Todays Pic

Zero Dollar Bill

A guy got a credit card bill stating that he owed $0.00. He ignored it but next month he got another one stating they were going to cancel his credit card if he didn't send them $0.00. He called them, talked to them, they said it was a glitch and told him they'd take care of it.

The following month he tried to charge something and couldn't. He called the credit card company who again said they would take care of it. The next day he got his bill for $0.00 stating that he was very delinquent.

So he thought he had a solution. He mailed the credit card company a check for $0.00, and the credit card company's computer processed it, noting that his account was now paid in full.

A week later, the man's bank called him asking him what he was doing writing a check for $0.00. He explained and they said, "Well, your $0.00 check has caused our check processing software to fail. We now can't process ANY of our checks from that day electronically because that $0.00 check has caused the program to abort. We are closing your account."

The man, who had been considering buying his wife a computer for her birthday, bought her a typewriter instead.

Best Results

It was a hot and humid July afternoon, when I decided to visit my girl friend, Amber. Amber may be blonde and beautiful, but sometimes she is, shall we say, lacking in other areas.

Well Amber had decided her kitchen needed repainting, and instead of hiring a professional, decided to do it herself. I thought she might appreciate a break and brought over some cold beer and some sandwiches.

When I arrived, I found Amber working hard painting the kitchen walls. But instead of wearing old clothes, she was wearing her fur coat and her ski parka.

I asked her why she was dressed that way on such a hot day.

She brought me the paint bucket and told me to read the instructions.

I did.

*It said, "For best results, put on two coats."

Great Insults

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
-- Winston Churchill

"A modest little person, with much to be modest about."
-- Winston Churchill

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."
-- Clarence Darrow

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."
-- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?"
-- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."
-- Moses Hadas

"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know."
-- Abraham Lincoln

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it."
-- Groucho Marx

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."
-- Mark Twain

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."
-- Oscar Wilde

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend.... if you have one."
-- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there
is one."
-- Winston Churchill, in response

"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here."
-- Stephen Bishop

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator."
-- John Bright

"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial."
-- Irvin S. Cobb

"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others."
-- Samuel Johnson

"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up."
-- Paul Keating

"He had delusions of adequacy."
-- Walter Kerr

"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure."
-- Jack E. Leonard

"He has the attention span of a lightning bolt."
-- Robert Redford

"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge."
-- Thomas Brackett Reed

"He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them."
-- James Reston (about Richard Nixon)

"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily."
-- Charles, Count Talleyrand

"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him."
-- Forrest Tucker

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?"
-- Mark Twain

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."
-- Mae West

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
-- Oscar Wilde

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts.. . for support rather than illumination. "
-- Andrew Lang

"He has Van Gogh's ear for music."
-- Billy Wilder

Personality - John Milton (1608 - 1674)

He grew up under the shadow of William Shakespeare. He sipped on the residue offered by muse from a very young age to serve it in the best possible way later on : by creating monumental literary legends like Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. John Milton, one of the leading poets of English language, was a noted historian, scholar and a pamphleteer. His services and contribution as a civil servant for the Parliamentarians and the Puritan (Protestant) Commonwealth is worth a mention.

His influence emerging from his works has played an important part in the history of English literature and culture. Paradise Lost is his greatest epic poem in English language. His prose work is also significant, as it’s a meticulous interpretation of the Puritan revolution.

His rhetoric prose and the eloquent poetry had a significant influence on the 18th century verse and still continues to leave an indelible impact on the readers across the centuries.

Birth

John Milton was born to Sara and John Milton Sr at Spread Eagle, in Bread Street, London on December 9,1608. He was baptized into the Protestant faith of the Church of England. John’s father was a scrivener and professional composer. Milton Sr operated his business from home, which involved public notary work, real estate, and loans along with secretarial tasks. He was financially well off. Milton Sr as a composer was acquainted with some of the leading musicians of those days. John had five other siblings of which one died unbaptized.

Education

John started his early education through private tuition at home. Notable among the tutors was Thomas Young. Young was a friend, philosopher and guide to him. John once wrote in a letter to Young explaining to him, why he was not pursuing ministry and was contemplating a poetic career. The poem, Of reformation is dedicated to Young. John enjoyed learning Latin as it opened up vast avenues of knowledge and literary and linguistic riches before his eyes, and his mind would race to an imagery world. When John turned 11, Young got teaching engagement in Hamburg and left London immediately.

John then joined Alexander Gill’s St Paul’s school. From an early age he was an avid reader, any passerby of Bread Street could see the flickering candles till late night in one of the upper story rooms. The maids who were compelled to sit late with him while he was reading, warned him of the ill-effect of too much reading. Proving them true, studious habits of John, which kept him awake, reading for long hours at a stretch, resulted in poor eyesight in his later years.

Friends For Life

John, in his childhood read The Faerie Queen. He called Spenser, the author, "Our sage and serious Spenser, whom I dare be known to think a better teacher than Scotus or Aquinas." Spenser’s preoccupations – Platonic idealism, classical mythology, medieval legend, militant Protestantism dressed in the most Italianate poetic forms – occupied Milton’s thoughts while he was still a boy at St Paul’s. There, he struck friendship with one Charles Diodati, son of a well-known London doctor. John cherished the friendship throughout his life. It is believed that he learnt Italian under the influence of Charles. They also encouraged each other to write verses. The untimely demise of Charles Diodati left a void in John's heart.

At Cambridge

For John, the life-pattern was almost set. He was to follow the pattern that most of the intelligent, knowledgeable and sincere youths of his time were doing. He was to pursue a career in church. While Diodati was enrolled at Oxford, John was on his way to Cambridge. John's experiences at Christ’s College, Cambridge saw ecstasy and agony both. He did not settle down easily as quoted by a critic A N Wilson –"The College Tutor, in a clever undergraduate’s life, is important not as a teacher, but as an audience. If he fails to be appreciative or thinks to cut his pupil down to size, life quickly becomes hellish."

The same case was with John and his tutor William Chappell, who was a very difficult man to please. Though the clear facts are not known, but the incident of John getting lashing from Chappell, John leaving Cambridge temporarily and ultimately John changing his tutor became quite controversial.

At Cambridge he was also known as 'Lady of Christ’s Coll', due to his youthful good looks, but perhaps more due to dissociation from usual social and athletic activities of male college mates. This child of privileged childhood found it a bit difficult to share his attic room with other three boys, and the most difficult thing for him was to adjust his reading hours. The one who was used to sit up till almost midnight devouring book after book, had to read among the clatter and chatter of other boys. He was considered a snobbish loner. However, he was a favorite among the students and was well-known for his sharp intellect.

The Poet Emerged

The plague broke out in London and the Miltons shifted to countryside for some time. He found his return to Cambridge after the epidemic a kind of punishment. He was at Christ’s College during 1625-32. From 1632 to 1638 he was at his parent’s home in 'studios retirement', as he called it. Perhaps due to age and need for attention, he was compelled to stay with them. Milton now firmly decided to move ahead with a poetic career, rather than pursue the ministry. He had already started writing verses. He wrote elegies to dead Bishops. As a youth he enjoyed the natural beauty and beauty of women, he enjoyed reading and writing and attending church. All these have been reflected in is poems. The additional crisp into his poems was the result of his affaction and adoration for a girl called Emily or Emilia. Who she was and other details are not known but John confessed his love for the girl to his childhood friend Diodati. He used to write Italian verses praising her beauty. The affair never came to a favourable conclusion but it left a great impact on John's mind and heart, so much so that he got married after almost 13 years of his affair with Emilia.


The Traveler Milton

In 1637, Milton’s mother died in Horton. For a change, he traveled to France and Italy, and returned to London. He visited Paris, Nice, Genoa, Leghron, Pisa, Florence, Siene, Rome, Naples, Venice, Verona, Milan, Lake Leman, and Geneva. In Rome, he spoke freely on religious matters, which evoked anger from the English Jesuits. For Milton it was more than holidaying, he wanted to meet and exchange ideas with great minds of his time. He met the ultimate authority on international law, a poet, a dramatist and a theologian Hugo Grotius.

Visiting Italy was a kind of homecoming for Milton. He had almost known the country, and especially Florence through Diodati. The historic city of Florence inspired Milton to write his great work in Ehglish. At Florence, Milton visited the famous Galileo, who had grown old and was a prisoner to the Inquisition for his astronomical views. For Milton, Galileo was a man who saw and revealed the true nature of things, such as the moon. Milton’s dedication to the cause of his own nation’s liberty was given a boost here. While on tour, he got the shocking news of death of Charles Diodati.

Return

Upon his return to London, Milton, instead of going to his father’s home took lodgings at St Bride’s Churchyard for a few months with his nephew. He also started teaching in a school. His nephews and some other students served as amanuenses entering things in the Trinity Manuscript and penning personal letters and documents for him.

Milton found himself immersed in religious controversy supporting the removal of the bureaucracy of episcopacy from the church. He also worked on the topic of divorce to gain personal and domestic liberty. His views were met with a strong negative reaction.

Marriage

Visiting Richard Powell and his family, indebted to Milton’s father, was a pleasure to him. He enjoyed Mary's company the most, the eldest daughter of the Powells. She was a lively girl of 17, almost half his age. Perhaps Milton journeyed to Oxfordshire to collect payment on behalf of his father but stayed for a while, and returned to London with his bride. (Perhaps the marriage altered the indebtedness.) The marriage took place immediately, almost without any courtship period. Back at London, Milton busied himself into his books, but for Mary it was a profound shock. For Mary, brought up in a large household of 11 siblings and talkative mother, the silence and aloofness of Milton was just unimaginable. Mary returned to her family’s home just after marriage and did not rejoin Milton for three years. During this period he was writing on several subjects of which divorce was one that raised several controversies. However, this was not the reason why Milton wrote in defense of divorce as he had started exploring the matter of divorce before marriage.

The Reunion

With Mary returning to him in 1645, Milton accompanied by his father and nephews, moved to larger quarters in the Barbican. A year later, his in-laws had to join them following the war and despite his disapproval of their taking away his wife, Milton took all seven Powells under his roof out of his Christian spirit. The year brought both good and bad news for the Miltons. On July 29, 1646, Mary gave birth to Anne, their first born. The same year on December 13, Richard Powell passed away. Both the incidents doubled Milton's responsibilities. He also lost his father on March 15 the following year.

The Dark Side Of Life

He was made Secretary for Foreign Tongues on March 20, 1649 under the newly formed Republican government. His job was not of the great interest to appeal Milton's intellectual or literary capacity. Yet he accepted it out of duty and of course the steady source of income was a major reason to accept the job for this man of expanding family. Mary had, meanwhile, given birth to their second daughter Mary and son John. She was again pregnant in 1652 and gave birth to Deborah on May 2. But she could not survive to nurse and raise the child. She passed away three days later. Milton was to suffer another blow in form of John's death just within six weeks of Mary's demise. Milton was totally devastated with his personal tragedies.

At this stage, his onset of blindness had a major impact on his forthcoming works especially Paradise Lost and Samson Agonistes. During this period, he wrote Defensio in order to reply Salmasius' Eikonoklastes. Milton’s sight began to deteriorate noticeably and within five years he lost sight from his left eye and by 1652 he became totally blind.

With the victory of the Parliamentarians and the trial of Charles I in 1648, Milton became optimistic for Political Liberty for his country. The antimonarchical argument in his prose work The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, written during this time, offend justification for such measures though specifically not arguing the regicide.


