made in March 2008 in the aftermath of a scandal about his former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as one of Mr Obama's finest.

Evidence of Rev Wright's inflammatory sermons risked irrevocably damaging Mr Obama's candidacy but his response managed to tackle the question of race in US society with delicacy.
It was a speech which wrapped the experience of different races together, expressing understanding for the deep-seated, lingering resentments of each and presenting himself as the embodiment of unity.

For Mr Collins, it remains the only speech, so far, that will not fade. Rousing campaigning speeches, however perfectly pitched and presented, he says, do not test the true mettle of a politician. What does is a speech that attempts to change the opinions of those who disagree with you.
"The weakness of Obama's rhetoric so far is that it is so agreeable. There is almost nothing he says with which you can disagree. We need to wait for the big moments, the foreign policy challenges, for the great Obama speeches."

'It's about the tune'

Yet print out and read a transcript of a speech by Mr Obama and you may be disappointed. Virginia Sapiro, professor of political science at Boston University, suggests this is because the way Mr Obama delivers his speeches is as important as his words.
"He looks at all times in possession of himself - he is very calm, with an inner peace in his delivery which, in a time of crisis, is very important."
Ms Haskins agrees: "I've been going through his speeches textually. The text alone cannot tell us why they are so powerful, it is about delivery."
He may have calmness, notes Mr Collins, but the range of his delivery - the way he alters his pace, tone and rhythm - is closer to song.

"His style of delivery is basically churchy, it's religious: the way he slides down some words and hits others - the intonation, the emphasis, the pauses and the silences," he explains. "He is close to singing, just as preaching is close to singing. All writing is a rhythm of kinds and he brings it out, hits the tune. It's about the tune, not the lyrics, with Obama.

Assignment on Rhetoric - Vignesh Ram, A, II BA English

Vignesh Ram, A, writes...:

Famous Speech of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and analysis of its Rhetorical perspective:

Sixty one years ago our would be first Prime Minister of free India delivers a speech which is intended to inspire what was to be the independent spirit of our Nation. And it is this great articulation that will be looked into in detail from a Rhetorical perspective in the following:

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru talks to a multitude of eager Indians about their duty and responsibility in handling the new power vested in their hands on that eventful day. He speaks elaborately about the hardships involved in the days that would follow the 15th of August, 1947. His speech, we find, is emotionally, politically and patriotically quite profound. He in a methodical way, conveys his idea of what an independent India would be like and how the free Indiana should work, labour to achieve that goal.

To every great speech ever delivered in the history of mankind the most important aspect is and always has been the opening line. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru begins this historical speech with this line:

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very systematically.”


Thus delivering the expository line of his entire rhetoric he forges his way into the speech. He does not mince his words in making it clear to the listening public, the difficulties the nation has gone through so far and the challenges it would face from posterity. He addresses the soul of our nation and recognizes the sufferings of our people. He captures and conveys this thought as follows:

“A moment comes which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, then an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”

He urges every Indian, on that day to pledge his/her allegiance to India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity. He reminds every Indian that the independence from the British Raj is only a step even being an achievement. At the same time, he makes them aware of the magnitude of power and responsibility awarded to them by this mighty achievement. We find that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, being as the scholar he was, makes full use of his oratorical dexterity to embed these ideas in the minds of the Indian public to leave a rather deep impression.

Thus making his primary idea, he arrives at a fitting conclusion that is self explanatory and shall be left for itself to exhibit its rhetorical aesthetics. Peace has been said to be indivisible, so is freedom, so is prosperity now, and so also is disaster in this one world that can no longer be split into isolated fragments. To the people of India whose representatives we are, we make appeal to join us with faith and confidence in this great adventure. This is no time for petty and destructive criticism, no time for ill-will or blaming others. We have to build the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell.”

Assignment on Rhetoric - Dayananth,J, II BA English

Dayananth, J, writes..:

Rhetorical and Historical Importance of Mahatma Gandhi’s Speech on Indo – Pak Conflict

This is one of the famous speeches of Mahatma Gandhiji on Kashmir Issue, which he addressed in the Prayer meeting on January 4, 1948 where he justified Indian government for having taken the Issue (Kashmir Issue) to U.N.O and also stressed the importance of Peace talks between India and Pakistan. He started the speech with these very lines “Today there is a talk of war everywhere. Everyone fears a war breaking out between the two countries.” This is how he started the historically important speech.

