Oratorical Contest..:

Union Bank of India conducts

Oratorical Contest for College students

at Madras Veterinary College in Vepery

on Saturday, September 05, 2009.

For more details, contact:

Mr.Karunanidhy, 139, Broadway, Chennai - 600108

College Closed..:

Dear Students,

In view of the H1N1 epidemic, our College remains closed from 17 August 2009 till 27 August 2009. Hence your I CIA Tests, scheduled for Monday remains postponed. For further details and clarification, verify the same with the College Notice Boards.

Regards,

Rufus

Spoken English Course:

Dear Students, Olive Institute of Technology conducts

Courses on Basic Communication Skills.

Course starts on Wednesday, 19 August 2009

at Olive Institute of Tech, E.Tambaram.

Morning Batch: 7.00 - 8.30 am

Evening Batch: 6.30 - 8.00 pm
Contact: 9500102310 for more details.

Portion for I CIA Test..:

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

You will be tested on the following:

Text-based: Poetry: 1.) Mending Wall, 2.) On the Move, 3.) Phenomenal Woman

Short Story: Tagore's The Postmaster

Language-based: From what has been taught in class (Writing, Vocabulary, Etymology etc.)

Newspaper: You are expected to bring the day's Newspaper (Times of India), as part of the Test.

Regards and all best wishes,

Rufus

PS: As you will be writing your I CA test, in case of any clarifications, write to me at rufusonline@gmail.com

Mending Wall – Robert Frost - Poem Summary

Introduction:

Mending Wall is one of the most widely quoted poems of Frost. It is a dramatic lyric or monologue. The speaker is a young man, presumably the poet himself, and the lyric is an expression of his views and attitudes. The other character is the poet’s neighbour. He does not speak even a single word, but we come to know of his views and attitudes, of his conservatism and orthodoxy, from what the speaker says about him.

Spring time Repairs: Attitude of the poet and the New England Farmer:

The speaker in the poem, the poet himself, and his neighbour get together every spring to repair the stone wall between their respective properties. The neighbour, an old England farmer, seems to have a deep-seated faith in the value of walls and fences. He declines to explain his belief and only reiterates his father’s saying, “Good fences make good neighbours.”

Enigmatic Attitude of the Speaker:

Yet, the speaker’s attitude is also enigmatic and in some respects primitive. He seems to be in sympathy with some elemental forces of nature which denies all boundaries. It is suggested that there is some supernatural power at work in Nature, that is against all fences and walls:
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen ground swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;

Points of View portrayed in the Poem:

The poem portrays a clash between two points of view, and it may, therefore seem that its meaning is the solution. The poem leads one to ask, which of the two is right, the speaker or his Yankee neighbour? Should man tear down the barriers which isolate individuals from one another, or should he recognize that distinctions and limits are necessary for human life? Frost does not really provide an answer. He pictures it with an incident from rural life, and in order to reveal its complex nature he develops it through the conflict of two opposed points of view.

Paradox in the Poem:

The real strength and effectiveness of the poem arises from the contradiction and clash of opposites. The strength of the poem rests upon the contradiction expressed in its two famous lines:
The poem maintains that: Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.
But it also insists that: Good fences make good neighbours.

The contradiction is logical, for the opposing statements are uttered by two different types of people and both are right. Man cannot live without walls, boundaries. Limits and particularly self-limitations; yet, he resents all bounds and is happy at the downfall of any barrier.

Conclusion:

The poem represents two opposing attitudes towards life – one is the surrender to the natural forces which draws human beings together, and the other, - the conservatism which persists in keeping up the distinctions separating them. The poem reveals the characteristic features of Frost’s style – colloquial and dramatic, in presentation.

*****

Phenomenal Woman - Maya Angelou - Poem Summary

Introduction:

In this poem, Maya Angelou celebrates femininity by playing upon the two possible meanings that could be attached to the poem's title - Phenomenal Woman. As a liberated woman, the speaker in the poem proudly proclaims her individuality; she is an extraordinary person, and therefore phenomenal.

Phenomenal - from Angelou's Perspective:

Maya Angelou asks the reader to probe deeper into the whole question of what makes a woman attractive, worthwhile and valued. The "Phenomenal" in the ordinary sense of the term relates to all data that can be perceived by the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. However, Maya Angelou takes the reader into the specific and much higher qualities that are attributes of "Phenomenal" - they are: intangible qualities like a soul, a mind, and a temperament.

