MONDAY MORNING

 

MONDAY MORNING

R K NARAYAN

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001),[1] better known as R. K. Narayan, was an Indian writer and novelist known for his work set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was a leading author of early Indian literature in English along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao. Swami and Friends (1935) is his first novel. 

Narayan highlights the social context and everyday life of his characters. As a novelist of middle class his novels present the reality of the life of the common people.He was awarded the AC Benson medal from the Royal Society of Literature, the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhusan, third and second of India’s highest civilian awards. Swami and Friends, The Guide, and The Vendor of Sweets are some of his most famous books.

Summary

Swaminathan hates Monday mornings. After enjoying the freedom of Saturday and Sunday, he finds it hard to get back into the routine of school. He slowly gets ready in his small corner of his father’s dressing room, feeling stressed about his homework in arithmetic, English, and geography. He knows he only has two hours to finish everything before school starts.

At school, Swaminathan dreads seeing his arithmetic teacher, Vedanayagam, who is strict and mean. During class, Swaminathan gets bored and sleepy while Vedanayagam drones on. When it's time to check homework, Vedanayagam pinches Swaminathan and marks his work as "Very Bad," throwing the notebook back in his face.

Next, they have history with Mr. Pillai, a kind and interesting teacher. Mr. Pillai tells exciting stories about historical figures, making the lesson enjoyable. The boys love his class because he never scolds them and always keeps them entertained.

The last period of the morning is scripture, which isn't as boring as Swaminathan expected. He admires his four friends who make school life bearable: Somu, the confident class monitor who is friendly with the teachers; Mani, the tough guy who rarely brings books and never worries about homework; Sankar, the smartest boy in class who knows everything; and Samuel, nicknamed the "Pea" because of his small size, who shares Swaminathan’s sense of humour.

These friends make Swaminathan's school days more enjoyable, despite the challenges he faces with his teachers and homework.

Arithmetic Class (Vedanayagam's Class)

• Vedanayagam, the teacher, was boring and taught in a monotonous voice.
• Swaminathan often got distracted, watching the toddlers outside or the trains passing by.
• Vedanayagam called for home exercises and pinched Swaminathan painfully when his sums were wrong.
• He crossed out all of Swaminathan’s sums, wrote "Very Bad," and threw the notebook at him.

History Class (D. Pillai's Class)

• D. Pillai was well-liked for his kindness and exciting way of teaching history.
• He made history come alive by describing battles and historical figures like Vasco da Gama.
• The headmaster was unhappy with his teaching methods.

Scripture Class

• Though it was usually a dull subject, Swaminathan found it a bit more interesting this time.

Swaminathan’s Friends:

1. Somu (The Monitor)

   • Somu was calm, confident, and well-respected by both students and teachers.
   • No teacher questioned him in class, and only the headmaster could reprimand him.

2. Mani (The Mighty Good-For-Nothing)

   • Mani was the biggest boy in the class and feared by all.
   • He rarely did homework, slept during lessons, and no teacher dared to challenge him.
   • Swaminathan admired him and they were close friends.

3. Sankar (The Intelligent One)

   • Sankar was the smartest boy in class, solving problems quickly and scoring high marks.
   • Some students believed he only succeeded by pleasing the teachers, but Swaminathan saw him as a marvel.
   • He was humble despite his intelligence and often helped others.

4. Samuel (The Pea)

   • Samuel was small and not outstanding in either strength or studies, but he had a great sense of humor.
   • He and Swaminathan were close because they shared a similar view of school and often found the same things funny.

Question answers

D. Read the statements and answer the questions.

His reverie was disturbed. He felt a terrible pain in the soft flesh above his left elbow.

a. What was Swaminathan thinking about?

He was thinking about his teacher’s face and criticizing his appearance.

b. What was the reason for the pain in his elbow?

The teacher was pinching him.

In most of the classes he stayed longer than his friends did. Swaminathan was proud of his friendship.

a. Who is the author talking about in the text? Why did he stay longer in a class as compared to others?

The author is talking about Mani. He stayed longer because he repeated grades. He was known for not bringing books or doing homework, yet he was tough and powerful. 

b. Why was Swaminathan proud of his friendship with him?

Swaminathan was proud because Mani was tough and respected.

While others were in awe and feared Mani, Swaminathan could casually refer to him as ‘Mani’ and pat him on the back with familiarity.

a. Who is the author talking about in the text? How did Swaminathan look at him?

The author is talking about Sankar. Swaminathan looked at him with admiration.

b. How did 'he' come to the class?

Sankar came to class with his hair braided and flowers in it.

SECTION E

Why were some of the classes not very appealing to Swaminathan?

