Nellie Bly - a symbol of learning, labour and leadership

GOOGLE PAYS TRIBUTE TO NELLIE BLY who is an embodiment of learning, labour and leadership (She was a journalist,She travelled around the world in 72 days,She was an enterpreneur ) as pointed out by Christine Lagarde-

The three L’s BY Christine Lagarde

The 21st century poses many challenges that require new ways of thinking, none more important than the economic role of women in a rapidly changing world.

The global economy is struggling to generate the growth that can provide a better life for all, and all can contribute, yet women remain blocked from contributing their true potential. This has a huge cost: in some countries per capita incomes lag significantly because women are denied equal opportunity. They represent half the world’s population, but contribute far less than 50 per cent of economy activity. Indeed, the gap between men and women in terms of measured economic activity ranges from 12 per cent in the OECD countries to 50 per cent in the Middle East and North Africa.

What is needed to change this picture is a concerted effort to open the door to opportunity with what I call the “3 L’s” of women’s empowerment: learning, labour and leadership.

First learning: education is the foundation upon which change is built. Learning helps women to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion. Nowhere is this more essential than in the developing world: one study of 60 countries estimates that the economic loss from not educating girls at the same level as boys totals USD 90 billion a year. Another study suggests that an extra year of primary school boosts earning potential by 10-20 per cent, and 25 per cent for an extra year of secondary education.

There is an African adage that goes: “If you educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a girl, you train a village.” This is not only true, it is measurable. For example, women are more likely to spend their resources on health and education, investing up to 90 per cent of their earnings in this way compared with just 30-40 per cent for men. This spending creates a powerful ripple effect throughout society and across generations.

If learning is just the first step, work is the second: labour enables women to flourish and achieve their true potential.

But at present, when women participate in the workforce, they too often tend to get stuck in low-paying, low-status and low-security jobs — many in the informal sector of developing countries’ economies. Is it surprising then that women and girls are the main victims of extreme poverty, representing 70 per cent of the billion people struggling to survive on less than a dollar a day? Globally, women earn only three-quarters as much as men — even with the same level of education and in the same occupation. Surely one of our most basic norms should be “equal pay for equal work”!

Recent IMF research shows that eliminating gender gaps in economic participation can bring increases in per capita income. This can have a major impact — women control the purse strings in most households around the world, and more spending by women feeds into higher levels of demand and economic growth.

How can we promote more opportunity for women in the workplace? Sometimes it is about changing laws; for example, ensuring that property and inheritance laws do not discriminate against women. It also means policies that encourage education and healthcare, and provide greater access to credit so that women can achieve greater economic independence. This is an area where the IMF is working hard to help through our analytical and capacity-building efforts in our member countries.

The playing field also must be leveled in richer countries. They need more pro-women, pro-family leave schemes; quality, affordable childcare; individual (instead of family) taxation; and tax credits or benefits for low-wage workers.

So learning and labour are key. The third “L” is leadership: enabling women to rise and fulfil their innate abilities and talents. Here, there is plenty of room for improvement: for example, women constitute only 4 per cent of CEOs on the Standard and Poor’s list of 500 companies; and only one-fifth of parliamentary seats worldwide.

The irony is that when women lead they tend to do as good a job, if not a better job. One study shows that Fortune 500 companies with track records of raising women to senior positions are far more profitable than the average firms in their fields. Women also are less likely to engage in the reckless risk-taking behaviour that sparked the global financial crisis in 2008. They are more likely to make decisions based on consensus-building, inclusion, compassion and with a focus on long-term sustainability.

It is true — and it is understandable, given the bias that exists — that women sometimes lack confidence to match their competence. But they need to change that mindset and reset the narrative in their favour. So it is essential that women be ready to “dare the difference” — to take risks and step outside their comfort zones.

Nonetheless, even those with the drive to succeed continue to face barriers. So I have come to the view that gender targets and quotas must play a role in ensuring women a place at the table. We must either force change or stay mired in complacency.

