R.K. Nararyan's Leela's Friend

R.K. Narayan's Leela's Friend

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan (10 October, 1906 -- 13 May, 2001) is one of the best Indian novelists in English. His popular novels are Swami and Friends (1935), The Bachelor of Arts (1937), The Dark Room (1938), The English Teacher (1946), The Guide (1958), The Man-eater of Malgudi (1962), etc. He also wrote many short stories and published as Malgudi Days (1941), Dodu and Other Stories (1943), Cyclone and Other Stories (1944), etc. His writings are simple and easy to comprehend. He won numerous awards and honours for his works. His novel, The Guide won the Sahitya Academy Award in 1961. He was awarded the Padma Bhusan in 1964. In 1980, he was awarded the A. C. Benson Award by the Royal Society of Literature.

The present story Leela’s Friend is one of his best known short-stories and is taken from his Malgudi Days.

Mr. Sivasanker is deeply thinking about his servant. Sidda, a homeless poor boy, comes to his gate just then in search of a job. Sivasanker looks at him and finds nothing objectionable. Yet he asks a few questions about his previous work. He calls then his wife who turns satisfied after meeting the boy. Leela, their five-year old daughter comes out and likes the boy. Sidda is selected on an agreement of two meals a day and four rupees a month. In return he is to wash clothes, tend the garden, run errands, chop wood and look after Leela.

Sidda is a likeable boy who gets on well with the family. He becomes a good friend with Leela. Sidda and Leela play together with a ball. Sidda throws the ball upward. When the ball comes down, he tells her that the ball has touched the moon. Even he has touched the moon many times from a coconut tree. The innocent girl believes every word of Sidda. She also expresses her desire to touch the moon. She is surprised to see that wherever they move, the moon is there. She claps in joy. Sidda informs her that he really knows the moon which follows up his command.

At day’s end Leela plays the teacher to Sidda. She tries to teach him with her little knowledge. She writes a letter or draws a kind of cat or crow, and asks him to copy it. But he is a very poor performer. Yet Leela does not give up her effort. She does not allow him to leave his task. The game of teaching goes on for a long time. Sidda gets relief only when he falsely tells her that her mother is calling her to dinner.

Every night Sidda tells a nice story to put Leela to sleep. Day by day he becomes her constant companion. A sweetening relationship is established between them.

One evening Sidda goes out to buy sugar and Leela accompanies him. When they come home, Leela’s mother noticed that the gold chain around Leela’s neck is missing. Being furious she slaps Leela and calls Sidda at once on suspicion. Sidda defends himself feebly but leaves the house stealthily.

At this Mr. Sivasanker and his wife are convinced that Sidda is the culprit. He lodges a complaint against him in the Police Station. But Leela is not ready to believe this. She longs for his company. She is deeply sorrowful. She thinks that her parents are responsible for her friend’s leaving their house. The loss of gold chain does not matter to her.

Mr. Sivasanker learns from the Police Inspector that Sidda has criminal records. He has been in jail for several times for stealing jewellery from children. He assures his wife that the police will arrest Sidda very soon. Four days later, the police Inspector and a constable brings in Sidda. Leela is very happy and runs to meet him. The Inspector stops her and presses Sidda to confess his guilt. Leela’s mother abuses him for his treachery. Sidda only replies that he has not taken the chain.

The Inspector tells his constable to take him back to the police station. Leela requests him to free Sidda. But nobody listens to her. She starts to shed tears.

A few days later, Leela’s mother discovers the lost gold chain from a tamarind pot. She comes to know that Leela has dropped it there and forgotten all about it. Mr. Sivasanker learns all and informs the police about the chain’s discovery, but does not allow Sidda to continue his job. Sidda’s position does not improve. He remains a confirmed criminal in his eyes.

It is clear from the title Leela’s Friend that the story is about Leela and her friend Sidda. The story brings forth the class-conflict between the high and the low of the society. Sidda becomes the victim of that conflict. Poverty leaves a permanent wound to Sidda’s life. Though he tries to overcome his dark past and is proved guiltless at the end of the story, he is not either allowed to continue his job neither provided with an apology. The so-called society remains indifferent to his sorrows and sufferings.

Sidda’s punishment is unjust and also a blunder. But the protector of the law escapes counter punishment. This is not a case to Sidda only, but its roots lie in the every sphere of the society making it worse and gloomy. R. K. Narayan has raised his voice to protest against this through the present story. Herein lies his craftsmanship.