He also insisted in that speech that if a war breaks between India and Pakistan it would be a calamity for both Nations and added however trivial the issue may appear to be, it could lead to a war between the Nations.

He also suggested that the denial of Pakistan will bot settle the matter and requested to get out of the Kashmir Issue which has been creating a war hysteria and to arrive at settlement through bilateral negotiations. He also warned if such settlements cannot be made through Peace talks it would definitely lead to war. Thereby he justified the decision taken by the Union Government to take up the issue to U.N.O. He also didn’t mind whatever the attitude of Pakistan may be as he clearly said, “If I had my way I would have invited Pakistan’s representatives to India and we could have met, discussed the matter and worked out some settlement. He also quoted the Pakistan’s statement that they want an amicable settlement but they do nothing to such settlement.

Even on that stand he humbly told the responsible leaders of Pakistan “though we are now two countries – which is a thing I never wanted – we should at least try to arrive at an agreement so that we could live as peaceful neighbours. He also acknowledged that “the mistakes were made on both sides, of this no one have no doubt. But this does not mean that we should persist in those mistakes, for then in the end we shall only destroy ourselves. Bringing the subject to an end he suggested that India and Pakistan should come together if God as witness and find amicable settlement. Thereby he made a call for peace.

Besides the Kashmire issue, he addressed a domestic issue which happened in Delhi over which he was really concerned by that time. He was very upset because many of the children and women were exploited. By that time he made the speech he was quite worried about the internal conflict that were happening in the capital, where there were world representatives looking into. Having compassion in his mind he was very conscious in keeping up the Government norms by advising the people not to go against the law. He also termed the people as Barbarians who indulged in making women and children as a shield for their protection. And in the concluding part of his speech he insisted reconciliation which would prevent the third person’s interference and comments.

This speech is both rhetorically and historically important. Rhetorically it is important because Gandhiji takes on the stand of common man’s perspective. The main objective of his speech is to avoid a war between India and Pakistan. He however manages to express his powerful thoughts in a moderate way. This is also rhetorically important because of his humble approach without compromise and also his positive attitude towards peace, which clearly reflects his ahimsa ideology and his tendency to admit the mistakes in both ends and go for peace proves him as a peace maker. Throughout the speech he was very conscious of not letting other country to intervene and laugh at us.

Historically Mahatma Gandhiji’s Speech on Kashmir issue is important because it happened immediately after few months of India’s freedom and also the event took place in the same month of Gandhiji’s assassination. Since the event which Gandhiji quoted in his speech happened in Delhi capital of India, it becomes historical fact. Since it was the first war hysteria between India and Pakistan it was of historical importance. It was also the first interference of the U.N.O between India and Pakistan.

Gandhi’s thought is full of rich values that to be adopted. His way of approach and firm stand is exemplary. His heart for keeping peace and mind for keeping law is genuine. His patriotism and love for neighboring country is also revealed in his speech. His effort in bringing in peace between Hindus and Muslims causes his death which is the saddest part of all. As we face the same turmoil at present, we will have to follow the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhiji the “Father of Our Nation.”

Assignment on Rhetoric - Georgy Varghese, II BA English

Georgy Varghese writes..:

Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny.’

‘Tryst with Destiny’ was a speech made by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India. The Speech was made to the Indian constituent Assembly, on the eve of India’s independence, towards midnight on August 14, 1947. It focuses on the aspects that transcend India’s history. It is considered in modern India to be a landmark oration that captures the essence of the triumphant culmination of the hundred-year Indian freedom struggle against the British Empire in India.

Looking from a Rhetoric perspective ‘Tryst with Destiny’ is a special speech in which Nehru portrays the problems and challenges of Independent India very well. He urges the people to get together and dwell in peace.

“We have to build the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell.” His language and style is highly impressive.

“And so we have to labour and to work, and work hard, to give reality to our dreams.” Those dreams are for India but they are also for the world.”

He had mentioned about all sectors in the society and challenged all of them. Nehru says freedom and power bring responsibility. The responsibility rests upon this Assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India. Before the birth of freedom we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of the sorrow. Some of those pains continues even now. Nevertheless, the past is over and it is the future that beckons to us now.

Nehru acknowledges the realities, he says, the service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.

Rather than celebrating Nehru asks people to work more harder so that India could wipe away poverty from its soil. This speech is so significant and it has got a big historical importance.

