Reading Notes: Ghatotkacha

Ladoo (Wikipedia Commons)

You're probably wondering why I used a picture of food for this Amar Chitra Katha. Well, I will explain. There is a movie called Mayabazar which actually follows the tale of Abhimanyu and Vatsala's wedding. In this movie, Ghatotkacha pretends to be Vatsala after he takes her away to Abhimanyu. There is a scene in the movie when Ghatotkacha sees a room full of food for the wedding and decides to go inside and eat the food. However, he is too lazy to eat the food with his hands so he uses his magic to literally swallow the food without ever picking it up with his hands. He also makes himself enormous so that he can eat more food at once. The funny part is that there are a couple courtiers watching all of this happen from the window and they are all confused as to what is happening. As soon as Ghatotkacha is done eating, he uses magic to bring food back into all the plates and turns back into Vatsala. One of the most iconic parts of this film is a part in which Ghatotkacha has ladoos (the sweet depicted in the picture above) flying into his mouth. When I would watch this movie growing up, I used to always be scared of Ghatotkacha because of his appearance. However, reading this Amar Chitra Katha and the various stories on the side made me realize that he was one of the good guys all along and wanted Vatsala and Abhimanyu to live happily ever after.

Reading Notes: Ancestors of Rama

Crown (Wikipedia)

Reading the stories about Rama's ancestors was quite interesting. Considering the fact that Rama himself was a king, so his ancestors were obviously royalty was a thought that crossed my mind while reading this story. I think a common theme when thinking of royalty is the fact that there is usually some element of violence, either a play for the highest position, revenge, or some sort of war. No matter the culture, story, country, etc. I seriously think that royalty will always be perceived in the same light. I think the other interesting part was at the end with Indumati's swayamvara. Not only is it semi-foreshadowing to Rama and Sita, but I also think it's a parallel with the beginning of the Mahabaratha. This comic gave readers a lot of background to the characters of the Ramayana, which is something that is inherent to the beginning of the Mahabaratha. I know when I first started reading the Mahabaratha, I had to draw out a family tree on a dry erase board so that I could better visualize the familial relations. While Rama's ancestors are not quite as confusing, I still thought that this Amar Chitra Katha was really fun to read. 

Class Improvements

After reading the future planning page, I honestly really liked the review weeks to planning weeks and the thematic reading unit options. I began the semester thinking that I would be able to work a lot on my page and storybook throughout the week and ended up dedicating more time on Sundays and Mondays. This way, I was able to hit both the tail end of the previous week and the beginning of the next week. However, that is something that I realized as I progressed through the semester. So, I think that having a planning week would have been helpful in order to create my own deadlines for the future. Creating both a time management schedule and having a planning week would be a great option for some students. I think that the current set up of the class is great and it worked well for me but I could definitely see other students benefiting from a planning week. The other idea I liked on the planning page was the thematic unit option. When we had to start the free reading option, I know I spent a lot of time just trying to figure out what to read. Although there were many categories to choose from, I think it would have been neat to have had some themes in order to focus my options. It also allows for students to explore readings that they would not have previously thought of. Overall, however, I liked the way this class was set up and I'm so glad that I took it!

Reading Notes: Kumbhakarna

Sleeping Moon (Wikipedia Commons)

I think after eating and traveling, my next favorite thing in the world is sleeping. So, I connect with Kumbhakarna and his natural inclination to want to sleep (even though he is rakshasa, Ravana's brother, and eats people) due to the boon that he was granted. In fact, from the time I was a child to this day, my family calls me Kumbhakarni, or a female version of Kumbhakarna, because I like to sleep a lot. However, that's about the only similarity I have with the beast. Reading about Kumbhakarna is interesting because he is depicted to be a character of good traits and a generally nice person (rakshasa?) until you read about his tendency to kill and eat people. It's honestly such a stark contrast. Reading the Amar Chitra Katha and the Wikipedia page makes me wonder what a Kumbhakarna dream would be like, since he sleeps for months on end. I think it would be interesting to write a story about that since it would be a very long and drawn out sleep. 

Bibliography: 

• Amar Chitra Katha, Kumbhakarna: The Sleeping Giant
• Kumbhakarna

Reading Notes: Hanuman to the Rescue

Hanuman (Wikipedia Commons)

I don't know if I have actually ever mentioned this but Hanuman is probably one of my most favorite of the Hindu Gods. He personifies a kind and giving nature, but there is just that subtle hint of mischievousness about him. I think that the cover of this comic book even helps to explain that mischievous side of him because of his facial expression. I think that this comic also does a great job of describing Hanuman since he goes to find Vishalya Karani herb for Lakshmana because he cares about Rama and Lakshmana immensely. Since he does not have time to actually go looking for the herb, he ends up picking up the entire mountain. Later on, since Surya is under the control of Ravana and has to speed up the day, Hanuman literally steals the sun so that the day doesn't end. I've heard this story many times and every time I am amused. The last additional reading is by far one of my favorite stories of all time because it is something that I would have probably imagined as a child. Mangoes are my favorite fruit and I could probably eat mangoes forever. Hanuman mistakenly eats the sun thinking its a mango and creates utter chaos on earth. I absolutely love reading Hanuman stories and enjoy that they often have morals of kindness, humour, and courage.

Bibliography: Amar Chitra Katha, Hanuman to the Rescue

Tech Tip: Blogger YouTube

This is one of my most favorite chef's ever. He is really entertaining to watch and his food is literally phenomenal.

