importance of reconnecting with nature

"People say that fish return to the stone they jumped from. Earlier, people would take jaggery from home and sell it in the market. Now, they go to hotels in the city that serve jaggery tea. Hotels even write on their gates: 'Special Jaggery Tea.' Earlier, doors were demolished, but now people are reinstalling old doors with the same design.

In the past, people would concrete their courtyards, but now they're removing the concrete to reconnect with the earth. They're leaving some areas unpaved. Today, I watched a video from Sohangarh Farmversity where a woman shared her story. She said they couldn't conceive, and three doctors suggested IVF. Then, they met Dr. Rouni Bansal in Dehradun, who worked with organic foods. She advised them to:

- Sit in the sun after washing clothes

- Walk barefoot

- Eat organic food

- Let their child play in open areas with friends

They followed her advice and conceived without IVF.

We're moving back to our roots, abandoning fast food and opting for natural living. We're realizing the importance of grounding ourselves. We're understanding that our elders were right when they said that our bodies need to reconnect with nature.

No matter how advanced we become, we need to find balance. When stressed, laugh and play with friends; stress will disappear.

As Guru Nanak Dev Ji said:

'Air is the guru, water is the father, and earth is the mother.'"

This text emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature and adopting natural habits for a healthier lifestyle, as well as finding balance in our increasingly advanced world.

Let's be the children again

"A mother scolded her child, who became upset, his eyes turned red, and in anger, he stomped his feet and said, 'From today on, our relationship is over. I won't talk to you again.' He stormed out of the house.

Later, the child played outside, forgot everything, and returned home to sit in his mother's lap.

What's the difference between a child's behavior and yours? There's a huge difference. Children forget things in a moment, but you hold onto them for a lifetime.

Someone offended you, and you saved that moment in your memory forever. Even 20 or 50 years later, you still recall that insult.

The person who insulted you may have passed away, but you still carry the burden.

You're unhappy, disappointed, and defeated because you hold onto grudges. Let go of everything, forget, and become like children again.

Delete and forget – this option is missing in humans, not just computers and mobiles. Human nature is to laugh and move on."

William Congreve

 William Congreve

        - a Restoration comedy writer

William Congreve was one of the greatest writers of restoration comedy. In his works, comedy of manners reached perfection. He used to reflect upper class life through his writings. He saved immortality from being objectionable by artificial wit. So, there was lack of realism but prose was lucid, concise and pointed.

His works:

Comedies⬇️

" The Old Bachelor"  in 1693,

"The Double Dealer",

"Love for Love",

"The Way of the World"  in 1700

Tragedy⬇️

"The Mourning Bride"

William Congreve was one of the greatest writers of restoration comedy. In his works, comedy of manners reached perfection. He used to reflect upper class life through his writings. He saved immortality from being objectionable by artificial wit. So, there was lack of realism but prose was lucid, concise and pointed.

Restoration comedy in detail

 Restoration comedy

Restoration comedy was being written to mock at aristocratic people. Scholars like to write it for breaking social or moral taboos. It is a kind of comedy known for it's representation of shallowness in upper class behaviour by showing pretentious nature of people during 18th century. Basically, It is satirical in nature in which obsecurity is a dominant factor. 

Restoration comedy faced criticism because people consider it as immoral due to very authentic nature of comedy (showing obscene things) but various scholars defended it by saying that it was the time period when people were unable to write romantic dramas.

Initially, writers from pre commonwealth period  started imitating the plays from Elizabethan era but that romanticism of Elizabethan comedy was missing in new writings.

Comedy was well flourished at that time but the growth was very slower in comparison to heroic plays. It was mostly influenced by Ben Johnson, Beaumont and Fletcher whereas Moliere provided English dramatists with ideas for plots. 

Replacement of emotions by wit , poetry by clear and concise prose was a remarkable feature of this type of comedy.

Jeremy collier provided a view of immortality and preferences of English stage whereas humour is predominantly found in works of Johnson.

Drden's contribution in literature : details

 John Dryden and his role in literature...

# In London, he spent life as man of letters (Scholar) .

# For 40 yrs.,  He continued to produce abundance of literature i.e. poetly, prose, play etc.

# fault : His behaviour of changing views according to time.

- Earlier, he used to write about Oliver Cromwell (pre- restoration 1659, about dead Oliver), but  after restoration, he attached himself to the fortunes of Charles II & Church of England in order to get rewards and pensions.

# For years, he remained as most considerable literary figure on land.

# On accession of James (1685), Dryden changed his faith & after after revolution (1688), Start

following Catholism.

# As a result, He  lost his post 'Poet Laureate' + 'Historigrapher Royal', and Shadwell ( another poet) become Poet Laureate.

# In last years,  given finest translations +

narrative poems.

-  In 1664, Pepys records in his diary that he met "My Dryden, the poet"

Dryden written a series of heroic stanzas on death of Oliver Cromwell (37 - Quatraine)

Another work:

In 1660, "Astroea Redux"

(heroic couplets) in celebration of Charles I

"Annus Mirabilies" (1667) about

Great fire and war 

Plays-

political famous  "Absalom and Achitohel" - 1690

(Named Shadwell as Og) - (Satirical allegory).

•Dryden himself say" It is not bloody, but is ridiculous enough."

That's main part was composed by Nahum

 Tale - Satellite of Dryden

* Political Poem - "The Medal" answer to Shadwell's "Mac Flecknoe".

* "Religio Laici" - (1682) - shows his support to English Church

* "The Hind and the Panther" (1687) - on accession of James (long poem)

* lyrical poetry "Alexander's Feart"

- Irama - give us historical summary of popular fancy.

Ist - Comedy = "The Wild Gallant" (1663) - a very modest success.