Whether we are talking about providing primary education for girls in a village, or executive positions for women in business, it is time to create a world where all women can meet their potential without impediment or prejudice and the world will reap the benefits. The three L’s will help us get there

HOT NEWS ! ENGLISH TEACHERS WILL HAVE TO LEARN BLOGGING FOR THEY WILL HAVE TO TEACH THE STUDENTS THIS YEAR HOW TO BLOG

I have heard many higher secondary teachers proudly declaring that they  know nothing about facebook , photoshop ,blogging  or even computers.They don't realise that it is a shame not to use these tools now a days.Imagine some one declaring that I don't know how to walk or I don't know how to write! Computing,social networks,blogging,using android phones  -all these have become part and parcel of modern life.The students know how to use them better than we do.It is the duty of the teacher community to get involved in the learning process using these advanced and effective tools of communication.

We can make  the students engaged in positive use of e tools so that they don't get much time and energy to be involved in the so called negative phases like hacking,morphing or blackmailing. A teacher who do not learn these techniques is declaring himself a mute witness or rather a zombie.Get involved is the word !

 Hence I feel proud to understand that blogging has been introduced as a tool for learning and self expression in the new English text for plus two under the Higher Secondary Department, Kerala.That is why teachers of English in higher secondary are advised to learn the art of blogging this vacation ,or  now itself..I will tell you how to.It is very easy.

 I have been blogging for many years.You may please visit some of these blogs to study their structure first.
http://nssghsskamballur.blogspot.in/
http://ghsskamballur.blogspot.in/

Then the following steps may be followed to create blog with the help of google.(There are other options too .)Most of them are self explanatory.

1.Open your gmail account .At the right top of the page, you can see a tab for           Apps.Open it.Click on the tab titled  more.
2.In the menu that is opened now click on the tab titled blogger
3.Click on the tab new blog now.
4.The remaining steps can be easily done as the instructions are available on the page itself.

Try it out .A blog created can be modified or deleted at any time .It can be kept hidden from public as long as we want it to be.So there is nothing to worry.

You may need the help of an expert in some cases and for giving special effects.

12 English new Text Kerala syllabus contents

..12 English new Text Kerala syllabus 2015-16
The contents will soon be available  here as and when  the text is published by the government.
For details  ,please join in this blog 
by entering your  email in the JOIN THIS SITE or FOLLOW BY EMAIL BUTTON and sending your mail address to seakeyare@gmail.com with a brief comment on this blog.
The links will be available below

1.Text contents in brief (activated,members only,for membership send your mail address to seakeyare@gmail.com with a brief comment on this blog)

2.chapter 1 (will be activated  soon)

3.chapter 2 (will be activated  soon)

4.chapter 3 (will be activated  soon)


The text is being printed.Notes and teaching materials can be shared in this platform.

Guidance to students who pass out higher secondary -
How to improve your English-summary of the article from the HINDU

1.Buy a standard dictionary with CD. For example, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary are good resources for learners of English and help them learn the language naturally with confidence. The CD can help you practise pronunciation of words.

2.Read newspapers regularly. You can start with news items of your choice. Make it a habit. This will help you improve your vocabulary and develop your reading skills. It is said that a good reader is a good leader.

3.People who speak and write good English attribute their success to reading newspapers, magazines and books.

4.Write a diary of what you do every day. Write 10-15 sentences in a coherent way. You can also summarise a news item that you read on that day. This will help you develop your writing skills.

5.Listen to good speakers of English. A good listener is a good speaker. Exposure to good English helps a learner acquire good pronunciation. Watching English news channels 10-15 minutes every day also helps in developing listening skills.

6.Speak in English whenever you get an opportunity to speak in the language. Befriend those who speak English fluently and converse with them in the language.

7.Get a smart phone. Several free English learning apps are available. Learning English through these apps is fun, as they are very interactive.

8.Practise your English regularly. Mastering a language is just like learning how to swim. By reading a book on swimming, you can’t become a swimmer. You need to throw yourself into a pool of water to learn. Initially, you will be frightened, but the outcome will be pleasant. Similarly, to acquire communication skills you need to practise speaking. You will make mistakes but it doesn’t matter. Don’t be frightened or discouraged by negative comments made by your classmates. Throw away negativity and discouragement and march forward.

9.Treat challenges as opportunities and not as problems. Yes, some of your classmates speak English fluently, and your professors teach only in English.

These situations are blessings in disguise. These are opportunities for you to get exposed to an English-speaking environment and learn the language.
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DEAR STUDENTS,
HOW MANY OF THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS ARE PRACTICAL AND USEFUL ? CAN
YOU FOLLOW THEM ? OR ARE YOU FOLLOWING THEM NOW ITSELF ?

