Experience During the Study of Sense and Sensibility

This blog is a part of our academic learning. During the study of Sense and Sensibility novel, we don't just read and interpret this novel, but we also do many interesting activities because of our professor. So, I'm thankful to her (my professor) for making this novel study memorable. Here, I will also share my own experience.

Introduction :

Sense and Sensibility was one of the greatest novel in English literature. This novel was written by the famous writer Jane Austen during Romanticism and was published in 1811. This novel shows women's situation in society and the importance of inheritance during that era.

(This image has been taken from Google.)

Main Characters :

In this novel, there are many characters, but the main characters are:

- Elinor

- Marianne

Short Summary :

The novel begins with the introduction of the Dashwood family at Norland Park, Sussex, where Henry Dashwood lives on the property of his uncle. Henry Dashwood has three daughters by his current wife and a son from his prior marriage. During his last breaths, Mr. Henry Dashwood tells his son, John Dashwood, to take care of his stepmother and sisters. John Dashwood also makes a plan for them, but his wife Fanny diverts his decision. After receiving the letter from Mrs. Dashwood's relative, Mr. John Middleton, Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) go to live at Barton Cottage, Devonshire, on the property of Mr. John Middleton. Here, they meet many relatives of the Middleton's and others such as Willoughby, Colonel Brandon, Mrs. Jennings (mother of Lady Middleton), Lucy Steele, etc. There are many confusions among all of them about love. Many stories or relationships with others are revealed one after another as the story moves ahead. At first, Marianne takes Willoughby as a good-hearted and loving person, but at last, she knows everything about him. Elinor loves Edward Ferrars (brother of Fanny), and at last, they both marry each other.

Title of the Novel :

Elinor thinks from sense, and Marianne thinks from sensibility, so the name of the novel is Sense and Sensibility. People's thinking processes are different. Some think by heart and become emotional, but some people think rationally, think deeper, see both sides, and make decisions from the mind. So, we should think from both the head and the heart.

My Experience :

In the first reading, I thought that this novel was mainly about two sisters, their different thinking processes, love, and marriage. But as we studied deeply and I understood more, I realized that this novel is not just about two sisters but about women's position in society, how inheritance affects important life decisions, how people can betray others, and it is also about nature, Romanticism, etc.

I like Elinor's character because she does not make decisions by becoming emotional; she makes decisions using her mind, and she has the ability to see the character from both sides. She represents sense—using reason, logic, and self-control—in the novel, while her sister represents sensibility—emotions, feelings, and sensitivity. By understanding this novel, we get the idea that only by using sense or sensibility, life can't be happy, but by mixing both sense and sensibility, we can live a happy and meaningful life. This novel also shows that we should stay away from Willoughby-type persons.

As I mentioned above, we do many activities during the study of this novel. They are below:

Email Writing :

First of all, I made an email cover for my letter. Then, I wrote an email to my sir and the entire team who became helpful and guidance for my success. I'm thankful to my ma'am because through this activity, I had a chance to thank them in a unique way.

Walk Into Nature :

We went to Gautmeshwar as a part of this activity. First, we visited the Mahadev temple. Then, we started our task by observing, interpreting, and feeling what was around us. We deeply observed nature, trees, leaves, the sky, birds, mountains, etc. There were many activities for all of us. We chose our interesting activity from the list and started to complete it. My partner and I made a tree on the card. At last, we ate together and enjoyed a lot.

In our regular life, we go to such places many times but stay away from looking at them in a different way. We just look at nature and enjoy it, but we can't interpret and feel it deeply. But through this activity, we didn't just visit the temple; we also took it deeply by heart and expressed our emotions through an interesting activity.

Blog Writing :

As I said above, this blog is also a part of our task. I don't have the best skills in blog writing, although I am writing and making my best effort. Through blog writing, we can share our experience, what we understand, and how deeply we interpret the story. I must say that this is necessary because by only studying, we can't express our ideas, and we don't have an idea of how much we have learnt. I'm thankful to ma'am for giving this task and making us complete it strictly.

