Dramatization of the story All about a Dog by A.G. Gardiner

Dramatization of the story 

All about a Dog 

by 

A.G. Gardiner

CHARACTERS 

A woman with Pekinese dog, 

Her Lady Companion ,

Her Male Companion, 

Bus Conductor, 

Other passengers, 

A policeman, 

& 

The Author 

******************************************

Output of the Project:


Time : A cold winter night

Place : In a running bus

(A running bus. It is a bitterly cold night, and even at the far end of the bus the east wind cut like a knife. The bus stops and two women and a man get in together and fill the vacant places. The younger woman carries a little Pekinese dog. The conductor comes in and takes their fares. Then his eye rests on the beady-eyed dog. Author realizes trouble coming up.) 

Bus Conductor : You must take that dog out 

The Woman : (Promptly) I shall certainly do nothing of the kind. (loudly) You can take my name and address. 

Bus Conductor : You must take the dog out—that's my order. 

The Woman : (Protesting) I won't go on the top of the bus in such weather. It would kill me. 

Lady Companion : Certainly not. You've got a cough as it is. 

Male Companion : (Angrily) It's nonsense. 

(The conductor pulls the bell, and the bus stops.) 

Bus Conductor : (Loudly announces) This bus doesn't go on until that dog is brought out. 

(He steps on to the pavement and waits like a triumphant. Everybody in the bus is on the side of the lady and her dog.) 

First Passenger : (In raised voices) Shameful. Call the police! Let's all report him! 

Second Passenger : Let's make him give us our fares back. 

Third Passenger : Yes, that's it; let's make him give us our fares back! 

(The little animal sits blinking at the dim lights, unconscious of the trouble he has caused. The conductor comes to the door.) 

Other passengers : (In demanding tone) Give us our fares back- you've engaged to carry us. You can't leave us here all night! 

Bus Conductor : No fares back. 

(In the meantime, two or three passengers get out and disappear into the night. The conductor turns on the pavement, goes to the driver to have a talk with him. Another bus, the last on the road, goes by and it seemed indifferent to the shouts of the passengers to stop. A policeman strolls up and looks in at the door. The passengers burst out with indignant protests and appeals.) 

Policeman : (Softly) Well, he's got his rules, you know. (Then he goes away to stand a few yards down the street. There he is joined by two more constables. Still the little dog blinks at the lights and the conductor walks to and fro like a captain in the hour of victory.) 

A Woman passenger: (In raised voice) It can not be tolerated at all. (But he is cold as the night and hard as the pavement. Then to the policeman) What is duty? Is it your duty to watch the drama? (Then she vanished and the bus was emptying.) 

The Woman : I'll go to the top. 

Male Companion : You'll have pneumonia, the man said. 

(The woman disappears up the stairs, the conductor come back and pulls the bell. The bus goes on. Suddenly the bus develops engine trouble and the conductor goes to the help of the driver. Meanwhile, the lady with the dog steals down the stairs and re-enters the bus. When the engine is put right, the conductor comes back and pulls the bell. Then his eye falls on the dog, and his hand goes to the bell-rope again and the bus stops. The conductor walks on the pavement, the little dog blinks at the lights, the lady again declares that she will not go to the top, and finally goes. The bus gets soon empty) 

Bus Conductor : (like a victorious) I've got my rules. 

The Author : (To the conductor) Rules are necessary things. Some are hard and fast rules, like the rule of the road, which cannot be broken without danger to life and limb. But some are only rules for your guidance, like that rule about the dogs. You can use your common sense here. They are meant to be observed in the spirit, not in the letter, for the comfort of the passengers. You have kept the rule, but broken its spirit. You should mind your rules with a little good will and good temper. Good night. (he quite amiably goes off.)

****************

PROJECT ON DRAMATIZATION OF THE STORY "THE LOST CHILD" BY MULK RAJ ANAND

 

  

Dramatization of the story

The Lost Child

by

Mulk Raj Anand

CHARACTERS

The lost child 

His Parents 

A sweet-meat seller 

A flower seller 

A juggler 

A man.

Output of the Project: 

Time           :         A spring morning.

Place          :         A village fair ground

 

(It is the festival of spring. From the wintry shades of narrow lanes and alleys emerges a gaily clad humanity. Some walk, some ride on horses, others sit, being carried in bamboo and bullock carts. Suddenly a little boy runs between his father’s legs, brimming over with life and laughter.)

 

Parents:               Come, child, come otherwise you will be lagged behind. Don’t look at the toys in the shops.

 

(The child hurries towards his parents, his feet are obedient to their call, his eyes still lingering on the receding toys. As he comes to where they has stopped to wait for him, he cannot suppress the desire of his heart, even though he well knows the old, cold stare of refusal in their eyes.)