Blindness, obviously eroded Milton’s earlier position of significance to what has been called Latin Secretary. He gradually did less and less translation and no commissioned work. His secretarial position remained till 1659.

The Lonely Life

In 1660, with the restoration of King Charles II, antagonistic sentiment towards Milton was obvious. He went into hiding, staying with his friend Edward Millington, the bookseller. But finally he was traced and imprisoned. Helped by his friends, he was released by paying a small fine, which he resisted to pay.

His blindness, ill health and other controversial issues, followed with the loss of his wife and son. In 1656, Katherine Woodcock went on to be Milton’s second wife. She became a helpmate to Milton on domestic front and a companion to this lonely widower. A daughter was born soon after, but the tragedy struck again and his wife and daughter died in 1658, leaving Milton alone with his three young daughters till he married for the third time.

Elizabeth Minshull

His third marriage to Elizabeth Minshull, who was perhaps more a housekeeper and governess than a wife, brought some lighter and joyous moments in Milton’s life. They got married on February 24, 1663. The incident also brought out the differences between Milton and his daughters. All three of them were brought up by their grandmother Powell and might have been encouraged to act against Milton. He also never took any active interest in their upbringing, he not even bothered to inform them of his marriage to Elizabeth Minshull. They came to know about the ceremony through a servant. But Betty, as he called her, and Milton shared a cordial relationship during their 12 years of married life, till Milton's death. On several evenings, Milton enjoyed to listen her sing while he accompanied her on the organ after dinner.

Completion Of Paradise Lost

As the rigors of Restoration faded, Milton returned to finish Paradise Lost, which was completed in 1665. The tragic Plague of London in 1665 compelled Milton and his family to move to the cottage at Chalfont St Giles, the only Milton residence still standing today. There was a great fire in London, which delayed the publication of Paradise Lost and it did not appear till 1667.

Paradise Lost did not meet with immediate success, mainly due to its length, its subject, its blank verse and its narration. He also had to take severe criticism, as severe as to call Milton's blindness the result of God's wrath towards his writings by some critics of his time. At the same time his popularity was blooming abroad for his epic.

Later Years

His last years were comparatively calm. He started working on Paradise Regained. Problems of inheritance after Milton’s death reveal that there were strains between his daughters and their stepmother, though antagonism mostly seems to come from the middle daughter Mary. May be, the strictures passed by Milton on his children caused the child - parent discord along with step-parent discord. Mary seems to have shared the spirit of independence inherited from Milton. Milton’s reference to his children as unkind and children’s lack of duty towards Milton, certainly reflect strained relationship among them during his last years.

He had a peaceful death, in presence of his wife and a few good friends. Milton died, probably of heart attack on Sunday, November 8, in 1674 and was buried at St. Giles, Cripplegate. A century later, a group of drunkards dug up his remains and supposed to have been sold to relic-mongers.

Todays Pic(Cycle)

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A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God.

Here are some of the results:

GOD is like BAYER ASPIRIN ... He works miracles.

GOD is like a FORD ... He's got a better idea.

GOD is like COKE ... He's the real thing.

GOD is like HALLMARK CARDS ... He cares enough to send His very best.

GOD is like TIDE ... He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

GOD is like GENERAL ELECTRIC ... He brings good things to life.

GOD is like SEARS ... He has everything.

GOD is like ALKA-SELTZER ... Try Him, you'll like him.

GOD is like SCOTCH TAPE ... You can't see him, but you know He's there.

GOD is like DELTA ... He's ready when you are.

GOD is like ALLSTATE ... You're in good hands with Him.

GOD is like VO-5 HAIR SPRAY ... He holds through all kinds of weather.

GOD is like DIAL SOAP ... Aren't you glad you have Him.

Don't you wish everybody did?

No way!!!!

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, If after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question was: What do women really want?

Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, And to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, He accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: The princess, the priests, the wise men, and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, For only she would have the answer.

But the price would be high as the witch was famous through out the Kingdom >>for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, The most noble of the Knights of the Round Table, And Arthur's closest friend!

Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunch-backed and hideous, had only one tooth, Smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden, But Lancelot, having learnt of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life. And the preservation of the Round Table.

Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered. Arthur's question thus: "What a woman really wants?" She said, "Is to be in charge of her own life." Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth. And that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was. The neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom. And Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.

The honeymoon hour approached and, Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, She would henceforth be her horrible and deformed self only half the time. And the beautiful maiden the other half. "Which would you prefer? She asked him. "Beautiful during the day ... or at night?"

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day he could have a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, But at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch! Or, Would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day? But by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy with?

(If you are a man reading this...) What would YOUR choice be?
(If you are a woman reading this?) What would YOUR MAN'S choice be?
What Lancelot chose, is given below:
BUT... make YOUR choice before you scroll down below...OKAY?

Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question, He said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time. Because, he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.
Now... what is the moral to this story?

The moral is...
1) There is witch in every woman no matter how beautiful she is!
2) If you don't let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly.

So, always remember: IT'S EITHER "HER WAY" OR IT'S "NO WAY" !!!

Interview

OFFICER : WHAT IS YOUR NAME ?

CANDIDATE : M P. SIR

OFFICER : TELL ME PROPERLY

CANDIDATE : MOHAN PAL SIR

OFFICER : YOUR FATHER'S NAME ?

CANDIDATE : M P. SIR

OFFICER : WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ?

CANDIDATE : MANMOHAN PAL SIR

OFFICER : YOUR NATIVE PLACE

CANDIDATE : M P. SIR

OFFICER : IS IT MADHYA PRADESH ?

CANDIDATE : NO, MUNNUR PAL SIR

OFFICER : WHAT IS YOUR QUALIFICATION?

CANDIDATE : M P. SIR

OFFICER : (ANGRILY) WHAT IS IT ?

CANDIDATE : MATRIC PASS

OFFICER : WHY DO YOU NEED A JOB ?

CANDIDATE : M P. SIR

OFFICER : AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ?

CANDIDATE : MONEY PROBLEM SIR

OFFICER : DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY

CANDIDATE : M P. SIR

OFFICER : EXPLAIN YOURSELF CLEARLY

CANDIDATE : MAGNANIMOUS PERSONALITY SIR

OFFICER : THIS DISCUSSION IS NOWHERE, YOU MAY GO NOW

CANDIDATE : M P. SIR

OFFICER : WHAT IS IT NOW

CANDIDATE : MY PERFORMANCE. ...?

OFFICER : MP !!!

CANDIDATE : WHAT IS THAT SIR..?

OFFICER : MENTALLY PUNCTURED... ......... .....!!!! !!!!!!!!!

Personality - John Keats (1795-1821)

The genius of poetry must work out its own salvation in man. It cannot be matured by law and precept, but by sensation and watchfulness in itself. That which is creative must create itself."

These words by John Keats express his philosophy of creation. Poetry was all about appreciation of beauty for its own self. His poetry is marked with vivid imagery and sensuous appeal.

Unlike Wordsworth and Shelley, Keats' love for beauty, especially natural beauty was for its own sake. He did not read any ‘message’ in nature. He enjoyed nature and beauty just as it was. Sensuous and sensitive, Keats is the archetype of the romantic poet. Though he never lived to write the poetry of "the agonies, the strife of human hearts", which he aspired to, he has given some immortal works which are likely to be remembered by generations to come.

Keats And His Family Background

Tracing John Keats' lineage, we find that he came from a middle-class background. His father, Thomas Keats, was the head ostler in a livery stable owned by Mr John Jennings. Thomas married Jennings's daughter, Frances. Mr Jennings soon retired leaving the management of the stable to his son-in-law. Thus John Keats (his three brothers and one sister included) was born at the stable, by the sign of The Swan–and–Hoop, on Finsbury pavement, facing the then open Lower Moorfields, on October 31, 1795. By the time the youngest child, Frances Mary was born in 1803, the family had shifted to a house in Graven Street, City Road.

Though coming from humble backgrounds, both Thomas and Frances were quite intelligent and clever. Especially Frances, was a understanding and affectionate parent. The family was a very close-knit one, especially the bond that John and his mother and the brothers shared.

Education

Aspiring to give the best possible education to their children, the parents chose Rev John Clarke’s School at Enfield, a well-reputed school located among pleasant atmosphere. John started going to school in 1803. In the very next year, that is in 1804, Thomas met with an accident. He fell from his horse as he was riding home one night from Southgate. The fall killed him (April 16, 1804). After a hasty marriage of Mrs Keats’ to one William Rawlings, and an equally hasty separation the Keats family went to live with the recently widowed Mrs Jennings at Edmonton.

Mr Jennings was quite comfortably off, financially. Apart from a number of legacies, which yielded a fixed income to his daughter, he had put a sum of £ 1,000 in trust for the Keats children. And so the next four or five years passed quite pleasantly and comfortably for John.

In school John was spirited and generous, quarrelsome and forgiving, handsome and lovable, and a natural leader. He was passionate in both tears and laughter. But beneath this facade he concealed (except from his brothers) a streak of painful sensibility, subjecting him to moods of unreasonable suspicion and self-tormenting melancholy.

The Keats brothers had always been close to each other. George, the second brother, was quite like John, except that he was less impulsive, bigger and stronger. Tom, the youngest brother was ‘delicate’ from childhood and was always protected by his two elder brothers. Their sister, then a child, was also bonded by the strong family sentiments.

The Book-lover

Initially, Keats showed no signs of being intellectual or artistic. He was methodical and orderly in what he did, but not studious. It was only when he was 14–15 years old, that he diverted his energy to studies. He soon became so engrossed in the pleasures of reading that he would always have a book in his hands – even before school and during play-hours. He preferred to read, rather than to play and won several literature-prizes in school. He soon exhausted the school library, reading every book of history, travel and fiction. Mythology was something that he enjoyed tremendously. During this period he took upon himself to translate Aeneid from Latin into English prose.

Death Of Mother

But trouble soon followed. John’s mother, Frances, already disabled by chronic rheumatism, fell ill and finally died in February 1810. John’s devotion to her was very much evident and he would not allow anyone else to attend to her, give her medicines or cook her food. He would sit with her for the entire night, reading novels to her.

Ready To Face Life

Within a few months of Frances’s death, Mrs Jennings executed a deed thereby putting her now orphaned grand-children under the care of two guardians. Most of her property was now to be held in trust by the guardians, till the children came of age. Although Mrs Jennings survived the execution of the deed by about four years, Mr Abbey and his co-trustee undertook the responsibilities and the management of the trust. By the end of 1810, John was withdrawn from school and readied for life. He was just 15 when he was apprenticed for five years to a surgeon, Mr Hammond, at Edmonton.

The study of medicine did not lessen his passion for literature and whenever he could spare time; he would go to visit his friend Cowden Clarke, at his old school in Enfield. They would exchange and read books and discuss them. Around this time, he had finished his translation of Aeneid.

Keats : The Poet

But he had still not written or attempted to write any poetry. Then one day, Cowden Clarke introduced John to Spenser. They read the Epithalamium in the afternoon and Keats carried The Faerie Queen with him when he went back. Keats was delighted with this new world opened up to him. Charles Brown, one of Keats’ many friends recalls, "Though born to be a poet, he was ignorant of his birthright until he had completed his 18th year. It was The Faerie Queen that awakened his genius. In Spenser’s fairyland he was enchanted, breathed in a new world and became another being; till, enamored by the stanza, he attempted to imitate it and succeeded." This, his earliest attempt, The Imitation Of Spenser was his first volume of poems and "it is peculiarly interesting to those acquainted with his history."