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Watch Telugu version of Leela's Friend

Source: Malgudi Days


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The Convocation Speech

The Convocation Speech

Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy  (20 August 1946) commonly referred to as Narayana Murthy, is an Indian IT industrialist and the co-founder of Infosys, a multinational corporation providing business consulting, technology, engineering, and outsourcing services. Murthy studied electrical engineering at the National Institute of Engineering, University of Mysore, and M. Tech at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

Before starting Infosys, Murthy worked with Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad as chief systems programmer and Patni Computer Systems in Pune (Maharashtra). He started Infosys in 1981 and served as its CEO from 1981 to 2002 and as chairman from 2002 to 2011. In 2011, he stepped down from the board and became Chairman Emeritus. On 1 June 2013, Murthy was appointed as Additional Director and Executive Chairman of the board for a period of five years.

Murthy has been listed among the 12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time by Fortune magazine. He has been described as Father of Indian IT sector by Time magazine due to his contribution to outsourcing in India. Murthy has also been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri awards.

He  hailed the giant strides made by the country on various fronts but rued that lakhs of Indians are still mired in poverty, illiteracy, ill-health and malnutrition at the sidelines of the convocation of Jawaharlal Nehru Technology University, Hyderabad (JNTUH) on 7th May 2012. Earlier, the JNTUH conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to Murthy.

Never before did the world think India had something to contribute to the global community other than spices. Our economy is growing at more than seven per cent for the last three years, highest since 1947. India has become the software development centreoftheworld.

Our foreign exchange reserves are around USD 300 billion, he said. However, we have another India steeped in poverty, illiteracy, ill-health and malnutrition and without hope and confidence in the future, for no fault of hers. He maintained that corruption in political system often kills the enthusiasm of bright youngsters.

We have created a political system with incentives for most of our politicians with notable exceptions to keep our people poor, illiterate and helpless. We have consistently been among the lowly-ranked nations in the human development index.

Not surprisingly, we rank high on corruption. Our record in primary and higher education is pathetic.. Worst of all, we have created an environment where bright, idealistic and confident youngsters who are ready to take on the world in their 20s become despondent, diffident, self-seeking and unhappy individuals by the time they reach40,hesaid.

He has the hope that, 30 years from now, this country will have a set of 40-60

years olds who will be different from the current 60 and 65 year-olds like me. They will be full of confidence, hope and faith in the country.

People should rise above religious, regional and other affiliations and strive for excellence with discipline.

He was discussing exciting new developments in the field of computer science with a large group of students and how such developments would alter our future. He was articulate, passionate and quite convincing.

R.Narayana Murthy Attends JNTU 3rd Convocation


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JNTUH doctorate for Narayana Murthy

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N. R. Narayana Murthy

Jawarharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad is conferring its Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) degree on Infosys founder and chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy.

The degree would be presented to Mr. Murthy during JNTU's third convocation to be held on Monday. He will also be delivering the convocation address, said JNTU Vice-chancellor P. Rameshwar Rao at a press conference here on Saturday.

Disclosing the initiatives taken up by the university, Prof Rao said the government had sanctioned permission to establish a new constituent College of Engineering at Singoor in Medak district with four under graduate disciplines from 2012-13 academic year.

During the convocation about 74,000 under graduate, post graduate and Ph.D degrees would be awarded. In all, 48 gold medals would be presented to candidates, who excelled in different disciplines.

Meanwhile, EAMCET 2012 Convenor N.V. Ramana Rao said over 3.88 lakh applications were received till date this year. Of this, about 800 applications were rejected for different reasons, including candidates' ineligibility, failure to submit valid documents and others, he informed.

He said candidates were provided with the facility of downloading the hall tickets online. Students can download the hall tickets even on May 12, the examination day.

Elaborate arrangements are being made for smooth conduct of the examination. Authorities have already identified few centres for installing jammers to avoid malpractice. This apart, thumb impressions of the candidates would be taken at the respective exam centres. This year, marks would be announced on May 24, said Mr. Rao.

source: The Hindu

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SIR MOKSHAGUNDAM VISVESVARAYA

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

"Progress in every country depends mainly on the education of its people. Without education, we are a nation of children. The difference between one man and another, apart from birth and social position, consists in the extent of knowledge, general and practical, acquired by him. We may safely assume that man in all countries within certain limits start with the same degree of intelligence. A civilized nation is distinguished from an uncivilized one by the extent of its acquired intelligence and skill."– Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.