 

The Child:          (With keen plead) I want that toy, Father. (His father looks at him red-eyed, in his familiar tyrant’s way. His mother, melted by the free spirit of the day is tender and, gives him her finger to hold)

 

Mother:             (Cajoling him) Look, child, what is before you! Look at the beautiful flowering mustard-field, pale like melting gold as it swept across miles and miles of even land. Look, A group of dragon-flies were bustling about on their gaudy purple wings, intercepting the flight of a lone black bee or butterfly in search of sweetness from the flowers.

 

(The child becomes sad and begins to follow them in the air with his gaze, till one of insects will still its wings and rest, and he tries to catch it. But it goes fluttering, flapping, up into the air, when he has almost caught it in his hands.)

 

Mother:             (With caution tone) Child, come, come on to the footpath.

 

(He runs towards his parents gaily and walks abreast of them for a while, being, however, soon left behind, attracted by the little insects and worms along the footpath that are teeming out from their hiding places to enjoy the sunshine.)

 

Parents:               (loudly send a call to their son from the shade of a grove) “Come, child, come!” (He runs towards them. A shower of young flowers falls upon the child as he enters the grove, and, forgetting his parents, he begins to gather the raining petals in his hands. Sweet cooing of doves is heard in the background. The child runs towards his parents.)

 

The Child:          (Shouting) “The dove! The dove!

 

Parents:               (In warning tone) Come, child, come! (But the child is running in wild capers round the banyan tree, and gathering him up they took the narrow, winding footpath which leads to the fair through the mustard fields. As they near the village the child can see many other footpaths full of throngs, converging to the whirlpool of the fair, and feels at once repelled and fascinated by the confusion of the world he is entering.)

 

(A sweetmeat seller enters hawking)

 

Sweetmeat seller:      (In professional tone) Gulab-jaman, rasagulla, burfi, jalebi,” (Immediately crowd presses round his counter at the foot of an architecture of many coloured sweets, decorated with leaves of silver and gold. The child stares open-eyed and his mouth waters for the burfi that is his favourite sweet.)

 

The Child:                   (With a plead, in murmur tone) I want that burfi. (No answer comes. Without waiting for an answer, he moves on.)

 

(A flower-seller enters hawking)

 

Flower-Seller:             A garland of gulmohur, a garland of gulmohur!

 

The Child:                   (Going to the seller) I want that garland. (No answer comes from his parents. Without waiting for an answer, he moves on.)

 

(A balloon seller enters holding a pole with yellow, red, green and purple balloons flying from it. The child is simply carried away by the rainbow glory of their silken colours and he is filled with an overwhelming desire to possess them all. But he well knows his parents will never buy him the balloons because they will say he is too old to play with such toys. So, he walks on farther.)

 

(A snake-charmer is seen stood playing a flute to a snake which coils itself in a basket, its head raises in a graceful bend like the neck of a swan, while the music steals into its invisible ears like the gentle rippling of an invisible waterfall. The child goes towards the snake-charmer. But, knowing his parents has forbidden him to hear such coarse music as the snake- charmer played, he proceeds farther. There is a roundabout in full swing. Men, women and children, carry away in a whirling motion, shriek and cry with dizzy laughter. The child watches them intently.)

 

The Child:                   (With a bold request) I want to go on the roundabout, please, Father, Mother. (Again, there is no reply. He turns to look at his parents. They are not there, ahead of him. He turns to look on either side. They are not there. He looks behind. There is no sign of them. A full, deep cry rose within his dry throat and with a sudden jerk of his body he runs from where he is standing)

 

The Child:                   (Crying in real fear) Mother, Father! (Tears rolldown from his eyes, hot and fierce; his flushed face is convulsed with fear. Panic- stricken, he runs to one side first, then to the other, hither and thither in all directions, knowing not where to go.) “Mother, Father (loudly wailing. His yellow turban comes untied and his clothes become muddy. Crying. He tries to look intently among the patches of bright yellow clothes, but there is no sign of his father and mother among these people, who seem to laugh and talk just for the sake of laughing and talking. He runs quickly again, this time to a shrine to which people seem to be crowding. Every little

inch of space here is congested with men, but he runs through people’s legs.)

 

The Child:                   (Sobs near the entrance to the temple) Mother, Father! (The poor child struggles to thrust a way between their feet but, knocks to and fro by their brutal movements. He shouts in very high-pitched voice) Father, Mother!

 

(A man in the surging crowd, enters, hears his cry and, stooping with great difficulty, lifted him up in his arms.)

 

A man:              How did you get here, child? Whose baby, are you?”

 

The Child:          (Weeping bitterly) I want my mother; I want my father!

 

A man:              (trying to soothe him and taking him to the roundabout) Will you have a ride on the horse?

 

The Child:          (Sobs and shouts) I want my mother; I want my father!

 

(Then They headed towards the place where the snake- charmer still playing on the flute to the swaying cobra.)

The man:           (Showing him the snake-charmer and in requesting tone) Listen to that nice music, child!

 

The Child:          (The child shuts his ears with his fingers and shouts his double-pitched strain) I want my mother; I want my father!