Secretly and shyly, Keats began writing sonnets and other verses, on various subjects, including his political impulse. But it was not until 1815 that he showed anything he had written to anybody, even his friend and confidante, Cowden Clarke.

Study Of Medicine

Keats had more than a year left of his apprenticeship, when he quarreled with Mr Hammond in the summer of 1814. Subsequently he came to London. He was about 19 years old. He continued his studies in London and enrolled as a student in the hospital of St Thomas and Guy, which were united for teaching purposes.

John was a very attentive student. He attended his hospital and did his work regularly. He cleared his examination as licentiate at Apothecaries’ Hall with credit on July 25, 1816 and was appointed a dresser at Guy’s under Mr Lucas. His performance there was good and he was able to assist in the operations without problem. But by 1817 he was thinking more and more about leaving the medical profession and devoting himself to a literary life. The muse was steadily luring this ‘cheerful, crotchety rhymester’. He confessed, "the other day, during lecture there came a sunbeam into the room and with it a whole troop of creatures floating in the ray; and I was off with them to Oberon and fairy-land." For quite sometime now, his friends included young men of literary tastes and occupations. His verses were no longer kept hidden. They were freely passed around among friends and often attracted the notice and approval of writers of good repute.

Poetry - His Passion

By the time he was 21 years of age, John Keats had decided to opt for the muse. Mr Abbey, his guardian, was not very happy with this decision, but Keats was not to be swayed. There was no formal quarrel between them and Mr Abbey continued to manage the money even though Keats had come of age.

Gradually Keats’ circle of literary friends grew. He would discuss and compare verses, always advocating for beauty as against the interest of action or passion. By nature, Keats was gentle, pleasant, steady, and well behaved. As one of his friends had observed, "his absolute devotion to poetry prevented his having any other taste or indulging in any vice."

His Friends : His Mentors

By now Cowden Clarke had also left Enfield and settled in London. The two friends met often, reading together as eagerly as before. One of the first books they thus attacked was Chapman’s Homer. After a night’s study, the next morning Clarke received the famous sonnet, On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer, written by Keats. Cowden Clarke was also instrumental in introducing Leigh Hunt to Keats.

Hunt, along with his brothers, edited and published Examiner, a daily working towards improvement of English journalism. It was around 1816 to 1621, Hunt was the strongest intellectual influence on Keats. John Keats soon became a frequent and intimate visitor to the Hunt house. He admired Hunt and his 'extraordinary capacity for forming friendship'. They shared their interests and appreciation for poetry.

They accompanied each other in prison too. Both the friends were convicted for using libel language for Prince of Wales. They called him, '... a violator of his word, a libertine over head and cars in debt and disgrace, a despiser of domestic ties, the companion of gamblers,...' etc. Both Keats and Hunt were imprisoned for two years from January 1813 to January 1815.

Leigh Hunt also introduced Keats to a number of congenial spirits, prominent among them were John Hamilton Reynolds, the painter Haydon and the poet P B Shelley. He was also friendly with a Miss Georgiana Wylie, to whom George Keats was attached. Among Wylie’s friends was Joseph Severn, a struggling student of art. Severn soon attached himself to Keats with an admiring affection.

On The Stands

Keats’ passion for a poetic life grew steadily, aided by the encouragement of family and friends. Leigh Hunt first brought him before the world in print by publishing O Solitude ! If I With Thee Must Dwell in the Examiner, on May 5, 1816 and Sonnet On Chapman’s Homer on December 1 of the same year. He was soon encouraged to publish his first volume of poems and it was finally published in March 1817.

The book had moderate sales at first, but it stopped after a few weeks. Keats soon left London for the Isle of Wight, intending to devote himself to making a fresh start on his new book Endymion.

Financial Problems

About this time George wrote to John informing him of his financial difficulties. The trust funds amounted to about £ 8000, out of which the interest was to be utilized for the maintenance of the children till they came of age and then the principal amount was to be divided among them. But John’s expenses during his medical studies had to be raised on the security of the expected share. Similarly, Tom who was an invalid, had been advanced money and so had George. The Keats brothers were quite ill-informed about their finances.

Before John left London, he had come in contact with Merres Taylor and Hessey, publishers of London Magazine. He made an arrangement with them for the eventual publication of Endymion and started receiving some advance from them.

After moving about a little, the Keats brothers decided to take up lodgings at Hampstead, with a Mr and Mrs Bentley. Hampstead was quite convenient for Keats for more than one reason. Its fresh air was beneficial to the invalid brother, Tom. The beauty of the fields and wood, along with the picturesque habitations were ideal for John’s own long walks and meditations. Keats's imagination could easily transport this countryside beauty into the landscapes of Arcadia or of fable-land. Moreover, it was conveniently secluded from London and yet in its proximity, and finally it was in the immediate neighborhood of one or two intimate friends. In such pleasant surroundings, the Endymion progressed well. It was here that he made new friends, Charles Wentworth Dilke, Charles Armitage Brown and Benjamin Bailey.

By now his Third Book of Endymion was nearing completion. Around this time, he started maintaining regular correspondence with his sister Frances Mary, or Fanny as she was called. The Keats family bond did not leave out the kid sister, but after their grandmother’s death, Fanny was the responsibility of the trustee. She was put in a boarding school, later living at Mr Abbey’s own house. He often spoke to his friends about Fanny with ‘great delicacy and tenderness of affection.’ His correspondence with his sister shows Keats’ character in its most attractive light.

Keats : The Balancing Factor

It was around this time that Keats encountered discord among his friends. Haydon and Hunt were on uncomfortable terms, and so were Reynolds and Haydon, each trying to instigate Keats against the other. But Keats never let this kind of thing disturb his relations with his friends. He wrote to Bailey around this time, "The sure way, Baile, is first to know a man’s faults, and then be passive. If after that he insensibly draws you towards him, then you have no power to break the link. Before I felt interest in either Reynolds or Haydon, I was well read in their faults, yet knowing them both. I have an affection for them both, for reasons almost opposite, and to both must I of necessity cling…"

Soon the Endymion was completed. The brothers were temporarily separated when Tom and George went to Devonshire for the sake of Tom’s health. Apart from composing minor and incidental poems, Keats did not take up any major work.

Champion

The Christmas weeks of 1817-18 were pleasant enough. Keats was the theatrical critic for the Champion newspaper in place of Reynolds, who was away. He was able to visit his sister, who was brought to London for the Christmas holidays, and he had the ‘immemorable dinner’ with Wordsworth. The party also included Charles Lamb, Monkhouse and Richtchie, the African traveler.

The month of February 1818 was perhaps the most prolific. Keats wrote a number of small but good pieces. By now his brother George had decided to marry and migrate to America. Tom had to be looked after, and so Keats joined his invalid brother at Teighnmouth, Devonshire. The Devonshire weather was not at its best. Keats writes, "you say what you will of Devonshire; the truth is, it is a splashy, rainy, musty, snowy, foggy, haily, floody, muddy, slipshod country. The hills are very beautiful, when you get a sight of them, the primroses are out, - but then you are in; the cliff’s are of a fine deep color, but then the clouds are continually viewing with them…." This weather allowed him only an occasional walk to enjoy the beauty of the scenery and the flowers. Besides taking care of his invalid brother, Keats was seeing the last sheets of Endymion through the press. He also composed Isabella, the first of his longer poems. This poem is written with much maturity and certainty of touch. He also read Milton’s Paradise Lost, swiftly grasping the very essence of its power and beauty. Keats’ power was maturing rapidly, but at the same time, the mysteries of existence and suffering, and the ‘deeps of good and evil’, were beginning, for the first time to weigh on his mind. "

"… and tho’, to-day,
I’ve gather’d young spring-leaves, and flowers gay
On periwinkle and wild strawberry,
Still do I that most fierce destruction see, -
The Shark at savage prey, - the Hawk at Pounce, -
The gentle Robin, like a Pard or Ounce,
Ravening a worm, - Away, ye horrid moods !
Moods of one’s mind !"
- ‘twas a quiet eve,

Light And Shade

All was not well with Keats’ world. Sicknesses seemed to be following him. Sickness had touched not only his brother, but many of his friends too. But more eminent was the certain pain of the family break-up.

George Keats had made up his mind to migrate to America, and use whatever capital he could get in business there. His long attachment to Miss Wylie culminated in their marriage. John and Tom both came to London to see the last of their brother.

Lost Love

Shortly afterwards, Keats met and fell in love with Fanny Brawne. She was a beautiful, high spirited girl who took care of Keats during his illness. Keats was very possessive and protective about her. It was a hopelessly tragic love affair. Even though they got engaged in October 1819 the wedding could never take place. She got married after Keats' death and led a normal life.

December 1818 witnessed the death of his brother Tom, leaving John in despair. Taking the money advanced by his friend, Brown, Keats went off to the countryside to devote himself to literature. George’s American speculations did not succeed and he soon wrote to John to send him fresh funds.

Trying to Cope With Troubles

Keats soon resolved to shake off his troubles and was determined to face them with a spirit. For the next two years Keats produced poems which give us the true measure of his powers, even when peace of mind and health did not stand by him.

When Keats returned to London, his will to face life sanely proved to be an illusion. He could stay away from his all-consuming object of love – Fanny Brawne for barely two days. The first meeting in about four months made him a passion’s slave again. Within a week he gave up all efforts to resist the spell and settled down next door to his joy and torment. He saw the future, "I shall be able to do nothing. I should like to cast the die for Love or Death. I have no patience with anything else." And the die was cast for death.

Soon Keats’ closest friends realized that something was troubling Keats, that he was suffering, even though Keats never revealed anything to anyone. He became reckless about his health and was taking a few drops of laudanum to keep up his spirit. When Brown accidentally discovered this habit, he made Keats promise not to take a single drop without his knowledge.


In January 1820, George Keats visited London for three weeks. Settled with his wife and child in America, George came to England to get possession of the remaining portion of the brother’s inheritance from the reluctant Mr Abbey. George also observed, "He was not the same being, although his reception of me was as warm as heart could wish; he did not speak with his former openness and unreserved, he had lost the reviving custom of venting his grief." He had also stopped writing.

Death

Keats’ condition began deteriorating and he was soon coughing blood. Friends were kind enough to nurse him. But the doctors recommended warmer climate for winter and in September 1820 John Keats sailed for Italy in the company of Severn. After a month’s journey and 10 days of quarantine in Naples, Keats and Severn came to Rome. Initially, he felt better, his mood was on the whole cheerful and thus thoughts were turning to poetry and verses. But on December 10, things took a turn for the worse. Violent fever accompanied by hemorrhages turned Keats' life into misery. He begged Severn to give him the bottle of laudanum, which Keats had entrusted to his friend while starting for Italy. Severn’s refusal to do so turned Keats’ appeal to despair. He tried to explain the gradual deterioration and tried to get the bottle of laudanum. For a while, he fiercely fought his friend’s ministrations to give in to his demand. But gradually the tumult of his soul abated. He tried to pass the remainder of his days in peace and contentment. After the first few troubled weeks, Keats normally lay quietly finding solace in his companion’s reading or in music. He would often ask the doctor, "Doctor, when will this posthumous life of mine come to an end ?" But his ‘posthumous’ life held out for about two and a half months and the end came to this brilliant poet on February 23, 1821, in Rome.

