Lost in Translation

  Dearest gentle readers, Some lines in poetry just stick with you, and Keats’ “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” is definitely one of them. It’s the kind of line that sounds deep, but when you actually try to explain it, you realize it’s not that simple. One way to look at it is that Keats is talking about art. Art captures beauty in a way that never changes, unlike real life, which is messy and unpredictable. Maybe he’s saying that art holds a kind of truth because it preserves beauty forever. Or maybe he’s saying that beauty and truth are the same thing that if something is truly beautiful, it must also be true in some way. But the best part is that there’s no right answer. Keats leaves us with an open-ended thought, one that lingers long after you finish reading. In the end, Ode on a Grecian Urn isn’t just about an old piece of pottery it’s about how we see beauty, truth, and the way time changes everything. And that’s why it still resonates today. This will definitely be my fa...

 Dearest gentle readers, Some poems make you feel something, and others make you think. Ode on a Grecian Urn somehow does both. At first, Keats just seems to be admiring an ancient urn, describing the painted figures  lovers caught in an endless moment, musicians playing a song that never ends, a lively town frozen in time. It all sounds perfect. No one ages, no one experiences pain, and everything stays beautiful forever. But then you realise it’s also kind of sad. The lovers will never actually kiss, the music will never change, and the town will never know what happens next. They are stuck in a perfect, unchanging world, while real life moves forward. That’s what makes this poem so powerful. It makes you wonder would you rather have a perfect moment that never fades or a real one, even if it eventually disappears? Keats doesn’t give an answer, but that’s what makes it so unforgettable.

 Whispers of a Wilted Flower Why love a flower, soft and bright, When petals fade and wilt from sight? Why hold it close, though time is brief? Watch it wither, filled with grief. Maybe since its bloom is sweet, A moment’s joy, so pure and complete. A fleeting glance, yet it stays, Guiding us with light till the end of days. We start as buds, so small, unseen, Part of something strong and pristine. With love and care, we stretch and rise, Bloom reflecting the earth and skies. Like a flower so tender and true, The more we are loved, the more we bloom. Though time may take what was once bright, Our roots remain, our love, our light.

Dearest gentle readers, At first glance, Ecology seemed like a simple poem, but the deeper I read, the more it resonated with me. Written by A.K. Ramanujan , it appeared in his third volume, Second Sight (1986), and beautifully captures a mother’s deep bond with a red champak tree  , a tree that, despite causing her migraines, she refuses to part with. The narrator, clearly devoted to his mother, would return home irritated after the first monsoon rain because the strong scent of the blooming champak tree triggered her allergies. The fragrance was so intense that even the walls of their house couldn’t block it out. Concerned for her well-being, he decides the tree should be cut down. But his mother immediately refuses. To her, it’s more than just a tree—it’s a part of her history, something she’s lived with for as long as she can remember. Even though it brings her discomfort, she values it for what it provides—basketfuls of flowers each year, used as offerings to the gods and gi...

 Dearest gentle readers, When the teacher said we’d be watching a TED Talk, I didn’t expect much. But Dr. Devi Shetty’s talk on healthcare completely changed my perspective. He wasn’t just another doctor discussing medicine he was talking about making quality healthcare affordable for everyone, something we don’t hear about often. He explained how surgeries that cost lakhs in other countries are done here for a fraction of the price without compromising quality. His idea of running hospitals like fast-food chains to make healthcare more efficient and scalable was something I’d never considered, but it made perfect sense. What stood out the most was his belief that healthcare isn’t a privilege it’s a basic right. Instead of just pointing out flaws in the system, he’s actively working to change them. By the end, I wasn’t just listening I was thinking. It’s rare to see someone in such a powerful position truly focused on helping people. Definitely time well spent.

  Dearest gentle readers, I expected the class to be boring when the teacher said we’d be watching TED Talks. But the moment Vandana Shiva started speaking, I was hooked. Her passion was visible on screen she wasn’t just lecturing; she genuinely cared. She talked about seed freedom and how big corporations control our food, wiping out biodiversity and making farmers dependent on them. I had never thought about something as small as a seed having so much power, but the way she explained it, it all made sense. What hit me the most was how messed up our food system is not by accident, but by design. We’re pushed towards processed food, losing touch with where our food actually comes from. But instead of making it sound hopeless, she talked about real solutions saving seeds, supporting local farmers, and making better choices. By the end, I wasn’t just listening,I was rethinking the way we eat and how disconnected we’ve become from nature. If a single talk can do that, I’d say that was...

Dearest gentle readers, What stood out to me in Carvalho was how the truth only seemed to appear when the narrator and his team stopped chasing it so relentlessly. Throughout the story, they were determined to find the flying lizard, pushing through countless challenges in the jungle. But the moment they truly accepted how difficult their mission was when they stopped forcing it that’s when they finally saw the lizard. And yet, after all that effort, they had to let it go. They spent days in the wild, risking so much just for this moment, only to realize capturing it was impossible. It’s almost ironic the flying lizard only revealed itself when they stopped expecting it, and in the end, they had no choice but to walk away. Maybe that’s the real message sometimes, when we stop trying to control everything, the truth finally becomes clear. Alas, I must now take my leave, lest this tale drain the last remnants of my spirit. May we never speak of this again.

 Dearest gentle readers, Well, we’ve finally reached the end of Carvalho , and all I can say is  about time! The endless delays in completing this book made it feel like it stretched on forever, but at last, we’ve turned the final page. And as expected, the ending was far from satisfying. Just when we thought we were done being introduced to new characters, along came Yenkta. He shows up on the jungle expedition to find the flying lizard, but honestly, he doesn't add much to the story. His role as a snake catcher who tricks Mandanna didn’t feel crucial, and his attitude toward his wife didn’t exactly make him likeable either. He was just… there. Now, the much-discussed flying lizard? Yes, they did find it—but, of course, they couldn’t catch it. And just like that, the book ends. Does Carvalho ever write about it? We have no idea. The story simply stops, leaving everything open-ended. At this point, the biggest takeaway from Carvalho is how long it made classes feel. Ever...

Dearest gentle readers, When Carvalho began, I instantly recognized the setting it’s Malnad, a place that’s as familiar as an old friend. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve visited, and yet every trip feels like a return to a magical dream. I remember reading about Carvalho and his team on an expedition, climbing the mountains in search of the elusive flying lizard. The way they described scaling steep paths and trekking through lush greenery made me long to join them, wandering through those beautiful misty hills. Malnad isn’t just a location on a map it feels like a living, breathing experience. The rolling green hills, shrouded in mist, and ancient trees that seem to share secrets with the wind create an atmosphere where time just slows down. Every breath of rain-soaked air and whiff of fresh coffee reminds me of the simple joys that life has to offer. The waterfalls here are nothing short of magical. Jog Falls, with its powerful cascade, is a sight to behold, while Hebbe Falls and t...

  Dearest gentle readers, Some books leave a lasting impact because they’re exciting, meaningful, or make readers think. Carvalho is not one of those books. It probably ended up in the syllabus with good intentions.Maybe someone thought it had something valuable to offer. But honestly, it’s just pointless and painfully boring . The story drags on forever, the characters feel like they’re just standing around, and the writing makes even simple ideas feel complicated. It’s hard to imagine a book less engaging. Even though Carvalho is about as thrilling as watching grass grow, the professor refuses to let the class give up on it. She tries everything ;Dramatic readings, activities, even comparing it to popular movies just to make it seem a little less painful. At one point, they even tried linking it to Pygmalion , hoping to find some deeper connection.   The strangest part? The novel actually has some science in it. There’s even a whole bit about a flying lizard , which s...