DP Daily Prompt: Not for Thee

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received that you wouldn’t give to anyone else? Why don’t you think it would apply to others?

The principal of my college once told me: you know what, you always write your exams too quickly, if you learn to take your time when you write them, your results will be much better.

I knew myself I had this bad habit, once I complete my exam I hate to reread it, I also write very fast, if I’m given three hours to complete my exam, I finish it in one hour.

I do not want to pass on the advice my principal gave me to someone else, they may not appreciate it or might think I’m acting like a know-it-all.

However I think my advice would only work for those who happen to be my students.

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/dp-daily-prompt-not-for-thee/

 

 

Writing Prompt: Art Appreciation

Do you need to agree with an artist’s lifestyle or politics to appreciate their Art? To spend money on it?

If I appreciated an artist’s work based on his/her lifestyle or politics it will not say much about my appreciation. If we did that with anyone,the world would be a very difficult place to live in.

Art appreciation should be based on the talent or the gift of the artist,it should have nothing to with his political affiliation, think about all the well-known artist,do we say oh let’s find out what kind of a lifestyle he had then we’ll decide whether his work is worthy to be bought. 

I will spend money on an art work I like, the life style or politics will make no difference.

nk: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/writing-prompt/

DP Daily Prompt: Teen Age Idol

Who did you idolize as a teenager?Did you go crazy for the Beatles? Ga-ga over Duran Duran. In love with Justin Bieber? Did you think Elvis was the livin end?

 

My answer to the question is,”None of the above”.  I did not know any of them, maybe they are or were super talented people,but their voices did not reach me where I lived as a teenager.

Since this is a prompt about teen age idol, my answer is I was exposed to Tagore, Rafi, Talat, And Lata to name a few. 

My idol was and still is Rabindranath Tagore. His song lyrics are clearly awesome, he loved nature and wrote quite a few songs on nature and was very popular where I lived. 

His songs had a calming effect on people including me, we understood them and learned to appreciate them.

 

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/04/24/dp-daily-prompt-teen-age-idol

DP Daily Prompt: I Did it My Way

When I was a child my older sister always bossed me around. She’d say, I would never be educated, I was lazy, I didn’t study hard enough. Of  course compared to her I was one miserable child who skipped school when she wanted to and things like that,whereas my sister would study till 3 am every morning.  I wasn’t made with enough determination to work hard.

When I make the comparison, I must let my readers know that when I was in standard three, she was in college. I haven’t heard of any seven year old in God’s green earth studying till 3 in the morning.

As we were growing older her criticism was getting more than I could handle. Then came the time when I was required to choose a subject to do my masters degree.  I wanted to study Economics, I wasn’t hard working enough, I’d fail , it was enough for me to think about it.

“Oh, but she said, study English.”

“I said, No I won’t ” and chose History instead. I was stubborn, I didn’t appreciate her interference. When I look back I think I should have studied Philosophy. It would have been a subject,I’d truly enjoy.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/daily-prompt-my-way/

DP Daily Prompt: Generation XYZ

I’ve chosen older. I’m not quite sure of the younger generation.

What I understood least about them was how selfless they were. I watched my Mom giving up her happiness for the sake of her siblings. I thought she did too much. I didn’t think she was appreciated. She said,”I’m not doing it for myself. Not for any kind of return. I like doing it. If it makes me happy,I’d keep on helping them until,they are self-sufficient.”  When they didn’t need her anymore, they’d stay away and would forget to keep in touch. I felt my aunts and uncles were selfish and my Mom should not help them.

My Dad’s half brother helped him when he was in school. Dad thought he should repay by helping his son,which he did.

They were honest and caring. They didn’t mind sharing with their siblings.

When I look back and think, I feel this was the most important thing I learned from them. I help my siblings when I can. I find even if they don’t need it they expect me to help. What I do not like is they never appreciate what I’ve done. They are ready to criticize when I stop helping them.

I think my parents generation were better than us,they were not selfish. They never complained about their siblings like we do.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/daily-prompt-age/

Daily Prompt—Daily Post :Happy,Happy,Joy,Joy Posted by Ranu

Rabindranath Tagore (Photo credit: Cea.)

As human beings we cry more than we laugh,probably it’s our habit, we do not appreciate the things we get and never think about them,we tend to think it is our right and it is not that big a deal,when we receive something. So when the question arises when was the last time I was deliriously happy,I had to go inside my brain to find out.

I was requested by a friend of mine to translate Tagore’s poem. This was something I did not try,because I was not confident and also afraid I might make a mess of it.At the same time I was not ready to admit I could not do it.

I leafed through the pages of Tagore’s collection of poems and spotted one that seemed one I could dare to try:

The title is:  “Remember” by Tagore

I do not have any recollection of my mother.

only when I go out to play I hear a tune ringing in my ears,

the sound mixes with my mother’s words in the middle of my game.

I wonder did my mother sing while rocking my swing___

My mother is no longer here,but she did not forget to leave her song .

I do not remember my mother.

In  early morning in September the white flowers in the garden,

are swayed by the wind which  spread their scent wet with dew;

why does my mother’s words echo in my mind;

perhaps my mother’s scent and the  basket of flowers came into contact ,

with the scent of Pooja  flowers and came to me.

I only remember my mother when I sit in the corner of my bedroom;

and I look at the sky,instantly I feel my mother is looking at me;

she left her look all over the sky to remind me of her presence.

When I completed the translation,I published it. My friend’s comment was very generous and his comment gave me the feeling,he has read the Bengali version.The truth is he is not a Bengali.Therefore I was proud and happy that my first attempt was okay.I translated it in October  2012.It was a memorable day for me,my joy knew no bounds,I was very happy after a long time.

(Udaasheen) Indifferent by Tagore translated by ranu

Celebrating 150th Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore (Photo credit: Cea.)

Udaasheen   Indifferent  by Rabindranath Tagore

Today I have given up everything , I no longer go after anyone;

I am not interested in anything

I fearlessly go after every opportunity,

I don’t think or keep in touch with anything;

If I am unable to go up

I am happy to stay down.

I go here and there,whatever I can get I take it;

I don’t use force to grab it.

Whatever I think I can’t keep I let it go immediately;

I don’t scold anyone, and no one scolds me;

Whatever  thoughts I have at the bottom of my heart

I let it remain there,I avoid bringing it up.

Do not say, ‘It is morning,’ and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name. – Rabindranath Tagore (Photo credit: Tacos and turtles)

I have freedom now,I’m leaving my thoughts and running;

I quickly came into the play-house.

I refuse to take the burden of heart-break,

I’ll forget everything completely;

I’ll return the fetters to the owner

After a long time I’m able to pull myself together.

I did not appreciate the beautiful flowers of springtime;

I was busy collecting them.

I was a honey-bee only desirous of collecting,

I was thirsty for honey,I didn’t see the quality of the flower___

I only crushed the flower lazily

when I was completely involved with it.

I am moving around in far-off places,I’m interested in nothing,

This is why the universe is moving behind me.

I do not hold anyone in my grip,

I gave everyone an opportunity to blossom on their own;

When I gave up the hope of ever going up

I found all of them below me.