Of Precis-writing

Of Precis-writing

All kinds of writings need practice. It is like swimming; more you swim, more you learn to keep yourself afloat; more you write, more you learn to be prolific. Practice whets the skill

By Mukesh Sharma

A goldsmith knows how to make alluring ornaments using pure gold and other metals, and he also knows how to separate pure gold from the other metals to work out the price of an ornament. In the same way, a well articulated and balanced write-up is also an amalgamation of main idea or skeletal idea and the supporting details, endorsing it. And of course the art of précis-writing lies in separating main ideas from inconsequential or ornamental details and get to the crux of the matter.

Precis-writing is an important and compulsory question in English paper at academic level as well as in competitive exams for A & B categories of government services. However, it appears rather a tough question to answer correctly and confidently for the students from Hindi medium with poor knowledge of English language.

Mind you, such question can’t be attempted with rote-learning – sheer knowledge of grammar rules, translation and so-called mugged up vocabulary. It requires good understanding of English language  -  English syntax and practical use of standardized phrases (English is a language of phrases) i.e. which ‘verb’ collocates with which noun. In other words, only a well-read man can write well; reading leads to writing, and hearing leads to speaking in the acquisition of a language. Here this blogger seeks to suggest the students the easiest way to attempt the questions on précis-writing.

Of Precis-writing

What is a précis? Précis is a French word which is pronounced as ‘precees’ and it means ‘summary’, and précis-writing is summarizing. Grammatically speaking, it is an exercise in comprehension and compression; it is an ability to grasp quickly and accurately what is read or heard, and reproduce it quickly and concisely.

Before, précis-writing is discussed practically, it is necessary for the students to know certain ground rules:

1.    A student is supposed to compress the given passage to one third. It means, if there are twenty lines, it must be reduced to six lines.

2.   A précis should be written in own words. It should not be a patch work, a usual pitfall for the students.

3.   It must be self-contained and completed. In other words, it must convey the main idea or message fully and clearly. If one reads it, one should not feel that something is amiss or need to refer to the original.

4.   There is no need to follow the original order of thought as described in the original passage. One can come up with one’s own thought sequence provided there is no digression from original context.

5.   Indirect speech is preferred to direct speech – no inverted coma statement/sentences.

6.   If possible, make use of one-word substitution to shrink a detailed thought.

7.   Look for the leading sentences or outline of paras to summarize the passage.

8.   While writing a précis, omit examples, comparisons, contrast, digression and other inconsequential details given in original passage.

9.   Read and re-read and suggest a suitable title asked to your drafted précis.

Specimen:

Passage

To majority of UPSC aspirants, the exam which is rated as toughest, remains a mystery. Despite firm determination, and incessant hard work, the candidates are not able to crack the exam, and usually the buck is passed on the failed aspirants for their unpreparedness and incomplete studies.

“A thorough study of past years papers and its format, helps one to work out a probable trend for the next paper, and it means 30% preparation has been completed” says a successful candidate. “Next 20% count for your ability and capability to answer question to the point with good time management and rest 40% depends on tactical acquirement of special knowledge related to the particular subject, and of course 10% is left for luck,” adds a successful candidate.

Success is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. Nothing is impossible. Hope never dies and possibilities never end.

Précis

Secret of Success

Despite hard work, majority of candidates are not able to crack UPSC and the success remains a mystery, and the cause of failure is attributed to unpreparedness of candidates. One of the successful candidates says that right knowledge of question paper's format, ability to answer quickly to the point and acquirement of special knowledge related to subject, matter a lot. Further success is 90% hard work and 10% luck.

Taking clue from the example, students may try précis-writing on the questions asked in previous years of exams.

It is not only in exams but also in practical life, the art of précis-writing is of great value. Lawyers use it for taking briefings from client. Businessmen use it for jotting down important points. Government official use it for taking notes. Journalists use it to ink interviews/press meetings.

All kind of writings need practice. It is like swimming; more you swim, more you learn to keep yourself afloat; more you write, more you learn to be prolific. Practice whets your skill.

