The September meeting of the Literature Club, Pune will be held as per the details given below:
1. Date: Sunday, September 12, 2010
2. Time: 10:30 am
3. Venue: Empress Garden, Pune
4. Topics for discussion: a. Life close to Nature; b. Feeling the presence of God
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Announcement of the August 2010 meeting
Here's the announcement of the August 2010 meeting:
Date: Sunday, August 8, 2010
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: Empress Garden
Topics:
1. Social Reforms and Religion as depicted in literature.
2. Your favourite author.
Date: Sunday, August 8, 2010
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: Empress Garden
Topics:
1. Social Reforms and Religion as depicted in literature.
2. Your favourite author.
July Meeting Notes
One new member Mr. Kapadia was welcomed by the Group. Also this was Dr. Khan’s last meeting before going back to UK.
Topic 1. Feminine traits in male characters as depicted in Literature and vice versa
Four speakers spoke on the first topic.
Mr. Kaushik started with the story of Ardhanarishwar. How the three goddesses asked God to give them power to be better than the others.
Kusum Gokarn spoke about the movie Jogwa and how under the name of religion young girls and boys are sacrificed to Goddess Yellamma.
Mr. Mehrotra spoke of Shrikhandi’s character in the Mahabharat.
Mr. Rajagopalan spoke of how women can display the emotions of men but it is difficult for men to display emotions like women. He quoted the anecdote of how when a General asked all those who are afraid of their wives to stand aside. He saw one person not going out. When the General probed the man said his wife had warned him not to go where there are crowds. He also quoted Julius Caesar.
Topic 2. Rituals and traditions as depicted in literature.
Five speakers spoke on the second topic.
Brig Inamdar pointed out that all lady prime ministers of different countries have led their countries to war, thus displaying masculine characteristics.
Rahul Mate quoted a few films in which this topic is portrayed. Gone with the Wind was one of them. He also spoke of the movie Jogwa as well as Chocolat . He also mentioned Elton John’s tribute to Princess Diana.
Dr. Khan spoke on the topic of rituals and traditions. He read some part of the book Pride and Prejudice wherein Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth and her reply to him.
Mr. Rajagopalan spoke of how rituals followed during marriages and death ceremonies depict the traditions in any community.
Vasu spoke about how tradition is well depicted in the Movie Fiddler on the Roof. Where the hero is caught between whether he should follow tradition or allow his daughters to marry those they fall in love with. The movie also has a song called tradition. Vasu also spoke about the book to kill a mocking bird in which the main character Atticus Finch takes up a case of a black boy who is wrongly charged with rape of a white girl and how his family has to face the brunt.
Thanks to Lalita for this update
Topic 1. Feminine traits in male characters as depicted in Literature and vice versa
Four speakers spoke on the first topic.
Mr. Kaushik started with the story of Ardhanarishwar. How the three goddesses asked God to give them power to be better than the others.
Kusum Gokarn spoke about the movie Jogwa and how under the name of religion young girls and boys are sacrificed to Goddess Yellamma.
Mr. Mehrotra spoke of Shrikhandi’s character in the Mahabharat.
Mr. Rajagopalan spoke of how women can display the emotions of men but it is difficult for men to display emotions like women. He quoted the anecdote of how when a General asked all those who are afraid of their wives to stand aside. He saw one person not going out. When the General probed the man said his wife had warned him not to go where there are crowds. He also quoted Julius Caesar.
Topic 2. Rituals and traditions as depicted in literature.
Five speakers spoke on the second topic.
Brig Inamdar pointed out that all lady prime ministers of different countries have led their countries to war, thus displaying masculine characteristics.
Rahul Mate quoted a few films in which this topic is portrayed. Gone with the Wind was one of them. He also spoke of the movie Jogwa as well as Chocolat . He also mentioned Elton John’s tribute to Princess Diana.
Dr. Khan spoke on the topic of rituals and traditions. He read some part of the book Pride and Prejudice wherein Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth and her reply to him.
