1. The 3 Ls of Empowerment
Horegallu by Sudha Murty
Speech by Chris ne Lagarde – the first woman Finance
Minister of a G8 country and head of IMF.
Women contribute far less than 50% of per capita income
in most countries. They don’t contribute their true
poten al. Women can be liberated with 3 Ls of empower-
ment – Learning, Labour and Leadership.
Learning is the founda on upon which any change is built.
Learning helps women to liberate themselves and to help
each other. There is an African proverb which says: ‘If you
educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a girl, you
train a village.’
Labour helps women to develop and achieve their true
poten al. But in fact women get stuck in low-paying,
lowstatus, low-security jobs. Women should get ‘equal pay
for equal work’. We must change property and inheritance
laws that discriminate against women. The governments
should implement policies that improve educa on and
healthcare. Women should also get easy access to loans so
that they can enjoy economic independence.
Leadership roles help women to rise and develop their
abili es and talents. Women are capable of making good
decisions because they are compassionate and inclusive
by nature, and focus on long-term goals. Women do not
have the confidence according to their abili es. They
should come forward and be ready to take risks and ‘dare
the difference’. We should create a world where all women
can live according to their true poten al.
2. Any Woman by Katharine Tynan
"Any Woman" by Irish poet Katharine Tynan is a poem
celebra ng the selfless love of mothers. The speaker, a
mother, is compared to the pillars of a house and the
keystone of an arch, holding the roof and walls in place.
The poem's central metaphor is the house, represen ng
the family in every aspect. The mother is the fire on the
hearth, providing warmth and light, and the sun, providing
warmth and light. The family would not survive without
the mother's love and care.
The mother is the light of love alive, the sacred ring,
protec ng the children, and the knot of love, binds them
together in safety. Her a en on and care reach every
corner of the house, from the floor to the roof. The poem
ends with a prayer to God to prolong her life un l her
children grow up, referencing Jesus Christ.
The poem uses metaphors like pillars, the keystone of the
arch, and the knot of love to emphasize the complex
nature of maternal love. The metaphor of a sacred ring
symbolizes the holiness associated with marriage vows
and the bondage with which the children are fastened to
the family. The expression "wind and snow" represents
the crises affec ng the family.
In conclusion, the poem deals with a relevant theme and
conveys a powerful message, carrying an op mis c mood
and a serious tone. The poem's abundant use of poe c
devices reinforces its theme and message.
3. Matchbox by Ashapurna Debi
"Matchbox" is a Bengali novel by Ashapurna Debi, which
explores the unhealthy marital rela onships in Indian
families due to gender bias. The story compares women to
matchboxes, which can light up and burn everything
down, but are o en seen as harmless. Nomita, the central
character, was born into a poor family and her mother
worked hard to marry her off to a rich family. Her marriage
reveals the truth of this inequality, with her husband Ajit
reading her mail and ignoring her protests. Nomita's
mother's le ers, filled with details of her miseries, make
readers empathize with her. Her mother used to begging
money from her daughter and son-in-law, and other family
members also pounced on her with sharp words. The
le ers she received were from her loving mother, who
wrote about her misfortunes and the miserable condi ons
of their house. In the climax of the story, Nomita gets
angry and goes out of control, even threatening to teach
him a lesson. However, Ajit makes humorous comments at
her raging phrases, and she sets fire to her own sari. Ajit
consoles her, but Ajit becomes meek and mellow just
because his wife reacts fearlessly. The story highlights the
typical Indian woman caught in the web of married life,
pulled apart by mul ple forces and caught between her
family and her husband's family. They are never willing to
unmask their husbands and accept everything as their
fate. Every woman lives with a fire of anger and humilia-
on burning inside her, which could break out into raging
fits of anger if not handled carefully.
4.
HoreGallu, meaning 'a stone that can bear weight', are
found in cool shade under large banyan trees in villages
where travelers and villagers can rest during their journey
or work. They usually have a pot of cool water to quench
thirst and refresh the traveler. The author tells the story of
two selfless people who performed this duty. One was her
grandfather, a re red school teacher, who pa ently
listened to the travelers or villagers who came to rest
under a banyan tree. He believed that a Horegallu is
important in any journey, as people carry their burdens
according to their situa on or capaci es. The second
person was her colleague Ratna, a cheerful middle-aged
woman who worked for 25 years in a company. She would
sit with different people during lunch hour and have long
conversa ons, sharing their troubles with her. She
believed that no one can solve problems, and that finding
an outlet for worries relieves half their burden. Everyone
needs a Horegallu in their life's journey, whether it's a
short break to reduce stress, a talk with a friend, vaca on,
or argument that refreshes or refocuses on one's path.