PLEASE WRITE YOUR OPINION to  seakeyare@gmail.com.

SEARCH TAGS-KERALA HIGHER SECONDARY ,NEW ENGLISH TEXT ,2015-16,DHSE ENGLISH NEW TEXT

A MUST READ ARTICLE FROM THE HINDU FOR 12 STUDENTS

A MUST READ ARTICLE FROM THE HINDU 27/04/2015

An English teacher writes...

IMAGE- CREDITS TO THE HINDU

 BY  ALBERT P'RAYAN(Professor of English and Head, Higher Education, at KCG College of Technology, Chennai.)

Dear student,

You are eagerly awaiting your class XII exams results. Throughout your higher secondary course at your government school, your performance has been remarkably good and you have always topped the class. The school authorities have been proud of your academic performance. Their only regret is that they could not provide you with the facilities and the exposure that you needed to holistically develop your skills.

You must be dreaming about your future and your next course of action. Though you have been good at all subjects, your level of proficiency in English is not good. You cannot be blamed for it. The medium of instruction in the school is Tamil. You have never heard your teachers, classmates or friends converse in English. Many students of the school are first-generation learners.

You did not have many opportunities to develop your English language and communication skills. You were asked to memorise answers to questions. There was no one to motivate you to learn English as a life skill or a survival skill. I do understand your background and anxiety.

Culture shock

I can visualise how your first week or month in the university/college is going to be. The transition from school to college is not going to be smooth. Your class will have students from various places and mostly from cities. You will be sitting amidst English-speaking students who will introduce themselves saying that they studied in XYZ CBSE school and their hobbies are painting, watching Hollywood movies, and their favourite stars are Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Jim Carrey, Angelina Jolie and so on. You may feel uncomfortable being in their company. Your professors may use only English in the classroom.

You may hear English everywhere on the campus. Everything they say in English may sound like gibberish to you and you may feel that you have been thrown into an alien world. You may experience ‘angloshock’. You may think “others know English but I don’t know the language and so I am not part of the group.” Some of your professors and classmates, instead of empathising with you, may ridicule you for not responding to their questions in English and may pull you down. You may have a dilemma whether to continue or discontinue your studies. You could be on the verge of breaking down and your dream, on the verge of getting shattered.

I am sharing this with you not with the intention of frightening you, but with the intention of preparing you for a battle. I underwent this struggle, and many of my colleagues and students have been soldiers in the battle. Yes, it is going to be a battle.

I know your goals are clear, and you will go to any extent to achieve your goal. As a teacher, I feel that it is my responsibility to show you the right path and encourage you. Here are my ten commandments to help you learn English and master it.

Mastering English

Be passionate about learning English. This is the first step in the journey to mastering the language. If you have the desire to learn the language, no one can stop you from doing it. I am reminded of our former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who faced many hurdles when he was a student but overcame all of them and went on to achieve success. I’m sure you can do this too.

Be positive. Say to yourself that you can do it. Have an “I-am-okay-and-you-are-okay” attitude. What you didn’t have and couldn’t do during your school days, you can have and do now.

Buy a standard dictionary with CD. For example, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary are good resources for learners of English and help them learn the language naturally with confidence. The CD can help you practise pronunciation of words.

Read newspapers regularly. You can start with news items of your choice. Make it a habit. This will help you improve your vocabulary and develop your reading skills. It is said that a good reader is a good leader.

People who speak and write good English attribute their success to reading newspapers, magazines and books.

Write a diary of what you do every day. Write 10-15 sentences in a coherent way. You can also summarise a news item that you read on that day. This will help you develop your writing skills.

Listen to good speakers of English. A good listener is a good speaker. Exposure to good English helps a learner acquire good pronunciation. Watching English news channels 10-15 minutes every day also helps in developing listening skills.

Speak in English whenever you get an opportunity to speak in the language. Befriend those who speak English fluently and converse with them in the language.

Get a smart phone. Several free English learning apps are available. Learning English through these apps is fun, as they are very interactive.