The speech is referenced in the 1988 Hindi film “Earth” directed by Deepa Mehta. The film portrays the main characters listening to the speech on radio, against the backdrop of the Hindu-Muslim riots following the Partition of India. This provides an interesting juxtaposition between the realities of partition and the optimism that followed Independence. His speech is appreciable from a rhetoric perspective. He is a famous crowd puller.

Assignment on Rhetoric - Samuel Finny, M, II BA English -

Assignment topic: - Choose any one famous speech of Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

Samuel Finny, M, Writes:

The Speech by Dr.Abdul Kalam on the eve of the 59th Independence Day:

This is the speech by Dr.Abdul Kalam delivered to the Nation of India on the evening of the 59th Independence Day. This particular speech talks about the freedom fighters and covers all the aspects of the country. The presentation of Dr.Abdul Kalam is to great the nationalism to each and evey citizen of India. At the time of Independence Day the whole Nation, 110 crores of people, watching the speech of our president. So each and every words have uniqueness and its like a arrow that insert in every heart in India.

His presentation covered all the aspects of Our country like:
*Nature’s Fury and its Management
* Energy Independence
*Goals and Policies
*Energy Independence in Electric Power Generation
*Changing Structure of Energy Sources
*Solar Farms
*Nuclear Energy
*Power through municipal waste
*Power System loss Reduction
*Transportation sector
*Use of biofuels

Each topic was explained in detail and every thing revealed to all Indians. Not only informing but also he express his views personally that the effort of every individual to this great Nation success. As he referred to some of the freedom fighters, it made all the modern Age people to have more spirit of Nationalism.

THE SPEECH OBJECTIVE:
Speaker’s Goal:
The speaker’s goal is to educate the people of India, in such a way as to create a secure life themselves and around forever. The Rhetoric perspective The speaker also aimed to motivate the listeners to create the spirit of nationalism and to also live for others.

Primary Message:
The primary message by Dr.Abdul Kalam within 25 years, “our country should consider as a developed country & the economic status should raise.”

Right Person? :
If any speech delivered by any leader, it has some real useful meaning. As he was the President of India, he supported to give this royal message as well as what he speaks, he is worthy of that. This judgment is by the listeners.

Objective Achieved? :
As the speech was like motivation, it will not achieved suddenly. But it will come true as soon as possible. Because of the power of his speech.
BEFORE THE SPEECH:
Similar, opposed, or unrelated?
As he was the only responsible for this perspective. Then it’s not possible for others to present the same topic before him. Though it relates or has a similar effect of every words interpret the real meaning of (motive) the speech.

Introduced, appropriate? :
Certainly, President should/must introduce appropriate.

Speaker with this topic at this time:
As the time of Independence Day, the audience generally look over the speaker with that topic at that time. Its already preplanned, but the style of speech may differ one another. Former President Dr.Abdul Kalam worthy of it. When he was talking about ------- he point out the freedom fighters and also mentioned how many of them he met.

Level of Confidence:
For Dr.Abdul Kalam, the uniqueness within him is that the level of confidence. All most, in all the speech he used to mention the dates. At this time he mention that within 25 years, the India will never lack for oil and gases from other country. Even in different speech, he said, “In 2020, India will be developed” in all the circumstance of the nation. That is the real spirit and the realism present in his speech. He did not believe only with him but also all the citizens of India. That will bring the result.

THE SPEECH BODY
Presentation focused:
The presentation focused/related back to the primary object. In this speech, at the beginning he taught about the nationalism and after that he covered Nature’s fury & resources, after everything else he comes directly to the audiences, and submit everything in the hands of common people.

Statistic, to support the speech:
In all the part, he gave the examples & statistic provided to the audience, to make the listeners to picturise effectively. In energy Independence, he stated the amount of oil that is 114 million tonnes of oil used by our country. Soon that 75% of gas we are importing from foreign countries, we spend Rs.120,000 crores per year. And the electricity to India 121,000 MW which is 3% of world capacity.

Fortunately for us, 89% of energy used for power generation today is indigenous, from coal (56%), hydroelectricity (25%), nuclear power (3%), and renewable (5%). Solar energy segment contributes just 0.2% of our energy production. These statistics references supported the speech of Dr.Abdul Kalam.

*****

Assignment on Rhetoric - Thamil Vanan, V, II BA English

Thamil Vanan, V, "writes":

Speech of Abdul Kalam and Rhetoric Analysis:

Address and interaction with the students of Delhi Public School, Dimapur, by APJ Abdul Kalam, on 27th Dec 2008. Dr Abdul Kalam started his speech with his Christmas greetings and topic for the talk is “Ignited Minds: The Power of the Nation.”