Of Paragraph-Writing

Of Paragraph-Writing

The chunks facilitate thinking and writing; it can fill the gap and provide base for succeeding thoughts or ideas; it helps to develop the theme; it also helps to reach to a logical conclusion on the subject-matter of a paragraph

By Mukesh Sharma

The biggest problem in learning English as a second language is that the mind always thinks in mother tongue. And when one tries to translate the sentences in mother tongue into English, one ends up with poor or fractured English – languages often defy translation. As far as paragraph-writing is concerned which is a common question in English papers at school level as well as in various competitive exams for government services, the students, particularly, from Hindi medium or from Hindi heartland find the question rather intriguing. Here this blogger seeks to suggest the students the easiest way to attempt the question on Paragraph-Writing.

Paragraph-writing

What is a paragraph? Generally speaking, a paragraph is a group of sentences related to one topic. Revealing the etymological meaning of ‘paragraph’, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary says: “A section of a piece of writing, usually, consisting of several sentences dealing with a single subject.” In a widely acclaimed and acknowledge book on Grammar entitled “High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin, the authors define it as “A paragraph is a number of sentences grouped together and relating to one topic; or a group of relating sentences that develop a single topic.” In other words, it is an exercise in writing a short piece in English on the given topic consisting 90-100 words.

The topic of a paragraph question can be a quotation/proverbs or anything of common interest. Now the pertinent question is ‘how to start?

The simplest way to start with is the smart use of chunks – readymade sentences commonly used by the native speakers or the writers writing in English. The chunks facilitate thinking and writing’ it can fill the gap and provide base for succeeding thoughts or ideas; it helps to develop the theme; it also helps to reach to a logical conclusion on the subject-matter of a paragraph. Here are a few useful common chunks:

-          It is very much significant that . . .

-          It throws light on the wholesome truth

-          But as a matter of fact, it is maintained that . . . .

-          But every coin has two sides

-          It is generally believed that

-          It doesn’t mean that  . . . .

-          It is a received wisdom

-          Truth can’t be created; it exists in nature; only a true truth can’t be created; it exists in nature; only a true truth seeker can discover it

-          Nothing is absolute in this world except God.

-          It still holds water

-          What is wrong for one may be right for other.

-          A mound can’t be made without digging a hole.

      The next thing that helps to develop and write a paragraph is the smart use of connectives; it helps to connect the sentences; it helps to make an idea or thought flow from one sentence to another. In fact, connectives act like a mortar to join the bricks of sentences together. Here are some useful common connectives:

-          As a matter of fact

-          It is obvious that

-          It is evident that

-          It is contended that

-          It is well said

-          There is no doubt that

-          It can be concluded that

Before paragraph-writing is discussed practically here, students must know the FOUR characteristics qualities of a paragraph which are as follows:

Unity 

All the sentences must be related to one topic; no digression; no irrelevant thoughts.

Order

There must be logical sequence of thoughts and development of the topic

Variety

Thoughts expressed must not be monotonous or boring.

Conclusion

The sequential flow of thoughts through related sentences must reach to a logical conclusion endorsing the topic of paragraph.

Any topic of the paragraph can be developed on the basis of under mentioned four points:

Elaborate

All topics of paragraph question have certain key words. Locate the key words. Further explain and expand the topic with the help of key words. Here, the smart use of chunks and connectives will play the key role. Try to write at least 5-6 lines to elaborate.

Endorse

Topic in question can be endorsed by another thought or quotation. Again further explain and expand it. Smart use of chunks will help to churn out 6-8 sentences easily.

Illuminate

Now think of certain examples that illuminate the thoughts expressed in the preceding lines in support of the topic. Very easily, at least 6-8 sentences can be penned down.

Conclude

In the light of all the preceding sentences/thoughts, conclude again with the help of chunks, and prove that topic is of significance.

Specimen

Write a paragraph in 100 words on 'Man is the architect of his own fate'

The statement is very much significant that man is the architect of his own fate (key word). It throws light on wholesome truth. But as a matter of fact it is maintained that life is predestined. Fate is born with the birth. If one is born in a royal family, he or she is destined to become king or princess. If one is born in a poor family, he or she inherits nothing but poverty.But every coin has two sides. The Gita says life is governed by karma only. Nothing can be achieved without karma. It can change the destiny. Late A.P.J. Kalam, the former President of India and an aerospace scientist was born in a very poor family in Rameshwaram, Tamil Naidu. He struggled against poverty and continued his journey by dint of his hard work. It was his hard work that made him scientist and President of India. It is obvious that not sheer fate but karma changed his destiny. Another illustrious example is our PM Modi. He was also born in a poor family. He would sell tea in railway compartments. He too rose from ranks to become PM of India. He is leader in his own right. It is evident and it can be concluded that man is the architect of his own fate.