Mr. Rajagopalan spoke of how rituals followed during marriages and death ceremonies depict the traditions in any community.
Vasu spoke about how tradition is well depicted in the Movie Fiddler on the Roof. Where the hero is caught between whether he should follow tradition or allow his daughters to marry those they fall in love with. The movie also has a song called tradition. Vasu also spoke about the book to kill a mocking bird in which the main character Atticus Finch takes up a case of a black boy who is wrongly charged with rape of a white girl and how his family has to face the brunt.
Thanks to Lalita for this update
Saturday, June 12, 2010
June 2010 meeting announcement
Here's the announcement of the June 2010 meeting:
Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: Empress Garden
Topics:
1. Green- in literature
2. War scenes from literature
Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: Empress Garden
Topics:
1. Green- in literature
2. War scenes from literature
May meeting update - thanks Renuka
The highlight of the May meeting was undoubtedly the book review by Shama Vijayan.
The book: "Nine lives" by William Dalrymple
India has been the mystic land, holding many a surprise not only to those who are not familiar with India, but also to those who have spent all their lives here! William Dalrymple who is essentially a travel writer, chooses nine individuals from nine different backgrounds. Some of them from educated and cosmopolitan background and some from a very traditional, rural background. The characters tell their stories and Dalrymple is sensitive to their sentiments and is never judgmental.
Shama gave us a peek into each of the nine lives, in concise and passionate style. To make the perspective clear, she used a map to mark the diverse geographical backgrounds. It was evident that she had enjoyed the book immensely and
recommended it to all our members.
Discussions
The first topic :Women authors down the ages and their stature.
A gamut of women authors down the times right upto the present day was discussed. The sensibility of a woman author comes through in the portrayal of characters or situations was the view of many a member. One could feel a woman’s sensibility in
George Eliot’s, despite the nom-de-plume!
The second topic – Romanticism in literature
Romanticism can be as difficult in describing as describing beauty or poetry. It is a state of mind, the joy you feel when you behold a tree in full bloom, or the ultimate sound and light show by nature herself - the rains! Indeed you have to be tuned to sense it.
Following the metaphysical period came the neo-classicism. Imagination had run riot during the metaphysical period so it was reason and correctness that was important during the new classic period. The Romantic period came like a breath of fresh air. What brought about this change is difficult to pin point, though one of the reasons could be that the outlook of man had around the period of the French revolution.
The theme were often nature, thoughts and feelings upon nature. Some poems were coloured in passion – we see that it was quite normal to die for unrequited love!
The result though is a lifelong fountain of innocent exalted pleasure. This era is able to take us on a journey to show us beauty which the eye cannot see, to play music only heard in silence. They sweeten our solitude and are a source of animation when lovers of literature like us meet!
The book: "Nine lives" by William Dalrymple
India has been the mystic land, holding many a surprise not only to those who are not familiar with India, but also to those who have spent all their lives here! William Dalrymple who is essentially a travel writer, chooses nine individuals from nine different backgrounds. Some of them from educated and cosmopolitan background and some from a very traditional, rural background. The characters tell their stories and Dalrymple is sensitive to their sentiments and is never judgmental.
Shama gave us a peek into each of the nine lives, in concise and passionate style. To make the perspective clear, she used a map to mark the diverse geographical backgrounds. It was evident that she had enjoyed the book immensely and
recommended it to all our members.
Discussions
The first topic :Women authors down the ages and their stature.
A gamut of women authors down the times right upto the present day was discussed. The sensibility of a woman author comes through in the portrayal of characters or situations was the view of many a member. One could feel a woman’s sensibility in
George Eliot’s, despite the nom-de-plume!
The second topic – Romanticism in literature
Romanticism can be as difficult in describing as describing beauty or poetry. It is a state of mind, the joy you feel when you behold a tree in full bloom, or the ultimate sound and light show by nature herself - the rains! Indeed you have to be tuned to sense it.