'Remember, your work may be only to sweep a railway crossing, but it is your duty to keep it so clean that no other crossing in the world is as clean as yours'              -Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Born to Venkatalakshmamma and SrinivasaSastry was a well known astrologer and physician on August 28, 1860 at Muddenahalli, a village in Kolar District of the then Mysore State. Sir Visvesvaraya has left behind a sublime spirit of great vision, dedicated and disciplined service and infallible integrity that can serve as a constant guide to the present and future generation. Living a centenarian is fulfillment of the Vedic Blessings and Sir Visvesvaraya has rendered 80 years of yeoman services and has significantly contributed to the countries all round development with a view to transform our country into a new and modern India. In recognition of his distinguished public service, the Government of India conferred on Visvesvaraya the award Bharat Ratna (the highest honor that the Republic of India can confer on the most illustrious among its citizens) in 1955.

Visvesvaraya's ancestors had migrated from Mokshagundam/ Siddanur village in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh to Mysore. His father SrinivasaSastry died when Visvesvaraya was only 15 years of age. After his father's death Visvesvaraya moved with his mother Venkatalakshamma to Bangalore where his maternal uncle H. Ramaiah lived. Visvesvaraya studied at the Chickballapur Middle and High School, where he completed his lower secondary courses, later at Bangalore his maternal uncle had him admitted to the Wesleyan Mission High School in 1875. After finishing his high school education Visvesvaraya joined the Central College from where he graduated with distinction. He then moved to Pune to join the College of Science, in those days the College of Engineering was so named, to study engineering. He passed his engineering examination with sheer determination and hard work earning every penny as a tutor and met his expenses as a student himself and in 1883, he stood first in the L.C.E and the E.C.E examinations. He specialized in Civil Engineering.

Sir M.Visvesvaraya applied his mind to solve very intricate problem’s, his vision and forethought were astonishing. His inventive genius, has manifested itself in many ways and we find the imprint of this greatness in his multifaceted personality in all that he has done.

He has contributed significantly to – the Irrigation Project, Water Supply Scheme& Drainage, Heavy Industry Establishment, Consumer Industries, Development of education, Upliftment of the Poor & the Weaker Sections of the Society, Promoting Organizations, Democratization of Administration making him popular both in India and abroad. His name is mentioned with great reverence for his contributions to the National life which has been of enduring value.

Sir Visvesvaraya’s efforts in establishing the Mysore University, the Iron and Steel Factory, the Krishna Sagar Project and even trying to manage the Iron and Steel factory when it went into financial crisis are instances to learn from and eye openers for all engaged in National Building.

Sir Visveswaraya’s inspiring guidance is extraordinary and immortal.

Points to remember

Date of Birth: 15 September 1860 Place of Birth: Muddenahalli village (Kolar District, Karnataka)

·         1881: Completed B.A. from Central College Bangalore.

·         1883: Completed Civil Engineering from Science College in Poona.

·         Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was an eminent engineer and statesman and played a key role in building of modern India.

·         When Sir M. Visvesvaraya cleared his engineering, Government of Bombay offered him a job and appointed him Assistant Engineer at Nasik. As an engineer, he achieved some marvelous feats.

·         He planned a way of supplying water from the river Sindhu to a town called Sukkur. He devised a new irrigation system called the Block System. He devised steel doors to stop the wasteful flow of water in dams. He was the architect of the Krishnaraja Sagara dam in Mysore.

·         Sir M. Visvesvaraya led a very simple life. He was a strict vegetarian and a teetotaler. He was known for his honesty and integrity.

·         In 1912, Maharaja of Mysore appointed Visvesvaraya as his Dewan. Before accepting the position of Dewan of Mysore, he invited all his relatives for dinner. He told them very clearly that he would accept the prestigious office on the condition that none of them would approach him for favors.

·         As Dewan of Mysore, he worked tirelessly for educational and industrial development of the state. When he was the Dewan many new industries came up. The Sandal Oil Factory, the Soap Factory, the Metals Factory, the Chrome Tanning Factory, was some of them. Of the many factories he started the most important is the Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works.

·         In 1913 Bank of Mysore renamed as State Bank of Mysore.

·         Sir M. Visvesvaraya voluntarily retired as Dewan of Mysore in 1918. He worked actively even after his retirement.          