Conclusion :

Sense and Sensibility is one of the famous novels. I really enjoyed studying this novel. We can take a moral lesson in our life from this novel: if we want to live a happy and meaningful life, we should think using both sense and sensibility. With a mix of reason and emotion, life becomes different from others.

Book Review : Tatvamasi

ધ્રુવ ભટ્ટ દ્વારા રચાયેલી નવલકથા “તત્વમસી” મને ખૂબ જ ગમી. આજના ટેક્નોલોજીના યુગ કરતાં જુદી જ જીવનપદ્ધતિથી જીવતા, જીવન સમજતા આદિવાસી તથા કેળવણી પામેલા લોકો પણ શહેરથી દૂર, પૃથ્વીનાં એક છેડે જીવન જીવી રહ્યા છે.

તેમના જીવનમાં પૈસા, કમાણી કે નામનાનું મહત્વ નથી, પરંતુ મહત્વની છે શ્રદ્ધા. શાસ્ત્રીજીના કહ્યા મુજબ એમના માટે ધર્મ ઉપર નથી, પરંતુ ધર્મ કરતાંય શ્રદ્ધા ઉપર છે, વિશાળ છે.

માનવ સંસાધનનું સંશોધન કરવા ત્યાં ગયેલો એક માણસ અંતે તો ત્યાંના લોકોની શ્રદ્ધામાં અને પરંપરામાં રંગાઈ જાય છે. નર્મદા માત્ર એક નદી છે એવું માનતો માનવી રેવાના દર્શન કરે છે, નર્મદાને પામે છે અને જીવનનો સાર જ બદલાઈ જાય છે. આધુનિક શિક્ષણ પામેલી નવયૌવના શહેરમાં રહેવાની બદલે આદિવાસીઓની સાથે રહી જીવન જીવે છે અને તેમને માર્ગદર્શન પણ આપે છે. પાપ-પુણ્યમાં માનવાને બદલે પરંપરાને ટકાવી રાખવામાં પોતાનું યોગદાન આપે છે. બિત્તુબંગા, કે જેમની પાસે કોઈ પણ પ્રકારની શાળાનું શિક્ષણ નથી, છતાં તેઓ દરેક કાર્ય અને નવા સંશોધનો કરી શકે છે.

જો મને આ પુસ્તકમાં સૌથી વધુ ગમ્યું હોય તો એ બે વાતો છે. એક તો — કોઈ પણ પ્રકારના સ્વાર્થ વગર આ લોકો પરિક્રમાવાસીઓની સેવા કરે છે, બનતી બધી જ સગવડ કરાવે છે, માત્ર અને માત્ર આ પરંપરા જે સદીઓથી ચાલી આવી છે તેની ટકાવી રાખવા માટે. અને બીજું એ કે ઋષિમુનિઓએ જે નિયમો ઘડ્યા છે, જે માન્યતાઓ બનાવી છે તે માત્ર અંધશ્રદ્ધાઓ નથી, પરંતુ વૈજ્ઞાનિક બાબતો સાથે સંકળાયેલ છે. માત્ર તેને ધર્મ સાથે જોડી દીધી છે જેથી અભણ લોકો તેનો વિશ્વાસ કરી શકે.

જેમ કે પીપળાનું વૃક્ષ — લોકો માને છે કે પીપળાનું વૃક્ષ ઘરમાં ન હોવું જોઈએ કારણ કે તે અપવિત્ર ગણાય. હકીકતમાં એવું નથી; એ તો પવિત્ર જ છે અને પિતૃપૂજામાં પણ વપરાય છે. પરંતુ પીપળાના વૃક્ષના મૂળો વધારે મોટા અને શક્તિશાળી હોવાથી તે ઘરમાં અથવા નજીકમાં રહેલી ઈમારતને પાયામાંથી તોડી શકે છે, આથી તે ઘરમાં વવાતું નથી. આમ આ બાબતને ધર્મ સાથે જોડી દીધી છે. અને આવી તો કેટલીય બાબતો હશે!

