God Sees the Truth, But Waits

"God Sees the Truth, But Waits" is a famous short story written by Leo Tolstoy. It's a tale about justice, forgiveness, and the enduring power of truth. Here's a step-by-step summary of the story:

1. Introduction of the Protagonist:

The story begins by introducing a merchant named Ivan Dmitrievich Aksionov. He is a well-respected and honest man in a small town in Russia. He has a loving wife and children, and his life seems peaceful and content.

2. A Fateful Journey:

One day, Aksionov decides to travel to a distant town to attend a fair. He bids farewell to his family and sets out on his journey, not knowing that his life is about to take a tragic turn.

3. Encounter with a Stranger:

On the way, Aksionov meets a fellow traveler, a young merchant named Makar Semyonich. They decide to travel together to keep each other company on the long and lonely road.

4. A Fateful Night:

As evening falls, Aksionov and Makar decide to stop at an inn for the night. Aksionov is carrying a large sum of money from the sale of his goods, and he is careful to keep it hidden.

5. Betrayal and False Accusation:

That night, Aksionov falls asleep, and when he wakes up in the morning, he discovers that his money is gone, and Makar is nowhere to be found. He realizes that he has been robbed and immediately reports the theft to the police.

6. Unjust Conviction:

 Despite Aksionov's pleas of innocence, the police arrest him on suspicion of murder and theft. The money he was carrying is found in his bag, and the authorities believe he murdered Makar in his sleep.

7. Life in Prison:

Aksionov is sentenced to hard labor in Siberia for his alleged crimes. He endures many years of suffering and hardship in the harsh Siberian prison, all the while maintaining his innocence and hoping for justice.

8. Transformation and Revelation:

 Over the years, Aksionov changes from a strong and healthy man into an old and frail one. He reflects on his past and begins to accept his fate. He also finds solace in religion, praying and reading the Bible regularly.

9. Meeting the Real Culprit:

One day, after many years of imprisonment, Aksionov encounters a new prisoner who admits to the crime for which Aksionov was falsely accused. The man had been living a life of crime and finally confessed his guilt, revealing that he had killed Makar Semyonich and stolen the money.

10. Death and Redemption:

 Aksionov forgives the man who had caused him so much suffering and dies with a sense of peace and forgiveness in his heart. The real culprit's confession is eventually confirmed, and Aksionov's name is cleared posthumously.

11. The Theme of Divine Justice:

The story ends with the message that "God sees the truth, but waits." It highlights the idea that ultimate justice may not be delivered in this world but will be meted out by a higher power.

"God Sees the Truth, But Waits" is a powerful story that explores themes of innocence, guilt, redemption, and the belief in divine justice. It reminds us that, even in the face of injustice, forgiveness, and faith can bring solace and ultimate redemption.

Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda-Explanation

The Importance of Introspection:

Keeping Quiet: A Poem by Pablo Neruda

The Importance of Inward Self:

Introspection can only be achieved when we are completely

 still.

What is the Inward Self?

Introspection is the mental activity in which we reflect on our thoughts, feelings, and how we act towards others. Introspection helps us to correct our errors and change our behaviour. We become better people by doing introspection on a daily basis.

How to achieve the state of introspection?

1.    The poet says that we need to count up to twelve only in order to reach the state of mind when introspection becomes possible. It is possible when we are quiet.

2.    So by counting up to twelve we are able to examine our inner self. The poet says that we will count up to twelve and remain motionless. We will not do any physical activity during that time.

3.    The poet seems to suggest that people of the whole world should remain quiet together and should not speak any word in any of their languages. They should neither speak nor do any physical activity even for a single second.

4.    If they do so, they would have strange and wonderful experience in which there would be no hurry to finish any activity.

5.    When the people of the whole world would remain quiet at the same time, the people doing different activities in different parts of the world would stop their activities. It would be so strange and wonderful experience on this earth.

6.    The workers working at machines would stop their engines. The fishermen catching fish would stop catching fish and whales. They would stop harming whales for some seconds. After introspection, their thought would be purified of all cruelty and unsympathetic attitude. They would catch as much fish as they require for their survival.

7.    The man who is gathering salt, would also feel changed after introspection. He would get rid of his greed and stop collecting salt. The line ‘… would see his hurt hands’ suggests his sudden awareness about his mistake of collecting salt more than his need.

8.    The people who prepare fatal weapons for wars would also be made sober by the process of introspection. They would evaluate their activities and realise their mistake of being cruel to human beings. They would no longer use chemical gas, gun powder and even they may stop wars. They would no longer rejoice in the victory that is the result of bloodshed.

9.    They would put on clean clothes means their mind and conscience would be guiltless and clean. Since they would be without any feeling of enmity towards others, they would consider themselves their brothers and walk together with them enjoying the shade of the trees. The shade of trees may suggest the feeling of universal brotherhood.

Lines 21 to36

‘What I want should not be confused

With total inactivity…..