 

(The man takes him near the balloons,

 

The man:           (Trying to cajole him) Would you like a rainbow-coloured balloon?

 

 The Child:         (Wailing) I want my mother; I want my father!”

 

(The man, still trying to make the child happy, bears him to the gate where the flower-seller sat.)

 

The man:           (Indicating the flowers) Look! Can you smell those nice flowers, child! Would you like a garland to put round your neck?

 

The Child:          (Refusing his request, begins to wail again) I want my mother, I want my father!”

 

(The man, to humour his disconsolate charge by a gift of sweets, took him to the counter of the sweet shop.)

 

The man:           What sweets would you like, child?

 

The Child:          (Sobbing) I want my mother; I want my father!

 

 

********* Curtain falls **********

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A RIVER

 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A RIVER

I am river. I used to be born a long term ago in an ambiguous location in a mountain. I am mixture of numerous streams. From the day I was born I was stressed to move on and journey to unknown regions. For that reason, I was bubbling with life and power, ready to overcome any impediment that got here my way. I ferociously scurry via the slender creeks and bends inside the mountains to begin my journey into unknown lands. I actually experience very sturdy, invincible and pure at this factor as I flow alongside a hard terrain with strong undercurrents. On occasion I plunge numerous hundreds of ft from a notable peak with notable pressure. This is known as a waterfall. As I progress on a downward trend carrying alongside broken rocks and particles, I ultimately reach the plains. 

At this juncture of my route, I discover myself within the upper plains and examine my route widening. The water that I bring down here from the mountains is made good use of through human beings settled within the region. It's far quite thrilling to see an amazing variety of settlements on my banks. Human beings make experience very important considering they feel I am sacred, holy and a supply of existence. Along side small townships, houses there are temples as well. The scenic splendor around me may be very stunning and awesome. From the rough mountain terrain, I tend to turn out to be a bit gradual and slurry within the higher plains. I’m the best source of natural and smooth water and that I experience outstanding that I’m beneficial to so many human beings. As I move alongside, I collect a whole lot of soil, rocks and particles and come to be heavy. For that reason I lose on speed and slowly trudge along the plains. 

Leaving the higher plains behind I reach the lower plains. The soil that I bring at the side of me is very fertile and exceptional for agriculture. I flood the plains with fertile alluvial soil that will increase the fertility and yield of fields placed on my banks. Several farmers are dependent on me for his or her livelihood and profession. I water the fields, which in flip facilitates crops to develop in abundance right here. This makes the vicinity prosper and fosters financial increase. There is always some hustle and bustle to be seen here and the surroundings is very beautiful and enriching. 

As I circulate across the plains, I substantially gradual down and begin to take wide turns and bends. Numerous townships have evolved alongside my banks, which have industrial and economic significance. These townships have a varied tradition as nicely. I have emerged as a platform for exchange and commerce. Human beings deliver goods from side to side throughout the river for change. My water is likewise used for bathing, household chores and for consuming as well. 

Once in a while at some point of my path within the mountains and plains, specifically in the monsoon seasons I carry overwhelming volumes of water that causes floods. To manipulate the quantity of water I convey, humans have constructed dams. I circulate with first rate fury and force at some point of this time, and from time to time even cause a good quantity of harm to civilization. Dams have been built to save excess water, that is for use for agricultural purposes at some stage in the dry season. Inside the top route of my adventure, i.e. In the mountains, the government has evolved several hydel strength projects to generate energy. The strength that is generated right here facilitates enterprise to develop and additionally helps the people residing in the location in the profession and exchange. 

In this manner I keep shifting along side no end till I meet the sea. In the decrease course of the river, I play the role of the writer and destroyer. Numerous houses and homes were washed away by using me at some point of the floods; however at the same time I’m also a supply of latest existence, especially agriculture. I deposit fertile soil inside the plains that enables vegetation to grow, which could decorate economic increase of the U.S. 

My aim is to preserve flowing till I meet the ocean. This is the final segment of my adventure. Here people have constructed ports and factories. This brings about a sure amount of pollution and impurities. Inside the top route my water is pure without any impurities; but within the ultimate segment of my adventure I am not able to retain my purity on account human hobby. Accordingly my adventure is certainly in no way comes to an quit. I maintain to float endlessly with a goal to be on the provider of mankind for generations to come back.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A ORPHAN

 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A ORPHAN

Take into account that day when, I used to be just about four years old, we had been all, my dad and mom, my sister and that I had been occurring a scooter, a two wheeler. At the turning of savitri cinema our scooter overturned, and from the opposite aspect a one tonner truck shifting on the incorrect aspect, hit the scooter head on. 

My father couldn't manage the scooter and it swerved and everybody fell off the scooter. My father being at the the front fell headlong and died right now. The 3 of us had been helped via some pedestrians and we have been introduced to a terrible guy's jhuggi. 

The scooter have been broken, and it belonged to my father's buddy, so my mom needed to pay the compensation for the damage finished to it. We ha'd lost our father, and there was darkness round us, as, now who might earn our bread for us? 