Women have spent hours making over their appearances for centuries. But phenomenal woman, by her very naturalness, is more alive and more sensual than her doll-like sisters. Men, however, are bewildered by her power to attract because they have forgotten what a real woman is like. Phenomenal Woman is breezy in flaunting her mystery. Unlike conventional "mysteriousness" which men assign to woman, the Phenomenal Woman does not depend on glamour, coquetry, tantrums, or capriciousness to intrigue men. Her mystery is profound and real, especially since men and women do not understand her extraordinary, natural vitality.

The Attitude of Men towards Phenomenal Woman:

Phenomenal woman has men behaving in ways pretty woman can only dream of - they mill around her like bees around a honeycomb. Men are bowled over by her charm. Her conquests are effortless. She is cool - a black English word to describe someone who is perfect, proud and in-charge of herself. Phenomenal woman's physical charm expresses a wholly different female temperament. The fire in her eyes is a marker of passion, the flash of her teeth is a symbol of primitive and even savage energy. The swing of her waist and the motions of her feet suggest the celebrating notes of a jungle dance.

Characteristics of a Phenomenal Woman:

The last stanza addresses the world. Phenomenal woman remains unconquered. She is not "subject" to anyone. She does not need to be agitationist, attention-seeking, or polemical. Shouting, jumping and protesting loudly are entirely unnecessary for her. Phenomenal woman simply is. Phenomenal woman is in complete control of herself unlike insecure women who worry constantly about their appearance.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Angelou states that, above all, phenomenal woman is self-defining. The key-phrase upon which the entire poem revolves is the one which repeats itself in every stanza: "I say." Because she articulated herself, and does not allow others to define or describe her, she exists.

*****

On the Move - Thom Gunn - Poem Summary

Introduction:

This poem, from Gunn's second collection, is his most famous piece, and among the best-known of all post-war poems. In it, the aimless, but threatening movement of a motorcycle gang becomes a metaphor for modern man's sense of alienation and lack of purpose. In On the Move, Gunn uses a series of connected metaphors, all deriving from the key image of movement.

A Sociological "footnote of the fifties":

The poem is a sociological footnote of the fifties. The young black-jacketed motor cyclists of the west become fitting symbols of restless energy and violent movement. The subtitle of the poem, "Man, you gotta go" denotes the unwillingness and inability to stand still. It is the epigraph to the poem.

In the first stanza, Gunn briefly introduces the general premise of the poem, that is, always to be on the move. The bird of the crow family, the blue jay, with its gay plumage, with its confused movements, is also always on the move, following some hidden purpose.

The aimlessness of the motor-cycle gang:

The depiction of "the boys" in the second stanza seems sympathetic (they are seen very much as they wish to be seen, bikes, goggles, leather jackets) yet Gunn also views them critically. Gunn uses the analogy (parallel) of the actions of the motorcyclists to show how modern man in general (in the poem, referred to as "one") lacks a clear sense of purpose and thus follows others, even if their activity too, is ultimately purposeless. They are unable and unwilling to keep still. They have replaced language with noise, and pursue their hidden purpose forward.

The statement that men "manufacture both machine and soul" is developed in the reference, later, to the "self-defined" and the "created will". It examines the idea that modern man invents or chooses, as a deliberate act of will, definitions of lifestyle and personality, to supply what nature has omitted.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Gunn shows how the bikers' activity, because it is only a "part solution" leaves the central existential problem still open, whether there is a solution or only a "part solution" to man's lack of purpose. Thus, for Gunn, man's life is a struggle in which, through action, kind of victory is won in defeat. The poem can be understood in three ways: as an example for the poet's heroic stance; as a sociological footnote of the fifties, and as a beautifully finished piece of imaginative writing.

*****

The Importance of Being Earnest - Lesson Summary

Introduction:

The Importance of Being Earnest is a comic play by Oscar Wilde, set in England during the late Victorian era. The play's humour derives in part from characters maintaining fictitious identities to escape unwelcome social obligations. It is replete with witty dialogue and satirizes some of the foibles and hypocrisy of late Victorian society. It has proved to be Wilde's most enduringly popular play.

The major themes of this play are three: they are:
1). The triviality of the upper class. 2). The triviality of marriage and 3). The importance of wealth and leisure.

Jack visits London to meet Gwendolen:

Jack drops in unexpectedly on Algernon and announces that he intends to propose to Gwendolen. Algernon confronts him with the cigarette case and forces him to come clean, demanding to know who “Jack” and “Cecily” are. Jack confesses that his name isn’t really Ernest and that Cecily is his ward, a responsibility imposed on him by his adoptive father’s will. Jack also tells Algernon about his fictional brother.

