Thinking Activity- 'Crime and Punishment' by R K Narayan

 This blog is written in response to the thinking activity given by Megha Trivedi ma’am on the Short Story “Crime and Punishment” by R K Narayan.

R K Narayan (1906-2001)

R.K. Narayan was a renowned Indian author known for his captivating storytelling and insightful portrayal of everyday life in India. His works, set in the fictional town of Malgudi, captured the nuances of human relationships and the clash between tradition and modernity. With his simple yet engaging writing style, Narayan left a lasting impact on Indian literature and remains a celebrated figure in the literary world.

(You can check my other blog on R K Narayan’s short story “An Astrologer’s Day”)

‘Crime and Punishment’ By R K Narayan and Student- Teacher Dynamic

In R.K. Narayan's short story "Crime and Punishment," the student-teacher dynamic plays a central role. The story revolves around a school teacher who takes on the task of tutoring a clever yet mischievous child from wealthy and educated parents. The parents have strong beliefs in child psychology and reject corporal punishment, preferring a gentle and lenient approach to teaching. However, the teacher, observing the child's behavior, sees him as more of a "little gorilla" in need of discipline rather than the "little angel" the parents perceive him to be.

The student-teacher dynamic is characterized by a power struggle and a clash of perspectives. The teacher, driven by financial necessity, finds himself torn between catering to the parents' wishes and employing the discipline he believes is necessary for the child's development. When the teacher loses his temper and slaps the boy, he faces the consequences of his actions as the child blackmails and asserts control over him.

Through this dynamic, the story critiques the concept of over-parenting and the challenges faced by teachers who must navigate the delicate balance between meeting parental expectations and providing effective education. The teacher's predicament highlights the complexities of the teacher-student relationship, the influence of external pressures, and the consequences of crossing boundaries in the pursuit of discipline.

Various Hindi Indian movies Dealing with Student Teacher Dynamic.

Taare Zameen Par (2007)

"Taare Zameen Par" is a Bollywood film directed by Aamir Khan and released in 2007. The film stars Darsheel Safary in the lead role, along with Aamir Khan himself. It deals with the sensitive subject of dyslexia and the struggles faced by a young boy named Ishaan Awasthi.

In the movie "Taare Zameen Par," the teacher-student dynamic and the role of parenting are beautifully portrayed. The film revolves around a dyslexic child named Ishaan and his journey of self-discovery with the help of his compassionate art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh.

The teacher-student dynamic in "Taare Zameen Par" is characterized by empathy, understanding, and mentorship. Nikumbh, the art teacher, recognizes Ishaan's struggles and takes a patient and compassionate approach towards him. He understands that Ishaan's difficulties are not due to lack of intelligence but rather a specific learning disability. Through creative teaching methods and personal attention, Nikumbh helps Ishaan rediscover his confidence and talents.

Nikumbh's role as a teacher extends beyond the classroom. He becomes a source of inspiration and emotional support for Ishaan. His unwavering belief in Ishaan's potential plays a crucial role in the young boy's transformation. The mentorship and guidance provided by Nikumbh empower Ishaan to overcome his challenges, find his voice, and embrace his uniqueness.

The movie also explores the parenting aspect in Ishaan's life. Initially, Ishaan's parents are unaware of his learning disability. They struggle to understand his difficulties and often put pressure on him to perform academically. However, as the story progresses, Ishaan's parents undergo a transformation as they become aware of his condition and the need for a different approach to his education.

The film highlights the importance of parental support and understanding in a child's life. Once Ishaan's parents realize the impact of their expectations and the importance of nurturing his individuality, they change their perspective and provide him with the love, care, and acceptance he needs. They become advocates for Ishaan's needs and actively participate in his journey of growth and self-discovery.

"Taare Zameen Par" beautifully portrays the interconnectedness between the teacher-student dynamic and parenting. It emphasizes the significance of a supportive and nurturing environment that combines the efforts of both teachers and parents. The film showcases how a teacher's understanding and guidance, coupled with parental involvement and acceptance, can positively influence a child's education, self-esteem, and overall well-being.

Paathshaala (2010)

"Paathshaala" is a Bollywood film released in 2010. The film addresses the issues and challenges faced in the Indian education system. It stars Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia in the lead roles, with Nana Patekar playing a pivotal role.