After convalescing from the shock, we returned to our home from that guy's who had been our saviour. Now my mother began running as a maid in a few houses which have been in a colony close to our cluster of huts. 

Life got here returned on the rails, as, now she started out doing pretty nicely and became capable of eke out an incomes sufficient to keep life going. She even managed to position us in a nearby school, and at one factor of time we started out feeling as although, existence became in the end now not quite awful. But, this was now not to be for lengthy, and, I think we had this luxury of two meals an afternoon for about a yr and a 1/2 whilst, someday my mom also met with an twist of fate when she changed into coming home after working within the colony. 

We, once more entered the segment of tragedy and loss of hope. Now, I was the following in line of seniority to preserve myself and my little sister alive. The conflict become now to begin afresh and really soon it took place to me that we were now orphans, a totally disheartening situation for any infant. Presently I was pretty much eight years old and I had joined the bandwagon of the millions of orphans - who are destined to distress and unhappiness. 

The actual photograph of existence had are available the front of my eyes - there has been now, a total vacuum in my lifestyles. No one was there to earn bread for me, no one to ship me to high school and of direction no one to persuade me. Now there would be existence with none love provider and of direction no person to persuade me. I might ought to do all my paintings myself, even earn for myself and my sister. 

After someday, once I had were given out of the surprise of getting misplaced both my parents, I realised that, brooding could not assist and that, unless I girdle up my loins, nothing could be completed. Existence needed to be persevered but, how changed into no person's subject, I had to plan it all out and work for it, as, and no person ought to help me. 

As I was wondering, one day, an concept flashed throughout my thoughts, and I remembered that, in the faculty I had studied there has been one teacher who was very beneficial and she or he additionally preferred me lots. I determined to go to her and request her for recommendation. 

I went to her at some point and satisfactory as she become, she straight away took me to her domestic and positioned me on a job at her very own home. She gave me a small servant's area connected to her house for me to live with my sister, and my responsibility became just to perform a little odd jobs for her and her family. We have been now quite nicely settled and I thanked my teacher for all that she had accomplished for us. 

My instructor additionally had children of the identical sizes of me and my sister. We had been allowed to play with them, and all become very well for us. We had been additionally taught through the teacher whilst she changed into at home and so, I’m able to say that we were now not lacking on anything at all. It changed into all first-class but, in a few nook of my coronary heart I often felt pangs of ache when my trainer and her husband fondled their youngsters. 

Their younger son could display them pranks, and they might simply dote on him and run round in circles appreciating anything he did. Seeing all this my memory went returned to my hello days whilst, I and my sister were also fondled like these youngsters - yes, by way of my mother and father. Now there was no one in this huge international to try this to us. 

Questioning so, while I was by myself i'd regularly cry out my coronary heart to my sister who become additionally growing up now. But, after some time I would recognise that not anything may be completed with fate so I might provide an explanation for to myself that existence become now being quite great and that I ought to no longer complain. 

At my teacher's house, life turned into getting settled and we had been quite glad and comfy, while all of sudden fate another time gave us a jolt. In the future my pricey teacher misplaced her diamond ring, and there has been none aside from us whom she glaringly might suspect - so suspecting us of the robbery, she turned us out of her house. 

I begged her for mercy but, might she hold a thief, a dacoit at her domestic? No - rot in any respect, and so we were over again on the road, and now, I was about fourteen years old and my sister ten, each large sufficient to perform a little paintings. However, fate had something else in store for us. Someday my sister turned into kidnapped from the street on which we lived, and I’m sure someone need to have bought her for a few money, and that I in no way saw her once more. 

That day I was hell bent upon taking revenge from this merciless international and joined a gang of dacoits for; I felt that the simplest manner to stay without difficulty and additionally to take revenge turned into this. These days, I’m working for a gang of dacoits who function at the outskirts of the town of delhi. I've realised it the hard manner that, children with out mother and father don't have any future. 

Both my sister and i've lost our methods on this harassed labyrinth of life and the reason isn't some distance to are searching for - our being orphans. Orphans are like ships without rudders with any route for them. They may be children thrown in the open without any safety and security. I pray to god that he by no means grab the parents of any toddler - it results in his sure straying.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A HOUSE

 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A HOUSE

I'm referred to as crawford. I recollect after I got here to being, while my basis changed into set, and the missus first stepped on my base forums. There has been pleasure in her heart, and that joy filled me. Each brick laid, every piece of wood held her excitement and anticipation. Even though the master was technically the only that made me, I used to be created handiest with the missus in mind. I was supposed to be her dream home, the place in which she might enhance their circle of relatives, and live out their days. Even the belongings that it was set on became ideal. There was a lake a long way in the back of me, and a grove to my eastern fields. Grass grew everywhere, and wildflowers sprung up without provocation. I don't forget the manner the little pass over shrieked with happiness, even earlier than I was absolutely up and livable. Even now, I can't quite inform you what number of days it took, however I knew that with every one, I used to be getting toward having my family interior me.