This simple epitaph was good enough for Keats – "here lies one whose name was writ in water." Finding it too abrupt, Charles Brown had the following carved on the stone :

"This Grave Contains All That Was Mortal Of A YOUNG ENGLISH POET Who On His Death Bed, In The Malicious Power Of His Enemies, Described These Words To Be Engraved On His Tombstone, ‘Here lies One whose Name was writ in water."

Todays Pic(Cycle)

Deadly Answer

Question : You are in a boat in the middle of a river. You have 2 Cigarettes and have to light any one cigarette. You don't have anything else with you in the boat? How will you do it?

Answer:

Take one cigarette and throw it in the water. So the boat will
become LIGHTER..... ...using this LIGHTER you can light the other Cigarette

another deadly answer. Scroll down a little

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Another solution: You throw a cigarette up and catch it. Catches win Matches. Using the matches that you win, you can light the cigarette

Mullah

Once, the people of the city invited Mulla Nasruddin to deliver a speech.

When he got on the minbar (pulpit), he found the audience was not very enthusiastic, so he asked "Do you know what I am going to say?"

The audience replied "NO", so he announced "I have no desire to speak to people who don't even know what I will be talking about" and he left.

The people felt embarrassed and called him back again the next day.

This time when he asked the same question, the people replied "YES" So Mullah Nasruddin said, "Well, since you already know what I am going to say, I won't waste any more of your time" and he left.

Now the people were really perplexed. They decided to try one more time and once again invited the Mullah to speak the following week.

Once again he asked the same question - "Do you know what I am going to say?" Now the people were prepared and so half of them answered "YES" while the other half replied "NO".

So Mullah Nasruddin said "The half who know what I am going to say, tell it to the other half" and he left!

Which wolf wins?

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, The battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment Inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Personality - Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu, also known as the Nightingale of India, lived a purposeful life. A devoted freedom fighter, a principled politician, a progressive activist, a radical reformer, an inspirational poet - woman of varied talents and high caliber, Sarojini Naidu lived life to its fullest. Her sincerity and zeal in speeches, poems and conversation reflect devotion and loyalty towards her motherland. Sarojini's career exhibits an intriguing paradox. She was one of those great personalities whose greatness is difficult to identify and substantiate. Though, she made no epoch-making contribution to either the ideology or practice of the struggle against colonialism, yet she played a lieutenant-like role in Indian politics. Sarojini was not only the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress but also the first woman to become the Governor of a state in independent India.
Ahead of times, she painted a romantic, idealistic picture of Indian women in her poems, and she, in real life also led the struggle for women's emancipation in India. She came forward and roused them to a realization of their own latent powers. On the other front she demonstrated how politics could be a clean game.

Certainly, Sarojini Naidu, with her multifaceted personality, was one of the most colorful and memorable women of the 20th century.

Today that seems so long, so strange, so bitter, will soon be some forgotten yesterday.
Let us rise, o my heart, let us gather the dreams that remain.
We shall conquer the sorrow of life with the sorrow of song.

Sarojini Naidu, an eminent personality is treasured in the memory of every Indian. As a politician, nationalist leader, poet, activist for women's rights, orator, and celebrity, she was certainly one of the most memorable mighty Indian women.

To Dr Aghorenath and Varada Sundari Chattopadhyay was born an Aquarian baby girl on February 13, 1879 in Hyderabad, India. She was the eldest of eight children born to Chattopadhyays. The baby was named Sarojini - meaning lotus. Sarojini was very lively and pleasant from her very childhood, like a lotus. The only difference between Sarojini and lotus was of their surroundings. A lotus blooms in a puddle whereas baby Sarojini blossomed in an atmosphere of culture and refinement.

Aghorenath was a multifaceted persona - qualities of a philosopher, scientist, poet and teacher rolled into one. He took his degree of Doctor of Science at the University of Edinburgh in 1877, and afterwards studied at Bonn. On his return to India he founded the Nizam College at Hyderabad. He was a great influence on Sarojini. She used to say, "My Father is a dreamer himself, a great dreamer, a great man. I suppose in the whole of India there are few men, whose learning is greater than his." The home of Aghorenath Chattopadhyay was known as the 'Seat of Learning', because there met all men of learning and culture and distinction - moulvis, pundits, European scholars, lawyers, prominent social personalities. Her mother, Varada Sundari was an accomplished cook. Outwardly she seemed self-effacing. But she had a distinct personality of her own. She used to compose lyrics in Bengali and was a good musician. Many languages were spoken in the Chattopadhyay household. The children were raised in a multilingual atmosphere and they could speak and follow all of them. Sarojini's brother Virendranath was fluent in 16 languages. Sarojini herself spoke Urdu, Telgu, English, Persian and Bengali. Curiously enough, she resisted English language for a long time as a child.

Education


The fortunate circumstances of her life cannot be measured in terms of worldly riches but by riches more valuable than gold. Her father, a true academician brought up his children in perfect freedom. She enjoyed unrestricted freedom at home. In a sense, she was brought up in the lap of luxury. Her father employed an English and a French governess with a view to give her an excellent training. She also had a Persian teacher and developed a taste for it. Even as a child she had the luxury of having her own room, her own library, her own furniture and her own wardrobe, of which an average Indian child could not even dream of.

Aghorenath paid special attention to all her requirements. He wanted her to follow his footsteps. But she had distinctly inherited poetical bent from her mother. She wrote, later in one of the letters to Arthur Symons, a literary scholar with whom she had made acquaintance in London, how her inborn poetic instinct struggled to master circumstances, and how it ultimately triumphed : "one day, when I was 11', read the letter, 'I was sighing over a sum in algebra. It wouldn't come right but instead, a whole poem came to me suddenly. I wrote it down. From that day my 'poetic career' began."

At 12, she appeared for her Matriculation examination at Madras. She excelled in the only exam she appeared. She stood first in the entire Presidency.

Poetic Career - The Start

The poetess was all armed and her pen started pouring the pieces, which was not likely of an ordinary child of 13.

After her matriculation, she did not go for a Bachelor's degree. Moreover, her ill health compelled her to discontinue her studies from time to time. From 1892 to 1895 she was back in Hyderabad. She spent time in extensive reading. During this period she developed taste for literature. She had devoured almost all the great English works. Her favorite poet was P B Shelley.

She wrote a long poem a la Lady of the Lake - 1,300 lines in six days. Next year, she wrote an impassioned poetic drama of 2000 lines ! The pen had taken off and did not stop without scripting out a drama. It was a Persian play - Meher Muneer. This play was, probably, influenced by her Persian study. Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, who had always encouraged his daughter's literary activities, got it printed. A few copies of it were distributed among friends. A copy was given to the Nizam of the state in the year 1895. It was Meher Muneer that bagged her a foreign scholarship of £300 a year, with first class passage.

My Joys are not what joys to childhood seem :
Not on unthinking sports my soul was Fed,
But nursed it was on many a brighter them
And high ideas formed my radiant dream.

The lines were written by Sarojini on her 14th birthday. Her outlook on life had matured. When her younger brother died, the sorrow turned into a poem.

Thou cam'st to us two years ago
In June when pink wild roes blow
Beneath the golden skies.
When autumn winds made melody
And yellow leaves fell from the tree
God's angels set their seal on thee
And closed thy lovely eyes.

Love in Life

The grieving period fortunately was balanced by an experience that was joyful and exciting. On a visit to Sholapur, she met a young man named Dr Muthyala Govindrajulu Naidu, who had just passed out of medical college. He was a family friend and treated her while she was ill. Though he was quite senior to her, that never created a barrier between them.

Both Sarojini and Dr Naidu belonged to families with very different cultural backgrounds, and their parents were against this relationship. Sarojini was sent off to England in 1895.

Sarojini in England

It was a coincidence that Dr Annie Besant, the head of the Theosophical Society at Chennai, and later a promoter of Home Rule for India, was also a passenger in the ship which Sarojini boarded for her voyage to London. She came to love and admire Sarojini as a daughter and offered to take care of her.

In England she had a unique privilege of being ward of Miss Manning, who was the pioneer worker for Indian students in England. At Miss Manning's salon, some of the highest literary figures of England resorted. There Sarojini met Sir Edmund Gosse, a well-known English scholar who later sponsored her in England; Arthur Symons, another scholar; William Archer, the distinguished drama critic; and Mr Heinemann, her future publisher. She studied for two years at King's College. Then she joined Girton Girls College at Cambridge. Those two years she invested in refining her poetic talent in the vicinity of Sir Edmund Gosse. She showed him all her poems. Gosse advised her to forget the robins and the skylarks of the English countryside and to set her poems firmly among the mountains, the gardens, the temples…to be a genuine Indian poet of the Deccan, not a clever imitator of English classics !

Sarojini valued the advice of this famous English critic and made a transition from skylark to bulbul. The poetess had lost herself in the city of poems. She got tired of university life, with its routine and discipline. Moreover her health broke down and her career at Girton ended.

All through this, she kept in touch with Dr Govindrajulu Naidu through letters. Probably he was the only Indian to devour the bulbul's melodies.

In Europe

Leaving Cambridge, she traveled the continent, sojourning in Switzerland and Italy for a few months in 1897. Sarojini, with passion in her frail body always desired to be ' a wild free thing of the air like the birds, with a song in my heart'. Here her desire was fulfilled.

Her radiant letters from Italy read, "This Italy is made of gold, the gold of dawn and daylight, the gold of the stars, and now dancing in weird enchanting rhythms through this magic month of May, the gold of fireflies in the perfumed darkness - 'aerial gold'." Further, her letter were like streams, happily flowing, singing and enjoying. It read, "God ! How beautiful it is, and how glad I am that I am alive today ! I drink the beauty like a wine, wine, golden and scented, and shining, fit for Gods."

Marriage and Domestic Life

After a stay of three years in England she landed on Indian soil in September 1898. She wanted to meet her love. Her parents had thought that she has forgotten Govindrajulu Naidu but she was determined.

In December 1898, amidst all the oppositions, the lovers got married, breaking through the bonds of caste. Sarojini was firm in her resolve never to desert her cherished ideals, though friends might fail her and her community scoff at her and called her a renegade. She had a happy domestic life. It was only that at times illness hampered the easy flow of Sarojini Naidu's life. Dr Naidu was a loving husband. She found in him the fulfillment of her soul's deepest yearnings.

The loving couple was blessed with four children by the end of 1904 - two sons and two daughters, the eldest Jayasurya, second Padmaja, the third, Randheera, and the youngest Leilamani. Sarojini wrote a poem dedicated to each newborn.

In worldly riches she was fairly endowed. The poet in her was finding fuller expression. At the time her heart held some of her most cherished dreams.

First Publication

Though frail in body, and delicate in health, the spirit in her was defiant, self-willed and purposeful. The period of despair, and the fear that 'any tomorrow I might die' was soon over. The clouds that darkened the sky of her hopes, her aspirations, her ambitions, soon vanished. In 1905, Heinemann published the first volume of her collection of poems called The Golden Threshold, with an introduction from her friend Arthur Symons.