Read the above specimen carefully, look at the chunks and connectives used, and see how the topic has been expanded, explained and concluded. Mind you, this is how any topic of a paragraph-question, can be attempted in the exam successfully without any confusion or confliction of thoughts.

LABYRINTH OF LOVE

LABYRINTH OF LOVE

Love, a man,

Known as he.

It's a woman,

Seen as she

By Mukesh Sharma 

Love, a mother's,

Heart-throb.

Felt by foetus,

In the womb.

Love, a mother's,

Lullaby.

Enjoyed by,

The baby.

Love, a father's,

Humming hug.

That gives child,

Needed smug.

Love, an unknown,

Obsession.

Often afflicts,

 The adolescence.

LABYRINTH OF LOVE

Love, a first,

Lip- kiss.

No lover,

Ever misses.

Love, a tight,

Embrace now and then.

That makes lovers,

Touch heaven.

Love, a biological,

Need and further.

Of one body,

For the other.

Love, a perception,

Of curves and contour.

Love bitten loves,

It ever and ever.

Love, a yoga of,

Deep breaths out and in.

Taken by lovers,

Together within.

Love, an orgasm,

Wished by a woman.

An ejaculation 

Desired by a man.

Love, a man,

Known as he.

It's a woman,

Seen as she.

Reading an English Newspaper

Reading an English Newspaper

A student-reader must learn how to separate wheat from chaff, how to distinguish between facts and fiction, and read between the lines

By Mukesh Sharma

Gone are days when newspapers used to be the surrogate of public opinion, and the main business was to collect and disseminate the information in the largest interest of the people. Now, the most of the newspapers are partisan; news are tweaked and twisted with vested interest; the ‘salad’ is made out of raw ‘vegetables’ and served to the synthetic mass of readers. Though the most of the readers succumb to ‘spices’ and ‘dressing’, only a few matured readers are able to distinguish between apple and orange, cucumber and carrot, tomato and turnip. But to student-readers who look at the world through the eyes of the newspapers, and read it to augment their vocabulary, brush up their English, increase their general awareness and keep themselves up- to-date from the point of view of various competition exams for government services, it (newspaper) remains rather as confusing as the grammar of English language. Student- readers read an English newspaper like the contents of a text book, and lots of precious time is wasted in the reading exercise. In fact, with the sheer knowledge of the standardized format and content which are followed by all the newspapers, one can understand and read it quickly and comfortably within 30-45 minutes maximum.

Reading an English Newspaper

The common contents of most of the newspaper are: News Story, Editorial, Column, Letter-to-Editor, News Article, Feature Article, Weekly Magazine Section, and Advertisements.

Each write-up in a newspaper is ‘crowned’ by an attractive and catchy  HEADLINE; it reflects the purpose and proclivity of a newspaper; it can be ‘offensive’ and ‘submissive’ depending on target audience; it can be informative or commentative.  What a human face is to emotions, headline is to a newspaper. In other words, true 'character' of a newspaper can better be ‘understood’ and ‘recognized’ by its headlines.

A headline of a story is always in present tense; it is anti-grammar and anti-syntax; it has timeliness, for, a news is news so long as it is new; over and above, it is complete story in nutshell. Just by reading a headline of a story, one can learn about the content of news. If one flips through the pages and just cast cursory glance on the headline of each story/news, one can have fair idea of all the important news of the day. Furthermore, if any headline catches the interest, and a reader wants to know more details, one can go further and read highlight which is usually written beneath the headlines. A highlight further elaborates the headline. Look at a news story published in a newspaper:

The very first PARA of a news story is usually described as INTRO in journalistic parlance that conforms to 5W and 1 H – who, what, when, why, where and how. In other words, an INTRO of news story also gives complete information about the news in question in nutshell. If one reads a story up to INTRO only, one can have good referable knowledge about an event/incident/happening unfolded in the news.

