Assignments - Reg:

Dear Students,

Starting this calendar year, all your assignments with me, will be uploaded on this, our academic blog, under the label "Student Assignment(s)" for greater transparency, and for the larger benefit of the student community as well. Make your impact!

Regards and all best wishes,

Rufus

English Lecturer

CLICK HERE to access the PDF Copy of your Assignments.

Rendezvous with Mr. 'Kalam' Nagappan @ MCC...:

Dear Students of I BSc Pbt/Zoo(Reg),

Mr.'Kalam' Nagappan, a student who has founded Young Helping Minds,

run by the youth, to see a developed India by 2020, and

involved in educational upliftment of poor students,

will give us a thought-provoking lecture on 29 January 2009.

This motivating lecture, we hope, would provided a spark and impetus to your academic life here at MCC and have a great impact on your future for the better.

(You can know more about their organisation and their activities by visiting their website HERE)

Try your best to be there!
Regards and all best wishes,
Rufus

For more details about the programme, please contact me.

Contest for Aspiring Filmmakers..:

If you have a handy camera and an idea to make a film,

enter the film making competition for free.

You can send your DVDs or upload your film directly HERE.

For more details, visit their site info HERE.
All Participants will get to interact with the jury. Free Entry!

Send your entry latest by 31st March 09. All the best.!

Also read Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam's Letter to every Indian HERE

Meet 'Kalam' Nagappan!

It's quite rare to find students making use of their spare time in constructive, meaningful ways. On this Republic Day, we salute the spirit of a young student from Chennai 'Kalam' Nagappan, whose noble vision is worth emulating!

Even as a student, 'Kalam' Nagappan from Chennai had the habit of helping poor students to meet their educational expenses. As a college student, he along with a few of his friends, had helped a physically challenged student in his studies. The radiant smile that beamed across the face of the physically challenged student changed their minds only for the better!!

Nagappan hails from a poor family. But within Nagappan's mind was a deep desire to help people, and be of service to others. "Instead of talking nonsense and whiling away the time, we can use the time in discussing something constructive for the nation's advancement" was his request to his classmates.

With like-minded friends, he started an organisation - "Young Helping Minds" which now functions with 200 members. He has borne the educational expenses of 41 poor and needy students.

When Dr.Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, came to know about 'Nagappan', he met up with them, and said, "A thousand organisations like the present one would easily help India become a successful, mighty and developed Country," and he also encouraged and congratulated his team on their efforts.

Greatly inspired by his social service, his College professors regularly donate a fraction of their salaries to the noble services of their proud 'student.'

When asked about his future activities, Nagappan said, "Students, when they speak with their friends, should always speak only about what is beneficial and good for the betterment of our country. We should realize that even the small help that we offer to others, has the ability to make a great impact in changing their lives."

Attracted by Dr.Kalam's scholarship and his simplicity, Nagappan has rechristened his name as 'Kalam' Nagappan.

Let's all wish 'Kalam' Nagappan all the best, in his sincere desire and ardent efforts to lend a helping hand to the needy students.! He indeed is a Young and Proud Pillar of the Indian Republic!

(this article has been translated into English by the author, from today's chennai Edition of Dina Malar)

'Nature, Chennai, Us'

The third edition of Prakriti Foundation's Tree of Life festival begins on January 27 and goes on until February 7 across different venues in Chennai.

There are various interesting story telling sessions and tree walks. Latika Rana's film on the tiger will be screened and a presentation cum talk for the public and college students will follow the screening.
For details, call 98406 66761.

I BSc Pbt/Zoo - I CIA Marks - Reg:

Dear Students of I BSc Pbt/Zoo,

Your internal marks for your first CIA are ready.

I BSc Pbt students, kindly click HERE

I BSc Zoo students, kindly click HERE to access your marks.

This I CIA test which was given to you on 19 January, was an open-book test, with both the text book and the day's newspaper to assist you in your answers.