Arrival of Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen:

Gwendolen and her mother, Lady Bracknell, arrive, which gives Jack an opportunity to propose to Gwendolen. Jack is delighted to discover that Gwendolen returns his affections, but he is alarmed to learn that Gwendolen is fixated on the name Ernest, which she says “inspires absolute confidence.” Gwendolen makes clear that she would not consider marrying a man who was not named Ernest.

Lady Bracknell Interviews Jack and subsequent Disapproval for their Marriage:

Lady Bracknell interviews Jack to determine his eligibility as a possible son-in-law, and during this interview she asks about his family background. When Jack explains that he has no idea who his parents were and that he was found, by the man who adopted him, in a handbag in the cloakroom at Victoria Station, Lady Bracknell is scandalized. She forbids the match between Jack and Gwendolen and sweeps out of the house.

Algernon visits Jack’s Country Estate to meet Cecily:

In Act II, Algernon shows up at Jack’s country estate posing as Jack’s brother Ernest. Meanwhile, Jack, having decided that Ernest has outlived his usefulness, arrives home in deep mourning, full of a story about Ernest having died suddenly in Paris. He is enraged to find Algernon there masquerading as Ernest but has to go along with the charade.

Algernon proposes to Cecily at Jack’s Country Estate:

While Jack changes out of his mourning clothes, Algernon, who has fallen hopelessly in love with Cecily, asks her to marry him. He is surprised to discover that Cecily already considers that they are engaged, and he is charmed when she reveals that her fascination with “Uncle Jack’s brother” led her to invent an elaborate romance between herself and him several months ago. Algernon is less enchanted to learn that part of Cecily’s interest in him derives from the name Ernest, which, unconsciously echoing Gwendolen, she says “inspires absolute confidence.”

Arrival of Gwendolen at Jack’s Country Estate: War between two girls:

Algernon goes off in search of Dr. Chasuble, the local rector, to see about getting himself christened Ernest. Meanwhile, Gwendolen arrives, having decided to pay Jack an unexpected visit. Cecily has no idea who Gwendolen is. Cecily explains that she is engaged to be married to Ernest Worthing. Gwendolen points out that this is impossible as she herself is engaged to Ernest Worthing. The tea party degenerates into a war of manners.

Jack and Algernon admit the truth:

The two women demand to know where Jack’s brother Ernest is, since both of them are engaged to be married to him. Jack is forced to admit that he has no brother and that Ernest is a complete fiction. Both women are shocked and furious, and they retire to the house arm in arm. However, when Jack and Algernon tell Gwendolen and Cecily that they have both made arrangements to be christened Ernest that afternoon, all is forgiven and the two pairs of lovers embrace. At this moment, Lady Bracknell’s arrival is announced.

Arrival of Lady Bracknell:

Lady Bracknell has followed Gwendolen from London, having bribed Gwendolen’s maid to reveal her destination. She demands to know what is going on. Gwendolen again informs Lady Bracknell of her engagement to Jack, and Lady Bracknell reiterates that a union between them is out of the question.

Jack informs Lady Bracknell that, as Cecily’s legal guardian, he refuses to give his consent to her union with Algernon. However, Lady Bracknell refuses to entertain the notion. She and Gwendolen are on the point of leaving when Dr. Chasuble arrives and happens to mention Cecily’s governess, Miss Prism. At this, Lady Bracknell starts and asks that Miss Prism be sent for.

Miss.Prism’s Confession: The Climax:

When the governess Miss.Prism arrives and catches sight of Lady Bracknell, she begins to look guilty and furtive. Lady Bracknell accuses her of having left her sister’s house twenty-eight years before with a baby and never returned. She demands to know where the baby is. Miss Prism confesses she doesn’t know, explaining that she lost the baby, having absentmindedly placed it in a handbag in which she had meant to place the manuscript for a novel she had written. Jack asks what happened to the bag, and Miss Prism says she left it in the cloakroom of a railway station. Jack presses her for further details and goes racing offstage, returning a few moments later with a large handbag. When Miss Prism confirms that the bag is hers, Jack’s identity is established. He is the legitimate child of Lady Bracknell’s sister and, therefore, Algernon’s older brother. Furthermore, Jack had been originally christened “Ernest John.” All these years Jack has unwittingly been telling the truth: Ernest is his name, as is Jack, and he does have an unprincipled younger brother—Algernon. Again the couples embrace, Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble follow suit, and Jack acknowledges that he now understands “the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”

Conclusion:

The mood of The Importance of Being Ernest is largely satirical. This is because Wilde is seeking to mock the triviality of the upper class society of London. Wilde’s satire is characterized by wit and is, throughout, lighthearted. Wilde is also writing from an aesthetic perspective, a movement in literature that celebrated art for art’s sake, and did not concern itself with the political issues of the outside world.

