Saturday, 4 February 2023

Shobhaa De and her works

 Shobhaa De is an Indian author, journalist, and opinion writer. She is best known for her novels and columns, which often address contemporary social and cultural issues in India, particularly those affecting women. De has been writing since the 1970s and is considered a pioneer of Indian Chick Lit. Her writing has been both celebrated and criticized for its frank and unapologetic depictions of modern Indian women and their experiences. Despite this, De remains a widely read and respected figure in Indian literature and media, and her contributions to Indian Chick Lit have had a significant impact on the genre.

Shobhaa de is also well known for her novels and columns that explore contemporary social and cultural issues in India, particularly those affecting women. Her writing is often characterized by its frank and unapologetic depictions of modern Indian women and their experiences, and covers a wide range of topics including feminism, female empowerment, relationships, family, and sexuality. Some of her most famous works include the novels "Socialite Evenings", "Starry Nights", and "Surviving Men".

De's writing has been both celebrated and criticized for its bold and outspoken approach to sensitive topics. She is known for her sharp wit and fearless commentary, and has been praised for her ability to challenge traditional norms and expectations in India. Despite this, De remains a widely read and respected figure in Indian literature and media, and her contributions to Indian Chick Lit have had a significant impact on the genre.

Shobhaa De has written several novels, many of which are considered to be part of the Indian Chick Lit genre. Some of her most famous novels include:

  1. "Socialite Evenings" - This novel explores the lives of the wealthy and fashionable elite in Mumbai, and is considered a landmark work in Indian Chick Lit.

  2. "Starry Nights" - This novel examines the challenges faced by young women in contemporary India, including issues of career, love, and sexuality.

  3. "Surviving Men" - This novel is a satirical take on the relationships between men and women in India, and is known for its frank and often humorous depictions of contemporary Indian society.

  4. "Selective Memory" - This novel tells the story of a successful Indian woman who is forced to confront the secrets and regrets of her past.

  5. "Sultry Days" - This novel explores the lives and relationships of modern Indian women and is known for its frank and often humorous depictions of contemporary Indian society.

These are just a few examples of Shobhaa De's novels. She is known for her bold and unapologetic writing style, and her contributions to Indian Chick Lit have had a significant impact on the genre.


Thursday, 24 March 2022

Bharat is My Home By Dr. Zakir Husain

Paraphrase

 1. Bharat is my Home is an extract from the first speech delivered by Dr Zakir Hussain. He was born in 1897 and died in 1969. Apart from being president, he served India in the freedom struggle and in Education. He became president in 1966. Before becoming the president, he was governor of Bihar.

2. He accepts that he feels very happy because people have entrusted him as president of India.

3. He recalls the memory of Dr Radhakrishnan, former president of India, a great knowledgeable person. He devoted himself to the pursuit of knowledge and truth throughout his life. Radhakrishnan explained Indian philosophical thoughts and the oneness of spiritual values in a way that the common people could understand the same. Husain asserts that Radhakrishnan always stood by the right of all men, dignity and justice.

4. He assures people about his dedication and promises to respect the value of diverse ethnic elements. Hussain talks about the cooperation among people of different regions, religions and castes. He says that the realization of the value finds it insufficient but remains eternally valid.

5. Husain talks about the generational change along with culture and national character. He finds that education can administer this constant renewal which is my lifetime concern.  He says that the development of any nation depends on the quality of education.

6. Calling the people of the country as his family member and the nation is his home, he will be working tirelessly to make the beautiful home and prosperous and graceful life. He promised to himself to work for the nation without any distinction of caste, creed and religion.

7. In this paragraph, Husain talks about the growing population of India. Observing the over-load of the population in India, he urges people to work more and more with honesty. By carrying out the responsibility, people can contribute their part in the development of the nation: The material and cultural life of people.

8. Husain sees that the work that people do has two aspects: work on one’s self and work for society. Working on one’s self encourages people's moral development as a free person and under self-imposed discipline. The ultimate result of work on one’s self is free moral personality. This ultimate result cannot sustain without seeking and exercising itself to make society better. In order to grow in full perfection, the individual should move ahead with collective social existence. Thus, every person should work whole-heartedly in these two aspects of work- individual and social.

9. Fulfilling the two aspects of the work will make our nation special and great. In this way, our country will become not only an organization of power but a moral organization for us. This is what we will inherit from great leaders of our country like Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi opines that power should be used only for moral purposes.

10. Finally, Husain shows full faith in the people that they will join their energy for giving the satisfactory performance of this dual-task. For this, Husain will also contribute his share to this enterprise.

