I just completed the celebrated work of Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury Tales. When I picked it up, I did not go through my usual routine of book buying. I did not bother to check it’s plot or anything in general. It was a Chaucer, and that was good enough for me. I was under the perception that a fourteenth century classic novel would provide me with some classic humour, apart from the knowledge of the prevalent English at the time. Boy, was I far from it!
The novel revolves around the tales told about some of the common characters found in the middle ages, including a reeves, miller and a pardoner. Except for a few, the tales are outrageously raunchy and crudely comic in nature. Don’t believe me? Go through The Miller’s Tale or The Merchant’s Tale.
If something of this sort was written today, it would have been cast aside as a cheap and dirty book, but since it is something from the ages beyond, people take pride in telling that they read Chaucer. I don’t understand the people of today in general, or am I the only one?
September 29, 2009
English Classic?
Travelogue: Paris
Throughout history, I have seen French as a country proud of its culture and heritage. During the first 8-9 decades of the 100 year war, it was clearly evident that French knights are not an equal match against the English Longbow. Yet they fought hard and long enough to turn the tide of the war. In the First World War, they were able to force the Prussians into a long expensive stalemate. However against Hitler the French surrendered, faster than the German tanks could march. Paris was declared as an open city and Hitler simply marched in.
This event always puzzled me. Because although some brave citizens did put up a strong resistance, it was not formidable enough. It was only during the weekend, when I visited Paris could I understand. Each and every road in Paris has so much history around it. The buildings are both beautiful and antique. In 3 days, I could barely touch few of the important monuments and it will take me atleast 2 more weekends before I am somewhat satisfied.
I am not convinced that:
It is easy to terrorize the civilized world into submission because they have too much to lose.
This was the statement made by Atilla the hun, when he tried to summarize the reason for his unprecedented success against the Roman and forcing them to pay a hefty tribute. Even today this explains the terror tactics of Jehadis and why USA is unable to curtain them.
If you haven’t visited Paris, then you have really missed a lot
September 28, 2009
Mahabharat in modern times
To:
The Writer, Film Director & Film Producer,
Mumbai
Ref: Film story submitted by you, regarding financing of films by
Government of India, Your letter dt. ………… ……… .
The undersigned is directed to refer the above letter and state that
the Government has examined your proposal for financing a film called
”Mahabharat’. The Very High Level Committee constituted for this
purpose has been in consultation with the Human Rights Commission,
National Commission for Women and Labour Commission, in addition to
various Ministries and State Governments and have formed definitive
opinions about the script. Their observations are as below:
1. In the script submitted by you it is shown that there were two sets of cousins, namely, the Kauravas, numbering one hundred, and the Pandavas, numbering five. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has pointed out that these numbers are high, well above the norm prescribed for families by them. It is brought to your kind attention that when the Government is spending huge amounts for promoting family planning, this will send wrong signals to the public. Therefore, it is recommended that there may be only three Kauravas and one Pandava.
2. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has raised an issue whether it is suitable to depict kings and emperors in this democratic age. Therefore, it is suggested that the Kauravas may be depicted as Honourable Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and the Pandava may be depicted as Honourable Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). The ending of the film shows the victory of the said Pandavas over the said Kauravas. The ending may be suitably modified so that neither of the Honourable Members of Parliament are shown as being inferior to the
other.
3. The Ministry of Science and Technology has observed that the manner of birth of Kauravas is suggestive of human cloning, a technology banned in India. This may be changed to normal birth.
September 24, 2009
New Look and Feel
Please bear with us as the site goes through some changes.
We are experimenting with a new look and feel.
If you have any sugessions about improvements please fell free to contact any one of us at
All comments are welcome.
September 22, 2009
Presentation through slides
A picture is worth a thousand words. A good presentation is like a good book where the slides/pictures are there to better explain the main flow. However a bad presentation is one where the presenter is like a prop hired to read the slides verbatim.
I have never met a person who opposed the idea that slides are meant to enhance the presenter’s ability to put forward his/her ideas and convince the audience. Yet, why do so few people practice it?
September 21, 2009
Too many variety
I really appreciate the use of wit and humor to get your point across. This is especially true in academics. My professor was trying to teach us the other aspects of having a variety of assortments.Sensing that ours is a generation which wants variety in almost everything, this is what he said:
“…But then there are some associated troubles with variety. Sometimes there is just too many variety. Look at the toothpastes for instance. Gel, white, blue, red and there is a green one too! Its a whole fruit salad out there. I will use a personal example to illustrate the point.
There is an orange colored toothpaste (winces visibly) in my home and I am perpetually confused by it. I believe it has an identity crisis. It can’t decide whether to be a toothpaste or an orange candy. Whenever I brush with it I feel I just had an orange squash…which defeats the purpose of brushing, if you see my point.”
Ankur Aggarwal
sree
Sandip Chaudhuri
vbr
Skabeesh
shobhendrasrivastava