Following the metaphysical period came the neo-classicism. Imagination had run riot during the metaphysical period so it was reason and correctness that was important during the new classic period. The Romantic period came like a breath of fresh air. What brought about this change is difficult to pin point, though one of the reasons could be that the outlook of man had around the period of the French revolution.
The theme were often nature, thoughts and feelings upon nature. Some poems were coloured in passion – we see that it was quite normal to die for unrequited love!
The result though is a lifelong fountain of innocent exalted pleasure. This era is able to take us on a journey to show us beauty which the eye cannot see, to play music only heard in silence. They sweeten our solitude and are a source of animation when lovers of literature like us meet!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
World Tamil Conference 2010
Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that our founder, Mr. Rajagopalan, has been invited to read a paper at the World Tamil Conference 2010, being held in Coimbatore from the 23rd to the 27th of June 2010.
Mr. Rajagopalan submitted two research papers for this Conference. Please join me in wishing him the very best for this Conference.
You can get more details of the Conference here: http://worldtamilconference2010.wordpress.com/
Thanks and Regards
Vasu
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that our founder, Mr. Rajagopalan, has been invited to read a paper at the World Tamil Conference 2010, being held in Coimbatore from the 23rd to the 27th of June 2010.
Mr. Rajagopalan submitted two research papers for this Conference. Please join me in wishing him the very best for this Conference.
You can get more details of the Conference here: http://worldtamilconference2010.wordpress.com/
Thanks and Regards
Vasu
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
May 2010 meeting announcement
Here's the announcement of the May 2010 meeting:
Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: Empress Garden
Topics:
1. Women authors down the ages, and their stature.
2. Romanticism in literature
See you there!
Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: Empress Garden
Topics:
1. Women authors down the ages, and their stature.
2. Romanticism in literature
See you there!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Notes from the December 2009 meeting - Thanks Renuka!
Topic: Violence as depicted in literature
This was a topic about which each of our members had some very pertinent points.
The earth started presumably with a big bang –violently. Apparently pretty plants can be overtly violent as in the case of insectivorous plants and in a subtle way in the case of parasitic plants. Animals do have a streak of violence and man is at the top of this
Pyramid
Literature has umpteen vivid depictions. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are violent but the goriest is Titus Andronicus. Charles Dickens depicted the French Revolution in great details in the “Tale of two cities.” It is also interesting to note that to depict something positive violence is resorted to as in the case of all our epics. The triumph of good over evil comes at a price – violence.
Modern literature is of course rife with violence. The depiction of violence indirectly in “God father” where the head of the horse is placed on the bed of one of the characters is unforgettable. This is frankly violent though it is suggestive. There are occasions where we feel this frank violence is preferable to treachery as in the case of Othello or betrayal as in Kite Runner or Rabindranath Tagore’s Binodini.
This was a topic about which each of our members had some very pertinent points.
The earth started presumably with a big bang –violently. Apparently pretty plants can be overtly violent as in the case of insectivorous plants and in a subtle way in the case of parasitic plants. Animals do have a streak of violence and man is at the top of this
Pyramid
Literature has umpteen vivid depictions. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are violent but the goriest is Titus Andronicus. Charles Dickens depicted the French Revolution in great details in the “Tale of two cities.” It is also interesting to note that to depict something positive violence is resorted to as in the case of all our epics. The triumph of good over evil comes at a price – violence.
Modern literature is of course rife with violence. The depiction of violence indirectly in “God father” where the head of the horse is placed on the bed of one of the characters is unforgettable. This is frankly violent though it is suggestive. There are occasions where we feel this frank violence is preferable to treachery as in the case of Othello or betrayal as in Kite Runner or Rabindranath Tagore’s Binodini.
Notes from the November 2009 meeting - Thanks Renuka!
Topic: Competition restricts creativity
The real thinkers of yore never wrote for consideration. It was as spontaneous as the warbling of a bird. Material rewards never mattered to them so competition was irrelevant. Today the same thoughts are packaged in piecemeal and sold at astronomical prices by the new age gurus. Today trivial innovations are copyrighted and jealously guarded as “intellectual property”, but we feel free to borrow from the past without qualms!