નવલકથામાં આવતા સુપ્રિયા, પુરીયા, ગુપ્તાજી, ગણેશ શાસ્ત્રીજી, કાલેવાલી મા — બધા જ પાત્રો લેખકની સર્જન શક્તિના નમૂના છે. લેખકે પ્રકૃતિનું નિરૂપણ પણ ખૂબ જ બારીકાઈથી કર્યું છે. જાણે વાંચનાર ખુદ પર્વતોમાં ફરી રહ્યો હોય, નર્મદા ખળખળ વહેતી હોય અને જગતનું જાણે કંઈક અલગ જ દૃશ્ય નિહાળવા મળતું હોય.           

Experiencing Translation Through Fiction

Introduction

This task has been assigned by Archita Ma’am as part of our classroom activity for Unit 3 & 4: Translation Studies. The purpose of this activity is to give us hands-on experience in translating a paragraph from Gujarati or Hindi fiction into English. Through this exercise, we not only practice the skill of translation but also reflect on important aspects such as equivalence, untranslatability, cultural gaps, and the effectiveness of translation tools. This blog is my response to the given task.

1. Title of the Fiction Chosen :

Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (Gujarati Translation Edition used)

(I take this image from google)

2. Original Paragraph :

       સ્કૂલમાંથી ઘર તરફ જવાના રસ્તે, ઘરની બિલકુલ પાસે રસ્તાને એક છેડે તોત્તો-ચાને એક લોભામણી વસ્તુ જોઈ. ત્યાં રેતનો એક મોટો ઢગલો હતો. દરિયાથી એટલે દૂર રેતનો આવો ઢગલો જોઈને એ આશ્ચર્યચકિત થઈ ગઈ. આ સપનું તો નથી ને? એ ખુશખુશ થઈ ગઈ. કૂદકો મારીને એ રેતીના ઢગલાની ટોચે ચઢી ને જોરથી એની વચ્ચોવચ કૂદી.પણ આ ઢગલો ખરેખર રેતીનો હતો નહીં. એમાં, દીવાલ પર પ્લાસ્ટર કરવા માટે તૈયાર કરેલો સિમેન્ટ હતો. એટલે ' ઝપ્ ' લઈને એ એમાં અંદર ઊતરી ગઈ. દફતર ને જૂતાંના ઝોળાસમેત એ છાતી સુધી અંદર જતી રહેલી. એ ચીકણા પ્લાસ્ટરમાં તે, જાણે કોઈ મૂર્તિ ન હોય એમ, જકડાઈ ગઈ! બહાર નીકળવા એ મથામણ કરવા લાગી પણ એમ કરવામાં તો એનાં બંને પગ અંદર ને અંદર ઊંડા લપસતાં જતા હતા. પગમાંથી બૂટ પણ નીકળી જાય એમ લાગતું હતું. અને હવે તો, આખી ને આખી અંદર ઊતરી ન જવાય એનું ધ્યાન પણ રાખવાનું હતું. એટલે જૂતાંનો ઝોળો પકડ્યો હતો એ એનો ડાબો હાથ ઉપરના ચીકણા પ્લાસ્ટર પર ટેકવીને એ છેવટે હાલ્યચાલ્યા વિના ઊભી રહી ગઈ. એટલામાં, એક-બે અજાણી સ્ત્રીઓ ત્યાંથી પસાર થતી હતી. એમને જોઈને હળવે અવાજે એણે કહ્યું - ' એય…, જુઓને…!' પણ એ લોકોને લાગ્યું હશે કે છોકરી કંઈક રમત કરી રહી છે એટલે સ્હેજ હસીને એ લોકો આગળ ચાલ્યાં.