"Paathshaala" movie delves into the dynamic between a teacher and his students. The film revolves around the challenges faced by a school teacher, played by Shahid Kapoor, and the impact of his teaching methods on the students.

In "Paathshaala," the teacher-student dynamic is portrayed as a complex relationship marked by both inspiration and conflict. The teacher strives to introduce innovative teaching techniques and promote critical thinking among the students. However, his unconventional methods clash with the school management's rigid approach, leading to conflicts and power struggles.

The film explores the students' perspective as they navigate the pressures of academics, peer dynamics, and societal expectations. It highlights their struggle to balance academic performance with personal growth and self-expression. The students' experiences and interactions with the teacher shape their individual journeys of self-discovery and development.

Throughout the movie, the teacher's commitment to his students becomes evident as he goes beyond the traditional boundaries of education. He becomes a mentor, guiding the students through their challenges, encouraging them to think independently, and promoting their overall well-being.

"Paathshaala" emphasizes the importance of open communication, mutual respect, and understanding between teachers and students. It highlights the need for a balanced educational environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and emotional growth. The film sheds light on the power dynamics within the educational system and encourages a more student-centric approach.

Thinking Activity- 'An Astrologer's Day' By R K Narayan

 This blog is written in response to the thinking activity given by Megha Trivedi Ma'am on the short story ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ by R K Narayan.

R.K. Narayan

R.K. Narayan, whose full name was Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami, was born on October 10, 1906, in Madras (now Chennai), British India, and passed away on May 13, 2001, in Chennai.

Narayan is best known for his fictional works set in the fictional town of Malgudi, which is loosely based on his own hometown of Mysore in South India. Through his insightful storytelling, Narayan captured the essence of everyday life in India, portraying the intricacies of human relationships, the complexities of social dynamics, and the challenges faced by ordinary individuals.

Narayan's writing style is characterized by its simplicity, wit, and gentle humor. He had a unique ability to transform ordinary, mundane occurrences into engaging narratives that resonated with readers worldwide. His works often revolve around the lives of middle-class characters, and he explored various themes such as tradition, modernity, spirituality, and the clash between Indian and Western cultures.

Some of Narayan's most famous works include "Swami and Friends" (1935), his debut novel which introduced readers to the enchanting world of Malgudi, followed by "The Bachelor of Arts" (1937), "The English Teacher" (1945), and "The Guide" (1958), which is considered his magnum opus. "The Guide" was adapted into a highly acclaimed film in 1965.

An Astrologer’s Day

"An Astrologer's Day" is a captivating short story written by R.K. Narayan. First published in 1947 as part of his collection titled "An Astrologer's Day and Other Stories," the story is set in a small town in India, it follows an astrologer who sets up his stall on a roadside, offering predictions and guidance to people seeking answers about their past and future. When a man with a personal vendetta approaches him, the astrologer discovers a shocking truth. As the story unfolds, it explores themes of fate, deception, and self-discovery, leaving readers questioning the complexities of human nature and the power of destiny.

Here are some points to write in this task after watching the Short Film based on the story by R K Narayan.

How faithful is the movie to the original short story?

The short film is very accurate to the characters and place but the setting is surely changed from Narayan’s Fictional world to the modern day small city. There is also some extension given to the character of Astrologer’s wife to give more depth to the character of Astrologer. Otherwise it is very similar to the story by R K Narayan.

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

Short story is focused on the element of suspense that it represents and that's why the characters are more mysterious. The character of Astrologer is also seems very crooked while reading the story but as we see this short story it focus on also the representation of Astrologer as he lives in a city with his family and is doing everything to earn living and survive in a city life so we can say that it surely changes our perception of the character of Astrologer so of the story in whole.

Do you feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons?

It is when the Astrologer starts his day and we see a montage of his work where various people come with their different problems to be solved by the astrologer. In that sequence we see the blind faith of people in astrology and their superstition. That sequence is so accurate that it gives a kind of aesthetic delight.

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

In my opinion literature of any kind should be explored in its original form but to be accurate with time we have to adapt various kinds of literature. 

In this movie if we say it is showcase the story as it was but it also changes the setting to be relevant to the time. It also provides depth to the characters and that’s why it is very good to see the movie. The story is not very hard as it deals with simple plot and character and also in simple language but the film makes it more easy to understand as it is a visual representation.