Were not Telgi and Ramalinga Raju “creative” in their crime?
“A sock by day and a cap by night” sounded very innovative till we heard of the same motor pumping water by night and powering a vehicle by day. The vehicle was lovingly named “Marutta”!
Sony rendered their own products obsolete once in a few months to stay ahead in business.
Ingenuity, innovation and creativity - The line dividing these are very thin.
Creativity encompasses a gamut of elements and there are several levels to them. One level would be being creative in competition. There is creativity in the most competitive of competitive industries – the ad industry. Is this real creativity? It is often gross and in your face. The artist here has to cater to a target audience and even run down his competitors at times.
After all timeless master pieces are the epitome of creativity, not a twenty second jingle or a hoarding with a short recall value. The masters worked to satisfy their creative urge. The result was a sublime work of art. Unless we are creative we cannot progress in any field. The freedom of spirit is a prerequisite to creativity and progress.
Topic: Experience is the comb that nature gives you get after you have gone bald
This one left us all running our hands through our hair! This apparently light hearted
quip is pregnant with meaning. The forum brought to fore this thought. Does the younger generation reject any advice given by the older generation? How should it be presented to the next generation for it to be accepted?
We do gain from the experience of the older generation willy-nilly,
as we observe them and have been observing them right from our childhood . We cannot help inheriting racial memory. It is part of our DNA. On the other hand, the path-breakers have never relied on experience of the earlier generation alone. They ventured into uncharted waters and that resulted in many a discovery.
Those were roughly the thoughts we shared.
I call that breadth of perspective.
The real thinkers of yore never wrote for consideration. It was as spontaneous as the warbling of a bird. Material rewards never mattered to them so competition was irrelevant. Today the same thoughts are packaged in piecemeal and sold at astronomical prices by the new age gurus. Today trivial innovations are copyrighted and jealously guarded as “intellectual property”, but we feel free to borrow from the past without qualms!
Were not Telgi and Ramalinga Raju “creative” in their crime?
“A sock by day and a cap by night” sounded very innovative till we heard of the same motor pumping water by night and powering a vehicle by day. The vehicle was lovingly named “Marutta”!
Sony rendered their own products obsolete once in a few months to stay ahead in business.
Ingenuity, innovation and creativity - The line dividing these are very thin.
Creativity encompasses a gamut of elements and there are several levels to them. One level would be being creative in competition. There is creativity in the most competitive of competitive industries – the ad industry. Is this real creativity? It is often gross and in your face. The artist here has to cater to a target audience and even run down his competitors at times.
After all timeless master pieces are the epitome of creativity, not a twenty second jingle or a hoarding with a short recall value. The masters worked to satisfy their creative urge. The result was a sublime work of art. Unless we are creative we cannot progress in any field. The freedom of spirit is a prerequisite to creativity and progress.
Topic: Experience is the comb that nature gives you get after you have gone bald
This one left us all running our hands through our hair! This apparently light hearted
quip is pregnant with meaning. The forum brought to fore this thought. Does the younger generation reject any advice given by the older generation? How should it be presented to the next generation for it to be accepted?
We do gain from the experience of the older generation willy-nilly,
as we observe them and have been observing them right from our childhood . We cannot help inheriting racial memory. It is part of our DNA. On the other hand, the path-breakers have never relied on experience of the earlier generation alone. They ventured into uncharted waters and that resulted in many a discovery.
Those were roughly the thoughts we shared.
I call that breadth of perspective.
DNA Pune article on Wing Commander Marathe
Friends,
Please read the article on Wg.Cdr. Marathe that appeared on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 in the Pune edition of DNA. Please note he has referred to his membership of our Club in this article.
The full article can be accessed at http://epaper.dnaindia.com/newsview.aspx?eddate=2/17/2010&pageno=1&edition=43&prntid=110668&bxid=30693180&pgno=1
Vasu
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