The president had chalked out his speech under different heads. The first being earth moon complex.

Earth-moon-mars Complex:

Dr.Abdul Kalam, here, observes, the scientists and engineers of ISRO made the country proud by precise guiding of the moon Impact probe (MIP) to the specific location of their choice have all been demonstrations of disciplinary and interdisciplinary skills in this high tech area and acknowledged by the world. Here, he personally witnessed, how many different types of hardware and software systems these scientists perfected in a short duration of five years for on board computers of Chandrayan. According to him, they not only completed a successful mission, but had triggered many minds to take up innovative missions of their lives to explore the earth-moon-Mars complex. The distance between earth and mars varies from 55 to 400 million kilometers depending upon their orbital positions.

His experience in Greece:

He shared his beautiful experience, when he visited Greece in April 2007. He negotiating and climbed towards Acropolis mountain top in Athens and came across a group of 150 Greek Students. At that time, he thinks about the great personalities, the land of Greece had given to the world: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Here, he brings out the words of Plato, “Our aim is founding the State was not the disproportionate happiness of any one class, but the greatest happiness of the whole.”

Then, he compared the words of Plato to Tamil poet Saint Thiruvalluvar, around the same period, that is “the important elements that constitute a nation are: being disease free; high earning capacity: high productivity; harmonious living and strong defence.” According to him, we have to provide all these elements to the citizens of every nation on an equitable basis for happiness for all.

Knowledge:

According to Dr.Kalam, knowledge is a combination of creativity + righteousness + courage. Young students can acquire knowledge from home, good books, teachers and teaching environment.

First one is Righteousness:

“Where there is righteousness in the heart There is beauty in Character. Another component of courage which is characterized by Courage:
“Courage to think different,
Courage to invent,Courage to discover the impossible,Courage to travel into an unexplored path,Courage to combat the problems and Succeed are the unique qualities of the youth,” according to him.

Save or better someone life:-

While talking about good deeds, he was reminded of the advice given to Mahatma Gandhiji by his mother. She says, “Son, in your entire life time, if you can save or better someone’s life, your birth as a human being and your life is a success. You have the blessing of the Almighty God”. This advice has made a deep impact in the mind of Gandhiji, which made him to work for the humanity throughout his life.

Together we will win:

According to Dr.Abdul Kalam, life is more than winning for ourselves. Life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. Here he reveals, “I would say that, you do not have to slow down. Rather by helping difficult areas, the feed back will make you go faster. If you pass this on, we may be able to change our hearts as well as someone else’s. “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle”.

Indomitable Spirit:-

Dr.Abdul Kalam narrates an experience which happened in Mexico, quoted from a book caleed “Everyday Greatness.”
A riot was raging in La Mesa Prison in Mexico. Twenty five hundred prisoners were packed into a compound, which had been built for only six hundred. They angrily hurled broken bottles at the police who fired back with machine guns. Then came a startling sight. A tiny five feet two inches, sixty three year old woman, calmly got into the crowd, with outstretched hands, in a simple gesture of peace. Ignoring the shower of bullets, she stood quietly and asked every one to stop. Incredibly every one did. No one else in the world, but Sister Antonia could have done this. Why did the people listen to her? All because of her decades of service to the prisoners by her choice. She sacrificed all her life for the sake of prisoners lived in the midst of murderers, thieves and drug lords all of whom she called her sons. She attended their needs round the clock, procured antibiotics, distributed eyeglasses, washed bodies for the burial and counselled the suicidal. This selfless act of love and compassion generated the respect among the prisoners to control
themselves and urged them to do what she wanted them to do. What a great message for humanity? We have seen a leader with compassion is there for even prisoners, but we need leaders with compassion for the voiceless people of millions in the world.

Youth Power:

Now, he talks about power of youth. According to him, ignited minds of the youth is the most powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and under the earth. And he convinced that the youth power, if properly directed and controlled, could bring about transformational changed in humanity for its progress, meeting its challenges and bring peace and prosperity. According to him, if we give a proper direction and manner, they can achieve anything from any part of the world.

Conclusion:

He concludes his talk by administering an oath for the youth. “As a youth, all of you have a responsibility to work for universal harmony by ironing out all the causes of conflicts.