Some people are good listeners and trustworthy, and we
should thank them whenever we can.
5. Mending Wall by Robert Frost
Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" is a drama c narra ve
poem that explores the man-made barriers in contempo-
rary society. The poem tells the story of two neighbors
who meet annually to repair a stone wall that divides their
property. The narrator, a dissident, opposes the wall's
existence, believing it to be unnecessary. The natural
world also dislikes the wall, with mysterious gaps appear-
ing and boulders falling. The poem highlights the
importance of good fences in maintaining rela onships,
but the neighbor insists on its necessity. The narrator
a empts to convince the neighbor to stop, but the
neighbor remains firm in his belief that good fences make
good neighbors. The wall-building act, described in ritual
terms, is difficult to restore, as the fallen rocks take on
various shapes. The poem meditates on three universal
themes: barrier-building, the absurdity of this enterprise,
and our determina on to con nue this ac vity. However,
the presence of the wall ensures a harmonious rela on-
ship between the two neighbors, allowing them to
maintain their individuality and personal iden ty as
farmers. Frost's form is simple, consis ng of forty-five lines
of first-person narra ve, with occasional internal rhyme
and assonance in certain ending terms.
6. Amigo Brothers by Piri Thomas
"The Amigo Brothers" is a story about two 17-year-old
boxers, Antonio Crux and Felix Vargas, who both grew up
together and wanted to become lightweight champions.
They prepare for a boxing match to determine who goes to
the compe on. They face internal conflicts about the
value of friendship as they prepare for the physical
conflict. Antonio is fair, lean, and lanky, while Felix is
dark-skinned, short, and well-built with a hard-hi ng
power game. They decide to separate, each focusing on his
own strategy. Antonio decides to live with Aunt Lucy in the
Bronx, and they vow to treat each other like typical
opponents in the ring. On the evening before their match,
both fighters are restless and prepare mentally. Felix sees
himself as the victor a er watching a boxing movie, "The
Champion." On the appointed day, both fighters use their
boxing styles to their advantage, sustaining damage during
the rounds. At the end of the final round, the boys are
figh ng so intensely that they cannot hear the bell and
must be separated. The crowd is uneasy, fearing further
violence. However, as the referee announces the winner,
the boxers leave the ring together, restoring their
friendship. The tle "Amigo" comes from the Spanish
word "Amigo," meaning "friend," and is an apt tle for a
story about true friendship.
Character Sketch of Nomita (Paragraph aakki എഴുത്)
• Nomitha, an Indian housewife, is forced to sacrifice her
ambi ons and hopes for enslavement.
• Her marriage is based on appearance, not financial
success.
• Nomitha expects a minimum freedom to read le ers,
which her husband distrusts.
• Debi compares women to matchboxes, describing them
as vulnerable and prone to anger.
• Nomitha is ready to kill herself to break the shackles of
marital slavery.
• She is depicted as a meek, innocent woman, unable to
break the mask of her husband's large-heartedness.
7. The Hour of Truth by Percival Wilde
Percival Wilde's play 'The Hour of Truth' is a psychological
explora on of the corrup ng influence of money on
people. The play explores greed from various angles,
highligh ng how easily people forget their moral values
and principles when tempted by money. The main plot
revolves around Mr. Robert Baldwin, a truthful bank
employee, who is in police custody for misappropria on of
depositor's money. He offers him a bribe of 100,000/-
dollars to say three words "I don't remember" at the trial.
The play highlights the evil effects of money, as it can lead
to isola on, punishment, decep on, frustra on, and
endless shame. The story follows Mr. Baldwin, who is
offered a bribe by his family members, Martha, Evie, and
John, who want him to save Mr. Gresham by lying at the
trial. John argues that Gresham would make Mr. Baldwin a
partner in his business if he helped him. All of the family
members blame Mr. Baldwin for having earned nothing
and try to talk him into giving false tes mony at the trial.