 

 

1. भारत इज माई होम डॉ. जाकिर हुसैन द्वारा दिए गए पहले भाषण का एक अंश है। उनका जन्म 1897 में हुआ था और 1969 में उनकी मृत्यु हो गई। राष्ट्रपति होने के अलावा, उन्होंने स्वतंत्रता संग्राम और शिक्षा में भारत की सेवा की। वे 1966 में राष्ट्रपति बने। राष्ट्रपति बनने से पहले वे बिहार के राज्यपाल थे।

2. वे स्वीकार करते हैं कि वह बहुत खुश महसूस करते हैं क्योंकि लोगों ने उन्हे भारत के राष्ट्रपति के रूप में चुना है।

3. वह भारत के पूर्व राष्ट्रपति, एक महान ज्ञानी व्यक्ति डॉ राधाकृष्णन की स्मृति को याद करते हैं। उन्होंने जीवन भर ज्ञान और सत्य की खोज के लिए खुद को समर्पित कर दिया। राधाकृष्णन ने भारतीय दार्शनिक विचारों और आध्यात्मिक मूल्यों की एकता को इस तरह से समझाया कि आम लोग इसे समझ सकें। हुसैन का दावा है कि राधाकृष्णन हमेशा सभी पुरुषों के अधिकार, सम्मान और न्याय के साथ खड़े रहे।

4. वह लोगों को अपने समर्पण के बारे में आश्वस्त करता है और विविध जातीय तत्वों के मूल्य का सम्मान करने का वादा करते हैं, हुसैन विभिन्न क्षेत्रों, धर्मों और जातियों के लोगों के बीच सहयोग की बात करते हैं।

5. हुसैन पीढ़ीगत परिवर्तन के साथ-साथ संस्कृति और राष्ट्रीय चरित्र की बात करते हैं। वे पाते हैं  कि शिक्षा इस निरंतर नवीनीकरण को संचालित कर सकती है। उनका कहना है कि किसी भी राष्ट्र का विकास शिक्षा की गुणवत्ता पर निर्भर करता है।

6. देश की जनता को अपने परिवार का सदस्य और राष्ट्र को अपना घर कहते हुए, वह सुंदर घर और समृद्ध और सुंदर जीवन बनाने के लिए अथक प्रयास करेंगे। उन्होंने खुद से जाति, पंथ और धर्म के भेदभाव के बिना राष्ट्र के लिए काम करने का वादा करते हैं।

7. इस पैराग्राफ में हुसैन भारत की बढ़ती जनसंख्या के बारे में बात करते हैं। भारत में जनसंख्या के अतिभार को देखते हुए उन्होंने लोगों से अधिक से अधिक ईमानदारी से काम करने का आग्रह किया। लोगों के भौतिक और सांस्कृतिक जीवन: जिम्मेदारी निभाने से, लोग राष्ट्र के विकास में अपना योगदान दे सकते हैं।

8. हुसैन देखते हैं कि लोग जो काम करते हैं उसके दो पहलू होते हैं: खुद पर काम करना और समाज के लिए काम करना। स्वयं पर कार्य करना लोगों के नैतिक विकास और  एक स्वतंत्र व्यक्ति के रूप में स्थापित करता है और स्वयं को अनुशासित करने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करता है। स्वयं पर काम करने का अंतिम परिणाम स्वतंत्र नैतिक व्यक्तित्व है। यह अंतिम परिणाम समाज को बेहतर बनाने के लिए खुद को तलाशे और प्रयोग किए बिना कायम नहीं रह सकता। पूर्ण पूर्णता में विकसित होने के लिए व्यक्ति को सामूहिक सामाजिक अस्तित्व के साथ आगे बढ़ना चाहिए। अतः प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को काम के इन दो पहलुओं- व्यक्तिगत और सामाजिक में पूरे मन से काम करना चाहिए।

9. काम के दो पहलुओं को पूरा करने से हमारा देश खास और महान बनेगा। इस तरह हमारा देश केवल सत्ता का संगठन बन जाएगा बल्कि हमारे लिए एक नैतिक संगठन बन जाएगा। यही हमें अपने देश के महात्मा गांधी जैसे महान नेताओं से विरासत में मिलेगा। गांधी का मत है कि शक्ति का उपयोग केवल नैतिक उद्देश्यों के लिए किया जाना चाहिए।

10. अंत में, हुसैन ने लोगों में पूर्ण विश्वास दिखाया कि वे इस दोहरे कार्य के संतोषजनक प्रदर्शन के लिए अपनी ऊर्जा का इस्तेमाल करेंगे। इसके लिए हुसैन भी इस उद्यम में अपने हिस्से का योगदान देंगे।

Previous Posts:

Brief Summary of Novels
Emma 

About Authors




Shakespearean Drama
The Tempest


Paraphrases of the poems