An Astrologer's Day by R.K.Narayan

 An Astrologer's Day by R.K.Narayan

This blog is part of a short story called An Astrologer's Day. In this blog the comparison is made between the short film and the short story.

Introduction :

An Astrologer's Day is a short story written by R.K. Narayan is one of the prominent pre-independent writers. Narayan is well known for creating the fictional town Malagudi in the realm of Indian English Literature, just as HArdy's Wessex and William Faulkner's Yoknapwatpha. Additionally, one of the major theme in the work of Narayan is exploration of prevalent superstition in the India.

Moreover, the similar theme is explored in this short story. This story is about the one day of the astrologer. He is a fake astrologer who wants to run away from his guilt, so he turned to this profession. Apparently the astrologer is working in this profession for his roti means bread and butter.

Additionally, the story also reveals the superstitious side of Indian society and the psychological approach of astrologers. Ultimately he finds relief from his past by the unexpected revelation of living Guru Nayak.

Now let's answer some questions based on the comparison of Short story and Short Film.

(An Astrologer's Day)

1. How faithful is the movie to the original short story?

The short film is faithful to the original story as it mentioned in the beginning of the video that this is the adaptation of Narayan's work. In Addition, some of the changes has been made in the film.

2. After watching the movie, has your perception about the short story, characters or situations changed?

The story was already read in the classroom and the imagination is also possible because of the language of the work, so in the case of perception there hasn't been any drastic change. As the characters are already understood, the short film provided a clear image and the effect of the story with the help of camera, music and the atmosphere.

3. Do you feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If not, can you explain with reasons?

The stories are made for providing aesthetic delight and as Wordsworth says that ail of poetry is to provide delight of morals. Even in Indian Poetics Bharatmuni said that "Rassanishppati '' in the spectator is the main aim of the nataka. Narayan's story passes the standard given by Indian and Western critics.

Particularly highlighting the aesthetic delight in the story then the beginning, middle, climax and resolution interwoven in such a way that it evokes the catharsis within the reader. In addition the shock or the climax of the revelation of the identity of the astrologer and his past creates an atmosphere of mystery.

This is the point where I feel aesthetic delight. However, there are many stories written in this revelation manner so the effectiveness of the story somehow degrades.

4. Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the short story?

Yes it helped in better understanding of the past especially of the astrologer. The camera work meticulously saw the past in black and white frame and the quarrel of Guru Nayak and the protagonist.

5. Was there any particular scene or moment in the story that you think was perfect?

The revelation scene is perfect where the real identity of the astrologer is revealed and the time when the wife says that now the sweets will be made in the house after a long time. In a way the story also depicts the downtrodden poors who have to indulge in such a profession for their life. 

6. If you are the director, what changes would you like to make in the remaking of the movie based on the short story “An Astrologer’s Day” by R.K.Narayan?

If I am the director, then by taking poetic license, I would change some aspects of the story. First, I would shoot it in a modern scenario where the astrologer, rather than sitting under a tree, sits in an office. The reason for doing this is that it is now a professional business, and in order to make the setting more contemporary, it's important.

Another thing is the clothes, of course. The astrologer would be in professional clothing because of his profession. The people visiting him would be in modern clothes in terms of appearance, but their mindset might still be stuck in the dark ages of pre-independence. The character of Guru Nayak would also be a businessman who has a good reputation, but he comes there for revenge.

Additionally, the masterstroke would be that the astrologer is also a hacker. Through hacking social media, he would once again recognize Guru Nayak and make him a fool. So, this would be my interpretation using creative liberties.

Thank you. 

Words : 1022

Image : 4

Video : 1

References : 

References : 

“An Astrologer’s Day| Hindi Short Film.” YouTube, 16 June 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tygoddU7W8. 

Afzal, Mir. “An Astrologer'S Day by R. K. Narayan Summary, Analysis, Theme and Question Answers - Smart English Notes.” Smart English Notes, 26 Mar. 2021, smartenglishnotes.com/2020/12/20/an-astrologers-day-by-r-k-narayan-summary-analysis-theme-and-question-answers.