The poetry in the volume soon secured unanimous verdict of the English press as 'beautiful poem', 'pure gold', 'surprisingly individual', 'authentic poetry', and the expression of 'soul of East'. There was fundamentally something in these poems, which seemed to prove that the best song knew nothing of East or West. Sarojini Naidu, woke up one fine morning and found herself famous.

Call of the Motherland

For many years, before Sarojini plunged in Non-Cooperation movement, she had been doing social work that brought her in contact with many eminent politicians. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a well known freedom fighter in the India's independent movement, impressed Sarojini. He asked Sarojini to use her talent, songs, and speeches for the motherland. Gokhale said, "O poet, see visions from the hill top and spread abroad the message of hope to the toilers in the valley."

She joined the Indian freedom struggle, in the wake of the aftermath of partition of Bengal in 1905. She was an inspirational orator and could express her ideas in plain but striking words. She followed the national freedom struggle with her body and soul and contributed in every possible way, motivating spellbound audience with her appealing speeches. With her vigor and dedication to the national cause, Sarojini became one of the foremost leaders. Her single-minded dedication won her approval of other national leaders as well as general public. She became an ardent follower and a dear disciple of Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1906, the 27 years old Sarojini attended the Indian National Conference. At that time the word 'Hindu' was used in a general sense. To Sarojini, it was a generalization that contradicted her secular spirit. She suggested an amendment substituting 'Indian' for 'Hindu'. Sarojini, in her characteristic gentle but firm way told the delegates that she would leave the National Conference if her amendment was dropped. Needless to say her speech and her appeal received great response.

Meanwhile, she was awarded Kaisar-e-Hind title in 1908 in recognition of her work in the Ambulance Corps during the War.

Poet and Politician

Two more volumes of her poetry were published: The Bird of Time in 1912 and The Broken Wing in 1917. The former bore the introduction by Edmund Gosse. The poetry in these volumes, especially The Bird of Time added to her already established reputation as a lyric poet. The Broken Wing shows the suffering and sorrows she saw while traveling for the cause of India. The lyrical energy in these volumes did not slack a bit. It was rather gaining a new experience. It gave a richer, graver music to her poetry. The poetess had made a transition from the youthful ecstasy to something stern.

The graph of her career shows her reputation as a poet at its peak during the first decade of 20th century. Mah Rukh Begum, Women's Education and Unity of India are her only published prose pieces.

Sarojini's talent as a lyric poet made Mahatma Gandhi call her Bharta Kokila (The Nightingale of India).

Hindu - Muslim Unity

The patriot in Sarojini rose with the Nobel counsel. India was in a miasma at that time. The relationship between the Hindus and Muslims was getting more and more strained, widening the gulf of separation. Gokhale asked Sarojini to work for the cause. In June 1913, Sarojini addressed a letter to the Editor of the Indian Review. "The Muslims have held out their hand," she wrote. "Be gracious, be wise. Do not analyze motives too closely but take the proffered hand and hold it fast."

While Sarojini was involved in the freedom movement her father, Aghorenath Chattopadhyay died in February 1915. His last words were, "There is no birth and there is no death. There is only spirit seeking evolution in higher and higher stages of life." The poetess daughter paid him a final tribute.

Thy life was love and liberty thy law,
And truth thy pure imperishable goal.

The next year her mother Varada Sundari died in Calcutta, in 1916.

The Orator at Her Best

Sarojini Naidu, the disciple of Gokhale and Mahatma Gandhi, had taken the responsibility to spread the light to the toilers down in the valley. The years to follow witnessed an excellent orator, who played an eminent role in making the movement a national level movement.

The year 1917 occupied her in speaking engagements from North to South India. In January 1917, she was at Allahabad for a lecture. The subject of her lecture was 'The Vision of Patriotism', and Pandit Motilal Nehru, an eminent freedom fighter and one of the renowned lawyers of the time, presided over the event. Later that year she was in Southern India. At Chennai (Madras, as it was known then) she addressed the Madras Students' Convention, under the presidentship of Mrs Annie Besant.

In March 1918 she went to Jallandhar to inaugurate a women's school, she addressed the mass, showing the importance of women's rights. The year round, she went from one place to another awakening women and bringing them out of the four walls. In September, she attended the congress session at Bombay (now Mumbai) and moved the resolution demanding equal qualifications for men and women.

Rowlatt Act and Jalianwalla Bagh

The British were constantly trying to suppress the rebels by using all the possible tactics. In March 1919, the British government passed the Rowlatt Act, according to which, the possession of seditious documents was illegal. Mahatma Gandhi organized a passive resistance movement to protest against this repressive law. Sarojini was the first to join him. She delivered speeches at various places to resist the hideous nightmare. The Government suppressed the movement sternly.

In one such action, at Jalianwalla Bagh in Amritsar, an unarmed crowd was brutally fired upon, leaving 400 people dead. World was aghast at this cruel act. Sarojini returned the Kaisar-e-Hind medal to the Government.

The Home Rule League in India decided to send a representative to England. The spokesperson had to be a good leader, orator and also a good communicator. Sarojini was handed over the task. She went to England in July 1919.

She stayed there for a year and contacted Indian community and students. Among English, she created awareness regarding the condition of Indians under the British rule. Through public lectures and private conversations, she briefed the English about the Jalianwalla Bagh tragedy.

Giving her Best

Sarojini returned to India in July 1920. On August 1, Mahatma Gandhi formally started the Non-Cooperation movement.

The movement received tremendous response throughout India. Sarojini played a vital role in awakening and organizing the youth. She addressed hundreds of meetings, exhorting people to boycott foreign goods. In an address to the students, she said : "It is a battle of self-purification, self sacrifice and self-devotion. Come, march with me to the Temple of Liberty.'

Satyagraha and Freedom Struggle

By the end of 1921, entire nation joined Mahatma Gandhi's movement. To keep the morals of the masses high and reinforce the required measures, the party leaders' meetings were held. One such meet took place in December 1921. Mahatma Gandhi was handed over the reins of the chariot to lead the nation through the movements of non-violence and non-cooperation, aka Satyagraha.

The British government wanted to curb the movement. Gandhiji was arrested. With his arrest, the responsibilities of his subordinates doubled. With the advancement of the movement, the differences between various political leaders also surfaced. Eminent leaders like Motilal Nehru and C R Das formed a new party, Swaraj Party. Even the unity that existed between Hindus and Muslims during the Khilafat Agitation was cracking up. The British Government also felt secured in the new pattern of communal dispute. The Muslim League became increasingly communal in its outlook. Sarojini exerted all her energy to strengthen Gandhian viewpoint, particularly when Gandhiji was in jail. Unfortunately, the tension mounted and communal riots broke out in many cities. Sarojini visited as many of these places as she could and helped to put out the flames of religious fanaticism.

After these years of hard work, Sarojini needed some change. She went to South Africa in January 1924. She was one of the two delegates sent by Indian National Congress. She received a warm reception when she presided over the East African Indian Congress at Mombasa on January 19, 1924.

During her brief journey of less than four months Sarojini had won the hearts of the Indians settled in Africa.

Congress President

The Nightingale of India, by that time had reserved a branch for herself in the vast garden of India. The cuckoo was known to the masses. Shortly after her return, Sarojini attended the Belgaum session of the Congress. Gandhiji was released by the Government because of illness. Her name was proposed for presidentship but ultimately Gandhiji was persuaded to accept the position. Sarojini was elected the president of the next session, to be held at Kanpur.

The office of Congress President carried enormous prestige. Sarojini's elevation to this office was welcomed as an honor to Indian womanhood. It received good deal of publicity even outside India. The New York Times, for instance, published an article in which Sarojini was referred to as the Joan of Arc who rose to inspire India and as the first highborn Brahmin woman to break the strict tradition of veil and caste.

As a congress President, Sarojini traveled extensively, especially in North India. Various meetings were conducted and she addressed the masses to unite and fight for the cause of freedom. The national scenario was becoming more and more disappointing. The differences between Hindus and Muslims widened. Her friend Jinnah, (the Muslim leader) whom she had once praised as the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity had drifted away from the congress. Jinnah insisted on making a separate Muslim League.

While all this was going on, Mahatma Gandhi, the indisputable leader maintained his low profile. Sarojini was constantly in touch with him. Confrontation between congress and the British Government became more frequent. Members of Congress felt a strong need to represent India at the international level. Sarojini planned a journey to the United States. The idea was welcomed by all. During her visit to America, she was often referred to as Mahatma Gandhi's unofficial ambassador.

Sarojini in USA

Sarojini arrived in New York in October 1928. After a year's stay she returned, in July 1929. Her journey through USA and Canada was a great success. Wherever she went, she received a warm welcome. She represented India and its struggle for freedom. Her lectures on India were grouped under three main headings. The first series consisted of interpretations of Indian womanhood. Sarojini also explained the role of Indian women in the nationalist movement. In the second series, she spoke about the renaissance in modern India, surveying trends in philosophical and religious thought, and the new movements in literature and arts. In the third series, she explained the spiritual ideals of India, distinguishing elements of universal and permanent values from all that was superficial and custom-ridden. Everywhere, she spoke about the significance of Mahatma Gandhi.

The beauty and variety of the American landscape enchanted her. She was impressed by the vitality, dynamism and optimism of the people, their sense of duty, their love for freedom and respect for the dignity of human labor. At the same time, Sarojini was not blind to the darker side of American life. She was concerned with the unjust treatment to the Negroes and the American Indians. C F Andrews, Mahatma Gandhi's friend, happened to be in the USA during Sarojini's visit. He wrote to Gandhiji about her 'amazing popularity' in America. The letter was published in Young India.

After America, she went to Canada. It was equally successful. The New York Times published an editorial and a letter about her. The Unity of Chicago paid a glowing tribute to Sarojini : 'nobly born, highly educated, utterly consecrated, dowered with supreme gifts of intellect and will'. One of the highlights of her journey was a great reception held in her honor at the International House.

In and Out of the Jail

After her return to India, Sarojini was taken on the Working Committee of the Congress and thus became a member of what came to be known as the Congress High Command. The same year, Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President of the Congress session held at Lahore. Sarojini left for Kenya in November to preside over the East African Indian Congress. Before her departure, she congratulated Jawaharlal Nehru and promised him that she would return in time for the Congress session.

Sarojini kept her promise and returned to attend the session. Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the 'Tricolor', the National flag adopted by the Congress Party - at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1929. Now the Congress leaders adopted complete independence as their goal and had resolved to boycott the legislature. On January 26, 1930, Independence Day was celebrated all over India.

Meanwhile, Gandhiji was preparing for the next Satyagraha. Gandhiji wanted the Government to lift the Salt Tax. In those days, Britishers levied tax on salt. Gandhiji was against it. Viceroy Lord Irwin refused his demands. The law prohibited salt making without paying tax. The famous Dandi March began on March 12. Mahatma Gandhi led the procession towards the small town of Dandi on the western coast. Sarojini joined Gandhiji at Dandi and broke the law. The Government used ruthless methods to stop the Satyagrahis. An American journalist expressed his amazement at the courage displayed by Sarojini as she pushed her way into the crowd, appealing to the Satyagrahis to remain non-violent.

On May 5, Mahatma Gandhi was arrested. Sarojini continued to lead the movement, but she was also arrested. She was in jail for several months. Sarojini displayed all those human qualities, which had won the admiration of her national level colleagues. She was brave, patient, understanding and full of good humor. After few months of imprisonment, she along with eminent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, was released on January 31, 1931. The few improvements were seen in the British Government after Gandhiji signed an act with the Viceroy. Gandhi-Irvin Act made congress call off the Civil Disobedience movement and agreed to participate in the Second Round Table Conference.