·         In 1920 Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works – as its Chairman he rescued it from becoming extinct & Published a Book named Reconstructing India

·         1934 – Planned Economy for India

Awards Received:

1906 – “Kaisar-i-Hind” in recognition of his services

1911 – C.I.E. (Companion of the Indian Empire) at the Delhi Durbar

1915 – K.C.I.E (Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire)

1921 – D.Sc. – Calcutta University

1943 – Elected as an Honorary Life Member of the Institution of Engineers (1)

1944 – D.Sc. - Allahabad

1948 – Doctorate – LLD. Mysore University.

1953 – D.Litt – Andhra University.

1953 – Awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Town Planners, India.

1955 – Conferred BHARATHARATNA -

1958 – ‘Durga Prasad Khaitan Memorial Gold Medal’ by the Royal Asiatic Society Council of Bengal.


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Previous Bit Questions

1. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on ____________. [ b] 

a) 15th September b) 15th September 1861 c) 15th October d) 15th October 1869

2. Visvesvaraya’s father Srinivasa Sastry was a great_________. [d ] 

a) Lawyer b) Engineer c) Priest d) Sanskrit Scholar

3. Visvesvaraya exemplified that the price of success is ___________. [a ] 

a) hard work b) money c) truthfulness d) honesty

4. Visvesvaraya was a good and diligent student. Diligent means…. [c ] 

a) Beautiful b) Studies c) Industrious d) Dignified

5. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya was born on ______ [ a]

a. 15th of September b. 16th of October c. 15th of August d. 5th of September

6. Esi is a tributary of ________ river. [c ]

a. Sindhu b. Krishna c. Musi d. Hussain Sagar

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THE LAST LEAF by O. Henry

        The Last Leaf

- O. Henry

       O Henry is the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter. Porter’s 400 short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, characterization and the clever use of twist endings. O Henry stories are famous for their surprise endings, to the point that such an ending is often referred as an “O Henry ending”.

    In a short story, The Last Leaf O' Henry describes how an old painter sacrifices his own life to save the life of a young artist.
   
    At the top of a three-story building, Sue and Johnsy had their studio. Sue and Johnsy were young artists. Johnsy was known as Joanna, she was from Maine. Sue was known as Sudie, from California.

    One day in November Johnsy was severely attacked by pneumonia, an illness. She lay on her side bed looking through the window at the blank wall of the next house. She was very upset with her illness.
   
    One morning doctor invited, he examined Johnsy. Doctor said that Johnsy was seriously ill. The chance of her living depends on her want to live so she should have interest for her life. The doctor left the place. Then Sue settled herself to draw a picture for a magazine story. But then she found that Johnsy was counting the number of leaves of decayed ivy-vine on the brick wall. Sue asked her what was there is to count. Then she replied that she would die when the last leaf fell. Johnsy goes on counting the leaves. Sue was irritated and worried of Johnsy's stupidity but tried a lot to make her comfortable.
       
    Sue when to Old Behrman, a sixty-year-old man to request him to be a model for her painting. Behrman, who lived on the ground floor of the same building. He was a failure in art. He wanted to paint a masterpiece but never yet begun it. For several years, he had painted a blend of paint in the line of advertising or commerce. He earned a little by serving as a model to young artists. He was paid. He drank gin to excess and always talked about his masterpiece which was never begun. He considered himself to be a guardian of the two young girls.
   
    Sue told him about Johnsy's fanciful fears. Behrman laughed at Johnsy's foolish thoughts.
Johnsy continued to think that she would die when the last leaf fell. Johnsy was sleeping when Behrman and Sue went upstairs. They went to another room and peered out the window fearfully at the ivy-vine. That night it rained heavily and the violent wind went on blowing throughout the night. But, the very next day, Johnsy found the last leaf remaining on the ivy-vine, then she realized that it was a sin to want to die. The doctor found that Johnsy's condition was improved.

    Later Sue told Johnsy that Behrman died of pneumonia. He went out during the fearful night of rain and winds to paint the last leaf on the brick wall. As a result, he attacked pneumonia and died. But his painting saved the life of Johnsy. The wonderful portrait of the characters made the picture a masterpiece. It ends with the death of Behrman. But, initially pneumonia severely attacked Johnsy but the end the story ends with the death of Old Behrman.

Video of O.Henry's The Last Leaf

https://youtu.be/1dhs1pHyGOI

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