Practise your English regularly. Mastering a language is just like learning how to swim. By reading a book on swimming, you can’t become a swimmer. You need to throw yourself into a pool of water to learn. Initially, you will be frightened, but the outcome will be pleasant. Similarly, to acquire communication skills you need to practise speaking. You will make mistakes but it doesn’t matter. Don’t be frightened or discouraged by negative comments made by your classmates. Throw away negativity and discouragement and march forward.

Treat challenges as opportunities and not as problems. Yes, some of your classmates speak English fluently, and your professors teach only in English.

These situations are blessings in disguise. These are opportunities for you to get exposed to an English-speaking environment and learn the language.

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VALUE POINTS -ANSWERS TO PLUS ONE QN ; MARCH 2015

For detailed answers click here

Answers to plus two questions English March 2015

Plus One English QUESTION PAPER MARCH 2015 Comments

THE QUESTION PAPER ITSELF IS A DISASTER.
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-rather easy to MANAGE a passmark,but very difficult to score the maximum.
-not a good a question paper,did not cover the objectives.
- meaningless and unnecessary  questions
-undue scope for guessing while testing grammar.
- hints were not supplied where it was necessary.

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-did not cover MANY  important areas like Disaster management , Gandhi as a Leader,,
-three questions 4,12,21 on tourism (Did this question  have a blueprint ?)
-the 6 th question ,topic not specific,not  easy for the students  to respond
-Q16 the question not up to the objective,the same tense form selected as answer for all the questions-those who added just -ed  can score at least 3 marks.
Q19- NOT SPECIFIC ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE CONVERSATION OR CONTENT
Q22 -A meaningless and unnecessary  question ( who cares for the beauty of Nicholai;s farm - it is not a WORTHY discussion point in the story)and a difficult area for students.

Answers to PLUS ONE ENGLISH QUESTION PAPER MARCH 2015

EVERY ONE IS WELCOME  TO SEND THE ANSWERS PARTLY OR FULLY  WHICH WILL BE SHARED IN THIS POST.COMMENTS ARE ALSO WELCOME.

1."She" is the mother of the seagull.
2.His mother was tempting him with the food but she did not come close.He was maddened by hunger .Thus he was compelled to fly towards the food.

3. Role of Parents in the Growth of the Children.

Parents can play a very important role in the growth of the children.they  provide care and support as and when it is required.The story of the seagull is an example.The litte sea gull was not confident.Moreover it was afraid of flying.Then the mother comes with food but sits at a distance.She does not give him food.She was tempting him with the food but she did not come close.He was maddened by hunger .In other words he was compelled to fly towards the food.Thus the bird learns to fly.This is the role of a parent.Give a man a fish .He eats but learns nothing.Teach him how to catch fish.He learns how to live.Instead of showing too much affection ,the modern parents must provide challenging situations to the children .Then only they grow up to face life.

4.Bekal Fort, Kasargod

Bekal Fort' is the largest fort in Kerala, situated at Kasaragod district, North Kerala. Some important features of this fort are the water-tank with its flight

of steps, the tunnel opening towards the south, the magazine for keeping ammunition and the broad steps leading to the Observation Tower, which is a rarity. The Mukhyaprana Temple of Hanuman and the ancient Muslim mosque nearby fort. The zigzag entrance and the trenches around the fort

show the defense strategy inherent in the fort. Sivappa Nayaka of Bednore constructed the Bekal Fort in 1650AD. The maritime importance of Bekal increased much under the Kolathiris and it became an important port town of

Tulunadu and Malabar. The song 'Uyire' (Tamil) from the movie 'Bombay'directed by Mani Ratnam has been shot at Bekal Fort.The nearest railway

station  is Kanjangad  ,12 km from here tothe south and Kasargod ,14 km to the north.One can reach here easily by buses or taxi.

5.( a ) in accordance with ( b ) similiarly ( c ) therefore (d ) moreover

6.Social networks intrude into our privacy.


for-
1.They sift through our personal data.
2.They will make use of our personal data for commercial gains
3.Government might use them to control people
4.They might use or sell the data to other websites who can harass us or bargain for exemptions.

7.happiness
8.vigour
9.The main purpose of yoga is to create strength awareness and harmony in  both body and mind.
10. Flexibilty and muscle strength are two important benefits of yoga.(There are many options here.)