While this spoon-feed of a test could have fetched you very high marks, if only you'd put in a bit more of thought, time an effort, some, i feel, have not made proper use of the advantage given to you on a platter. Some students, i felt, haven't understood some of the questions properly, and hence lost a few marks due to highly irrelevant answers. While some of you have done very well, some could have done even better!

For any clarifications/corrections, you can meet me directly between 10.20 am and 10.45 am on all working days, or over mail at rufusonline@gmail.com

Give your best as always! All the very best

Regards,

Rufus

Award for rookie/unpublished Writers...!

The Breakthrough Novel Award brings together talented writers, reviewers and publishing experts to find and develop new voices in fiction.

If you're an author with an unpublished novel waiting to be discovered, visit CreateSpace in the website to learn more about the next Breakthrough Novel Award and sign up for regular updates on the contest.

Completed Manuscripts must be novels between 50,000 and 150,000 words. Each Manuscript must be authored by a single, individual author. Any Manuscript submitted as an Entry written by two or more authors will not be eligible. Poems and short stories or collections of same submitted as Entries will also not be eligible.

Submission period : February 2, 2009 - February 8, 2009

For more on this Award, link HERE

Writing Contest...!

If you are passionate about writing and participating in the virtual community, this is an opportunity to make money using your passion! Write interesting threads in Digital Bhoomi forums to win the total prize of Rs. 2000 ($50)! Three best threads or replies will be selected between January 1, 2009 and January 31, 2009. First prize is Rs. 1000 ($25), second prize is Rs. 600 ($15) and third prize is Rs.400 ($10). Summary of the rules: -Contest is open to all users irrespective of their country of residence. -Your articles/threads/replies must be original. You can not copy the work of other people. -You can post multiple threads or replies.
For more info, click HERE
The contest will run from January 1 to January 31, 2009

Winners will be announced on: February 3, 2009 at 5pm IST

All the best..!

Participate in the Shell Recruitment Day...:

Are you a graduate or in the final year of your degree studies?
If so, apply for the 'Shell Recruitment Day' for an exciting career with Shell, which provides Shell with the opportunity to find out more about you, watch how you work with other people, and see if you've got the qualities and expertise they're looking for. For more information, click on their website HERE

Govt Educational Scholarship for College Students..:

The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Government of India has introduced a new Scholarship scheme titled “Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students”, for students who have secured 80% and above in the Higher Secondary Examination, March 2008 conducted by this department and pursuing higher studies.

The scholarship will be given @ Rs.1000/- per month at Graduation level for first three years of College and University courses and Rs.2000/- per month at Post graduation level. Students pursuing professional courses would get Rs.2000/- per month in the 4th and 5th year. The scholarship would be paid for 10 months in an academic year.

The award of scholarship shall be subject to the following conditions:
1. The scholarship shall be awarded to the Indian nationals only.
2. The Undergraduate/Post graduate/Professional course are pursued in a recognized
college/institution in India.
3. The student should have scored a minimum 80% of marks in the Higher Secondary
Examinations, March 2008 conducted by the State Board of School Examinations, TamilNadu, Chennai – 6
Last Date for application is 28 January 2009.
For more info, visit their website http://dge.tn.gov.in

Topics for Rhetoric:

Dear Students of II BA English,

Given below is a broad list of the topics avaiable to you to unleash your rhetorical capabilites to your best! While you can take any side of the argument, make sure that you are passionate about your topic and let that enthusiasm come out. First impressions are powerful. Believe it. All the very best..!