A news story is a collection of different but relevant facts. Each fact is couched in a separate PARA. And the facts are arranged in descending order of importance and follow a pattern of inverted pyramid; it means the most important fact goes to top and the least important one to bottom or tail. What is noteworthy, the PARAS that represent different facts are not inter-connected or linked. There is no flow of thoughts from one PARA to another; there is flow of different facts which are independent. If a reader misses any PARA , particularly, the tail-ender, one loses nothing except a few inconsequential facts. So, if a students-readers just concentrate on headline, highlights and intro of each story, it will suffice his/her knowledge of event/incident/happenings delineated in the story.

Editorial of a newspaper is always commentative; it reflects the stand or viewpoint of the newspaper on a particular development; it is usually carried at extreme left on the middle pages of the newspaper. A student reader must read the editorial thoroughly, for, it helps to develop the critical bent of mind in the matter of national or international importance. Editorials are also headed by headline and supported by one or two liner highlighter. Through an editorial, a newspaper seeks to delve deep into a subject matter, and dissects and discusses it ‘subjectively’ and concludes it ‘objectively’.

Though a newspaper derives its power of ‘persuasion’ from its circulation among supposedly faithful readers – exposure makes target vulnerable, letter-to-editor is the only small space provided to so called ‘valued’ readers on the editorial page itself where they register their duly ‘selected’ responses.

News Articles, usually carried on Editorial page, are written by an experienced ‘staffer’ or by the renowned ‘guest’ with immense social and political clout. A News article is an interesting amalgamation of news and comments with an objective. It acquaints a student-reader with diverse views on the subject-matter. News articles are published on an opportune time.

Feature articles are purely revelatory in nature, predominantly, written on a topic of social or geographical importance. Such articles have no timeliness e.g. an article on Himalayan venture can go to press on any day.

The most of the newspapers also bring out weekly magazine section on Sunday. It is full of gossip and scoops about the cine stars. It caters to the saucy needs of young readers, not the serious one.

Advertisements are the main source of revenue for a newspaper. But it is an open secret that the newspapers have other ‘sources’ also. How come a newspaper that costs Rs.80-90 per copy, is sold out just for Rs 5 per copy. Though as per PRB Act 1860, the ratio between news and ads should be 60:40 but it is just vice-versa.

Journalism is described as a literature in hurry. And of course, it can be read also hurriedly. A student reader must read at least two newspapers daily. A comparative study shall reveal how the newspapers play up or play down the news stories. The people allege that newspapers are no longer the watch dogs of democracy; they wag and turn tail purposefully; they bark and bite selectively.

A student-reader must learn how to separate wheat from chaff, how to distinguish between fact and fiction, and read between the lines.

English, Great, Great. . . . Grand Daughter of Sanskrit

English, a Great, Great. . . .

Grand Daughter of Sanskrit

We, Indians don’t treat English as a foreign language; it is our language; Hindi and English are two sisters who can’t part from each other.

By Mukesh Sharma

Once Hindi and English were sitting together in the waiting– lounge of Indra Gandhi International Airport, waiting for their flight to Frankfurt (Germany).This blogger was also sitting next to them. All of a sudden, a verbal ‘flight’ broke out between two hon’ble ladies. Here are the excerpts from that interesting and knowledgeable ‘spat’ for the valued readers:

English: Is wearing Sari  comfortable? Doesn't  it look savage in the modern world?

Hindi: Sari is not savage. Covering from head to toe, sari beautifies the woman body; it not only makes her attractive but also respectable in society.

English: what do you mean? Am I not respectable?

Hindi: I am sorry if my words have offended you. I didn’t mean that. Just think, you would realize Sari suits the female body not tight-fit jeans. You see there is scientific reason behind each custom/tradition in India. Ancient India was fully developed and civilized at a time when the rest of the world was rather non-existent or savage.The  Rig-Veda was composed 5000 years ago; Charak Sahimta’s tenets  are still valid; pandit would tell about solar or lunar eclipse just by sheer calculation in ancient India. There are scores of examples of pristine glory of India. Better, you read the book Discovery of India  by Jawahar Lal Nehru, our first PM, very well acknowledged and acclaimed by the  western world.

English:  That’s great! But self praise is no recommendation.