In September, Mahatma Gandhi sailed to London. Sarojini traveled with him. After attending the Conference, Mahatma Gandhi returned while Sarojini stayed back. She had many old friends. The poet and political leader also had many invitations from literary and social organizations. She visited the continent and revived the memories of her previous visit to Italy and Switzerland. She also visited South Africa as a member of a delegation. She had hardly returned to India when Gandhiji was arrested. The Government had again resorted to repression.
Soon, Sarojini was also arrested. In the prison, her health deteriorated and she was to be released on medical advise. Her constitution had never been strong and the strain and stress of years of hectic political life, combined with the discomforts of jail had made it evident. She went to Hyderabad to rest. Now the Government had laid their hands on the lower classes. Separate electorates were issued for the lower classes as well as the Muslims.

In September 1932, Gandhiji started fasting against the divide and rule policy of the Government, which nearly cost him his life. Sarojini was at his side during the fast. About six months later, Gandhiji again undertook a 21-day fast of self-purification for India's sin of untouchability. He survived the ordeal. Sarojini, once again by his side, cheered him up, nursing him.

A Difficult Path towards Freedom

Gandhiji was released in 1933. The Satyagraha was over. Sarojini once described this period as the last and the most difficult stages of the journey, the back breaking, exhausting precipitous climb before reaching the top of the mountain.

Shortly after, Gandhiji moved to an ashram at Wardha in the Central province. He concentrated on communal harmony. He traveled extensively during 1933-34. Sarojini accompanied him on some of his travels and visited her home at Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, by 1934, the Congress decided to fight the election to the provincial assemblies. The results showed that Muslim League was achieving strength. With that demand for a separate Muslim state was put forward. At the external front, it was World War II. The Viceroy, without consulting the Indian legislature, made a declaration on behalf of India to fight against the powers. In 1940, a resolution was passed by the Congress working committee reiterating India's demand for immediate transfer of power. The Muslim League also supported the Congress. But the Lahore session of Muslim League formally demanded the division of India and the creation of a new Muslim state called Pakistan.

Five Years before Independence

The partition of Hindustan (India) was the most unwanted thing for those who fought for its freedom. At the Congress meet, it was decided to have freedom at any cost. Congress adopted the famous 'Quit India' resolution. Mahatma Gandhi took the charge to lead masses. Before the struggle could be launched, the Government swooped down upon the Congress. Thousands were arrested. Gandhiji was sent to Yervada Jail. Sarojini was arrested before dawn and was not given time even to pack her clothes. Her presence in the jail had a soothing and cheering effect on her comrades. She cooked for them, planted flowers in the jail yard, told anecdotes, and encouraged other leaders to celebrate festivals.

In May 1944, Gandhiji was released. The 'Quit India' movement, though suppressed, had left its mark. The Government had been morally isolated to such an extent that it became impossible for the British to flout world opinion any longer. They were left with only one option - to transfer the power to a new Constituent Assembly. The elections were announced for the purpose. The Congress swept most of the general seats while the Muslim League was equally successful in winning seats reserved for Muslims.

The power could be transferred to the new Constituent Assembly but the biggest hurdle was disagreement between the Congress and the Muslim League : Gandhiji met Jinnah several times to evolve a formula for the sake of a united India. The efforts failed. On August 15, 1947, the power was transferred, rather divided between two independent states, India and Pakistan. The decision resulted into Hindu-Muslim riots. Mahatma Gandhi tried to reconcile the situation. Sarojini, the most devoted leader and follower of Gandhiji was back to work to restore peace.

The Last Phase

The Asian Relations Conference, held in New Delhi, in March 1947, was the last important event before independence with which Sarojini was closely associated. She presided over the Steering Committee meetings held in the Constitution House lounge, and again at the Plenary Session of the conference held at Purana Qila. Sarojini made a moving speech, calling for understanding and goodwill among the nations of Asia. Those who heard her felt that India, even before formal attainment of freedom, was going to play an important part in the unity of Asian nations.

The eve of independence arrived. Sarojini was offered the governorship of Uttar Pradesh, politically most sensitive state of India. She was unwilling. But Mahatma Gandhi urged her to utilize her lifelong experience in working for Hindu-Muslim Unity. She was convinced to accept the responsibility. The Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court administered the oath to the office to Sarojini Naidu at the Government House, Lucknow on August 15, 1947.

Sarojini addressed the UP (Uttar Pradesh) legislature. The speech delivered without any notes, created a deep impression. She soon merged herself in the work she was assigned to. She familiarized herself with the peculiarities and complexities of UP. She handled these problems tactfully. The agitation of UP, which later became an ugly feature of major cities in UP, did not assume serious proportion as long as Sarojini was there to defuse the tense situations. Her wit and wisdom were remarkable in all avenues. She brought together people belonging to rival groups and conflicting ideologies. "In my green pastures here at Lucknow", she once said, "Lions and lambs lie down together very pleasantly." Although she had to be at Lucknow most of the time, she appreciated the cultural importance of Allahabad and Benaras as well. In December 1947, the Benaras Hindu University conferred an honorary doctorate upon her. The previous day, she had attended the Golden Jubilee Convocation of the Allahabad University.

Mahatma Gandhi's assassination shattered Sarojini. She too lost her health gradually. In October 1948, she fractured a leg and was in great discomfort. Still the lady known for her anecdotes could laugh at it. In a letter to her friend she wrote : "My Excellency is very disturbed and anxious…It is bad for an old lady, nearing 70, will a groggy heart, high blood pressure, and an injured leg to be so disturbed" read the letter, "What are you going to do about it ?"

At the end of 1948 and the beginning of 1849, she visited Shantineketan and Lucknow University. Later she went to New Delhi. As she was returning to Lucknow, she fell ill. Dr B C Roy examined her and found that her heart had become very weak. She was treated by expert doctors but to no avail. Sarojini Naidu passed away in the early hours of the morning on March 2, 1949. Within few hours of the news, leaders and public poured in Lucknow. Pandit Nehru, Maulana Azad, Govind Ballabh Pant and other national leaders arrived. C Rajagopalachari and Lady Mountbatten came on hearing about the sad demise of Sarojini Naidu.

Jawaharlal Nehru personally supervised arrangements for the funeral. The cortege proceeded slowly through Hazratganj in Lucknow - to the bank of river Gomti. Her son, Dr Jayasurya performed the last rites. 60,000 people watched in silent grief as Sarojini Naidu merged with her motherland.

Todays Pic(Cycle)

Lie,Cheat and Steal

LIE- in the arms of the one you love!

CHEAT- if you must then cheat death!

STEAL-kisses in the moments which define love....!!!! !!!

Confusion

A man comes running to the doctor shouting & screaming in pain "Please doctor you've got to help me. I've been stung by a Bee."

DOCTOR: "Don't worry; I'll put some cream on it."

MAN: "You will never find that bee. It must be miles

Away by now."

DOCTOR: "No you don't understand! I'll put some cream

On the place you were stung."

MAN: "Oh! It happened in the garden where I was

Sitting under a tree"

DOCTOR (in anger): "No, no you IDIOT! I mean on which

Part of your body did that bee sting."

MAN (still screaming in pain): "On my finger! The bee

Stung me on my finger and it really hurts"

DOCTOR (banging his fist, abusing and shouting):

"Which one?"

MAN (innocently ): "How am I to know? All bees look the Same to me."

Riddles

[1] Take off my skin -- I won't cry, but you will! What am I?

[2] The more it dries, the wetter it gets. What is it?

[3] You answer me, although I never ask you questions. What am I?

[4] Which is correct: 18 plus 19 is 36. Or 18 plus 19 are 36?

[5] Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain on Earth?

[6] What gets whiter the dirtier that it gets?

[7] How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25?

[8] Some months have 30 days, some months have 31 days; how many have 28?

[9] What can burn the eyes, sting the mouth, yet be consumed?

[10] What travels around the world yet stays in one corner?

[11] How is it possible to shave three times a day and still grow a beard?

[12] Is it physically possible for you to stand behind your mother, and for your
mother to stand behind you at the same time?

[13] What is harder to catch the faster you run?


Wait Go Back and Make Sure you answered them all:


You can't wait, I see, OK here are the
Answers:

1. An onion

2. A towel

3. The telephone

4. Actually neither is correct - 18 plus 19 is 37.

5. Mt. Everest

6. A chalkboard

7. Once, because after you subtract it's not 25 anymore

8. Every month has at least 28 days.

9. Peppers

10. A stamp.

11. If you were a barber, you could shave other men three times a day and still grow your own beard.

12. Yes, if you stand back to back

13. Your breath

Personality - Joan of Arc

"Joan was a being so uplifted from the ordinary run of mankind that she finds no equal in a thousand years."
- Winston Churchill

Joan of Arc, an ordinary French peasant girl has been immortalized as a military leader, martyr and saint. During her early years she heard the voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret informing her that she had a great mission to fulfil. The purpose of her life was to render her services to her nation.

It was quite incredible that she convinced Dauphin Charles, heir to the French throne to give her an army to end the English occupation of France. In 1429, against all odds, Joan led the French to a great victory at Orleans. It seemed quite incredible as to how a young ordinary girl could accomplish such a herculean task. Her eventual capture, imprisonment, trial and execution provided a dramatic ending to a short but remarkable life.

The Inexplicable Joy
Joan of Arc was born on January 6, 1412, to Jacquot d'Arc and Isabelle in the village of Domremy. The birth of this child went in no way unnoticed in the whole of Domremy. The womenfolk of Domremy recalled later that on the night of Epiphany, when Isabelle Romee lay in childbed, the whole village was possessed with inconceivable joy. Those who were up late celebrating the holiday commented to one another of their unaccountable happiness and even the cocks on their dunghills set up a clamorous crowing as if they had seen the daystar at midnight. It was not until the following morning that Domremy learned of the birth of Joan, and the villagers wondered whether the child's coming had had anything to do with the events of that night.

The inexplicable euphoria experienced that night may account for the unusual number of godparents that stood for Joan at the font. There were at least ten, men and women of modest station, but all witnesses to the respectable position held by Jacquot d'Arc and his wife.

She was christened Jehanne ("Joan") after her godmothers Jehanne Royer and Jehanne de Viteau. Her father owned a house and a little land. Despite this security, life for the d'Arc family was hard. Instead of going to school, Joan along with her sister and three brothers spent much of their time in helping their parents on the family farm.

Her Parents

Jacquot d'Arc was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, hard-working, God-fearing, honest, and unusually aware of the hard lot of his fellows. He was not a native of Domremy. Shortly before marrying Isabelle Romee, Vouthon, he had come from his birthplace, Ceffonds in Champagne, to establish himself in a district which, perhaps because the wars had spared it, appealed to him for its comparative safety for his prospective family.

Isabelle, whose name implied a pilgrimage to the Holy City, was, like her husband, a person of strong character and probity. In her household her sphere was limited, but her own. She cared for her children, with special attention to the girls, more tempting to the Devil for their innocence. She cooked and baked, spun, wove and sewed and, when her daughters were old enough, passed on her skill to them. Joan, indeed, was proud of her domestic accomplishments. "I fear no woman in Rouen in sewing and spinning," she was to say in defending her feminine virtues.