Profile, Visit. Worksheet :- Screening of Short Film “An Astrologer’s Day” Based on R.K.Narayan’s “An Astrologer’s Day”. 7 Sept. 2021, vaidehi09.blogspot.com/2021/09/worksheet-screening-of-short-film.html.

 

"Tumhare Baare Mein" by Manav Kaul

 "Tumhare Baare Mein" by Manav Kaul

Hello bookworms 

Hindi is always makes you feel special when you start reading it. When it is Manav Kaul then what to say.

This book is a collection of reflections and memories, capturing the essence of moments and the thoughts that accompany them. It’s best enjoyed slowly, savoring each page with a cup of chai, especially on rainy days that invite introspection.

Manav Kaul shares his musings on various encounters and conversations, thoughts on daily life, and reflections on nature and relationships. His writing is natural and deep, filled with observations and doubts about people and things around him. These doubts and uncertainties add life to his writing, making it relatable and genuine.

The beauty of this book lies in its Hindi prose. Reading it became a cherished family activity, sparking discussions on life’s many aspects. The book is not a collection of stories or poems but a narrative that spans love, life, travel, and theater, highlighting the significance of life's little unnoticed moments.

Manav's writing is simple yet magical, weaving words that reflect deep emotions and philosophical thoughts on how we perceive life. The book takes you on a journey through his memories and experiences, making you feel like you are living another’s life, sharing their struggles and joys.

One reviewer, Ekta Kubba, shared her experience of discovering new authors through Manav’s book, expressing a newfound appreciation for writers like Nirmal Verma and Vinod Kumar Shukla. Another reviewer, Saurabh Pandey, felt as if he was sitting next to Manav, experiencing the same emotions and stories.

Anurag Mishra appreciated the philosophical context of Manav’s stories, while Asha Seth found the book to be a window into Manav Kaul’s life, including his love for his hometown, Kashmir. Mitali Parihar felt grateful to Manav for his heartfelt writing in Hindi, which brought her immense joy.

Udit Baxi highlighted the unique nature of the book, which covers a wide range of emotions and moments. He felt deeply connected to the relatable thoughts and experiences shared by Manav, as if reading his own unwritten diary.

In one of the poignant paragraphs, Manav writes:

मैं उस आदमी से दूर भागना चाह रहा था जो लिखता था। बहुत सोच-विचार के बाद एक दिन मैंने उस आदमी को विदा कहा जिसकी आवाज़ मुझे ख़ालीपन में ख़ाली नहीं रहने दे रही थी।

"मैं अब वैसा नहीं रह गया हूँ, जैसा तुमने मुझे छोडा था। मैं वहीं हूँ, पर उस पगडंडी पर अब डामर की सडक बिछ गई है। पर जहाँ हम मिला करते थे, वे कुछ जगहें अब भी हरी हैं। तेज धूप में जब भी उन छायाओं से गुजरता हूँ तो हिचकी आ जाती है।"

This heartfelt passage reflects the deep connection and changing nature of relationships and memories..

Thank you for the visit...

Some heart touching paragraph from the book. 

How to Deconstruct a Text : Deconstructive Reading of Three Poems by Shakespeare, Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams

 How to Deconstruct a Text : Deconstructive Reading of Three Poems by Shakespeare, Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams

This blog is the part of the task of How to Deconstruct a Text in which three poems by Shakespeare, Ezra Pound, William Carols Williams will be deconstructed. Deconstruction, as developed by Jacques Derrida, provides a framework for analysing texts by focusing on the instability of meaning and the relationship between text and interpretation.

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare 

Sonnet 18 at first talks about the eternal beauty of beloved while comparing it with nature. In poem there is deliberate use of words like "temperate", "rough wind", "decline", "nature's changing course", "fade" and so on and so forth to make nature immortal and fragile/fleeting. Ultimately by this beloved also fall under the category of changing nature and fading beauty.The poem starts by comparing the beloved to a summer day, but the beloved is better. Summer has problems: strong winds damage flowers, it gets too hot or too cold, and beauty fades with time. But the beloved's beauty lasts forever, because the poem will praise them forever!