Hindi: These are hard facts authenticated by the research works and findings by Western scholars. Can you believe the most of the European language are genetically related to Sanskrit which is the parent language. In other words, you are also a great, great . . . . grand daughter of Sanskrit. And I am also a daughter of Sanskrit. In this way, you are my sister.

English: Oh my gosh! You Indian are second to none in making tall talks and tall claim. Do you know, we, the Britisher, ruled over India for 200 years; the sun wouldn’t set in, in our British empire as we had humbled the most part of the world from East to West.

Hindi: The Britisher were not a superior race. If you wish to know the truth, read the eye opener book entitled Bharat Me British Raj’ by Sunderlal which was banned when brought out during British regime.

English: You are talking nonsense. I can’t believe your cock and bull story.

Hindi: But truth is truth. You must accept the truth, my dear sister.

English: Ok, tell me the whole story today.

Hindi: It is historical fact that the Britisher were slaves of the Roman for 400 years. They used to speak Celtic. English was not their mother tongue.

English: I can’t believe! But go on, tell me entire story about myself.

Hindi: My darling sister, I don’t mean any disrespect to you. But one must respect the truth.

English: Ok, go ahead!

Hindi: Contrary to common perception, the original native speaker of English were Angles & Saxons; they were Germanic people; they were savage and they belonged to warrior class. In 450 A.D., when the great Roman empire had become weak, Angles & Saxons captured a part of land which was under the subjugation of the Roman; they named that part of land as ‘Anglaland’, just after their name, and their language was known as ‘Anglisc’ or ‘Englisc’; later ‘Anglaland’ became England and ‘Anglisc’ became English. In fact, English was the language of the savage or warrior class.  Angles & Saxons would have never thought even in their wildest dream that one day their mother tongue would become an International language.

Angles & Saxons

English: Unbelievable! But you continue.

Hindi: English is not a language but it is a cocktail of languages. It has borrowed words from almost all the languages of the world as the English were seafarer; they would visit many countries for business reasons and would also adopt the words from the native language of that country. That is why English is also called a  piratical language. With 18 variations of English across the world, it stands as the most corrupted language in the world today e.g. American English, British English, Canadian English, and so on.

English: Interesting!

Hindi: If you get back to 5000 years ago, you would discover that the most of European languages are genetically related to Sanskrit; it is respected as a parent language; even Britannica encyclopaedia endorses this fact depicting the tree of Indo-European family; even western scholars admit this fact. One of Indian scholars has also drawn a diagram showing the origin of different languages from one parent language Sanskrit. You will have fair idea about the origin or birth of English.

English: Grunts!

Hindi: You see, we all Indians get, genetically, attracted towards English; we love English; we respect English; even Art 348 of our Constitution says English shall be the official language in High Court and Supreme Court. To Indians, English is not simply a language but a cohesive force that keeps the multilingual Indian society together from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir. We, Indians don’t treat English as a foreign language; it is our language; Hindi and English are two sisters who can’t part from each other.

English: Thanks for showing me the mirror, my darling sister, Hindi.

Hindi: Come on give me a hug.Here is a  gift of Sari for you  -  from an elder sister to a younger sister. Please accept it.

English:  So nice of you my respected Didi. I have no words to say thanks to you. You also accept the gift of this jeans which I purchased for myself.

WOMAN

Of Woman

Woman, a vast sky,

That covers man and his all acts,

Above faith and belief,

She deserves respect

By Mukesh Sharma

Woman, a mystery,

No man can solve indeed.

Like a God She is,

Perceived, not easy to please.

Woman, a mother,

That procreates really.

Makes a child a man,

And a man a baby.

Woman, a desire,

An eternal spring.

Began with Adam,

Shall end with Eve.

Of Woman

Woman, a dream,

Every man delights.

Be it in dead of night,

Or a full daylight.

Woman, a touch,

Man can feel not.

With open eyes,

But in mind, eyes shut.

Woman, a smile,

Where silence treads.

Only a truth seeker,

Can understand and read.

Woman, a pleasure,

So serene and still.

Only a faithful can,

Experience and feel.

Woman, a namaaz

Offered with attitude all.

Niyat not broken,

Except on mother’s call.

Woman, a worship,

A matter of belief is.

Can be propitiated with,

Pure mind and sacrifice.