Heavenly Visitants

Isabelle did her duty by instructing her children in the faith and lessons of the Commandments. As for more formal learning, they had none. Joan acquired "Our Father", "Hail Mary" and the "Credo" by her heart. She found them sufficient for her guidance - at least until that summer's day, in 1425, when she had the first intimation of her heavenly visitants.

Like the other children of the village Joan took her turn in the communal pastures, looking after the grazing cattle. Her declaration on this part of her childhood are oddly contradictory, as if her keeping the cows and the sheep were something to pass over quickly, or be ashamed of.

Joan was a serious child, though probably to her unimaginative parents she appeared little different from her sister Catherine, at least until that secret experience in her early adolescence which, although she spoke of it to none but the parish priest at confession, nevertheless must have filled that humble house with uneasy intimations, strong enough to trouble Jacques d' Arc's sleep. Years later Joan told how it came to pass, in words of such rapt sincerity that one hears in them the unmistakable accent of revelation.

"When I was in my thirteenth year I had a Voice from God to help me govern myself. The first time I had great fear. The Voice came to me toward noon, in the summer, in my father's garden. I had not fasted the day before. I heard the Voice on my right hand, in the direction of the church, and seldom has it come to me without a great light."

From The Commonplace To The Miraculous

What had occurred in the child's inner being to bring about such a terrifying experience ? In the external, habitual world, Domremy had quite recently suffered another raid from one of the robber lordlings. But such attacks were common that the shudder must have been mitigated by repetition. If Joan had suffered shock, it could not have been so violent as, suddenly, to lay her soul open to mystical assault. For Joan was healthy in body and mind. In that as in other misfortunes which she hared and was to share with her neighbors, she did her practical part - caring for the sick, giving up her pallet to way worn refugees, and helping wherever help was needed. Still, it may be that some experience which the child would normally have accepted touched off a world of subliminal perception in the highly sensitive adolescence. From the time she first heard the Voice that summer noon in her father's garden, divided from the church by the graveyard and its humble stones, Joan's life was removed from the commonplace to the miraculous.

The Shepherdess Of Domremy

The myth of the shepherdess of Domremy is certainly one that had no support from Joan herself. "All the time I lived at home," she said, "I worked at common household tasks and went seldom to the fields with our sheep and other cattle." Nevertheless, her red peasant skirt made a spot of color in the grass of the meadows as she sat with the other children, and lifted like a fiery wing as she ran races with them - races, they remembered, in which her feet scarcely touched the ground, but seemed rather to skim above it, leaving them far behind.

The Shimmering Cloud
They told a legend of such a race when she ran with such speed that in the end she fell to the ground at the edge of the meadow and lay like one in a trance. While she was resting there a youth appeared and bade her to go home, for her mother needed her. Joan got up obediently and was walking toward her house when she met her mother, who scolded her for not tending the sheep. "But did you not send for me?" asked Joan. As her mother shook her head, Joan left her and was retracing her steps to the meadows when her eyes were dazzled by a shimmering cloud. And out of the cloud she heard a voice calling her by name and telling her things of which for a long time she did not dare to speak.

The incident held one thing that to Joan was incontestable: the reality of the voice and the vision, both of which, now separately but more often together, began coming to her with increasing frequency. And not only in her father's garden, or in the meadow, and not merely as a disembodied voice or a light.

The Change

She had never been quite of a romping child, she now gave herself little to games and frolics. "As little as I could," she confessed, with a note of ruefulness for the childish things she had so early put away. Everything had changed. She lay in the fields, but she was no longer alone with her dumb beasts. Now the sun collected in a great shimmer and talked with the voices of angels. Now, whenever the girls of Domremy went to the Ladies' or the Fairies' Tree, the great beech from which came the fair May branches, Joan was no longer with them to weave garlands, later hung from the boughs, to dance about its huge trunk or to sing as she used to do before reaching the age of discretion and of divine obligation.

Joan's thoughts, as the years passed, were far removed from fairy trees, oak forests and mandrakes, though no one, except perhaps her father, had any inkling of the girl's secret life. The Voices came to her twice, sometimes three times a week. Most often she heard them during the hours of the offices, especially in the morning and at vespers, in the deepening twilight. She heard them in the ringing of the church bells, mingling with their music but sweeter than any music.

The Command

Always with the voices, came that dazzling cloud. She saw it many times before she knew it to be Saint Michael. That was her fourteenth year. At first he merely told her to be good. He instructed her how to conduct herself and bade her to often go to church. But as Joan grew to realize the woeful condition of her country and began to to take sides in the fierce conflicts. Saint Michael broke the news gently that she must leave her parents, her brothers, her sister and her friends to go into France. The kingdom, he told her, was in a pitiful state, and she must help the despairing people by going to the help of the Dauphin.

The words and the counsel frightened the poor child, but as if to give her confidence Saint Michael later came accompanied by Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. Their voices were beautiful, sweet and soft, and thier presence exhaled the odor of flowers. They called her Little-Joan the Maid, Child of God.

Her whole mode of life changed under the burden of the mission to which she had been elected.

Vancouleurs

Her faith in God enabled her to muster enough courage to embark on the mission led by the voices. Joan traveled from Domremy to Vancouleurs in May 1428. There she asked the captain of the Garrison, Robert de Baudricourt for permission to visit the Dauphin. However, he did not take the 16-year-old girl and her visions seriously. Despite her attempts to explain to him of her mission, she was advised to return home. She returned home but was not demoralized so easily. She went to Vancouleurs again in January 1429. Her quietness and piety gained her the respect of the people and the captain. He permitted her to go to the Dauphin at Chinon. Dressed in masculine clothes and accomplished by six men-at-arms, she left for Vancouleurs on February 13. After traveling for 11 days she reached Chinon.

The Royal Meeting At Chinon

At Chinon she went to the Dauphin’s castle. He was hesitant to receive her because his counselors advised him against it. Two days later she was permitted to visit him. In the royal court Joan explained to him of her mission to battle against the English and to crown him the King. The Dauphin ordered the ecclesiastical authorities to interrogate her immediately. For three weeks she was interrogated at Portiers by eminent theologians. Joan told the ecclesiastics that it was not at Portiers but at Orleans that she would give proof of her mission.

The Preparation

Joan returned to Chinon. During April the Dauphin provided her with a military at Tours. Jean d’ Aulon was her squire and her brothers Jean and Pierre also joined her. Joan had her standard (flag) painted with an image of Christ in judgment and a banner made bearing the name of Jesus. When the question of a sword arose she declared that it would be found in the church of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois. As described by Joan the sword was in fact found there.

Several hundred men were mustered at Blois and on April 27 they set out for Orleans. Orleans, besieged since October 12, 1428 was almost surrounded by a ring of English troops. When Joan and one of the French commanders, La Hire, entered Orleans with supplies on April 29, she was instructed that further action would have to be procrastinated until further reinforcements could be brought in.

Letters Of Defiance

On May 4, when Joan was resting in the evening, she suddenly arose and announced that she must go and attack the English. Having armed herself she set out towards the east of the city towards an English fort. There a secret meeting was in progress. Even Joan was not informed of the meeting. Her arrival roused the French and they captured the fort. The following day Joan addressed another of her letters of defiance to the English.

Strength Of Spirit

On May 6, in the morning she crossed the south bank of the river and advanced towards another fort. The English immediately evacuated it in order to defend a stronger position nearby, but Joan and La Hire attacked them there and took the fort. On May 7, the French troops advanced toward the fort of Tourelles. Joan was wounded but she quickly resumed to fight. She exemplified unique will power and strength of character. It was partially owing to her that the French commanders maintained the attack until the English drew up terms. The following day the English began retreating but as it was a Sunday, Joan refused to allow any attack on the enemy troops.

The Castle At Beaugency
Joan left Orleans on May 9 and visited Charles at Tours. She earnestly tried to persuade him to immediately go to Reims, where he would be crowned the king. He hesitated because some of his wise counselors advised him to undertake the conquest of Normandy. But Joan’s importunity saved the day. First of all it was decided to clear the English out of the other towns along the Loire River. Joan along with Due d’ Alencon who had been made the lieutenant general of the French armies took on towns and an important bridge. Their next target was Beaugency but the English retreated into the castle. Joan with the help of Constable de Richemont was able to capture the castle of Beaugency.

The Confrontation

The French and the English armies came face to face at Patay on June 18, 1429. Joan promised that the French troops would be the victor. She said that Charles would win a greater victory that day than any he had ever won. Things turned out the same way as Joan had prophesized. Defeat at the hands of the French army was a crushing blow to the English army as well as to its reputation.

The Coronation

Instead of making a bold attack on Paris, Joan and the French commanders rejoined the Dauphin who was staying with La Tremoille at Suly-Sur-Loire. Again Joan tried to cajole Charles to go to Reims immediately. However, he vacillated and as he traveled through the towns on the banks of Loire, she accompanied him. Though she was quite well aware of the dangers and the difficulties involved in the coronation, she did not pay heed to them. Finally she succeeded in convincing Charles for the coronation.

The Dauphin sent out the customary letters of summons to the coronation from Giens. Joan wrote two letters. One was addressed to the people of Tournai. The other was a challenge to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Joan and the Dauphin set out for Reims on June 29. Before arriving at Troyes, Joan wrote a letter addressed to its inhabitants. She promised to pardon them if they submitted quietly. The people of Troyes sent the popular preacher brother Richard to convey to Joan that they would not pay heed to her. Though the friar showed full enthusiasm for Joan and her mission, the townsfolk decided to remain loyal to the Anglo Burgundian regime. At a council held by the Dauphin, Joan proposed to attack the town. The next morning she began the assault and the townsfolk surrendered soon after. The royal army then marched towards Chalons. At Chalons the count bishop handed the keys of the town to Charles, though he earlier had decided to resist. On July 17, 1429, Charles was crowned the King. Joan, who was present at the celebration stood with her banner not far from the altar. After the ceremony she knelt before Charles and addressed to him as king for the first time. On the same day Joan wrote a letter to the Duke of Burgundy, requesting him to make peace with the king and to withdraw his garrisons from the royal fortresses.

Idol For The French

Charles VII left Reims on July 20 and for a month the army wandered through Champagne and the Ile-de-France. On August 2, the king decided to retreat from Provins to the Loire. This move implied that he had given up all plans to attack Paris. The loyal towns that would have been left to the enemy’s mercy expressed their fear. Joan opposed Charles’ decision. She wrote a letter to reassure the citizens of Reims on August 5. In her letter she stated that the Duke of Burgundy who then possessed Paris had made a fortnight’s truce after which it was hoped that he would hand over Paris to the king. On August 6, the English troops disallowed the French army from crossing the Seine at Bray. By then Joan was acclaimed everywhere. According to a 15th century chronicler she was the idol of the French. At that juncture she felt that the purpose of her mission had been achieved.

The Truce
On August 14, near Senlis the French and English armies again confronted each other. Neither side dared to start a battle, though Joan openly challenged them. Meanwhile Compiegne, Beauvais, Senlis and other towns, north of Paris surrendered to the king. On August 28, a four months’ truce was made for all the territories located north of Seine as well as for Burgundy.