When I used to be ultimately whole, and all my furnishings turned into in vicinity, I stood up instantly, tall, and proud. I used to be ultimately to be the entirety I used to be destined to. Missus cried as she looked around, and little omit ran thru my hallways, although her nanny told her not to. I attempted to do my pleasant to look robust while the grasp got here in. As he walked up my stairs, I made positive now not to creak; as he touched my timber walls, I radiated warm temperature. I wanted to make certain he knew that I would guard his circle of relatives and preserve them safe.

The whole lot become stunning interior me. The toddler could run round, sneak down into the depths of my cellars and lay at the bloodless dark earth. I stored her secrets and techniques, and stored her fiery younger skin cool. The grasp and missus, once they had been together in the residence, spent many a moment in every others include. I attempted my quality not to chortle as they made love in all of my unique rooms. I also did my nice to maintain my flooring regular every time the missus was pregnant, and make my as clean on her feet as possible. She had many kids, stunning children that stuffed me with laughter and more joy. I cherished sharing their growth, feeling their first pattering steps across my flooring, feeling them eat in my kitchen, warm themselves at my fireplace, play with their pets. They grew interior me, and usually known as me domestic.

Until the missus started out to trade; as the kids grew up, the missus grew sad. I did my great to maintain her happy. Her feet by no means walked on bloodless flooring except it changed into warm outdoor and her toes needed it, whilst she cried, I absorbed her tears. Every now and then she would not pass, and that I notion it became she that turned into the inanimate object, and that I the sentinent being. The grasp didn't recognize how sad she was, but I did. I in no way concept she become sad sufficient to cling herself in my drawing room. There has been nothing I ought to do but experience her life force give up, her sadness leaving and absorbing into me. The kids and the grasp felt the imprint of her pain the moment they walked in. The servant lady prayed softly to herself while she entered, after which almost surpassed out when she determined the missus.

I by no means recovered from the missus' sadness, and neither did her  daughters. They slit their wrists in my bathtubs. Once more I used to be loaded with sadness. It become then that I started out to creak, and my cellar commenced to grow mold. I failed to imply to mourn, however I did, as did the own family; they didn't want to be inner me, now even as I cried, or my paint flaked. Master were given his principal possessions, his garments, and photographs of the missus. I never noticed him again.

I don't know how time exceeded without the family interior me. The subsequent time I noticed my children, they had been scowling adults that added their very own babies. I did my first-rate to straighten up, now not to creak, but I didn't have that a lot manage. No one had cared for me in goodbye that I could not assist positive things. However the younger ones observed me amusing, they slid down my banisters, and for a few minutes, stuffed me with laughter once more. Even the kids… now master's and missus' in their own appreciate, smiled in my rooms, sat close to my fireplaces, went into my kitchens. The laughed, speaking to their spouses about the best times, until they walked beyond my parlor, and felt the heaviness of dying; their smiles stopped, they refused to enter, they called their youngsters back and left once more with out a word. I failed to mean to have such darkish reminiscences, I failed to need them to experience that heaviness I attempted my high-quality to cover away, however they're pain introduced it back out. They ushered their youngsters lower back out, despite the fact that I did not want them to.

The subsequent time I noticed the ones youngsters, they were adults, and they had been looking at me like I used to be only a commodity. They desired to sell me, however they did not realize absolutely everyone who would want me. I used to be antique, and in shambles. The sad mildew smell that became once in most effective my basement had snuck into the furnishings, and garments. My windows were left closed. The adults failed to want me, none of them wanted me be inside me. They are saying I smelled, and that I blushed, they say I used to be haunted, and I wasn't sure in the event that they had been proper. Sometimes I'd sense the missus and the daughters in my rooms, but they weren't the same as when they lived. They have been unhappy, and trapped internal me; the little ones searched for the missus, however they in no way found every other, which made me even sadder. I didn't recognise how a whole lot time had passed, or how usually I cried. My wood warped, mould changed into in my corners, but no living creatures might pass interior me, no longer even insects.

People tried to enter me, move interior me, however I refused to let them. I used to be rude to them. I might supply them nightmares, and the missus could by no means allow them to stay, she might repeat her very last moments, or sit and stare. I absorbed each second of disappointment simply as I had the moments of pleasure, however, as a long way as I should bear in mind, there had best been disappointment. Time had stopped for me the moment that the own family left me to rot.

I was resigned to my life, to be left by myself until I sooner or later rotted away to nothingness, till she sooner or later got here in. Once I noticed her, I should tell that she turned into of the grasp and missus. She looked at me with a softness, and smiled as she touched my partitions, just as my missus had while she had seen me. She walked via the rooms, bringing together with her a light I hadn't felt in… I do not know how long. I tried my fine to stand instantly, however I couldn't, and I attempted to hold my flooring from creaking, however they still did. She regarded to sense the equal sadness every person else had, but she took it, and saved going. She smiled at a number of the left pix, and checked out the wall in which the children have been measured. I concept all hope become lost whilst she came to the parlor, and he or she saw the missus putting. But the younger female didn't depart; she clasped some thing round her neck, and closed her eyes until the mistress dissipated. When she opened them again, she walked into the room and shed some tears. I thought she was going to add to the ache, however she did not. It stayed the identical.