Woman, an azaan,

That turns one on.

And reminds,

God's not far off.

Woman, an Eid,

Believers wait and wish.

After holy ramzaan what,

Relation between man-God is.

Woman, a Diwali,

That dispels darkness.

Even in deep sorrow,

Can bring happiness.

Woman, a nature,

That nurtures all.

Like a universe,

Beyond man’s call.

Woman, a public,

That makes netas.

Bears all the brunt,

With no complaint.

Woman, an India,

Holding all together.

Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian,

Like a marigold flower.

Woman, a vast sky,

That covers man and his all acts,

Above faith and belief,

She deserves respect.

Is God Doing His Job?

Is God Doing His Job?

No religion is perfect. It won’t be wrong to say that the imperfect religions have done more harm than good to humanity. Man is killing man for sheer religious supremacy

By Mukesh Sharma

Anything which is beyond the comprehension of human mind, is considered as the work of God; an act of God. Where logic ends, God emerges. That is why the faithful of different faiths believe: God is omnipotent. God is omniscient. God is omnipresent. But the moron mind of this blogger doubts the veracity of such lofty statements, particularly, when one looks around and sees the mindless killings, massacres and the atrocities  committed by man on man across the world. No need to go beyond India. What eye doesn’t see, heart doesn’t grieve. Look at the recent brutal butchering of a happy family of three – Bondhu Gopal 35, his 8 month pregnant wife 30 and their 8 year old minor son, in Murshidabad, a muslim majority locality in West Bengal. The pics of hacked dead bodies which are doing rounds on social media, send chill down the spine, and are more macabre than the scene of Hollywood horror movie. It is not difficult to understand that the split of second before death each hapless victim must have thought of God; must have made last ditch effort; must have hoped for a miracle; must have squirmed like an unfortunate animal slaughtered by the butcher. But nobody turned up, no help arrived from any quarter. A pertinent question arises in the mind of poor common man: Is God doing his job?

Hapless Victim of Religion

The severed head with open lifeless eyes just hinging on torso, lying on the ground with blood splattered all over, and deep cuts on the body of the deceased are the tell-tale sign of ghastly battle for life more repulsive than the hunt by animals which kill their prey for food. The two legged animal so-called man is the most ferocious, for, he can kill another man just for his ego, jealousy, greed, libido or religion. Animals can be trusted but not a man. After axing the man of the family, the killer must have turned to the woman. Though she was 8 months pregnant and was in the bed, the killers opened her neck with no mercy  before she could move, and left her lying in the pool of blood on the bed itself. After that, the killers  must have turned to the innocent 8 year old child who had witnessed the killing of its parent with stupor, and the poor child was also done to death by slitting the throat. The cime scene shows that the killers  have  put to shame even the most heartless and horrific Mongol emperor Changez Khan.

What aches the heart of this blogger is  the selective attitude and response of so-called ‘intellectuals’ who raise hell at the drop of the hat; return awards; hold candal march; and write letters to PM only for a particular community. It is these self-styled custodians   of society who sow the seed of schism for their selfish ends.

It is said that the deceased Bondhu Gopal was an active member of RSS. It is alleged that he was an eyesore to a particular  community, which is in majority in Murshidabad. However, the local police denies any political or religious angle behind the gruesome killings. Whatever, may be the reason, the three innocent lives have been put to death in a country that has government, police, and judiciary by the fearless killers who are still at large. Barring the non entity, no ‘big’ netas has come forward to make strong statement. As always, netas are overbusy in their ‘political game'. To netas, people are just a scrap or trash after the date of election. A twitteriti rightly says:

“Congress makes government on the dead bodies of its leader, and BJP on the dead bodies of its workers.”

M.K. Gandhi says: “No religion is perfect.” It won’t be wrong to say that the imperfect religions have done more harm than good to humanity. Man is killing man for sheer religious supremacy. Self-styled religious leaders are misguiding the poor populace. The weak are easy target of their religious leaders. Hope is the staple diet of the weak. And the God is the best source of hope as propounded by fables, parables and mythological stories. Surprisingly enough, the brainwashed people want to die in the service of their God. All the religion believe God is the creator of this universe; God is the father of this world; all are equal in the sight of God; God takes care of his children. If it is so, is God doing his job?