Topics for Rhetoric:

"Is being happy connected with having a lot of money?"
"Has Science made man's life quite comfortable?"
Is it possible to keep politics out of sports?
Do you think we should maintain our traditions or give way for change?
There should be strict censorship of films and news bulletins on television and movies to prevent children from copying violent incidents. Do you agree?
Do you think that the young have anything to learn from the elderly and vice versa?
How about boarding schools? Don’t you think they teach children how to live together?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of getting married? Don’t you think it’s better to stay single?
What do you think are the causes for the increasing violence in our society?
Why do people commit crimes?
*********************************
Fashion – A complete waste of time, money and resources.
English should be the world language.
Written Exams alone serve no useful purpose.
Extended/large families are more successful than nuclear families.
Teenage drivers are unsafe.
Books will soon be old-fashioned.
Politicians should be paid higher salaries.
Internet is a useful resource for children.
Reservation for women
Science has made man’s life quite comfortable.
Privatisation is desirable.
Indian independence is a success story.
TV is harmful to society.
Family planning should be made compulsory.
There should be a ban on migration of educated Indians.
The need to implement a ban on the Public Sectors.

PS: An initiation into the art of public speaking will be given in our next class on Rhetoric. Try to be there!!!

I BSc Pbt/Zoo - I CIA Test - Reg:

Dear Students of I BSc Pbt/Zoo(Reg),

You are expected to bring your text book and the day's copy of THE HINDU, along with you for your I CIA Test. The two essays by C.E.M.Joad, and Dr.Radhakrishnan respectively, will form a part of the test. All the best!

Regards,

Rufus

Note: Students of II Year Phil/Tam are expected to bring the day's copy of The Times of India along with their text books. All the best!

Short-term Course on POSTMODERNISM..:

A Short-term Course on Understanding and Interrogating Postmodernism from May 15 - 18, 2009,

organized by the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences,

IIT Kharagpur.

This is a highly specialized course meant for faculty/students from Recognized/Deemed Universities, UGC approved colleges, MA students, and Graduates from the same.

The focus, firstly, will be on providing a comprehensive understanding of postmodernism by re-reading and re-analyzing those philosophic discourses and insights that have contributed to the creation of postmodernism, and those, which have maintained and carried forward the exploration of issues concomitant with and ensuing out this concept.

Last date for receiving applications: 1 May 2009

Intimation to participants: 7 May 2009

Course Dates: 15-18 May 2009

For more info, visit their website HERE

INTERNATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION 2009

Climate change has been identified as one of the biggest global threats of our time. Scientists agree that global warming and extreme climate phenomena can be increasingly attributed to human activity - in particular, heavy emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, resulting from industrial processes.
Solutions to those pressing problems could lie in the rapidly growing ‘green economy’: environmentally sustainable enterprises, technological innovations (new sources of clean, renewable energy), energy efficiency measures, economic incentives for low-carbon choices, etc. How can youth contribute?

The World Bank and its Partners invite you to participate in -
The Essay Competition 2009 - inviting youth to share ideas on:
How does climate change affect you?How can you tackle climate change through youth-led solutions?
Eligibility: The International Essay Competition is open to all young people, students and non-students alike, between the ages of 18 and 25, from all countries of the world.
If you are older than 18 and younger than 25 on June 15, 2009, you are eligible to participate.
Submissions are accepted until February 22, 2009.

For more details you can visit their website HERE.

Centre for African Studies gives a Call for Papers:

Redefining South-South Cooperation: Africa on the Centre stage Africa is rapidly shedding its reputation as a conflict and poverty ridden ‘dark’ continent and emerging as a large market with vast untapped natural resources.

This new profile has reinforced interest in the continent globally and specifically among the Asian drivers, mainly India and China.

Within this broad remit, the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai, expects papers that will explore key areas (non- exhaustive) in a host of key issues given HERE

Empirical and contemporary perspectives are particularly welcome.
Abstracts should be about 300- 350 words in length as a word document.

Submission of papers -- 25 January 2009.

For more details, visit their WEBSITE HERE

EWRI invites Papers from Eco-Enthusiasts:

3rd INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON

CURRENT & FUTURE STATE OF WATER RESOURCES & THE ENVIRONMENT

is to be held in Chennai between January 4 and 6, 2010.

The focus of this conference will be on water resources and the environment in developing countries, especially in Asia and Africa. The emphasis will be on global effect on regional issues and solutions. Participants, including paper presenters and attendees, will include engineers, scientists, planners, economists, and legal professionals from all over the globe.