She stated something, rubbed one among my tables, and informed me she changed into coming lower back. She cherished she cherished me. I didn't want her to depart; I ought to feel her lifting the darkness inner me. She said that she might return, come back to say me as her personal. I prayed that she turned into telling me the fact.

I do not know how plenty time has handed due to the fact she turned into with me, interior me. It is something that I may want to never judge; she should have left best minutes in the past, or weeks ago. However as opposed to allow myself to live defeated, I've rose to my full top. I can not make the mould and mildew recede, but I'm able to force it now not to come back any similarly. I consider this female, my new missus, will go back me to the area of joy I used to be built to be.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A BANYAN TREE

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A BANYAN TREE

I am a banyan tree. My homestead is a small town. It’s growing speedy. I am simply twenty. You can time period me teens. These days’ banyan bushes hardly ever live on for seventy to eighty years. I'm telling about the existence-span for my range. We've got three types based on vicinity of developing, viz. Rural, suburban and metropolitan.

The rural banyan trees are also termed as classical kind. They may be on the verge of extinction. Their average lifestyles-span is 4-hundred years. In the nation-state, assemblage for market, meeting, musical orchestra, drama, etc. Takes vicinity underneath their shadow. You'll discover their reference inside the classics of prolific story-tellers bankim chandra, tarashankar, prabhatkumar, sarat chandra and so forth.

I belong to town category. Earlier than i narrate my mentioning, let me upload some words on our life war. We stay in small town or suburban. Our births typically take area in disputed places. It may be due to human touch or natural motives. Thus, very regularly you'll discover germination of our seeds at locations just like the cracks of vintage homes, decomposed element or holes in trees, heaps of rubbish, and so forth. It’s unnecessary to mention that we face turbulent and uncertain durations in our adolescence. Once in a while, human beings turn out to be ruthless upon us. They don’t hesitate to uproot. Beheading is a not unusual onslaught. In particular, it’s unleashed upon us with fanfare at the eve of durga puja. Consequently, it’s tough for us to develop by means of the facet of streets within the metropolis. There's no scope for extending roots under as well. The employees of ingesting water supply department do not hesitate to reduce our roots at the plea of laying pipes. The onslaughts from different departments like pwd, bsnl, tngc, etc simply add insult to the injuries. Every so often, activists styled as environmentalists do cry for our keep. However, it’s showy; they're biased towards metropolitan sect.

But, there is usually an element of natural choice. At times, the character favours us to grow even in rocky soils. My comrades feel it fortunate if a stone below comes out because of exposure in climate. The disciples of lord shiva are often found worshipping it. So, an area of worship gradually develops beneath the banyan tree. It gets the proportion of milk presented to god. The waste of other eatables acts as manure. The area people bureaucracy committee for the protection of the banyan tree. So, it survives for a long period.

The metropolitan kind of banyan tree was first witnessed in japan. The japanese are a bit short in height in fashionable. They discover it difficult to climb bushes. So, they make us dwarf through trimming our roots and retaining us half of-fed. It has an ornamental call ‘bonsai’. In metropolitans, there may be craze for bonsai. These dwarfs are also spreading to small cities. I am too younger to envision the lifestyles-span of metropolitan banyan timber. Sometimes, the metropolitan people preserve them alive through numerous approaches from tissue tradition to cloning after medical loss of life of a dwarf.

Now, i shall narrate the tale of my existence. I'm an inhabitant of a suburban. Permit me maintain the call of the region secret, as i don’t need get uncovered. A crane mom helped me see the light of the character. Absolutely, she swallowed a few banyan-end result. One such seed fell in a hole of a tree along with her excreta. The plant changed into dead and almost decomposed. It allowed me to grow step by step for approximately 12 months. One elderly brother helped me to acquire my kids hood from my little one. My mentor had his very own interest. He owns a grocery shop. It’s first in the row of a series of stores by the side of a street of my local metropolis. There was some open space by means of the side of his store accompanied by means of drain. The human beings favored to use the place for lavatory. On occasion, the ammoniac smell of urine made the lifestyles miserable for the inmates and clients who visited the store. After a few calculative mind, my brother planted me on the vacant vicinity. Initially he used to pour water upon my roots religiously to ensure my survival. The soil changed into fertile due to formation of urea from urine. Within 3 months sparkling leaf appeared on my branches. It gave large pride to my mentor.