Just as Mr. Baldwin gives up all his defense, Marshal, the
President of the Third Na onal, visits him and offers him a
job in return for his honesty and loyalty. He is moved to
tears for almost surrendering to the tempta on of corrup-
on.
8. Three Wheeled Revolu on by Irfan Alam
Irfan Alam, an interna onally acclaimed entrepreneur,
deviated from the corporate business mentality to a
socially responsible entrepreneurship. He started a
por olio management firm during his teenage years and
won a reality show called "Business Baazigar" with a
business proposal to organize the rickshaw sector. Alam
proposed redesigning rickshaws and equipping them with
drinking water, newspapers, refreshments, and adver se-
ments, crea ng a revolu on in the sector. He was invited
to the Presiden al Entrepreneurship summit in 2010 and
was complimented by Obama for his efforts. At seventeen,
Alam realized the plight of rickshaw pullers and founded
Samman in 2007 to organize and empower the industry.
He chose elegible rickshaw pullers and provided them
with basic e que e, traffic rules, insurances, ID cards, and
uniforms. Samman stood as a guarantor to arrange bank
loans to buy rikshaws, and the money earned through
adver sements and other ameni es was divided between
the rickshaw pullers and Samman, giving them a sense of
belonging and empowerment. Samman Gyan, a social
cause, offers free evening classes for children and their
spouses, and is tes ng innova ve ideas like solar-powered
fiber glass rickshaws. This environmentally friendly mode
of transport has given a new iden ty and self-esteem to
the underprivileged. Alam stands as a savior for the
downtrodden, demonstra ng that success can be
achieved by making others taste the fruits of their
triumphs.
Character Sketches of "The Hour of Truth"
• Robert Baldwin: Hero of the play, worked with Mr.
Gresham, a low-salary banker.
• Rejects a bribe offer from Mr. Gresham, who is now in
police custody.
• Later secures a good posi on from another bank.
• Martha Baldwin: Supports her husband, changes her
character at the prospect of a large bribe.
• Mr. John Gresham: Important character, but not on
stage.
• Offers a bribe to Mr. Baldwin, confesses guilt before his
trial begins.
• Recognizes Mr. Baldwin's virtue.
DOUBLE SIDE EDUKKARUTH!
DOUBLE SIDE EDUKKARUTH!
DOUBLE SIDE EDUKKARUTH!
DOUBLE SIDE EDUKKARUTH!
9. Didi by Shaheen Mistri
Shaheen Mistri, an Indian social ac�vist and educator, is
the founder of the Akanksha Founda�on, an educa�onal
ini�a�ve in Mumbai and Pune. Born in Mumbai, she grew
up in various countries with her father, a senior banker. As
a child, she visited an orphanage in Jakarta and later
visited a blind school in Mumbai. She learned about
inequity and injus�ce in the world and decided to stay
back in India to help the poor children. Mistri persuaded
her parents to return to the US for higher studies, but
found the teaching style boring. She visited a large slum in
Mumbai, where 10,000 people lived without essen�al
facili�es. As a young college student, she expressed her
desire to teach the less privileged children who roamed
the streets. At the age of 20, she founded the Akanksha
Founda�on, a nonprofit organiza�on working primarily in
educa�on. Over the past 20 years, the founda�on has
grown from 15 children in one center to 3,500 children in
58 centers and six schools. In 2008, she took on a
leadership role at Teach For India, which enlists India's
most promising college graduates and young professionals
to spend two years teaching in low-income schools to
bridge the educa�onal gap in the country.
10. Stammer by K Sachidanandan
"Stammer" is a poem by K Sachidanandan, a pioneer of
Modern Malayalam Literature. The poem explores the
imperfec�ons in human speech and ac�on, comparing
stammering in speech to lameness in walking. The poet
challenges the no�on that stammer is a handicap but only
a mode of speech. He compares stammering in speech to
lameness in walking, highligh�ng the gap between words
and meaning. The poem ques�ons whether stammer
preceded or succeeded language and whether it is a
language or dialect. The poet believes that stammer is
built into the fabric of human beings, making it a language
rather than a dialect. Satchidanandan explores the
concept of imperfec�on in language and poetry, arguing
that humans are imperfect beings created by an imperfect
God. He argues that God is imperfect, and we sacrifice our
imperfec�ons to demonstrate our humanity. Stammer, a
universal aspect of imperfec�on, can become a mother
tongue, as it becomes a common occurrence in society.