[With due acknowledgements and thanks to 'booknotes/wikipedia/sparknotes'.]

Topics for Assignment - Reg:

Dear Students,

Topics for your Assignments will be displayed on this, our academic blog shortly.

Regards and all best wishes,

Rufus

WHAT IS LIFE? - JBS Haldane

Introduction:

John Burdon Sanderson Haldane was a British-born geneticist and evolutionary biologist. He was one of the founders of population genetics. In this essay, Haldane attempts to analyze the essence of life and the composition of life by means of scientific logic and practical philosophy.

Where does ‘life’ belong?

In normal conditions, a thing must correspond to a noun. For example, bricks, water, coal-gas etc are things. At the same time, there are others like a wave, a tune etc which have less claim to be called a thing. In this kind of a classification, where does ‘life’ belong? Does death mean a loss of something, or merely a change of state like a disarrangement of patterns?

Early people thought that life was breath. But breath consists of gas, which can be made into a solid or liquid. Also, many living things do not breathe at all. Hence life is not a kind of matter. When a man or an animal dies, he does not lose or gain weight.

According to our ancestors, anything which moved was alive. That was a good definition before the age of machines. But a machine such as a motor-car moves itself, and so does a steam-ship. Now, people asked, “Is man a machine?”

According to the philosopher Descartes, both men and animals were machines, but that the human machine was controlled partly by the soul whereas animals had no soul. So some scientists think that life is just a very complicated mechanism.

Machines vs Individuals:

A machine is a system capable of performing some function, made up of replaceable parts. For example, if any part of a motor-car is broken, a new one can be got to take its place; and an engineer could tell a great deal about the car’s behaviour. The opposite to a machine is an individual – which cannot be taken to pieces and out together again. Each part depends on the other to keep it alive.

Animals: Perfect Self-regulating Machines:

An animal is only a very perfect self-regulating machine. Many of the bones act like levers. The eye is like a photographic camera. A good example of self-regulation is that of human temperature – which is so steady that a small rise or fall is a danger signal. The most obvious example of self-repair is the continual renewing of the skin, and the healing of wounds, and the most remarkable of all, is reproduction.

Machines vs Minds:

According to Haldane, the machine theory also fails when we consider our minds. The mind has a unity of its own. Somehow the most varied sensations and emotions are held together. Yet, the mind depends on the body. If you cut off the blood supply from parts of the brain, the most intelligent man becomes a hopeless idiot.

Life – A Synthesis of Opposites - Mechanism and Individuality:

Life then is a synthesis of opposites – of mechanism and individuality. A man is a machine and at the same time an individual. We find the same union of opposites everywhere. Wood is both hard and soft. If it were not hard, we could not use it for furniture. If it were not soft, we could not cut it. Thus we find that there is generally a progress from mechanism to individuality in the life of an individual.

Conclusion:

To conclude, life, according to Haldane, is essentially a pattern of chemical happenings, and so to say that life does not consist of chemical processes is, according to Haldane, as futile and untrue as to say that poetry does not consist of words. And life is something between mechanism and individuality – but seems to strive towards greater individuality or oneness.

THE POSTMASTER - Rabindranath Tagore

For an interesting analysis of "The Postmaster" by one of our alumna @ MCC, (an ex-student) Samyuktha, CLICK on her blog HERE. Hope that solves your notes anxiety for Tagore's "The Postmaster" :-)

Learn Japanese...:

Japanese Language classes will be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. This is an excellent opportunity to learn the Japanese language with programs suited to attain a good level of proficiency in conversational Japanese.

For more details, contact: 044 - 24352010/24354779

Book Launch...:

Landmark and Penguin Books India lauch Ali Sethi's debut novel The Wish Maker, a coming-of-age novel - written when the author was only twenty-three. "Each fascinating character breathes on the page, but each also represents a social strata," comments Shapiro in his review of the book.

Venue: Landmark, Apex Plaza

Date: 25 July

Time: 6:30 pm

Ph: 42144444

FREE IAS Coaching Classes..:

Young Men's Indian Association will conduct free IAS Coaching classes for the 2010 preliminary examination on weekends from September.