The following development became pretty speedy. Someday a procession for immersion of the idol of goddess manasha became passing with the aid of the street. My mentor joined them joyfully. He then recommend a proposal earlier than the devotees to depart the idol below my shadow. Via that point, the individuals became tired. They agreed to the suggestion without hesitation. My association with the goddess manasha was fruitful. Progressively humans commenced retaining different idols, specifically goddess kali, after worship, with the aid of the side of manasha. My mentor additionally encouraged them as it deterred people from using the location as rest room. Inside the nighttime he lighted candles and incent-sticks earlier than the assemblage of god and goddess. Now, the place has been established as a place of worship. Lord shani is likewise worshipped at this vicinity every saturday.

But, there may be a unhappy notice as nicely. Due to the widening of street my counselor has been evicted. He has to restart his enterprise at every other vicinity. I've grown up as nicely. My head now touches the overhead electric wires. Every yr my branches are shaped. I gladly bear with the scenario. Fortunately for me, no water-supply pipe has handed close to my vicinity. However, ofc cable of bsnl is passing near me. It continues me apprised about the state-of-the-art era. I'm hopeful that i will stay the common existence-span of a suburban banyan tree.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF TAJ MAHAL

 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF TAJ MAHAL

 

I am very happy today as I am able to write an autobiography on my own self. I always wanted to do that. First of all let me introduce myself to you all. I am Taj Mahal, one of the greatest architectures of the world of all time. I am widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". I am a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. I was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Behind my creation there was a history. On June 17, 1631 Shah Jahan’s wife and beloved Mumtaz Mahal died after delivering her fourteenth child Gauharar. Shah Jahan stood dazed, unable to comprehend the situation. She had died leaving all her children, her mother, and relations to his care. But he had promised her never to remarry and to build the grandest mausoleum over her grave. Her body received a temporary burial in the Zainabadi Garden in Burhanpur and within six months it was removed to Agra. Shahjahan had already acquired from Raja Jai Singh a plot of land on the Yamuna riverside. There on the tomb of dead Mumtaz, my foundation was built on a platform of 22′ high and 313′ square, was started in 1632 in a frenzy with thousands of artisans and labourers, toiling ceaselessly.

 

My building process goes on with excessive labour and cost, prosecuted with extraordinary diligence and took 22 years for my completion. Gold and silver esteemed as common metal, and marble as ordinary stones. Shah Jahan had chosen the best specimen of designs offered by the famous designers of the world. The materials to my construction were collected from different parts of the world like turquoise from Tibet, jade and crystal from China, chrysolite from Egypt, lapis from Afghanistan, coral from Arabia, amethyst from Persia, quartz from the Himalayas, malachite from Russia and diamonds from Hyderabad in India. The water that used in my construction was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism. Over 1000 elephants were used to transport my building materials. It took the labour of 22,000 workers to construct my monument. A board of architects supervised the construction. Lahori is treated as my main designer. About 50 million rupees were spent to build up me.

 

 

Shahjahan issued ‘farmans’ to Raja Jai Singh ordering immediate and constant supply of the Makrana marble for the tomb which was situated in the centre of my foundation. An inclined two and a half mile long road ramp was built to carry huge marble slabs to my top. In absence of wood, the scaffolding was of brick. I was being risen higher and higher with every sunset. Within nearly six years, my main edifice of the tomb was complete. In the words of Ustad Ahmad Lahori, chief architect of the project: " And above this inner dome, which is radiant like the heart of angels, has been raised another heaven-touching, a guava-shaped dome…crowning this dome of heavenly rank, the circumference of whose outer girth is 110 yards high flittering like the sun with its summit rising to a total height of 107 yards above the (level of the) ground."

The legendary gold railing of my tomb was subsequently replaced by an octagonal latticed screen (Mahajar-i-mushababbak) of the most marvelous craftsmanship with an entrance fashioned of jasper after the Turkish style, joined with gilded fasteners. It costs over 10,000 rupees but it is the most splendid work of art, well worth its weight in gold. It stands enclosing the two cenotaphs.

          Humayun's Tomb and the tomb of Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana in Delhi had served as model for me with their dome-topped structure raised on a high platform. Akbar's tomb at Sikandara lent my dominant four-pillar design. Its splendid calligraphic ornamentation by Amanat Khan inspired Shahjahan to entrust my ornamentation to the same artist. Each tower is 133 feet tall. The tomb is a wide large structure that stands on a on a square plinth and it is the central focus of my entire complex. My central dome is 58 feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula at Agra, built by Nurjahan for her father, had the most innovative and grand pietra dura decoration, a mosaic of exquisitely colored hard precious stones inlaid into the white marble. The lyrical rhythm of the floral motifs had an amazing beauty, which I greatly emulated. The crypt and the cenotaphs at my surrounding carry pietra dura decoration of a fabulous unexcelled elegance. In those days the cost of my expenses worked out to 50 lakhs and the annual revenue of 30 villages was earmarked for the regular maintenance of me.