The Conference is open to all.

Abstract Submissions On: March 26, 2009

Final Papers Due On: September 26, 2009

For details and more info, visit their website HERE

A True Story...! Just Read On...!

It was probably the April of 1974. Bangalore was getting warm and red gulmohars were blooming at the IISc campus. I was the only girl in my postgraduate department and was staying at the ladies hostel. Other girls were pursuing research in different departments of science. I was looking forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate in computer science. I had been offered scholarships from universities in US. I had not thought of taking up a job in India.

One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex, I saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard job-requirement notice from the famous automobile company Telco [now Tata Motors]. It stated that the company required young, bright engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background, etc.

At the bottom was a small line: "Lady candidates need not apply." I read it and was very upset. For the first time in my life I was up against gender discrimination.

Though I was not keen on taking up a job, I saw this as a challenge. I had done extremely well in academics, better than most of my male peers. Little did I know then that in real life academic excellence is not enough to be successful.

After reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform the topmost person in Telco's management about the injustice the company was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but there was a problem: I did not know who headed Telco. I thought it must be one of the Tatas. I knew JRD Tata was the head of the Tata Group; I had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually, Sumant Moolgaokar was the company's chairman then).

I took the card, addressed it to JRD and started writing. To this day I remember clearly what I wrote. "The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who started the basic infrastructure industries in India, such as iron and steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives. They have cared for higher education in India since 1900 and they were responsible for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I study there. But I am surprised how a company such as Telco is discriminating on the basis of gender."

I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I received a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at Telco's Pune facility at the company's expense.

I was taken aback by the telegram. My hostel mates told me I should use the opportunity to go to Pune free of cost — and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap! I collected Rs 30 each from everyone who wanted a sari. When I look back, I feel like laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then they seemed good enough to make the trip.

It was my first visit to Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city. To this day it remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do in Hubli, my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways.

As directed, I went to Telco's Pimpri office for the interview. There were six people on the panel and I realised then that this was serious business. "This is the girl who wrote to JRD," I heard somebody whisper as soon as I entered the room. By then I knew for sure that I would not get the job. That realisation abolished all fears from my mind, so I was rather cool while the interview was being conducted.

Even before the interview started, I reckoned the panel was biased, so I told them, rather impolitely, "I hope this is only a technical interview." They were taken aback by my rudeness, and even today I am ashamed about my attitude.

The panel asked me technical questions and I answered all of them. Then an elderly gentleman with an affectionate voice told me, "Do you know why we said lady candidates need not apply? The reason is that we have never employed any ladies on the shop floor. This is not a co-ed college; this is a factory. When it comes to academics, you are a first ranker throughout. We appreciate that, but people like you should work in research laboratories."

I was a young girl from small-town Hubli. My world had been a limited place. I did not know the ways of large corporate houses and their difficulties, so I answered, "But you must start somewhere, otherwise no woman will ever be able to work in your factories."

Finally, after a long interview, I was told I had been successful. So this was what the future had in store for me. Never had I thought I would take up a job in Pune. That city changed my life in many ways. I met a shy young man from Karnataka there, we became good friends and we got married.

It was only after joining Telco that I realised who JRD was: the uncrowned king of Indian industry. Now I was scared, but I did not get to meet him till I was transferred to Bombay. One day I had to show some reports to Mr Moolgaokar, our chairman, who we all knew as SM. I was in his office on the first floor of Bombay House [the Tata headquarters] when, suddenly, JRD walked in. That was the first time I saw 'appro JRD'. Appro means 'our' in Gujarati. That was the affectionate term by which people at Bombay House called him.

