Wednesday 10 April 2013

Malgudi Days

Wow. Truthfully, I don't find assigned readings for English courses very interesting so I was kind of doubtful when I began to read Malgudi Days. However, Malgudi Days like the rest of the material that I have had to read in this English 123 class have proved to be entertaining. Ever since I started high school, I realized that I have started to read a lot less. I used to proudly claim that I am able to read one pretty lengthy novel in a day but now...it may take me days to finish. I'm glad that I am in an English course as it pressures me to read. Reading Malgudi Days made me forget that this was an assigned reading for an university class. It was difficult to put down. When I read the introduction to Malgudi Days I thought, "Pshhhh. It can't be as interesting as they claim; that it will be difficult to just read one or a couple short stories a day instead of in one sitting." They proved me wrong. Though I was pressed for time to finish reading this book, I didn't feel like it was a chore. I was enthralled by the first story, "An Astrologer's Day." I loved how short it was (one of the shorter short stories). Not only that, but the twist at the end which somehow felt unexpected in a short story. Characters aren't developed nor is the plot therefore the ending really left me breathless and confused to the point where I had to reread it 3 more times. I started off reading the short story with a blank mind and not high expectations and perhaps this is why the ending was such a shock to me. I thought it was strange that the astrologer could suddenly read a man's past so well but I thought that maybe some higher order in the world granted him with some power because of his desperate situation. I never would have thought it was because he was the guy that had pushed this man into a well and left him to die after stabbing him. Suddenly everything that was mentioned previously made a lot more sense and all the connections were made so obvious that I didn't realize before. I felt that Narayan was so intelligent and creative in writing this short story in such a way and grasped the attention of readers, at least me, in a way that raises my expectations and excitement to read the rest of this book.

Friday 15 March 2013

It's Disgusting

I went to the Times of India website in hopes of searching in the Life&Style or Health&Fitness categories as those are my favourite articles to read. However, as soon as I got to the website, what caught my eye was not an article about "How to imply that you want sex" or "8 exercises that burn stomach fat fast," what caught my eye was: "Girl jumps off moving car to escape rape."

This article was short, as are most articles from the Times of India. It provides us with the main facts of the occurrence but it left much to be desired for my curiosity and disgust. In this particular article, a 24-year old girl was abducted as she was walking home after work and was shoved into a car to be raped. What's horrifying was that she knew the kidnappers. They were no strangers to her. As she tried to escape from these two men, she was hit by the car.

I was already aware of the harsh reality of rape in India and what seems to be a sudden increase in the rate of rape. Or maybe there has always been a wide amount of rape but has only recently been brought to light in such a manner. Perhaps it may have also been due to my ignorance of India. I realize that rape is a highly immoral act and I never thought much of it as in the North American culture, it is quite common to see it in the news, movies or read it in books. India, however, is under a different circumstance. Rape is not a comfortable topic. This may be why many are unaware of the crimes that have been going on. I just feel as if suddenly I'm bombarded with the horrors that Indian women are facing. I don't believe that rape has suddenly become a popular trend in 2012-2013. It must have always taken place, but is only now widely known to the rest of the world.

In the conservative country of India, a woman's virginity must be protected. This ensures her future. It is kind of like her insurance. Indian men do not want a "dirtied and used woman" even if she had sex without her consent. It's horrifying what Indian woman must live through each and every day of their lives. The fear that they must live in, never knowing if they're safe. It seems as if some men of India have absolutely no discrimination as to who and where they rape. It may be a two and a half year old girl in a hospital as her mother is giving birth, or a mentally ill woman. I hope that through raising awareness by people reading these articles, something can be done to protect the women of India. It also makes me feel so lucky to be living in a safe, or much safer, environment and world than these women.

The article for "Girl jumps off moving car to escape rape" can be found at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Woman-jumps-from-moving-car-to-escape-rape-bid-two-arrested/articleshow/18992925.cms
"Two-and-half-year-old girl raped in MP town" http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/Two-and-half-year-old-girl-raped-in-MP-town/articleshow/18994174.cms
"Hotel worker held for raping mentally ill woman"http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Woman-jumps-from-moving-car-to-escape-rape-bid-two-arrested/articleshow/18992925.cms

Thursday 14 March 2013

The Crocodile and The Monkey

This poem was chosen after reading all the titles of the works in Bloodaxe Book of Contemporary Indian Poets. "The Crocodile and The Monkey"is written by Vikram Seth found on page 137. After I saw how long the poem was, I was kind of hesitant about finishing it since poetry is definitely not my favourite pass-time. After I read the first few verses, I felt that this might be a very enjoyable poem. I loved the rhyme scheme as it made it an easier read due to the flow. It wasn't like a typical poem in that it was descriptive with little action. When I read it, it was as if I was reading a mini children's story. It brought back childhood memories of reading fables with morals. About a big bad creature and the intelligent victim.