 

 

Unwilling to allow the native artisans all the credit for this excellence, Father Manrique in 1641 advanced the preposterous claim of the Italian jeweler Geronimo Veroneo as the architect. But this claim could never be proved and remained a legend only. I derive much of my charm from the sprawling garden laid out in the Persian Char Bagh style. The fountains and canals provide a grand reflection of mine, accentuating the Paradise imagery. In my death-inspired monument rows of cypresses lead the eye to the tomb in white marble standing at the extreme end of the garden, rather than in the center as at other Mughal tombs.

          I was nearly completed within ten years around 1643. Tavernier claimed to have seen the commencement of my work. I had been started in 1632. It did not take 22 years and twenty thousand men for workers in my construction. In fact, Tavernier first arrived in Agra in 1641 when I was nearly finished. Later on the tomb of Satti-ul-Nisa, chief maid of Mumtaz and later on of Jahanara and the mosques built by Sirhindi Begam and Fatehpuri Begam were added to my complex. 

          In 1652, Aurangzeb pointed out the leakage in my dome on the northern side. The garden also was water logged during the rains. These defects were immediately attended to by Shahjahan. There is no truth in the familiar tale that Shahjahan had the hands of his chief architect chopped off to prevent building him another building of my same reputation and beauty. Before he met his fate, this architect, it is said, was allowed to take in the last look at me to ensure perfection. At this moment he hammered the dome at the point, which caused leakage. This only adds to my legendary perfection in all details. 

          In 1648 Shahjahan had shifted capital to Shahjahanabad. He already had the Peacock Throne and the Kohinoor. He never remarried but his lust for life continued unabated. Bernier, Tavernier, and Niccola Mannuci provide salacious details about the Mughal Emperors private indulgences. As prisoner in the Agra fort during his last days, Shahjahan fell terribly ill. His parched throat could hardly swallow a few drops of ‘sherbat’. Nicola Manucci relates a tale that a faqir in Bijapur had warned Shahjahan that the day his hands stopped smelling of apples he would die. Shahjahan recalled the words and smelt his hands. A sigh escaped his dry lips. He casted his last lingering glance at me from his bed in the Musamman Burj. His tired eyelids closed on a shattered heart forever. And so died on January 31,1666.

 

Jahanara planned a funeral procession befitting the grand Mughal. She was herself a prisoner. Hence she couldn't order people. A small number of insignificant menials carried the body through the small Watergate to the river. Quietly Shahjahan's body left the fort where he had embellished the magnificent marble palaces and pavilions. In the early hours of the day his body was entered into the crypt. It is rather a poignant end for the fifth Mughal Emperor. It is said that Shahjahan's favorite elephant Khaliqdad sensing the tragedy also died as the burial was in progress.

Nicola Manucci adds a spicy tale of Aurangzeb's reaction to Shahjahan's death. Aurangzeb sent a trusted man to pass a heated iron over his father's feet, and if the body did not stir, then to pierce the skull down to the throat to make sure that he was really dead. Orders were sent to I'tibar Khan not to allow his burial until the arrival of Aurangzeb in person. Once Shahjahan had escaped Bijapur in a coffin to reach Agra. The son remembered the tricks his father could play. But court chronicles mention that Aurangzeb reached Agra 25 days after the burial when all he did was to enact a brief scene of simulated grief, and offer fake condolences to Jahanara as a ploy to snatch jewels in her possession.

        Only Tavernier mentions the beginning of another tomb for Shahjahan, across the river. Historians and archaeologists dismiss this idea. However, the foundations of a mammoth building, deep huge wells on which stood plinth structures now exposed due to erosion of land under water, and lone cupola at the end of a long boundary wall replicating me, are all too evident of the abandoned enterprises. For once

 

 

Tavernier could be believed. His Majesty Firdaus Ashvani, (Shahjahan's posthumous title) was buried beside the Empress, the only asymmetrical work at me.

 

Moving further down the history, it was at the end of the 19th century that British Viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908, as a measure to restore what was lost during the Indian rebellion of 1857: I being blemished by British soldiers and government officials who also deprived the monument of my immaculate beauty by chiseling out precious stones and lapis lazuli from my walls. Also, the British style lawns that people see today adding on to my beauty is remodeled around the same time. Despite prevailing controversies, past and present threats from Indo-Pak war and environmental pollution, this epitome of love continuous to shine and attract people from all over the world.

 

Now more than three centuries have passed and I am seen by millions of visitors every year continues to retain a romantic aura about me. Some women like Mrs. Sleeman would exclaim "I would die tomorrow to have such another rover me". I am still "the grand passion of an Emperor's love," as Edwin Arnold wrote, or as Tagore said of me "one solitary tear… on the Cheek of time." The subtle play of light on the white marble dome creates my own moods to which even the hardest cynic ultimately succumbs. Millions and millions of photographs taken but they fail to capture the quintessence of my inner secret heart.History of immortal love of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal is the integral part of my history. Even today, I symbolize the true love in this ungrateful, corrupted world.

 

The End