The poet also sa�rizes our reac�ons to social issues,
ques�oning why we hesitate and hesitate when necessary.
He argues that God's imperfec�on in crea�on has led to
our imperfec�ons, which are the reason we speak and
mean differently. The story of stammer extends to
crea�on, as God created man and language, and poetry
too. Imperfec�on runs through life, language, and poetry,
and the different meanings of words and poems add
charm to these aspects. Without these imperfec�ons, life
would suffer from monotony, and these differences are
the spice of life.
11. When a Sapling is Planted by Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist who
ini�ated the Green Belt Movement to reforest her country
by paying poor women a few shillings to plant trees, is the
first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. In her
speech, she discusses the dangers of commercial farming
and her holis�c approach to sustainable development,
which includes democracy, human rights, and women's
rights. Maathai's upbringing in rural Kenya inspired her to
plant trees to meet the basic needs of rural women. Her
non-governmental Green Belt Movement has planted 30
million trees across Kenya, many of which s�ll stand. In
2004, Maathai was interna�onally recognized with the
Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai emphasized the importance of
responsible governance of the environment and the need
for democra�c space. She also called on world leaders to
expand democra�c space and build fair and just socie�es.
She encouraged young people to commit themselves to
ac�vi�es that contribute toward achieving their long-term
dreams, recognizing the energy and crea�vity needed to
shape a sustainable future. Maathai's mobiliza�on of
African women was not limited to sustainable develop-
ment, but also included democracy, women's rights, and
interna�onal solidarity. She is seen as an example and
source of inspira�on for everyone in Africa figh�ng for
sustainable development, democracy, and peace.
12. Rice by Chemmanam Chacko
Chemmanam Chacko's 'Rice' is a poignant tale about the
farmers in Kerala who are forced to switch from food crops
to cash crops, a stark contrast to the loss of paddy fields.
The narrator, who returns to his homeland a�er a long stay
in North India, recalls the excitement of farming in his
homeland, but finds the place has changed dras�cally. Tall
rubber trees have replaced the rich paddy fields, and the
farmer's father, proud of his decision, blames the farmers
for giving up food crops for cash crops. The narrator also
cri�cizes the Chief Minister for flying high above the cash
crops to the Centre to demand more rice allotment. Rice is
a sa�re on our greed for money and apathy towards
environmental destruc�on. The poem is a drama�c
synthesis of dream and reality, presen�ng the imagined
nostalgia of Kerala's people and the stark reality of
Kerala's transi�on from a self-sufficient agrarian state to a
consumer state reliant on the center for food grains. The
poem is wri�en in free verse without rhyme scheme or
stress pa�ern, highligh�ng the hopelessness of the current
situa�on.
13. Dangers of Drug Abuse Hardin B. Jones
Hardin B. Jones, Professor of Medical Physics, warns
against drug abuse, sta�ng that modern people believe
that any illness can be relieved by taking pills. Drugs are
o�en used to relieve nervousness and to forget problems,
as they s�mulate the brain's pleasure centers, which
govern sensa�ons, moods, thoughts, and ac�ons.
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, emphasized the
importance of considering the pa�ent's cons�tu�on when
prescribing medicines. Sensual drugs provide a strong
sense of pleasure, but they can cause various health
disorders, such as liver disease, venereal disease, kidney
infec�on, and brain infec�on due to the complex chemis-
try of brain cells. Drug addi�on o�en leads to physical
discomfort, as addicts feel depressed and "dead inside,"
failing to respond to their environment or others. The
dangers of drug abuse lie between the degenera�on of
health and the deple�on of brain func�on, with the brain
being the most subtle but well-understood consequence
of drug abuse.
14. Post Early For Christmas by R. H. Wood
'Post Early for Christmas' by R. H. Wood is a humorous play
that explores the commo�on and misunderstandings that
can arise during the last-minute rush to send Christmas
presents. The play begins with the assistant describing the
senselessness of customers, who eventually become
funny and arrogant. The first customer, Mrs. Smith, is a
rheuma�sm pa�ent, while Mrs. Jones is a rude woman
who responds harshly to the assistant's advice. The old
gentleman, who is par�ally deaf, mishears the assistant's
words and shouts at her. The conversa�on between Mrs.