Reluctant Retreat

With the passage of time Joan grew increasingly impatient. She thought it was essential to take over Paris. Joan and Alencon were at Saint Denis on August 26. By that time the Parisians had started to organize their defences. On September 7, Charles arrived at Saint Denis. The next day an attack was launched on Paris. In the war Joan’s presence was strongly felt by the French as well as the English. She stood on the earthworks and told them to surrender. Though she was wounded she continued to encourage the soldiers. The next day Joan and Alencon intended to resume the attack, but unfortunately were commanded to retreat.

Charles VII went to the Loire and was followed by Joan. On September 22, the French army was disbanded at Gien Alencon and the other captains returned home. Only Joan stayed back with the king. Later when Alencon planned an attack on Normandy, he requested the king to allow Joan to rejoin him. But la Tremoille and the other courtiers did not favor his idea. Joan went to Bourges along with the king. Many years later the people of Bourges remembered Joan for her generosity to the poor. In October, she went with few men to attack Saint-Pierre-de-Mautier. Her courageous assault was a major factor in taking the town. The next target of Joan’s army was La Charite-sur-Loire. When they ran short of munitions they appealed to the neighboring towns for help. Unfortunately the supplies arrived quite late and after a month the French troops had to withdraw.

Support Of Melun

Joan rejoined the king who was in the towns along the Loire. In December 1429, Charles VII issued patent letters ennobling Joan, her parents and her brothers. In 1430, the Duke of Burgundy began to threaten Brie and Champagne. As a result the inhabitants of Reims were afraid that there would be an attack on Reims. In March, Joan wrote a letter, which was addressed to them. She assured them of the king’s concern and promised to defend them. Meanwhile the Duke of Burgundy started preparations for an assault on Compiegne. On the other hand the townsfolk determined to resist the attack. Later Joan left the king to help the townsfolk. She was accompanied only by her brother Pierre, the squire Jean d’Aulon and a small troop. In April, she arrived at Melun. There the citizens of Melun declared to support Charles.

Compiegne

On May 14, 1430 Joan was at Compiegne. There she encountered Renand de Charles, the archbishop of Reims and Louis I de Bourbon, Comte de Vendome, who was a relative of the king. Along with them she went to Soissons where the townsfolk did not allow them to enter. As a consequence Renand and Vendome decided to return to the south of the Marne and Seine rivers, while Joan preferred to return to her "good friends" in Compiegne.

While returning Joan got the news the John of Luxembourg, the captain of a Burgundian company had besieged Compiegne. She hurried and entered Compiegne secretly. On May 23, Joan led an army and almost drove away the Burgundians twice. But eventually the British forces overpowered the French troops and the French army was forced to retreat. Joan was at the last protecting the rear guard while they crossed the Oise River. She was thrown of her horse and was unable to remount. She gave herself up and along with brothers Pierre and Jean d’ Aulon was taken to Marguy. There the Duke of Burgundy went to see her. To make matters worse Renaud de Charles accused her of rejecting all counsel and acting willfully. Charles who was looking forward to sign a truce with the Duke of Burgundy made no attempt to save her.

Captured

Later John of Luxembourg sent Joan and Jean d’ Aulon to his castle in Vormandois. When she tried to escape, he sent her to one of his more distant castles. Though she was treated kindly, she became increasingly distressed whenever she thought of Compiegne. She was so desperate to escape to Compiegne that she jumped from the top of a tower and fell unconscious into a moat. Fortunately she was not seriously injured. After she recovered, she was taken to Arras, a town which adhered to the Duke of Burgundy.

On May 25, news of her capture had reached Paris. The following day the University of Paris requested the Duke to give custody of Joan either to the chief inquisitor or to the bishop of Beauvais, Pierre Cauchon. A letter requesting the same was dispatched to John of Luxembourg. On July 14, the Bishop had a visit to the Duke of Burgundy. He requested the English to hand over Joan in return for a payment of 10,000 francs. As a result of this Joan was handed over to the Bishop by January 3, 1431. Joan’s trial was to take place at Roven. She was kept in a tower in the castle of Bouvreil. Joan was brought to trial before a church because the University of Paris insisted that she was to be tried as a heretic. Cauchon, bishop of Beauvais and Lemaitre, the vice inquisitor of France were the judges at Joan’s trial.

The Interrogation

From January 13, 1431 onwards Joan’s statements were read before the Bishop and other assessors. Those statements were to provide the framework for Joan’s interrogation. When Joan was asked to appear before her judges on February 21, she asked for permission to attend the mass before it. Joan was not granted permission on account of the seriousness of her crimes, which included having attempted suicide by jumping into a moat. Joan swore the truth when she was asked to but she refused to reveal what she had said to Charles. Canchon did not allow her to leave the prison. But Joan said that she was morally free to attempt an escape. As a result Joan was chained to a wooden block and sometimes bound with iron chains. Moreover, guards were assigned to remain in the cell. Joan was interrogated nearly a dozen times between February 21 and March 24. Joan had to swear before every interrogation to tell the truth. But Joan always told the assessors that she would not necessarily reveal everything to her judges owing to the fact that they were enemies of King Charles. On March 24, the report of the preliminary questioning was read out to her. Joan admitted that except for two points the report was accurate.

The Trial

When the proper trial began, it took Joan two days to answer the 70 charges that were held against her. The charges were mainly based on the assumption that her whole attitude and behavior displayed profane presumption. For instance, she claimed that her acts were inspired by the saints; she prophesized the future, she signed the names of Jesus and Mary on her letter (thereby identifying herself with the name of Jesus); she openly claimed that the saints had assured her of salvation; and finally that she wore men’s clothes. The most serious charge held against her was that of proffering what she believed to be the direct commands of God to those of the church.

On March 31, Joan was interrogated again on several points because earlier she had given evasive answers, regarding them. Those questions dealt mostly with respect to her submission to the church. The questions were put forward before Joan as a trap to judge her wrongly. Joan tried her best to avoid the trap. She said that she very well knew that the ecclesiastical authorities could not commit a mistake but it was the will of God and her saints that she would be held answerable for her words and actions. The 70 charges against Joan were reduced to 12, which were sent to eminent theologians for further consideration.

Unrelenting Faith
Meanwhile, Joan fell ill in prison and was attended by two doctors. On April, Cauchon along with his assistants visited to her in the prison, to persuade her to submit to the Church. Joan’s serious condition aggravated to the extent that she thought that she was dying. She begged of them to allow her to go to the church to make her confessions and receive Holy Communion. She further insisted them to bury her in the consecrated ground after she died. In spite of Joan’s serious condition the assessors continued to harass her. Whenever asked, Joan’s response was, "I am relying on our Lord", "I hold to say what I have already said." The authorities became increasingly insistent and on May 9 threatened her with torture if she would not clarify certain points. Joan replied that even if they tortured her to death she would not change her statements. On May 12, majority of her interrogators (10 out of three) perceived the fact that torture or threat would not be effective. On May 23, Joan was informed of the final decision of the University of Paris. They had decided that if she would continue giving the same answers then she would be handed over to the secular authorities. Thereafter they (and the church) would execute her as a condemned heretic.

The Sentence

Joan’s trial had reached such a critical condition that it seemed as if nothing would have saved her. On May 24, Joan was taken out of the prison after 14 months. She was taken to the cemetery of the church of Saint Oven, where her sentence was to be read out. One of the theologians delivered a sermon criticizing Charles VII. After the sermon ended she requested them to send to Rome a message which would be the evidence of her words and deeds. But the judges ignored her appeal and began to read out the death sentence. Joan was terrified when she heard that dreadful pronouncement. She declared that she would do all according to the will of the church. Joan was given a form of abjuration. She hesitated in signing it but eventually did so because she believed that it was "pleasing to our Lord". She was then condemned to life imprisonment.

The Accusation

In accordance with the vice–inquisitor’s order, Joan from then onwards dressed herself in women’s attire. When the judges visited her after a couple of days she was found in male attire. Joan said that she had made the change of her own free will because she preferred men’s clothes. When questioned further by the authorities, she replied that the voices of St. Catherine and St. Margaret had accused her of ‘treason’ in making an abjuration. Her reverting back to the faith in the voices was perceived as a relapse. On May 29, the judges and 39 assessors unanimously agreed to hand over her to the secular authority.

Undying Grace

A friar was sent to inform the prisoner of the death sentence and to administer the last rites. Joan cried – "Ah, I had rather be seven times beheaded than to be burned." Fear of fire had made her restless. But after making her confession and receiving communion at the place du Vieu–March, a certain peace came over her. It sustained her through the terrible rituals of the following few hours : wearing an old dress dipped in sulfur (to help it to catch fire quickly), the lonely ride to the town square in the executioner’s cart, the first view of the scaffold with the sticks piled high around its bases, the masses of hostile Britishers, the dozens of churchmen arrayed on a dais. Joan remained serene and composed through the lengthy sermon that was preached to her.

Then, Bishop Cauchon began to read the final sentence in which he declared that Joan was a relapsed heretic and thus would be turned over to the Civil authorities to be dealt with accordingly. With the reading of the sentence Joan’s seething emotions that had been held in check for hours broke loose. Joan began to pray aloud. With tears and great passion she called on God and the saints. She begged over and over for the crowd to forgive her, to pray for her and promised in turn to forgive them.

Very soon many people in the assembly were also in tears including many churchmen who had condemned her. Even the English were deeply moved. When Joan asked for a crucifix, an English soldier rushed to tie two sticks together and hand them to her.

Joan took the makeshift cross and stuffed it into the front of her dress. An unearthly calm came over her. Then quietly with dignity she mounted the great pile of wood and sticks at the base of the scaffold. She stood still as the executioner bound her to the pole. She had just one last wish : That someone would go to the church, get the crucifix, bind it to a long stick and hold it close to her face so that she would have the comfort of gazing on it during her last moments. One of the churchmen sped off to do her bidding.

The flames rose quickly. As the tongues of fire caught the sulfur soaked robe Joan began to call out. For several minutes all that could be heard was the crackling of the flames and the piercing cries of a young girl : "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." And then just the liberation of Orleans, bound the crowning of the king.

Extraordinary Integrity

When the world began to see the truly extraordinary measure of that integrity which remained unshaken right till death, Joan’s ability to inspire and influence became greater than ever.

Among the people of France, the feelings of loyalty to king and country awakened while Joan lived were only deepened by the news of her tragic end. Their desire to rid their land once and for all of foreign control soon became stronger than ever.

The English were as deeply touched by the spectacle of the spitting of the fire, and it was all over.

To the last Joan claimed that the voices were from God and had not deceived her. In that last moment the full force and significance of Joan’s character was felt as it had been at no other time in her life.

A Saddened Enemy

The greatness of Joan of Arc was in her willingness to place loyalty to that which was deepest and truest in her above all, above what others thought of her or said of her, and even above life itself. It was this blazing integrity that had inspired her men and given rise to the great accomplishments of her lifetime and inspired others after her death. Rather than feeling jubilant, most came away from the Old Market Square of Roven deeply unnerved. What had they done by burning at stake a girl who in her last moments could say, "I forgive you !" and even call on her executioners to forgive her ? One Englishman said, "We are all lost, We have burned a saint." From that time on the arrogance that stemmed from several English triumphs in France, gradually began to erode.

Within 25 years of the burning at Roven the English were almost completely routed from France. Their holdings reduced from half of the French territory to first two cities. Thus the third of Joan’s missions had been nearly fulfilled. And in a way, Joan had been as much a part of that triumph as she had been of the victory at Orleans or the crowning at Reims.