The poem began with a colourful description of the crocodile and its surroundings. It incorporated alliteration and a rhyme scheme such as "Greeny-brown with gentle grin,/stubby legs and scaly skin..." As I read more into the poem, a smile lit my face. The relationship between the crocodile and the monkey was so adorable and not what we normally find in stories. They were friends living in a mutualistic relationship. The monkey would kindly provide the crocodile and his wife with fruits from the tree while the crocodile would not...I guess, eat him.


The crocodile, Kuroop (I love this name and find it very entertaining to say), had a wife. I happily read the loving relationship between Kuroop and his wife as the "prime pleasure of his life" was to "drag the carcass to his wife" while she endearingly called him, "Scalykins." Vikram Seth gave this poem a romantic sense in that even animals can have such a relationship with one another, even animals that are classically classified as vicious. However, my romantic cloud was broken when I found out she was the witch of the story. She started to yearn for the heart of the monkey. I was horrified at the turn of events as it was so happy and light in the beginning. Suddenly it was not only wanting to eat the monkey, but wanting "something sweeter still than fruit/sugar-cane or sugar-root: I must eat that monkey's heart." The fable that I thought I was reading, suddenly turned into a horror story. 

There are many morals in this story, but I think a main moral that I was able to depict was that one should not trust those who are normally untrustworthy. When I read the first few verses, I mentioned that I was surprised at the friendly relationship between the crocodile and the monkey that would in other fables be shown with hostility. Seth develops our prejudice just like how Mukherjee developed our prejudices in "The Tenant." However, in the end, Seth proves that our prejudice may have reason. Afterall, stereotypes and prejudices must have developed from past experiences and have some substance. Even when we are walking towards our death, if our 'friend' backstabs us, we should not give up. We still have hope at the last moment as long as we do not give up. This is a great story with edge for both children and adults!

This is a must read poem if you want to read an Aesop-like fable in poetry format. It was an easy read using simple words with much action. It made me experience a wide range of emotions such as appreciation of the wit of the monkey, humour, fear, contempt, anger, and moments that made me say "Awww..." inside my head. I definitely did not regret reading this and would like to read more poetry similar to this. 

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Are you a Selfish Driver?


Normally I am a totally indecisive person. The debate on whether a person should speed or not, however, is not a mere choice between buying the blue shirt or the green one. I do not believe speeding should be allowed unless given an exclusive circumstance. The allowance of speeding really depends on the circumstance. For regular drivers, why should they be allowed to speed just for exhilaration or because they are late? Speeding wouldn’t be illegal for no good reason after all.

            If a person does not have a good reason for speeding, then I think that when they make the decision to speed, they are acting in selfish interest. If a person speeds because they need the adrenalin rush, why not take up another activity such as skydiving or riding a rollercoaster? Is it really that much fun to not only put their own life on the line, but also the other people on the road? If someone is rushing because they are late for work or school, they could have left their house a little earlier. There really is no excuse for speeding. Ironically, the only reason for speeding is due to a life or death situation. It is kind of like a life or death situation versus another life or death situation.

            Honestly for me, I find it difficult to conjure up realistic reasons as to why someone would justify speeding so I turned to Google search for a little help. I searched, "reasons for speeding." From the first result 'Top 10: Speeding excuses run from 'real' to ridiculous,' the first reason was: "My colon has fallen in my vaginal canal." The second reason was that the driver was "going so fast because I [he] couldn't see the speedometer." These are not reasons for speeding, but rather excuses. How often does a speeding person have a legitimate reason for exceeding the speed limit? Is that reason valid enough when the driver costs the life of someone else because they "couldn't see the speedometer?" 

            Speeding can not only result in someone paying a $250 fine, earning 2-6 demerit points, but can also cause death. I think driving within an optimal range is the smart choice because driving too slow can also cause problems. No one should be making the selfish choice of speeding when they are putting multiple lives at risk. If an accident were to happen, think about how many people are involved. It’s not just the drivers but can also involve the passengers, pedestrians, witnesses, family members, friends, and the police and ambulance drivers. The guilt of costing someone’s life for momentary pleasure can forever plague a person. Can you live with the thought of having made someone lose a friend, mother, sister, aunt, and daughter (assuming the victim was female)? Even if you do speed, I am not labelling you as selfish. Just make the right choice and think of the potential consequences before you drive. 