Higgins and her son Ber�e adds a touch of humor, as he
mistakes 'grammar' for 'grandma' and tells his mother that
she's at home watching TV. Another customer, a farmer,
shares news about a �me bomb discovered in a London
post office. The policeman is called to help deac�vate the
bomb, but the tourist, who is suspicious, refuses to take
his forgo�en glows back. The policeman throws the parcel
into water, but the tourist later reveals it was a special
dock for his friend. The assistant leaves the post office to
take up a job in an animal dispensary, emphasizing that
animals don't do silly things.
15. This is Going to Hurt a Just Li�le Bit by Ogden Nash
"This is Going to Hurt Just a Li�le Bit" by Ogden Nash is a
humorous poem that describes the agony of si�ng in a
dental chair. Nash considers dental treatment the worst
form of torture, as it combines physical and mental pain.
He uses exaggerated comparisons to illustrate the horror
of dental work, such as comparing the den�st's mouth to a
road being repaired, a den�st to a bear, and a den�st to a
crowbar. Nash also compares the use of mirrors for dental
treatment as the most terrifying aspect, fearing that the
lateral inversion may cause confusion. A�er the
treatment, the pa�ent is relieved to hear that it was all
over, but the den�st coats the mouth with a polish
resembling the polish used on a horse's hoof. Nash
believes that having to visit the den�st again is the most
vicious circle that fate sends him, as he wants his teeth in
good condi�on only to keep the den�st away. The poem
uses exaggera�ons, puns, and metaphors to create a
humorous effect. The �tle of the poem takes a humorous
turn when Nash warns the den�st that the poem may hurt
him a li�le bit, but when the treatment is completed, the
den�st realizes he has been delivered a fatal blow.
16. Crime and Punishment by R. K. Narayan
R.K. Narayanan is renowned for his universal stories,
par�cularly his 'Crime and Punishment'. The story revolves
around an impa�ent teacher who slaps his student, who
then exploits the child and leads to an unexpected ending.
The teacher's punishment seems a crime for the parents,
but the boy uses the situa�on to take revenge on the
teacher. The teacher's punishment backfires on the boy,
who becomes adamant and authorita�ve. The story is
ironic as the boy is described as a li�le angel, but in reality,
he is a blackmailer who blackmails his teacher. The teacher
protects the boy, and when the parents inquire about his
arithme�c test prepara�on, he assures them that he is all
right. The story focuses more on the character than the
se�ng, reversing the tradi�onal roles of a teacher and
student in a masterstroke of comedy and sa�re. The
characters are given no names, making the story universal
and popular. The humour and sarcasm lie in the crime the
teacher commi�ed and the punishment, which involves
dancing to the boy's tune to avoid the parents' wrath. The
changing trends in our life system are also represented
through the characters, making the story universal and
popular.
Drug Abuse: Causes, Problems, and Effects
Poten�al Causes:
• Drugs used to prevent and cure physical diseases and
reverse mental disturbances.
• Popular belief that any illness can be relieved by taking a
pill led to drug abuse.
• People depend on drugs to forget problems, not to solve
them.
Problems:
• Over dependence on drugs leads to loss of capacity to
deal with life's situa�ons.
• Hippocrates' principle that a remedy must consider
disease symptoms and general health.
Understanding Sensual Drugs:
• Gives strong sense of pleasure and s�mulates the brain's
pleasure centers.
• In severe addic�on, pleasure mechanisms fail to
respond, leading to brain misunderstanding.
Dangers of Drugs:
• Physical discomfort, personality changes, depression,
psycho�c disorder, strange looks, and feelings of death.
• Harmful side effects include death from overdose,
decline in health and brain func�on, and damage to cell
�ssue.
Drug Related Disorders:
• Dirty needles and solu�on used for injec�ons cause liver
disease, venereal disease, kidney and brain infec�on.
• Sniffing of cocaine and other drugs damage nose �ssue
and hair.
• Smoking marijuana & tobacco causes lung disease and
cell damage.
• Women addicted to drugs cause babies born with
withdrawal symptoms.
• Overdose of sensual drugs causes respiratory or cardiac
failure and death.