However with the use of word "when" apperantly there is condition that one possibility of being boloved's immortal is preservation the beauty through the poem. Moreover, it leads to another meaning that it is only possible when poet or lover write down it in the poem. This poem is what makes the beloved immortal, not some magical quality they possess. As long as people can read, the poem lives on, and the poem keeps the beloved alive in words.

At first, it seemed the poem completely opposed the beloved to summer. Now, they're both temporary compared to the poem. Everything that's alive dies, even the beloved. Only the poem and its love message are eternal. If summer and love are similar (both temporary compared to the poem), what about the not-so-perfect parts of summer? Maybe the poem hints that love isn't always perfect either. The strong winds that mess with flowers? Maybe they're like the passionate, messy moments in love?

Additionally, here undoubtedly poet is at the centre and in hegemonic position. Another binary could be possible while poem highlighted the inevitability of keeping beloved eternal beautiful. If beloved is beautiful then there is possibility of writing a poem. In addition, beauty measured through certain standard and while praising just a body.

 Deconstructing Ezra Pound’s "In a Station of the Metro" : 

"The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough."

This short poem at first not able to make any sense in the mind because of the complete absence of the imagery. Formally parole of the imagery doesn't make sense however it's existence in langue. As Indian reader especially not belonging  to metro city the absence of metro station imagery needs to solve. In the poem the words arranged in such manner at first the "crowd" and then "patals". The comparison between "faces in the crowd" with "patals on a wet black bough" is modernist visulization just as T.S. Eliot used it in The Waste Land and W.H.Auden in the poem September 1, 1939. 

Additionly, the poem has binary opposition of the urban vs rural life. As Fardinand de saussure talks about the metaphysical of presence it's hard to read the absence. In the poem there is absence of the "Noice". The isolation of the lines is compared to the black bough's patals. Apparation at first creates the ghostly atmosphere and modern life. 

Moreover the comparison between faces and patals drift away from the traditional metaphors. As the crowd is fleeting at the station similarly patls and flowers are having a small living. This altogether highlights the fragile and fragmented modernised world. 

Deconstructing William Carlos Williams's "The Red Wheelbarrow":

"so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens."

This poem evokes the real image without any disrruption. The poem talks about  materiality of objects. The wheel barrow and the chickens is the often seen objects. The colours red and white create different atmosphere. If interpret the red colour could represent something strong, useful, and eye-catching that stands out in the scene. Whereas The white chickens could represent a sense of calmness or simplicity next to the bold red wheelbarrow, making both elements more noticeable.

However, the shiny and clean srrounding may come from the imagination of poet which one has seen somewhere in the book. The absense here is that of mud, dust and dung which isolated image from the reality and makes it idealize. While main interpretation could be the celebration of the everyday life and the appreciate the srroundings.

In conclusion, readings of the poems highlight the complexicity of the meanings, role of binanry opposition, freeplay of meaning and so on and so forth. Whenever one meaning is at the centre other all interpretation put on the periferry. This provides the new ways of reading the poem. 

Thank You. 

References : 

Barad, Dilip. “Deconstructive Analysis of Ezra Pound's 'In a Station of the Metro' and William Carlos Williams's 'The Red Wheelbarrow.'” Research Gate, 03 July 2024, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381943844_Deconstructive_Analysis_of_Ezra_Pound's_'In_a_Station_of_the_Metro'_and_William_Carlos_Williams's_'The_Red_Wheelbarrow'. Accessed 03 July 2024.

Barad, D. (2023, July 23). How to Deconstruct a Text. Bhavngar, Gujarat, India: DoEMKBU YouTube Channel. Retrieved 7 3, 2024, from https://youtu.be/JDWDIEpgMGI?si=WnmtixfH9lFYj-bJ

Belsey, C. (2002). Poststructuralism (First Indian Edition 2006 ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Pound, E. (1913, April). In a Station of a Metro. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. Retrieved 7 3, 2024, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/12675/in-astation-of-the-metro

Williams, W. C. (1938). The Red Wheelbarrow. In C. MacGowan (Ed.), The Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams, Volume I, 1909-1939. New Directions Publishing Corporation. Retrieved 7 3, 2024, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45502/the-red-wheelbarrow