I was feeling very nervous, remembering my postcard episode. SM introduced me nicely, "Jeh (that's what his close associates called him), this young woman is an engineer and that too a postgraduate. She is the first woman to work on the Telco shop floor." JRD looked at me. I was praying he would not ask me any questions about my interview (or the postcard that preceded it). Thankfully, he didn't. Instead he remarked. "It is nice that girls are getting into engineering in our country. By the way, what is your name?" "When I joined Telco I was Sudha Kulkarni, Sir," I replied. "Now I am Sudha Murty." He smiled that kindly smile and started a discussion with SM. As for me, I almost ran out of the room.

After that I used to see JRD on and off. He was the Tata Group chairman and I was merely an engineer. There was nothing that we had in common. I was in awe of him.

One day I was waiting for Murthy, my husband, to pick me up after office hours. To my surprise I saw JRD standing next to me. I did not know how to react. Yet again I started worrying about that postcard. Looking back, I realise JRD had forgotten about it. It must have been a small incident for him, but not so for me.

"Young lady, why are you here?" he asked. "Office time is over." I said, "Sir, I'm waiting for my husband to come and pick me up." JRD said, "It is getting dark and there's no one in the corridor. I'll wait with you till your husband comes." I was quite used to waiting for Murthy, but having JRD waiting alongside made me extremely uncomfortable.

I was nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him. He wore a simple white pant and shirt. He was old, yet his face was glowing. There wasn't any air of superiority about him. I was thinking, "Look at this person. He is a chairman, a well-respected man in our country and he is waiting for the sake of an ordinary employee."

Then I saw Murthy and I rushed out. JRD called and said, "Young lady, tell your husband never to make his wife wait again."

In 1982 I had to resign from my job at Telco. I was reluctant to go, but I really did not have a choice. I was coming down the steps of Bombay House after wrapping up my final settlement when I saw JRD coming up. He was absorbed in thought. I wanted to say goodbye to him so I stopped. He saw me and paused.

Gently, he said, "So what are you doing, Mrs Kulkarni? (That was the way he always addressed me.) "Sir, I am leaving Telco." "Where are you going?" he asked. "Pune, sir. My husband is starting a company called Infosys and I'm shifting to Pune." "Oh! And what you will do when you are successful?" "Sir, I don't know whether we will be successful." "Never start with diffidence," he advised me. "Always start with confidence. When you are successful you must give back to society. Society gives us so much; we must reciprocate. I wish you all the best."

Then JRD continued walking up the stairs. I stood there for what seemed like a millennium. That was the last time I saw him alive.

Many years later I met Ratan Tata in the same Bombay office, occupying the chair JRD once did. I told him of my many sweet memories of working with Telco. Later, he wrote to me, "It was nice listening about Jeh from you. The sad part is that he's not alive to see you today."

I consider JRD a great man because, despite being an extremely busy person, he valued one postcard written by a young girl seeking justice. He must have received thousands of letters every day. He could have thrown mine away, but he didn't do that. He respected the intentions of that unknown girl, who had neither influence nor money, and gave her an opportunity in his company. He did not merely give her a job; he changed her life and mindset forever.

Close to 50 per cent of the students in today's engineering colleges are girls. And there are women on the shop floor in many industry segments. I see these changes and I think of JRD. If at all time stops and asks me what I want from life, I would say I wish JRD were alive today to see how the company we started has grown. He would have enjoyed it wholeheartedly.

My love and respect for the House of Tatas remains undiminished by the passage of time. I always looked up to JRD. I saw him as a role model - for his simplicity, his generosity, his kindness and the care he took of his employees. Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky; they had the same vastness and munificence.

*Sudha Murthy is the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. She is involved in a number of social development initiatives and is also a widely published writer. Infosys Chairman Narayana Murthy is her husband.

Membership at The American Library now @ just Rs.200/-

Students can avail for themselves a 50% discount in Library Membership at The 32nd Chennai Book Fair. The American Library in Chennai offers a wide range of resources, programs and services to provide accurate and up-to-date information on a host of issues including society, culture, values, literature etc. The membership fees now is priced at an amazing low of Rs.200/-. Grab the offer at the earliest!

The British Council Library has also given a special discount and freebies with its new Student Membership plan. For more details, please visit their website.

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.