For details, contact: YMIA, New India Building, II Floor, 49, Moore Street. Ph: 25343337.

Thoughts for a New Academic Year..:

Dear Students,
Welcome to another dynamic year of Academics. For some of you this may be the last year of your graduation, while for some others, you've still got a year more to go..!
Either way, I thought of enumerating below, Seven golden principles for my students, which I'm sure would effect a lasting transformation in YOU.

1. Always march to the beat of your own band - The most satisfying experiences in our lives are when we are engaged physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or intellectually. Life is meant to be effortless. If you're tugging and pulling, and everything feels like an uphill battle, then you're doing the wrong thing. If you don't like a class, quit it. Don't try to march to the beat of your teacher, chugging and pulling, and distracting the attention of others around you in the process.

2. Dedicate Quality Time - Life is so precious; make the most of each and every day. Rise early, spend some quality time by yourself as well as with those you care about. Go for a walk, workout, read a book.

3. Be Passionate in Everything you do - Show passion in everything you do. Let it show in your body language, in your smile, in your voice. Let your eyes sparkle. Let the world see and hear your enthusiasm and let it feel your passion.

4. Always be true to yourself - Live a life of integrity. Take pride in whatever you do. Be proud of who you are and what you represent. Accept others with all their flaws. Show compassion and goodwill to your fellow human beings. Be dignified. Lead a life of purpose and be proud of your values.

5. Don't take yourself so seriously - Recognise that perfection isn't always the only option. Don't let life's imperfections bother you. Lighten up and see the funny side of things when they go wrong, the learning in them. Be tolerant, smile...don't waste your energies on the small stuff, you have much bigger fish to fry.

6. Show gratitude and say thank you to the people who have helped you along the way. Send a handwritten letter to someone who has touched you. Call up a friend or loved one and tell them how much they mean to you. Compliment a friend or a class mate on a job well done. Show people you appreciate and care about them. Acts of kindness cost nothing but mean everything.

7. Be a role model and mentor for people - Serve others. Volunteer in your community and help others achieve their goals. Your world will be enriched and a better place for sharing your talents and giving freely of your time. Leave a lasting legacy.

Have a dynamic and lovli year ahead! All the best..!

Regards and all best wishes in all your endeavours...
- Rufus

(With due acknowledgements to Prof.Charles Marcus for his lively inputs)

THE SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUE - Bertrand Russell

THE SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUE

Introduction:

According to Bertrand Russell, the earliest beginnings of scientific technique can be traced back to the prehistoric times. The use of fire, the use of agriculture, and the domestication of animals etc are prehistoric in origin. In this essay, Russell tells us that the most important characteristic of the scientific technique is that it proceeds from experiment, not from tradition.

Beginning of Writing – beginning of History:

The beginning of writing coincides with the beginning of history. The next great advancement in scientific technique was the working of metals. Roads have been constructed chiefly for military reasons. The Middle Ages invented the gun-powder and the mariner’s compass, and finally the invention of printing.

Protests against Machinery and Return to Nature:

Lao-Tze, who lived in the sixth century B.C., protested against the destruction of ancient beauty by modern mechanical inventions. Roads, bridges and boats filled him with horror because they were unnatural. He believed that men should live according to nature. Rousseau also believed in the return to nature, but no longer objected to roads, bridges and boats.

According to Rousseau, return to nature, if it were taken seriously, would involve the death by starvation of some 90 per cent of the population of civilized countries.

The Application of Science in Technology and Production:

Science advanced very rapidly throughout the whole of the 17th and 18th centuries, and it was only at the end of the 18th century that it began to affect the technique of production. Ancient Egypt to the year 1750 saw less change in methods of work than there have been from 1750 to the present day.

Certain fundamental advances had been slowly acquired: speech, fire, writing, agriculture, the domestication of animals, the working of metals, gun-powder, printing, and the art of governance etc. These advances, because they came slowly, fitted in, without too much difficulty, to the framework of traditional life, and so, men were not conscious of a revolution in their daily habits.

The Scientific Technique: Its Impartiality:

The scientific technique is closely connected with the social virtue of impartiality. According to Piaget, the reasoning faculty in a child, is a product of the social sense. Reasoning develops as a method of arriving at a social truth upon which all men can agree. The advantage of this method is that, private emotion will not be regarded as the test of truth.