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

The meeting sequence of Guru Nayak and Astrologer was very accurate to the story by R K Narayan.

 If you are 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?

The one thing i would certainly do is to replace the actor of the character Guru Nayak and also improvise the situation of the two character meeting.

'Raat Rani' and what it means being Independent

 This blog is written in response to the thinking activity given by Vaidehi Hariyani ma'am on “Raat rani”, the first episode of Modern Love Mumbai while Discussing ‘Freedom’ at the Department of English, MKBU.

Raat Rani 

Raat rani is the First episode of the web series Modern Love Mumbai Premiered on the platform Amazon Prime Videos. The series is an anthology of 8 unique stories that depicts various kinds of love. 'Raat rani' is the first story of the eight part series. This episode is directed by Shonali Bose and the main character is portrayed by Fatima Sana Shaikh.

Raat rani is the story of Lali, a cook who lives in Mumbai with her security guard husband Lutfi, away from their native town from Kashmir. They live a normal life by working hard but one day her husband Lutfi leaves house and dumps Lali. The story tells how Lali becomes emotionally independent as she already was financially and individually independent.

Here are some points given while writing the task.

List down the contradictory symbols you observed in the episode “Raat Rani”.

In this story there are many symbols referring to the emotional state and growth of the character of Lali. 

The first symbol we see is the boat that they had in Kashmir and it is named as ‘Taj Mahal’ and the Taj mahal is itself the symbol of love. She is longing for the lost love in their married life that once was but now as they are in the city like Mumbai and the fast life they have lost it.

In the climax scene when her roof is fixed she have painted a painting on it. in that painting there is lady and a river and in that there is a boat and that is 'Taj Mahal', that symbolically represents that she have achieved the love she deserves on her own.

The second powerful symbol is the Bridge that she goes through every day when she goes for her job as a cook at a rich household. That bridge is the representative of her emotional dependency that she has toward her husband and the lack of courage to climb it up. Eventually she climbs the bridge and that time she feels the utmost happiness.

At the end of the episode when Lali goes to meet her husband for the last ice-cream there is a statue of liberty in the background and that is one powerful symbol. That symbolizes that she is now independent from the emotional dependency of her husband. And she is now going to lead the life as she wants to and she will do whatever pleases to.

Which is your favorite symbol from Raat Rani? Why?

My favorite symbol is the bridge, the flyover. It is the obstacle that Lali has in her way to Job. She has to get off the bicycle to climb the bridge. This bridge is the representation of her husband. They  are a hardworking couple, but in their relationship Lali is very much dependent on her husband emotionally. In every happy or sad moment she needs Lutfi. When she climbs the bridge without getting off from the bicycle she becomes very happy in the same way when her husband leaves her she becomes on her own. She discovers happiness  without depending on anyone and becomes finally independent.

Which is your favorite frame from the episode? Why?

My favorite frame in the episode is when Lali is stopping at a traffic signal and she sees a family on motorcycle eating ice-cream. That gives an inside to the mind of the character of Lali as she has this idea of being happy means to have a family and become well to do. In her heart she might have this dream to have a small family of her own where she, her husband and their kids will live a simple and happy life.

She is living in the city of Mumbai but she comes from a small background like most of the working class people who come from small towns of India to working in the big city of Mumbai. Most of the working people have this dream of earning money and then live a happy life with their families. Lali does the same as she wishes to be happy with her husband. In the end she realizes that to be happy she does not need her husband around. If her husband does not want to live with her then she can live on her own and be happy too. 

Compare and write a note on all the women characters from Raat Rani.

In this episode there is one main character Lali and apart from her there are two more females we can see in the story. One is the Lady in who’s house Lali works as cook. She is a lawyer and very rich person as it seems and the second female is the client of the lawyer who is considering getting divorce.

The lady who is getting divorce is becomes angry and choses to stop her diet and eat everything. She decides to stop maintaining her body, in contrast Lali choses to maintain herself as well her house and repairs it.

“Courage is Contagious” – Give an example for this from the episode.

in the climax the when the lady character meets Lali and see her selling Kava of Raat rani flowers and see her braveness the look on her face seems very inspired, so we can say that she might get courage and decide to live as she wish not to impress others but to live as best as she can for her own happiness.

Share a picture of yours with a women who is your source of courage. Give a creative title to it.

I can Surely say that they are very powerful and inspiring.