Some classes were not appealing to Swaminathan because they were boring and the teachers were strict or dull. The arithmetic class, in particular, was monotonous and made him feel sleepy. Additionally, the strict discipline and harsh treatment by teachers like Vedanayagam made these classes unpleasant.

Compare the attitude of students towards arithmetic and history period.

Students found the arithmetic period dull and tiresome.  The teacher’s monotonous voice made them feel bored and sleepy. In contrast, the history period was eagerly anticipated and enjoyable. Mr. Pillai’s engaging storytelling and kind demeanour made history come alive and kept the students interested.

Describe the bond between Swaminathan and Samuel.

The bond between Swaminathan and Samuel was based on their shared sense of humour. They found the same things funny and could laugh together at trivial and unnoticed absurdities. This shared laughter created a strong connection between them, making them close friends despite their other similarities or differences.

Write a short note on Swaminathan's history teacher.

Swaminathan's history teacher, Mr. Pillai, was known for his kindness and good humour. He never frowned or swore at the students, making his class enjoyable. Mr. Pillai’s unique teaching style involved telling detailed and exciting stories about historical figures, which made history lessons engaging and fun for the students.

F. Think and answer.

What can be concluded about how students think of intelligence and the impact of rumours and speculations based on the character of Sankar?

Students admire intelligent classmates like Sankar, but they also gossip about them. While some believe Sankar is truly smart, others think he wins praise by pleasing teachers or cheating. This shows that intelligence is often respected but also questioned, especially when students feel jealous or unsure.

2. How does the author represent the classroom setting and the role of teachers? Discuss.

The author shows the classroom as a place where students feel both bored and interested, depending on the teacher and the subject. In subjects like arithmetic, the class feels dull because the teacher talks in a boring way, making Swaminathan feel sleepy. But during history, the teacher, D. Pillai, tells stories in an exciting way that makes the lesson interesting and fun for the students. This difference shows how much teachers can affect how students feel about learning. Strict teachers make the class feel uncomfortable, while friendly and enthusiastic teachers make learning enjoyable. The author highlights that teachers play an important role not only in teaching but also in making the classroom a place where students want to learn.

Gerunds (verb-ing)

A gerund is a word ending in -ing that is made from a verb and is used like a noun.

Examples:

As the subject or object of a sentence:

Reading is a good hobby to inculcate into your lifestyle.

She enjoys swimming every morning.

He finished writing his assignment.

I dislike waiting in long lines.

We started learning French last year.

Cooking is her passion.

Listening carefully is important in communication.

After prepositions:

I'm interested in studying architecture.

They are good at painting.

They talked about starting a new business.

I’m tired of explaining the same thing.

After certain verbs and expressions:

You should avoid eating junk food.

He admitted cheating on the test.

She avoided answering the question.

We kept talking even after class ended.

He denied stealing the money.

With go, to talk about sports and other activities:

Let's go skiing this weekend.

They went hiking in the mountains.

                                          

  Infinitives (to + verb)

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by "to." It can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Examples:

After certain verbs or verb + object:

Samuel promised to fix my computer.

They persuaded us (not) to go to the seminar.

He offered to carry the bag.

He threatened to call the police.

After certain adjectives:

Eager: She was eager to learn the new skill.

Afraid: He was afraid to speak in public.

Excited: The children were excited to go on a trip.

Thrilled: Mani will be thrilled to meet you.

Proud: They were proud to represent their school.

After superlatives and the first/second/next/last/only:

Sankar was the first person in his class to get a smartphone.

She was the only one to finish the project on time.

Ravi was the youngest player to score a century in the tournament.

Anita was the first girl in her village to become a doctor.

He was the only student to answer all the questions correctly.

They were the first team to reach the final round.

Note:

Verbs like begin, continue, hate, intend, love, prefer, and start can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, with no change in meaning:

I love reading. / I love to read.

They prefer walking. / They prefer to walk.

With verbs like forget, remember, regret, and stop, there is a change in meaning:

I remembered taking my keys but I couldn't find them anywhere.

I remembered to take my keys and put them in my bag.

Additional Examples:

Gerunds:

Jogging is a good exercise.

She avoided mentioning the incident.

They are excited about traveling to Europe.

He couldn't stop laughing at the joke.

Let's go fishing this afternoon.

Infinitives:

They agreed to help us.

He decided to leave early.

She is anxious to start her new job.

He was the last one to arrive.

I have a lot of work to do.

REPORT WRITING

• A news report is a factual, concise, and structured form of writing that provides information about a recent event or occurrence. 
• It is typically found in newspapers, online news platforms, or broadcast on television and radio. 
• The main goal of a news report is to inform the public about what has happened, offering key details such as who was involved, what happened, where and when it took place, and why it is significant.