And you keep quiet and I will go

10.                       The poet says that we should not get confused with the word ‘total in activity’. It does not mean that we would stop all activities while doing introspection by remaining quiet. Of course, we would stop physical activities, but mental activity will continue in introspection. Activity is the very synonym of life and inactivity is the very synonym of death. If we are active, we are full of life, and inactivity makes us passive. The poet does not want any relation with death.

11.                       In the next lines ‘If we were not single minded…’ the poet stresses the need to be focused on our tasks of life to keep our life progressing and moving forward.

12.                       If we become passive, lazy, and inactive in life, we will cause trouble for ourselves. We would be sad and may not come out of the vicious circle of poverty and deficiency of all we need for our survival. When we are sad, we would not be able to introspect properly. Consequently, we would not be able to understand our own thoughts and feelings. That situation would be like that of death.

13.                       Only introspection may take us out of such a critical situation.

“Perhaps the earth can teach us…….

The poet’s contention (argument) is that we should not take the word

 ‘total inactivity’ in a limited sense finds more clarification here.

 When

 the person is sitting motionless in introspection, he seems to be

 doing no activity.

14.                       The truth is that several thoughts are running in his mind and he is analysing them in a rational way. Similar is the case with the earth. In the winter season, the surface of the earth seems to do nothing. We see no sprouting from seeds, no new leaves, and no flowering. But after the winter season, the surface of the earth is full of so many activities. It is again full of life.

15.                       Similarly, after introspection, we can restart our all

 activities with a freshness of mind.

Explanation of Pablo Neruda's poem "Keeping Quiet"

Explanation of Pablo Neruda's poem "Keeping Quiet":

Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. For once on the face of the earth let's not speak in any language, let's stop for one second, and not move our arms so much.

The poem begins with an invitation to count to twelve and remain silent. The speaker suggests that, for a moment, everyone should refrain from speaking. The intention is to create a rare occurrence where people set aside their differences and unify in silence. By not speaking in any language, they transcend linguistic barriers and communicate through their shared act of stillness. The mention of not moving their arms too much can be seen as a metaphor for not engaging in excessive actions or gestures, but rather finding a calm and peaceful state.

It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.

The poet describes this moment as "exotic" because it is out of the ordinary. In this moment of stillness, there would be no rush, no noisy engines, and people would find themselves united in a sudden sense of unfamiliarity. The aim is to break away from the usual hustle and bustle of everyday life and experience a new kind of togetherness.

Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt would not look at his hurt hands.

The poem presents examples of how this silence and stillness can bring about positive changes. It suggests that in this moment of collective quiet, fishermen would not harm whales, symbolizing a cessation of destructive actions. Similarly, the person gathering salt, who might normally be preoccupied with their injured hands, would be relieved of their pain as they pause from their work. These examples illustrate the potential for empathy (understanding/sympathy) and the avoidance of harm when people come together in stillness.

Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, victories with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing.

The poem continues by highlighting the impact of stillness on those involved in preparing for wars and conflicts. These individuals, who plan destructive battles using weapons such as gas and fire, would momentarily abandon their plans. They would wear clean clothes, symbolizing a temporary purification or cleansing of their intentions, and peacefully walk alongside their fellow humans in the shade. This imagery depicts a temporary cessation of violence and the opportunity for unity among all people.

What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death.

The speaker clarifies that their call for stillness and silence should not be mistaken for total inactivity or a desire for death. Life, according to the poet, is about taking action and being engaged. The intention is not to withdraw from life but rather to take a momentary pause from the chaos and reflect on our actions and their consequences. It is a plea for peace and understanding, rather than a renunciation of life's responsibilities.

If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death.

The poet suggests that if humans were not so consumed by their constant pursuit of progress and self-interest, and if they could collectively embrace stillness and inaction, a profound silence might emerge. This silence, he believes, has the power to interrupt the pervasive sadness and lack of self-understanding that plague humanity. By momentarily setting aside our relentless activities, we can create space for introspection, and self-reflection, and ultimately find a path away from self-destructive tendencies

 

CBSE 11th Class Question Paper 2024- Style and Marking Scheme for 2024

A Thing of Beauty-John Keats-Explanation-Summary

  A THING OF BEAUTY    BY JOHN KEATS

  Born: October 31, 1795 
London, England 
Died: February 23, 1821 
Rome, Italy A Romantic poet

   The last to be born and the first to   die of the Five Great Romantic Poets :

  William Wordsworth, S.T. Coleridge, P.B. Shelly, Lord Byron, John Keats

       A Thing Of Beauty Is A Joy For Ever

   An extract from his longer poem ‘Endymion’

‘A thing of beauty is a joy for ever

 Its loveliness increases, it will never

 Pass into nothingness, but will keep

   A bower quiet for us…’

The poet begins the poem with a beautiful line that has become a quotable quote:

   ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’

John Keats was a lover of beauty. He wrote all of his poetry in search of a permanent beauty that always keeps on soothing a suffering human heart, that keeps on increasing the joyful experience of us for a prolonged period of time.  

•          According to the poet, a beautiful object is always a source of joy to us.