Another aspect of the scientific method is that, it gives power over the environment and also power of adaptation to the environment. It is success in this practical test of power over the environment or adaptation to it, which has given science its prestige. All modern life is built upon this practical success of science.

Scientific versus Pre-Scientific Technique:

The essential novelty about the scientific technique is the utilization of natural forces in ways that are not obvious to untrained observation, but discovered by deliberate research. The use of water-power in an old-fashioned water-mill is pre-scientific, but the modern use of water-power by means of turbines is scientific.

Clearly the line between scientific and traditional technique is not a sharp one, and no one can say exactly where the one ends and the other begins. Primitive agriculturists used human bodies for manure, and imagined their beneficial effect to be magical. This stage was definitely pre-scientific.

Conclusion:

The most essential characteristic of scientific technique is that it proceeds from experiment, not from tradition. It is this scientific spirit which is characteristic of modern times, and it is because of this spirit that the power of man in relation to his environment has become so immeasurably greater than it was in the civilization of the past.

HAMIDA - Lesson Summary

HAMIDA

Introduction:

“Hamida” by Amrita Pritam is a satire on the inhumane treatment meted out to an infant, all because of communal strife. The story portrays the malady of communal hatred and its horrific effects on society.

Hamida finds a Baby:

In the early hours of the morning, when it was still dark, Hamida went out of her home and discovered a new-born baby, born to a mad woman, who was by now stone-dead. Hamida, brought her husband and together, they took the baby to their home.

The news spread like wild fire in the village. The women hurried to Hamida’s house and blessed Hamida. They appreciated her act of mercy and went back to their homes. The elders buried the mad woman’s corpse.

The Meeting of the Hindus to discuss the Baby:

Hamida was curious to know what was being said about the child and its dead mother. The Hindus called a meeting to discuss the matter. Soon, the religious fervour was spreading across the room and the atmosphere was filled with hate.

Finally it was decided to take back the boy from Hamida and bring him up under the paid custody of the water-carrier woman. It was also decided that the boy would be provided with two square meals a day when he grows up.

Hamida’s Agony:

Hamida felt very traumatized and agonized. They were given black looks and ostracized by the Hindu community. Having nurtured the tiny infant with her own milk for six months, after six months of sleepless nights, after washing the soiled garments of the infant for so long a time, the child had come to look upon Hamida as his own mother. So Hamida did not feel like parting with the child.

Rashida’s Plea:

Rashida sincerely defended his wife’s love for the child in front of the village elders. But the Hindu elders were very particular about taking the child from the custody of Hamida. Now, the water-carrier woman emerged and took the unwilling baby from Hamida’s arms. The child felt the rough touch of unfamiliar hands and began to cry.

Hamida sank to the ground. She heard the boy’s crying. That night, no food was cooked in Rashida’s home. Even their own little son Javed felt sad at the departure of the baby boy.

Conclusion:

On the fourth day, the villagers could talk of nothing but the fate of the infant, which refused to take any food. The story ends with the infant throwing up every drop of milk that went down his throat.

Thus the story represents communal egos and hatred that divide the society and thereby take away the humane aspect of man. Amrita Pritam, through her short story criticizes these Hindu-Muslim divisions, and pleads for greater unity and harmony among the various faiths of the country.

Guest Post [Exclusive] for our Blog by an Established Writer:

Useful Tools, Sites and Apps for Student Writers:

The Internet is overflowing with sites designed to help student writers increase skills and productivity. Unfortunately, sifting through all of these options can be time consuming. If you need tools you can depend on and access instantly, bookmark this list of useful writing sites.

Brainstorming:

Jott - Writers on the go will love this free web app that turns voice messages into text messages. You simply call a phone number, record a message, and relax as Jott turns the recording into text and sends it wherever you want it to go.

ThinkFold - ThinkFold is a free web tool that provides an interactive outline to organize ideas. Groups and individuals can create an outline, rearrange ideas, and see changes automatically.

Innovative Tools - The Brainstorming Techniques Resource Center by Innovative Tools is loaded with articles, software, tools, and techniques for brainstorming.

Mindmeister - This free web app allows writers to create a mind map to better visualize brainstorming ideas. Writers who choose to sign up for the free version are able to share and access their ideas from anywhere, as well as see group changes in real time.

ThinkGraph - ThinkGraph is free downloadable software that allows you to place your thoughts into 2D Concept Map. The map creates a visual illustration for student writers to place and organize thoughts.

Reference and Research:

Encyclopedia.com - Encyclopedia is a free online encyclopedia and dictionary with pictures, facts, videos, and other helpful research and reference resources.