3. Translated Paragraph :

       On her way home from school, right near her house, at one end of the road Totto-chan saw something very tempting. There was a big heap of sand. Seeing such a heap of sand so far from the sea, she was amazed. Isn’t this a dream? She became happy. Jumping up, she climbed to the top of the heap and leapt right into the middle of it. But this heap was not really of sand. In it was cement prepared for plastering walls. So, with a “thud,” she sank inside. Along with her satchel and shoes, she went in up to her chest. In that sticky plaster she got stuck, as if she were some statue! She tried to get out, but the more she tried, the deeper her legs slipped inside. It even seemed her boots might come off. And now she had to be careful not to sink in completely. So, holding the strap of her satchel, she pressed her left hand against the wet plaster above her and managed to stand still at last. Just then, one or two unknown women happened to pass by. Seeing them, she called softly, “Hey… look!” But the women must have thought the girl was just playing some kind of game, so they simply smiled a little and walked on.

4. Context Behind the Paragraph :

This paragraph comes from the part of Totto-chan, which written originally in Japanese where the little girl, curious and playful, mistakes a heap of cement for sand and jumps into it. The scene reflects her innocence, adventurous nature, and the misunderstanding between her perception and reality.

5. Briefing of the Book :

Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window is a semi-autobiographical memory by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. The book narrates her childhood experiences at Tomoe Gakuen, a unique school in Japan. It highlights themes of freedom in education, creativity, child psychology, and the importance of nurturing individuality in children.

Reflection Questions

Q1. Is there any translation available on the fiction you chose?

Ans: Yes, Totto-chan has been translated into many languages, including Gujarati, Hindi, and English.

Q2. While conducting translative reading, did you encounter any cultural issues or

gaps?

Ans: No, in the paragraph I selected there were no cultural issues or gaps.

Q3. Did the problem of untranslatability or equivalence occur in the chosen fiction?

Ans: Yes, some words like “ઝપ્” (thud sound) are difficult to capture fully in English.

Q4. Which tools and sources were used while conducting the translation? Were they

effective in achieving accuracy?

Ans:  I used Google Translate and ChatGPT for finding the meanings of some words, and they were helpful in making my translation clear and accurate.

Q5. Describe your experience as a translator.

Ans: The translation was both challenging and enjoyable. I faced some problems like maintaining accuracy and finding the exact meaning of the source language. Translation is not as easy as I thought; it requires patience, practice, and a careful choice of words.

Conclusion :

Through this activity, I learned that translation is not just about words but also about meaning and emotions. I faced some problems during translation, but they improved my understanding and made my thoughts about translation clearer and better.

OPERATION SINDOOR

(1)"What is Operation Sindoor, and how did it become a symbol of India's unyielding fight against terrorism?"

On 22 April 2025, a terrorist incident took place in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Terrorists opened fire on innocent people who had come to experience the beauty of nature. In Pahalgam, a place where the concept of equality among all religions is seen as the essence of India, terrorists shot at them after asking about their religion. They wiped off the vermilion of the married women. "How can those murderers understand the value of vermilion!" Twenty-five Indian and one Nepali tourist were killed, a total of 26 people. All of them were men.

In response to this heart-wrenching incident, the Indian government promised those women that their vermilion would be avenged. To fulfill this promise, "Operation Sindoor" was launched on 7 May 2025, with the Air Force attacking 9 terrorist bases in Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan launched drones not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also on the borders of Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, which were shot down by the Indian defense system. When Pakistan launched a drone attack, India responded by destroying many of its airbases. During this time, several cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat experienced blackouts.

The successful execution of "Operation Sindoor" was made possible through the remarkable contributions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the three services (Air Force, Navy, Army) and their chiefs, as well as inspiring women like Sophia Qureshi and Vyomika Singh, along with many others.

Movie Review : Reva (2018)

(1) Does life experience change one’s perspective on faith and spirituality?