Oath for the youth:

1. I will have a goal and work hard to achieve that goal. I realize that small aim is a crime.
2. I will always be righteous in the heart which leads to beauty in the character; beauty in the character brings harmony in the home, harmony in the home leads to order in the nation and order in the nation leads to peace in the world.
3. I will work with integrity and succeed with integrity.
4. I will be a good citizen, a good member of my family, a good member of the society, a good member of the nation and a good member of the world.
5. I will always try to save or better someone’s life. Wherever I am, a thought will always come to my mind. That is “What can I give?”
6. I will always protect and enhance the dignity of every human life.
7. I will always remember that “Let not my winged days, be spent in vain”.
8. I will always work for Clean Green Energy and Clean planet Earth.
9. As a youth of the Globe, I will work and work with courage to achieve success in all my tasks and enjoy the success of others.

III BA English - Assignment..:

Dear Students of III BA English, (for all of you who come under my purview)

Choose any theme(s) that interest you, with regard to the Novel of Study, "Things Fall Apart" and give a critique of the same in about ten pages.

Regards and all best wishes,

Rufus

Diploma Course in Conversational Hindi/Tamil..:

The State Bank of India Officers Association Institute conducts

six-month diploma courses in Conversational Hindi and Conversational Tamil.

The course is open to all and scheduled to begin in January 2009.

In addition to providing study materials, the institute will conduct six contact programmes in Chennai. Every month the contact programme will be conducted on a specified Saturday or Sunday (10 am to 5 pm).

Course fee is Rs.1,000/-

Cost of application form is Rs.100/- (which will be deducted from the course fee if the student joins.

DD/Local cheque for Rs.100/- drawn in favour of the SBIOA Institute, Chennai, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope (Rs.10/-) may be sent to:

STATE BANK OF INDIA OFFICERS ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE,

229, NSC Bose Road, Mercantile Plaza,

2nd Floor, P.B.No.1279, Chennai - 600 001.
Ph: 044-25340226
Please mention the course you are opting for and the medium of instruction on the envelope you send.

CHENNAI BOOK FAIR - 2009

The 32nd edition of Chennai Book Fair

will be inaugurated on 08 January, Thursday

by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who will also present the ‘Kalaignar Mu. Karunanidhi’ award for the year 2009.
The entry ticket for all persons above the age of 12 is Rs.5. The fair will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on working days and 11 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. on holidays.

TRANSLATION CONTEST @ Katha:

Translate an English story into a regional language.

The selected English story put up on www.katha.org can be translated into any Indian language.

Click here FOR MORE DETAILS.

The last date for sending in the submissions is March 31, 2009.

II BA English - Assignment on Rhetoric: (Updated)

Points to Note before you start working on your Assignment:
The essays should be about 10 to 12 pages in length, proofed, and well thought-out. Also, when you write the essays, be sure to use examples from the text of the speech concerned.
No further extension of the prescribed deadline is permissible. Creativity, Neatness and Originality will be rewarded suitably.

You are expected to frame your assignment on the following parameters given in our blog HERE

1. Ankita Harihar - Choose any one famous speech of Sir Winston Churchill that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

2. Dolly, M - Choose any one famous speech of Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

3.Hebzibah Nancy: Choose any one famous speech of any President of USA/India, that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

4. Nadhiya, N - Choose any one famous speech by Martin Luther King that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

5. Priya, P - Choose any one famous speech by Martin Luther King that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

6. Sheela, R - Choose any one famous speech of a great Indian leader that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

7. Shruti,M.T - Choose any one famous speech of a great Indian leader that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

8. Sudha, M - Choose any one famous speech of a great Indian leader that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

9. Supraja, P - Choose any one famous speech of John F.Kennedy that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

10. Ajit Daniel, C - Choose any one famous speech of any American leader that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

11. Arunan, M - Choose any one famous speech of any President of USA/India, that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

12. Baskar, G - Choose any one famous speech of Swami Vivekananda that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

13. Dayananth, J - Choose any one famous speech of a great Indian leader that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

14. Georgy Varghese - Choose any one famous speech of a great Indian leader that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

15. Jaison Mathew Jose - Choose any one famous speech of any English/American leader that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

16. Karthik, J.R - Choose any one famous speech of George Bush that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

17. Madhavan, M - Choose any one famous speech of any President of USA/India, that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

18. Martin, T - Choose any one famous speech of Martin Luther King that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

19. Rajesh Kumar, N - Choose any one famous speech of any President of USA/India, that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

20. Samuel Finny - Choose any one famous speech of Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

21. Tamilvanan - Choose any one famous speech of Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam that interests you, and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

22. Vigneshram - Choose any one famous speech of Dr.S.Radhakrishnan or Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and analyse its structure from a Rhetorical perspective, and also comment on its historical significance.