Allreaders - This website is a great resource for finding books based on various criteria. Writers can use Allreaders to search for books with specific characters, elements, plot lines, settings, and themes.

Internet Public Library - The IPL is the online equivalent of a local public library. The site offers reference materials, subject collections, books, magazines, newspapers, and an index of useful websites.

Writing Tools and Instruction:

The OWL - The OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue University offers more than 200 resources for students who need help with academic and creative writing.

Writer's Digest - A superb site for writers of all levels, Writer's Digest helps students perfect writing skills. The site offers resources, advices, tips, and a writing community.

Dartmouth Writing Program - The Dartmouth Writing Program offers an excellent online writing guide for students. This website gives you step-by-step instruction on the expectations writers will see in college.

Writing Fix - Writing Fix has many features to help students improve their writing, including plot ideas, lessons, and writing techniques.

Zoho - Zoho is a must-have suite of free productivity apps. Specific Zoho programs that would be useful to student writers include Zoho Writer, Zoho Docs, and Zoho Notebook.

Grammar and Editing:

Autocrit - Autocrit was created to find weaknesses in manuscripts but will help any writer improve their draft. This resourceful tool can find overused words, slow pacing, and dull sentence structure.

Grammar Girl - Mignon Fogarty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl, makes editing fun by delivering short, weekly podcasts with simple tips that are easy to remember.

Bartleby - Bartleby offers many free reference books online. The site's English usage texts are especially useful for writers who need help with grammar or editing.

Daily Grammar - Daily Grammar provides daily lessons and workshops to help everyone improve their grammar.

SparkNotes - This resource is known for study guides, but has many other helpful tools for students, including a comprehensive grammar guide. The guide offers information about common errors, style, and usage.

Guest post from Karen Schweitzer, the About.com Guide to Business School. Karen also writes about online colleges and universities for OnlineCollege.org.

I BSc Pbt/Zoo(Reg) Students - Text books - Reg..:

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

Those of you who have given the price of the text books (Rs.50/- each) have been acknowledged in our academic website HERE.

I BSc PB & PBT Click HERE

I BSc Zoo (Reg) Click HERE

Regards and all best wishes,

Rufus

Acknowledging the good ones in Class..!

"Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite" says a great philosopher.

It is indeed great joy for a teacher, when he sees his words being honoured by the student.. Here, I would like to give a special word of appreciation to the sincere and committed ones who cared to respect the words of the teacher and brought along what was expected of them - the day's Newspaper!

This post wishes to acknowledge and bless the good ones. God bless you.

I BSc Pb& Pbt Class:

1.Suriya, K
2. Arul Christina Devi, J
3. Aarthi Evangelin, J
4. Deepika, M
5. Kavitha, S
6. Sowmiya, T
7. Thanga Quilly, J
8. Sreeja, H
9. Janani, K
10. Jeeva Bathseba, B
11. Ruby Evangeline Mary, A
12. Mohana Priya, G
13. Karthika, P
14. Haripriya, B
15. Sowmia, S
16. Vinnie Cheeran
17. Nandhini, R
18. Padmavathi, M
19. Bhubaneshwari, S
20. Sheeba, C.S
21. Solomie, S
22. Esther, M
23. Rajaguru, A
24. Henry, H
25. Kali Dass
26. Shaji Solomon, P.S
27. Oswald J Smith, M
28. Manikandan, N
29. Vikneswaran, K.S

I BSc Zoology (Reg):
1. Priya, V
2. Deepa, C
3. Devi, K
4. Kumutha, J
5. Hemalatha, M
6. Miroshini, S
7. Shamini Mary
8. Sugantha Mani, A
9. Janet Jemima, I
10. Ezra L. Ryujah
11. Solomon Bernard
12. Prasad, R
13. Jayashree, M
14. Saranya, D
15. Suganya, R
16. Ruth Auxiliya, D
17. Gokulakannan, S
18. Khamlianpau Vaiphu
19. Manjula, A

You have a great attitude! Wish you all the best, great success, and God's blessings in all your academic endeavours on this, your new year in College.

God bless you..!

Regards and all best wishes,
Rufus

JGVV CHARITABLE BOOK BANK FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS..:

Jaigopal Garodia has started the Charitable Book Bank for college students during the year 2000. Even the customary membership fee is not levied here.