11.                                                A Precis.
                               Yoga-for a Harmony of Body and Mind
  Yoga is a globally  accepted health practice from India which involves breathing exercises and physical postures.The main purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in  both body and mind.Flexibilty ,muscle strength, improved respration ,energy vigour and mental well being are the important benefits of yoga.Though there are different schools of yoga,all of them focus on getting the body in tune with the mind.

12.A speech -

Dear friends,

A hearty Welcome to Namuana.

From the tourist department of Fiji ,we are immensely pleased to  havue you all--tourists from different pats of Europe- here in Fiji.Namuana is going to enchant you with beautiful sights and un forgettable experiences.There are  about a hundred of islands here. We are in the southwest  of Pacific Ocean about 2000 miles away from Sydney ,Australia.This is a multicultural island Nation.we have interesting cultural traditions ,unique in the world.I am sure ,all of you  will be dying to see the  the sacred turtles of kandavu. You have reached here at the right time.you will soon  see the magic of a song.you are going to feel the innocenece and nobilty of the rural life here.Your souls will be refreshed  with  hope for a bright future for mother earth.the sacred turtles of namuana will be whispering to you in your ears the  eternal message of living in harmony with nature.

And dear brothers and sisters from Europe,we respect your culture.and we hope that you will respect ours.  We respect your warm regards for this tradition.One thing I have to tell you.Please respect this culture when you go to the villages here.There are certain do’s and don’ts.Certain rules and regulations.Your guides will be telling you in detail.We must live on.This mother  Earth must not die forever.

So friends, live and let live is the message.Please make sure that you don ’t do  anything that will hinder the harmony of life here.we have made  detailed arrangements for your stay ,lunch, dine ,fun and frolic.Wish you all a great vacation. Thank you all.

13.The expression  “cold tomb ’  means  death./graveyard

14.The above lines are taken from the poem “Death the Leveller ’ by .It speaks about the inevitabilty of death.The poor and the rich,the king and the common man are equally treated by Death.No doubt ,their head will come to the tomb one day .Everything will  die out.But the good actions of the people will linger around even after death.Do good things in life.That will make you remembered  by people even after your death.Nice things you do are the steps to eternity.These lines sum up the critical tone of the poem.

15.(1) with pleasure.This is  moseus  Mallet ; a Lieutanant Colonel,AND these are Mathew,John and Patrich , all my assistants who made this venture possible..

(2) We have made all the arrangements required .The balloon will be filled with gas soon .we will take off at 5.30 A.M.We request the people not to come too close towards the balloon.

(3) It is not.It needs a lot of preparation, planning and a clear strategy. It is going to be a teamwork. and I have got a nice team of assistants and passengers. We will do it today. Flying in a hot air balloon ,for the first time in the world.

16.( a ) celebrated ( b ) welcomed ( c ) was presided (d ) inaugurated

17.. Hasan-a  Real  Human  Being

Hasan ,the Serang of Ranaganji is a gem of a human being.Though he is not so good to look at,he has got a beautiful soul.He is an experience sailor who knows the importance of teamwork and unity.He takes the responsiblity of looking after the patients on the ship.He builds the shelter alone,provides them food and spends sleepless nights serving them and even praying for them.He is not afraid of anything ,even death.No one is waiting for him on the shore . He does not have  great desires left in life.Making money is not his aim in life."After all what is money for ,Sir." is the reply the doctor received when he suggested better pay for Hasan in return of his great service. He becomes a pillar of support and solace to the inexperienced doctor who also toils to help the people in the ship.Together they manage the disaster effectively,reducing the number of deaths and containing the disease.Only a few - the captain,the doctor and the serang- knew about the  epidemic while all the other passengers are left to enjoy the fun and frolic of the voyage.Being unaware of the dedicated service of the Serang, an elite passenger  makes a remark at Hasan, hinting that he looked like an animal.The doctor let them know that it was because of  this real human being that they are alive on the ship.

18. Mr Guptha told a lie about Frank to Mrs Clifford..That he could see frank alive and safe.I think it was the right thing to do.Telling that lie ,Guptha was saving the life of the old woman.It was an innocent and intelligent move from the part of Guptha.It is true that honesty is the best policy in life.But it is also true that life is too complex to be honest.

19.     A P J KALAM    ....-An ignited mind

                    Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defence Research and Development Organisation as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions. He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State. He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft.

As Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. Dr. Kalam was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020.