                         "Reva" (2018)

(I take this image from google)

Introduction :

"Reva" (2018) is a Gujarati movie directed by Rahul Bhole and Vinit Kanojia. This movie is based on the Gujarati novel Tatvamasi by Dhruv Bhatt. The main role is played by Chetan Dhanani as Karan. The central idea revolves around self-discovery, spirituality, and the transformative power of nature and culture.

Plot Summary :

The story begins with the death of Karan's grandfather, and he sees that Dadaji has given his property in the name of the Ashram. He starts to transfer that property into his own name by any means. So, he goes to Gujarat from America and stays in Narmada Ashram. He meets Supriya there and other characters like Bittubanga, Bhuriyo, Sadhu Maharaj, and later Kalivalima. People there have faith in the Narmada, but he does not. He asks people whether Narmada gave them darshan while circumambulating. Slowly, his mindset starts to change. He initially came to take Dadaji's property, but at the end of the movie, he chooses to stay there. In the end, his secret is revealed—he is not blood-related to his grandfather. His true mother is Narmada. He circumambulates the Narmada and also has a darshan of the river.

Analysis :

Chetan Dhanani, as Karan, gives his best performance. Other characters also deliver strong performances. Karan speaks both English and Gujarati. The film is well-directed, with effective storytelling. Village life, the Narmada and its banks, and the high hills are well captured. The song "Maa Reva Reva Taaru Paani Nirmal..." is well connected to the movie. Dressing Narmada in a saree is truly amazing. Although uneducated, Bittubanga is skilled in all tasks. The following quote seems to come true in this movie:

            "આ સંસારમાં જે વિનમ્ર, જિજ્ઞાસુ, દયાળુ,

         અપરિગ્રહી, પવિત્ર, શાંત, સંતુલિત અને એકતા

             વધારનાર છે, તે જ મોક્ષના અધિકારી છે."

Personal Opinion :

Karan's transformation takes place in this movie. He was a lover of wealth and not a believer in religion, but he changes, loses his love for money, and becomes religious. All this is a result of great experience and faith. But despite faith, people are also prejudiced, such as in the belief in dakan (witches), which is also present in real life. This is not right. This film shows that our superstitions should not harm others.

Conclusion :

Reva is a heartwarming and thought-provoking film that blends philosophy, spirituality, and cultural heritage. It inspires viewers to embrace simplicity and connect with nature and humanity on a deeper level.

Human generated poem versus AI generated poem

       I wrote a poem as part of our classroom activity, and another poem was generated by AI. Both poems are provided below.

            Poem Tittle: Children of the Earth

(1)My Generated Poem

All are your son god!in the earth,

you born us,you make us.

All are human but different

Some born in rich family,

Some are poor ,

What is their fault in it ?

People who born in rich family,

clothes,foods,house are great,

Status in the society are very big

No reason for work in childhood.

People who born in poor family,

Clothes,foods,house are inferior

Status in the society are to small

Work hard in childhood for earn

Humans luck created by God

But luck changed by humans

That's not matter that

Who was born in which family.

Only man can change from

Poor to rich by intelligence and hard work.

(2)AI Generated Poem 

We are your children, O Creator,

You gave us life, you shaped our path.

All are human, yet so different—

Born to wealth, or born to lack.

Some arrive in riches' glow,

With lavish homes, fine clothes to show.

They never toil in childhood days,

Status shields them, come what may.

Others come to humble lands,

With meager homes, and empty hands.

Their early years are forged in strife,

Working hard to sustain life.

Is it their fault, this fate at birth?

The rich, the poor—both walk this earth.

But fate, though cast by God’s own hand,

Can shift, can change, by human plans.

For luck may spark, but will burns bright,

With courage, wisdom, strength, and fight.

No matter where your story starts,

Hard work and wit can mend the parts.

From poor to rich, a path is carved,

By dreams pursued and hearts unmarred.

So rise, dear souls, and claim your worth,

For all are children of the earth.

My Imagist Poem:

      “The soldier’s heart in last few moment

                      Be like a falling star.”

(Note:I take this photos from google)