The books are given free of cost to any one without any distinction of caste, colour or creed. The college students are also given free note books along with the text books. Thousands of graduate and post graduate students from 300 colleges benefit every year. Twenty thousand books worth Rs.50 lacs are kept in book bank.
For more details contact: 044-26206261 or their website HERE

Mobile Phone Etiquette...:

This happened in a class, in MCC, a couple of years ago. A lady professor was taking class when one student's cell phone started ringing on three separate occasions. The professor finally stopped her lecture and asked for the offending student to stand up, but to no avail. Frustrated, she said, "I'm not going to give attendance to anybody today, unless the student owns up". So saying, she completed her lecture and moved out. Soon, a guy came rushing down to the prof, and asked for apologies, admitting he was at mistake and asked her not to withhold attendance for the class, as some were reeling under "acute shortage of attendance".

On another occasion, a lecturer, during his talk, was interrupted again and again by the ring tones of a student, that he said, "Why dont you answer that call, please?"
Just imagine this situation...! where are we heading towards? A few years ago this would never have happened.

People today can't separate their private life from their public behaviour.

How many times have we stared at the person sitting across us in the theatre, or in the bus or train, or restaurant who is talking in a loud voice without any thought to the people around him?

The problem, according to Dhar, lies in the fact that, phones have taken the globe by surprise and as a result good manners and etiquette have not had the time to develop in so short a time.

In Tamil, there is a proverb which comes to my mind, "Giving a Garland in the hands of a monkey...!"

The lack of mobile etiquette is quite disgusting. There must have been at least one time when you have flouted the rules yourself, says Dhar.

Let's try to come to terms with "mobile" manners by beginning here.

First of all, talking in a theatre or a play or a concert is very rude. Switch off your cell phones people. ! The earth wont stop, nor will the sky fall. In case if it's a real emergency, or during a meeting, excuse yourself and go out.

Remember, when talking is taboo, so is ringing. Keep the handset on silent alert so you can afford to ignore unwanted calls wheareas keep track and not miss the important calls either.

Speaking softly is in general the way to go, and the latest phones have extremely sensitive microphones so you really have no reason to shout.

Talking on sidewalks or while in a immobile car is acceptable, if done cautiously.

Talking in cars, bikes while driving? It's stupid and illegal. If it's urgent, pull over. Nothing is more precious than your life. And let the phone go to voice mail when some one calls, you can always call them back after some time.

In the end, the onus of being a gentleman or lady falls on you dear reader. Please be responsible and courteous towards others. Your manners will only stand by you in good stead in the future and most definitely help in some manner or the other.

A simple thought to where you are, whom you are with, what others are doing should be enough for you to decide whether to make or accept a call.

With due acknowledgements and thanks to Prof.Dhar, CBH

MCC Does it Yet Again..!

Madras Christian College does it yet again..! 

The College is placed eighth among the TOP TEN best colleges in the nation in the Arts Stream, and in the seventh position among the TOP TEN best colleges in the nation in the Sciences.

The Madras Christian College ranks second among the TOP TEN Colleges in Chennai City.

Chennai's Top Five (Arts)

1. Loyola College

2. Madras Christian College (MCC)

3. Stella Maris College

4. Presidency College

5. Women's Christian College

Chennai's Top Five (Sciences)

1. Loyola College

2. Presidency College

3. Madras Christian College

4. Stella Maris College

5. Ethiraj College

Chennai's Top Five (Commerce)

1. Loyola College

2. Stella Maris College

3. Madras Christian College

4. Presidency College

5. Queen Mary's College

Source: The India Today - Nielsen Survey
Pic. Courtesy: INDIA TODAY, JUNE 22, 2009

Writing Contest for Students...:

Do you have a vision for how to change the world? Are you engaged in an exciting, youth-led social justice campaign? Do you think regularly about the intersection of politics and spirituality? Are you an aspiring writer?

TIKKUN is looking for smart, crisp writing that combines storytelling with analytical sophistication. They want to hear you talk in particularities, not generalities. Tell a story about yourself and your community and then use that story to explore broader questions about politics or ethics or social change. If you can tie your topic in to a current issue or timely policy discussion, that’s even better. Don’t know where to start? Feel free to pick one of the prompts HERE to use as a jumping-off point.

This contest is open to students under age 25, and the deadline for submission is June 15, 2009.

Free Workshop..:

A free workshop on tackling the Bank Probationary Officers' Examination and Clerical exams will be held at Elite Tuition Centre, Royapettah from 10 am to 2 pm on Sunday, 14 June 2009. Contact No: 9790878868/ 9710993099.