Features of A Report

 The language of a newspaper report should be simple, clear but formal.

 A report should be factual.

 It should be written in third person.

 The language should be neutral.

 It should use passive voice.

 It should not include viewpoints or 

opinions.

 Figurative language use should be 

limited

REPORT PPT

Que. 1Young Scholar from Delhi Public School Wins National Science Scholarship. Write a news report featuring it. 

Young Scholar from DPS Wins National Science Scholarship

                                 By Mr Akash V, (The Hindu News Reporter)  

New Delhi, November 10

Rohan Gupta, a class IX student from Delhi Public School, New Delhi, has been awarded the prestigious National Science Scholarship for the academic year 2023-24.

Rohan secured this scholarship due to his outstanding performance in the National Science Aptitude Test held on 2 October. Competing against over twenty-five thousand students from across the country, Rohan emerged at the top, scoring the highest marks in the exam, which tested students on various scientific concepts and problem-solving skills.

As part of his award, Rohan will attend a special science research program at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru from May 2024 to June 2024. During this time, he will work with top scientists and researchers on advanced scientific projects.

Upon completing the program, Rohan will be honoured with a certificate of excellence and a cash prize, recognizing his potential as a future leader in the field of science.

Que. 2. Independence Day was celebrated in your school. Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupendra Patel was the Chief Guest. Write a report on the function in 150-200 words describing all the activities that took place. You are Head boy/Head girl.

DCS-CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE-DAY WITH GREAT SPLENDOUR

- JEEVAN DAS

SCHOOL LEADER

November 2nd 2023, Mehsana: Divine Child School, Mehsana celebrated Independence Day on August 15, 2019, with great joy and patriotism. The day began with students giving handmade greeting cards and tri-colour flag badges to the school management.

The cultural program started with everyone singing ‘Vande Mataram’, followed by the flag hoisting by the Chief Guest, Mr. Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat. Students and teachers expressed their love for the country through patriotic songs, dances, speeches, a quiz on freedom fighters, and poems.

Teachers and student-teachers took a pledge to serve the nation by spreading education and helping the community. A presentation on the history of the Indian national flag was shown, and a few students shared the importance of Independence Day and highlights of this year’s celebration.

The event ended with an inspiring speech by the Principal on the topic “What does freedom mean to me?”. Everyone stood with pride for the National Anthem, and the celebration concluded with the distribution of refreshments, leaving everyone with a deep sense of pride and respect for the nation.

Read the task below.

A campaign 'Keep Your City Clean' was launched at Bright School, New Delhi as part of a project undertaken by all the schools across Delhi. You are a newspaper reporter and you attended the event. Write a report for the newspaper. Keep your language formal and your views unbiased.

Bright School Launches ‘Keep Your City Clean’ Campaign

By Ms. Anjali Sharma, (The Times of India News Reporter)

New Delhi, November 15

Bright School, New Delhi, launched a campaign titled ‘Keep Your City Clean’ on November 14 as part of a larger cleanliness project undertaken by schools across Delhi.

The event began with a special assembly where students spoke about the importance of cleanliness and the role citizens play in maintaining hygiene in their surroundings. Teachers and volunteers guided students in preparing posters, slogans, and street plays to spread awareness about waste management and keeping public spaces litter-free.

After the assembly, students participated in a cleanliness drive around the school premises and nearby areas. Carrying brooms, dustbins, and eco-friendly bags, they cleaned the streets and urged shopkeepers and residents to avoid plastic use and maintain cleanliness.

The campaign received appreciation from parents and local authorities. The school principal, Ms. Kavita Mehra, emphasized that such initiatives help instill responsibility among students and contribute to building a cleaner, healthier city.

Learn Well School organised an inter-school music festival last week. 18 schools attended the festival. The Chief Guest of the festival was a prominent music director.
Write a newspaper report on the festival.

Inter-School Music Festival at Learn Well School

By Mr. Rajat Nair, (The Indian Express News Reporter)

New Delhi, August 28

Learn Well School, New Delhi, organised an inter-school music festival last week with great enthusiasm and participation. A total of 18 schools from across the city took part in the event, showcasing the musical talent of their students.

The festival began with a welcome address by the school principal, followed by a melodious group song presented by the host school’s choir. Participants then competed in various categories, including solo singing, instrumental music, and group performances.

The Chief Guest for the event was Mr. Arvind Kumar, a prominent music director, who praised the young participants for their creativity and dedication. He also shared his experiences from the music industry, inspiring students to pursue their passion with sincerity and hard work.

At the end of the festival, winners were awarded trophies and certificates of excellence. The event concluded with a vote of thanks, leaving the audience with unforgettable performances and a strong appreciation for the power of music.