Dr. Kalam took up academic pursuit as Professor, Technology & Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks. Above all he took up a mission to ignite the young minds for national development by meeting high school students across the country.


20.  A conversation


Wordsworth - Goodmorning, Doc.I am Wordsworth.I was sleepless last night.
Doctor- Goodmorning.Mr.Wordsworth.Were you late to sleep last night ?

Wordsworth- I go to sleep at 12 SHARP.but I feel restless.no peace.
In fact I haven't slept for three days.
Doctor- Don't worry.Do you have any breathing problems ?
Wordsworth-No,Sir.I try to sleep.But I can't.
Doctor-Do you sleep at daytime ?
Wordsworth-No,Sir.I lie awake day and night.sleep does not bless me.
Doctor-Any other health problems ?
Wordsworth-No,Sir.I think I am in the pink.
Doctor.-- Do one thing.Meet me at my clinic this afternoon.I have to check up you.But Mr.Wordsworth,you need not be upset. I haven't slept  for a week now.
Wordworth : That's news ,Sir.I will come to you in the afternoon.


21. Wayanad- God's Own Place.

Wayanad is a good silent tourist destination, as they say about Kerala -"Gods own country", looks to be true in Wayanad also. Wayanad is the combination of Hill Station, Forests, Tracks, Water Falls, Lake, Caves, tea states etc. The drive to Wayanad and within Wayanad is a pleasure.

As it is district the places are located at a distance from each other. As north Kerala is famous for its Hospitality so is Wayanad, local crowd is also very hospitable and tries to help u in every possible way.

We have visited places like meenmutty waterfalls, sunrise valley, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Edakkal Caves.
  Wayanad is one of the beautiful places I have visited in Kerala, India. The place is known for natural beauty. We had a visit to Wayanad last week, which turned to be one of the most memorable trips I have made. Visit to Edakkal caves was truly adventurous one and I would recommend it for anyone whois interested in adventure. Evening spent at Kuruva islands was awesome. We were able to enjoy the natural beauty, wild life, flora and fauna and the cool breeze of hill resort.

 We also visited Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary and Muthanga wildlife sanctuary which are well known wild life sanctuaries of Wayanad. We could see lot of elephants, peacocks, beers, monkeys, various types of birds and butterflies and many more. It was really a wonderful experience for us. We were able to get tribal food also which was very delicious. We also visited Pookod lake, which is one of the must-see places where we enjoyed the pleasure of boating. Wayanad is one of the most beautiful places where nature has blessed a lot.

22.    The Beauty of Nicholay's Estate

The fresh smell of gooseberry orchards can be felt here in this time of early morning.You can see the leisurely movements of the sheep out there in the farm.The melodious songs of the birds chirping is heard.There is a vast lake in the middle.The sound of the lake water lashing at the shore adds to the music.The bees are murmuring.The breeze is warm.The clouds hang low over the fields.it seems like it is going to rain.The sun is rising on the hilltop.It is a beautiful sight.

23. Life -A Double Edged Knife
The poet says that this world is a double edged knife and we have only one life .He calls us to enjoy it, live it well  in good company and do dwell .He exhorts us to do good deeds .and to sow in our character's seeds ,cultivate mind with manure of thought 
       The poet seems to focus on the direct influence of good thoughts and experiences on our character and actions.It also underlines the importance of identifying our needs ,planning  and decision making for a successful in life.It highlights the uniqueness of life and implores us to enjoy life but at the same time it warns us to be careful about the traps of life for it is a double edged knife.

     The imagery from farming is presented with the help of words like seeds,weeds and manure .The tone is pleasant but overbearing. It is  free verse with  poetic techniques likes rhyme and rhythm. The sharp metaphor used in the beginning,"The world is a double edged life' is striking.The advice is to try to have good qualities and not to think about quantities.The language is simple and flowing .Still whether this  raises itself to poetry is arguable.Perhaps this  is flowery speech intended to warm a lazy mind up.
     The meaning of the poem can be extended to that of the poem "Death the Leveller "since both of the poems centers on good actions.Only the good actions remain .Everything else dies. It is our duty to live our life spreading the fragrance of nice deeds.This calls for a careful approach from every one of us.
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................... to be modified
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These answers are for the purpose of discussions and are subject to modifications and corrections