Assignment Topics for II BA English - The Modern Period:

Dear Students of II BA English, The following are the topics for your assignment for all of you who come under my purview.
1. Hebzibah Nancy: Compare and contrast the Priest and the lieutenant.
2. Riyukta Raghunath: Discuss the title of the Novel. Where are power and glory found in the novel?
3. Sudha, M: Discuss any two themes that you find in the novel "The Power and the Glory."
4. Ajit Joseph: Comment on the structure and narrative in "A Passage to India"
5. J.Dayananth: Give a critical commentary on "The Power and the Glory," with a character sketch of the Protagonist.
6. John Jeba Jayasingh: Describe the interaction between political ideology and religious belief, in "The Power and the Glory."
7. Martin, T: Who do you think deserves our sympathy - The Lieutenant or the Priest? Authenticate your arguement with textual validity.
8. Samuel Gnanaselvam: Though "A Passage to India" is in many ways a highly symbolic, or even mystical, text, it also aims to be a realistic documentation of the attitudes of British colonial officials in India. How? Elaborate with textual evidence.

Nature Quest Invites you...!

J.N.TATA ENDOWMENT LOAN SCHOLARSHIPS..:

Applications are invited from Indian nationals for the

J. N. TATA ENDOWMENT LOAN SCHOLARSHIPS

for the academic year 2009 –2010

for higher studies abroad in all disciplines and subjects.

Selected scholars may also qualify for gift awards.

If you are a -
(a) graduate of a recognised Indian university with a consistently good academic record; or
(b) student in the final year of the degree course; or
(c) mid-career professional planning to go abroad for further research, specialization or training
At the time of submitting the completed applications, candidates need not have the admission / offer letters from the universities to which they have applied for the academic year 2009-2010.

Completed application forms should reach the office of the Endowment not later than February 27, 2009.

Assignment Updates..:

Dear Students,
Your assignment schedules will be updated by this evening.
Regards,
Rufus

DEEPWOODS - '08 - An Ahuj-ian Perspective..:

Right from the day I rolled off the assembly line of the Ahuja factory as a finished microphone, I had had a hectic career, and I attribute it to my brand 'Ahuja', with all due respect. But judging by the undying energy and sheer enthusiasm of the spirited MCC-ians, Deepwoods 2008 was by far the best college event I've ever lent my services to. The whole of the lush green campus was geared up for the mega event when I landed in the 'Quadrangle', in the wee hours of December the third. The next three days were simply fabulous, an astounding explosion of dance, music and tons of fun. Day One saw Chennai's best ever dancing talents battling it out on the Deepwoods stage, and Ethiraj College emerging as the winners. But the fashion show was a bit of a let-down, with just a few teams in the fray. Even there, the MCC spirit revealed itself, with the College putting up an impromptu fashion show purely for hiking up the Entertainment Quotient.

Day the Second was called 'Laxman Shruti'. I sang chartbuster tamil numbers to a mad and frenzied crowd, and watched their rhythmic swaying from the stage. That the girls were at it too, and experts actually, surprised me so much that I temporarily lost my voice! And I sang on, smug in the little fists of the troupe's junior crooners, barely as tall as the speaker box.

Then came Day the Third, with 'Rock' written all over it. The rock finale with MCC's very own band 'Grey Shack' performing was a stunner of a show, and I was hoarse after those three hours of rock. My master for the event, an astounting talent by name Aditya, was the backbone of the success of Deepwoods '08. His voice got the crowd to scream and dance as and when he wished - Ah, the power of the mike! But the crowning moment came when I gave voice to the lovely Shruti Hassan, announcing the western electricals results. On the whole, I was on a roll those three days, enjoying every moment of it. My respect for the devoted MCC ians shot up when I came to know that the whole event was conducted without an exclusive sponsor - (eavesdroppin' on the conversations between the convenors in the sound console). The young people put up a brilliant show overcoming all hurdles, and kudos to them for that.

I will be back for next year's Deepwoods - For the new faces, new songs, and new hopes. Adieu!

(- Prize winning contribution by Bestin Samuel, III BA English Literature. This article bags Rs.200/- as prize money! Congrats Bestin!)

WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Peace within your heart,

Love from family and friends,

Faith to guide your way,

Hope to make it through each day,

A bright today with much to be thankful for,

A path that leads to beautiful tomorrows..

This is our blessed wish for you this New Year...

HAPPY 2009!