•         It is a permanent  joy for all.

•         Its loveliness increases with every view of it. The more we watch it, the more beautiful it becomes for us.

•         With the help of our imagination we keep on adding something new and more beautiful to it every time we watch it.

•         It will never prove useless to us as other material things lose their attraction very soon. We become fed up with watching those material things.

•         But we never feel bored watching the thing that is really beautiful for us

“ A bower quiet for us, and a sleep…

   Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing....”

•          Nature is a treasure of beautiful objects. It always keeps something new for us to offer.

•         For example, in the scorching heat of the sun, people need some shade to relax.

•         Nature always keeps a bower (group of shady trees) ready to offer shade and shelter to us from the scorching heat of the sun

•         If someone, who needs rest, may sleep under such a bower and enjoy a sound and peaceful sleep in which he could enjoy sweet dreams and feel relaxed, more energetic, and healthier with quiet breathing. It gives him peace of mind and shade from the heat of the sun.

•         In the same way, a thing of beauty makes us peaceful, quiet, and healthy.

•         When we are tired of the worries and tensions of life, we can remember any beautiful object of nature and forget about any bitter reality.

•         The beautiful object makes us feel comfortable and we may have a sound sleep.

•         In this way it also makes us healthy.

 “Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

        A flowery band to bind us to the earth,

        Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth

        Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,

        Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways, made for our  

        searching…”

Word-meanings:  wreathing: surrounding,  band: some rope type

 the thing to tie something; Spite: in spite of, despondence: state of

 hopelessness, inhuman: Here it means terrible, dearth: lack,

 deficiency, gloomy: full of sadness, over darkened: mysterious

•         Our life is not smooth. At one time, a person is happy, at another time he or she may be full of hopelessness and sadness.

•         There is a terrible shortage of good nature.

•         We do not know at what time a tragic event may take place.

•         Mysterious are the ways of God!

•         We have to bear all the bitter realities of life.

•         In spite of the worries and tensions of life, we have to begin our life anew every morning with full energy and power.

•         This is possible if we keep ourselves bound to this beautiful planet, i.e. the Earth by the beauties of nature.

•         Therefore,  we create a chain of attachments to the beautiful objects of nature.

•          It seems to be like that of a beautiful cover or garland worn around our necks.

•         It keeps us bound to the world that is full of all types of oddities enough to make our life miserable!

“. .. yes in spite of all,

    Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

    From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,

   Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon…”

Word-meanings: dark spirits: the hearts full of sadness, sprouting: growing, shady boon: providing shade that becomes helpful, pall: a cover that is spread on a dead person, here it symbolises the cover of sadness.

For simple sheep; and such are daffodils

With the green world they live in; and clear rills

That for themselves a cooling covert make

‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,

Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk- rose blooms;

Word-meanings: 1. sprouting: producing, coming out 2. rich with full

 of but here it means looking beautiful 3. boon: a blessing, 4.

 daffodils: flowers, 5. rills: small streams, brooks or streams 7.

 covert: hidden areas in the jungle such as bushes, 8. brake:

 hindrances like marshy land in a jungle 9.  sprinkling: less

 number,10.  fair musk-rose: a kind of white rose, 11.  blooms: flowers

•         The poet further says that in spite of all the bitter realities of the world, the beauty of Nature removes the pall (cover) of sadness from human hearts.

•         Then he gives examples of such beautiful objects that help human beings to come out of their state of depression and sadness.

•         These are the sun, the moon, the trees old as well as the young that provide shade to various animals of the jungle in the hot summer.

•           These provide shelter to animals like sheep and also to so many other animals of the jungle under their green shade.

•         There are beautiful springs (rills) full of clear water, which make a shadow of bushes and many small trees and plants over themselves to keep their water cool for the creatures to drink.

•         They do so to save themselves from the scorching heat of the sun in this way.

•         There is undergrowth or bushes that protect many flowers like beautiful musk roses from the heat of the sun.

•         Usually such bushes are found in the marshy land of a jungle.

And such too is the grandeur of the dooms 
We have imagined for the mighty dead; 
An endless fountain of immortal drink, 
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink. 

Word-meanings: doom: God’s final judgment on human beings, mighty: powerful; immortal drink: a drink called nectar (‘Amrit’ drunk by gods); heaven’s brink: the edge of heaven

•         Sometimes we pray to God for great rewards to be given to the souls of the great men who are dead now. We feel immense happiness while praying to God for them.

•         Then the poet says that there are tales of the old times that we have heard or read These also make us happy.

•         The poet calls them the fountain… the very source of immortal drink that pours from heaven.

•         Immortal drink is said to be the favourite drink of gods in Hindu mythology. It is a source of permanent life and joy.

•         Here it signifies that God creates all beautiful objects for all the creatures including human beings on the earth.

•         It is a source of permanent joy to the distressed souls on the earth.

Thanks!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wounded Plants Summary in Hindi-by Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose Video 2 of 2

Wounded Plants by Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose-English for B. A. I- Semester I