'humous' of Jonson. 

Tragedies - A) Heroic play.

become prominent after restoration.

B) "The Rival Ladies"

      in 1663 hybrid between

Comic + heroic species of play. 

 C)"The Indian Emperor", 

D) "Tyrannick Love", 

E)"The Conquest of Gramada", F)"Aurengzebe "

6) Blank -verse tragedies -

"All for love or The World well host" is dramatic masterpiece

* For subject, he chose Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatre"

Prose : Not of any great length.But two have length, "Essay of dramatick Poesie"

Fact:

He used to write in free style but there are slips of grammar.

His subject was literary criticism.

"Essay of Dramatick Poesie" is longest and major piece of literary criticism in which there is a discussion going on within 4 characters, one of them is Dryden himself. Topic of the discussion is questions about rhymes and blank verse in drama. In it, he made a comparison between French and English drama, including observations of classical unities .

Philip Larkin as a movement poet

 The Disillusioned Observer: Philip Larkin and the Movement

Philip Larkin stands as a prominent figure within the Movement, a post-war British literary group known for its focus on realism, everyday life, and a sense of disillusionment. While the Movement poets weren't a unified school, they shared a common ground in their rejection of Romanticism and their embrace of a more muted, ironic tone. Larkin's poems, particularly "Church Going" and "Whitsun Weddings," exemplify these core tenets of the Movement.

"Church Going" explores a central theme of the Movement – the decline of religious faith. The speaker, a self-described "unchurched" visitor, wanders through a deserted church. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions, like the "whiteness" and "roll" of the pews, that highlight the church's emptiness. The language is direct and unadorned, reflecting the speaker's detached, almost clinical, observation. Lines like "hatless" and "a feast-day smell" paint a picture of a space frozen in time, untouched by genuine belief. The poem ends with the speaker contemplating the future of the church as a "barn" or a "mausoleum," a stark contrast to its former purpose as a place of worship. This lack of faith, and the recognition of its pervasiveness, is a hallmark of the Movement's disillusioned outlook.

Similarly, "Whitsun Weddings" captures the Movement's focus on the quotidian. The poem chronicles a train journey filled with observations of newlywed couples. The speaker, however, avoids sentimentality. He describes the women as "bridey" and the men as "shaming" in their ill-fitting suits. The language, while clear, injects a subtle irony. Phrases like "crowded out" and "too late" hint at the potential ennui that awaits these couples. The poem concludes with the image of a lone figure, "standing blank and lost," a poignant reminder of human isolation even amidst a seemingly joyous occasion. This focus on the mundane and the recognition of its limitations is another key characteristic of the Movement.

Beyond thematic concerns, Larkin's technical choices further reinforce his association with the Movement. Both poems utilize free verse, allowing for a natural flow of language that mirrors the speaker's observations. The use of enjambment, where sentences run over line breaks, creates a sense of forward momentum, propelling the reader through the poem's observations. Additionally, the poems rely heavily on imagery, particularly in "Church Going," with details like the "brass shines" and "sun-lit dust"  providing a tangible counterpoint to the speaker's internal reflections. However, unlike some Romantics who used imagery to evoke grand emotions, Larkin's images are precise and unsentimental, mirroring the restrained tone of the Movement.

In conclusion, Philip Larkin's poems, particularly "Church Going" and "Whitsun Weddings," serve as prime examples of the Movement's core concerns. His exploration of religious decline, his focus on the mundane, and his use of direct, unsentimental language all contribute to a sense of disillusionment that is characteristic of the Movement. Through his keen observation and understated irony, Larkin captures the anxieties and limitations of modern life, making him a key voice within this important post-war literary movement.

"Church Going" as an example of movement poetry

 Movement Poetry and "Church Going"

The Movement was a mid-20th century British literary movement known for its focus on realism, everyday life, and a rejection of grand pronouncements or abstractions. Here's how "Church Going" by Philip Larkin embodies these elements:

Elements of Movement Poetry:

Realism: Movement poets depicted the world around them in a clear, unvarnished way. "Church Going" reflects this in its description of the church itself: "An air-conditioned gym / Stiff as a corpse at rigor mortis."

Focus on the Ordinary: The Movement celebrated the significance of the mundane. Larkin explores a seemingly ordinary act - visiting a church - yet imbues it with deeper meaning.

Emotional Restraint: Movement poets often avoided overt sentimentality. The speaker in "Church Going" acknowledges a sense of loss regarding religion but expresses it with a detached curiosity: "What will they do with that great emptiness?"

Formal Control: Despite tackling everyday themes, Movement poets employed traditional forms. "Church Going" uses a regular rhyme scheme and meter (ABAB CDCD), giving the poem structure amidst its exploration of doubt.

Social Commentary: Movement poets often subtly critiqued society. "Church Going" reflects the decline of religious faith in modern Britain, hinting at a loss of shared values.

How "Church Going" exemplifies Movement Poetry:

The poem takes a simple act - visiting a church - and uses it to explore complex themes like faith, tradition, and the meaning of life.

The speaker's internal conflict between doubt and a yearning for the past reflects the anxieties of a society in transition.

The language is clear, concise, and avoids grand metaphors, focusing on concrete details like the "frayed brass faceless plaque" and "rat-gnawed holy book."

The poem's ending, with its image of "a serious house on serious earth," is both ironic (given the dwindling faith) and strangely comforting, suggesting a continued human need for meaning.

In Conclusion:

"Church Going" is a powerful example of Movement Poetry. It uses a relatable situation and a clear, controlled style to explore the complexities of faith and doubt in a changing world.  The poem's exploration of a universal human experience - the search for meaning -  elevates it beyond a mere social commentary.