To view more of 'Top 10: Speeding excuses run from 'real' to ridiculous':
http://www.murfreesboropost.com/top-10-speeding-excuses-run-from-real-to-ridiculous-cms-16028


Monday 11 February 2013

Reactions to Monsoon Wedding


Truthfully, I probably would never have chosen to watch this movie if it were not assigned by my English professor. When I am asked to watch a movie or read a book for a class, I always feel like I can’t truly enjoy the movie or the book. I feel obligated to be really alert as I try to read into every detail to find a deeper meaning. Is it a motif or maybe a metaphor? Why did the marigolds keep appearing throughout the movie? Is there significance in having the wedding planner, Dubey, in Monsoon Wedding? As I pondered these questions, I realized that though I did not enjoy the movie too much while watching it, the aftertaste was better.

It took a while for me to become accustomed to the Indian accent. Having the subtitles definitely helped me understand what was going on, especially when they flawlessly transitioned between their language and English. It made it difficult for me to multitask while watching this movie, as I had to keep reading the subtitles. Initially, I felt that it was a challenge for me to follow along because it was difficult to remember names such as Tej, Aliya, Aditi, and Hemant, to name a few. As I became familiarized with the characters, I found the movie much more enjoyable. In fact, I even shed a few tears.

I knew something was fishy when I noticed Ria’s uncomfortable and hostile attitude towards Uncle Tej. I considered the possibility of some sort of sexual assault but doubtfully dismissed it, as he didn’t appear to be a molester. My feelings became stronger as I witnessed Ria’s strong reactions whenever Tej was within close proximity of her little cousin Aliya. Though I had inklings of him sexually abusing Ria since his character was introduced, I was still really surprised when she confronted him about it, especially in front of her family during an important wedding. I was angry and upset for her, causing me to tear up. Another moment that almost made me cry was when her uncle asked Tej to leave the wedding. This was a surprising move for their family as Tej was a major supporter for them. Something else that really surprised me about the movie was that even though this movie was set in a relatively modern time, they still had arranged marriages. I assumed with the advancement of India, they would have stepped out of the traditional ways. Luckily I have the chance to explore my many questions about this movie in an essay. 

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Royalty to a Royalty Rate Increase?




The debate in increasing the royalty rate on oil in Alberta is not a new issue, however; Albertans are now faced with a $6 billion deficit in the March budget. The deficit that Alberta is now facing is due to several reasons. Alberta’s main source of income is its oil. The major buyer of this resource has always been the USA, but now the Americans have their own source of oil and it is very difficult to export oil to Asian countries such as China. The royalty rate of Alberta is also one of the lowest in the world.

In 2007, Alberta decided to increase the royalty rate on oil but then rolled down the rate again in 2010. If the same royalty rate were kept in place, would we still be facing a $6 billion deficit in the March budget? Does this mean that the Albertan government should revert back to an increase of the royalty rate for 2013?

The royalty rate is a method for the government of Alberta to extract revenue from the wealthy oil sand owners. Every time a company extracts, produces, and sells this natural resource, they have a royalty to pay. The problem? For some companies, this will cause them to extract oil from another location to avoid the raised royalty rate. Others may begin to produce less in order to pay less and this inflates the cost of oil. Royalty rates for oil sand projects continue until the project has reached payout. Therefore, at higher oil prices, the quicker it is for a project to pay out. According to CBC News, “Alberta retreats on energy royalties,” the lowered royalty in 2010 led to an increase in revenue of $167.5 million in one day for exploration rights. This made Alberta to have the “fourth-highest total in the province’s history.”

Even though the evidence I presented above seems to support a lower royalty rate, I believe that Alberta should raise the royalty rate again. Why should another Albertan program suffer due to a deficit caused partially by the revenue loss of oil? Oil is the main supplier of revenue to Albertans and we should take advantage of that even if it may increase gas prices. Everyone should contribute a little to help the province as a whole. I think that with the raised gas prices, it will also help citizens be mindful of the amount of natural gas their car and furnace consumes. Oil sand owners will also be careful in their expeditions and projects with an increase in royalty rate. This will preserve the natural resource and lower carbon emissions. But I hope that the Albertan government doesn’t expect to raise the $6 billion only from our natural resource. They should work on discovering a more sustainable and reliable source of income.