Bibliography: Gennaro Contaldo

Reading Notes, Part B: Narayan

Lotus (Pexels)

I think the lotus is representative of this video because of the references to both Brahma and the cycle of life and death. As mentioned in the video, in Hinduism, death isn't viewed in an end-all-be-all type mindset. Life and death is a constant cycle. While the physical manifestation of life and death is personified within a person's body, it is the soul that eventually lives on. As stated in the video, "the soul whose sleep leads to destruction and whose awakening leads to creation." I think the lotus is a great personification of this idea of a manifestation of a person in more ways than one. A person's soul is one that takes some work to realize and you have to peel away at the layers to get to that point. In that way, the lotus also signifies that there is beauty in all aspects of the flower, similar to a person. However, when bringing it back to the idea of life and death, it is that beauty of life that one must go through (symbolized by the multiple petals) to get to the heart and soul of it all. When at that point, the soul is free-flowing. Tying it all back to Brahma and Vishnu, Brahma is known as the creator and he resides on a lotus flower. Vishnu is the one to control the idea of "What Dies is Always Reborn," the notion that is present with the cycle of life and death.

Bibliography: Devdutt Pattanaik, Part B: Narayan

Week 13 Story Planning: Beauty and the Beast (with a Twist)

 Simple Wikipedia (Beauty and the Beast)

The inspiration for this story came from the Wikipedia Trails post that I created a couple weeks ago. I wanted to continue on that by making a story in which there was a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast but with an Indian Epics twist. The approach I decided to take was Sita as Belle (Beauty) and Rama as the Beast. However, instead of Sita being held hostage by Rama, she stubmles upon his castle while running away from Ravana. The main antagonist of this story would be Ravana and he is the one that casts a spell over Rama's kingdom, turning everyone in the castle into objects and Rama into a Beast, as Ravana and Rama are mortal enemies. When Sita is trying to run away from Ravana, she stumbles upon Rama's castle and meets him. However, due to the spell, Rama is isolated from the rest of his kingdom and has lost his humanity. This is where the rose comes into play because Ravana curses Rama by saying that he will stay a beast until he finds true love. When Sita shows up at the castle, it is like a complete gift to Rama and he begins to regain his humanity. The conclusion of the story would probably be that Rama turns into a human again and has an epic battle with Ravana. At the very end, the gods appear and commend Rama for his heroism and applaud him for defeating Ravana.

Bibliography: Beauty and the Beast Movie

Wikipedia Trails: Beauty and the Beast to Christ Church College

Flickr (Beauty and the Beast)

I noticed a story about Beauty and the Beast on the Twitter page for this class the other day knew that I would end up doing a Wikipedia Trails post over it. I started off my trail with Beauty and the Beast and ended with Christ Church College in Oxford, England, essentially encompassing my love for Disney, reading, Harry Potter, and travelling. When the live-action Beauty and the Beast released in theatres a couple weeks ago, I most definitely watched it twice in the first week. There's just something about watching one of your favorite Disney movies transform from a cartoon to real people that made the movie so amazing. But, what made it even better was seeing Emma Watson as Belle because I also grew up reading and watching Harry Potter. So, obviously enough, my trail led me to read a bit about Emma Watson. Without a doubt, Emma Watson is one of my most favorite actresses: she is a strong advocate for women's rights around the world and is honestly a phenomenal actress. The next link took me to the Harry Potter Wikipedia page where I read a little general information about the movie series. But, the real point of interest on this page was the set design. It was interesting to read about the inspiration behind many of the sets for the Harry Potter movies. Specifically, it was neat to read about Christ Church College because I had the opportunity to visit it when I studied abroad. I could honestly keep going but then this post would be really long, so, once again, I will stop here. 

Week 11 Story Planning: The Three Friends

Flickr (Three Friends Watching the Northern Lights)

I definitely grew up hearing the story of Ganesha and Kartikeya racing all the time. While, as a child, the biggest thing that I got from that story was that parents are so vastly important, I do believe that the moral of the story is that the world can be viewed in a number of different perspectives. The way it is explained, however, makes a lot of sense. Some people view the world in a purely subjective, emotional, and intuitive fashion. Others view the world in an objective, rational, and logical way. However, I think that one of the strongest ways to view the world is by incorporating both elements to really gain an understanding of different perspectives. I think a great story for this would be to create a situation: a college decision, relationship, coping with a tragedy, etc. and then develop a story from two different perspectives and how each person would handle the situation. Specifically, I was thinking of a story in which three friends are attempting to confront a problem. One of the friends is very logical and thinks through things in an objective and rational way. One of the other friends is very subjective, emotional and intuitive in their thinking. Finally, the last friend is logical yet intuitive and objective, with a tinge of emotion when thinking. I think this would be an interesting story to write because it would require me to think out of the box. While I may think in one fashion, my perception of how another thinks would be different. 

I think these videos do a great job of describing some of the Indian stories in a way that everyone can understand them. In that way, DP discusses the stories and how Hindus view the world told through the lens of these stories. 

Bibliography: Devdutt Pattanaik, 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art-Chapter 1 Ganesha's Secret

Reading Notes: Narayan's Secret

Wikipedia Commons (Narayana)

"Just as our world does not exist when we sleep, the whole universe does not exist when God is in deep slumber..."

I think this opening line from the video was pretty insightful. Obviously, people are unaware of their surroundings when they are asleep. Unless they are incredibly light sleepers, the likelihood of the average person knowing exactly what is happening around them while asleep is quite slim. I think it would be cool to write a story about someone that is asleep and having a vivid dream but then wakes up and lives their dream and has the ability to control it this time. It would feel like deja vu because of the dream but then the person would be able to control exactly what happens while awake. I think an interesting twist to add to this story would be that other people also have similar dreams so their destinies could be linked in a way. These intertwined stories would also be a way in which to incorporate mini-stories into the larger plotline.

Bibliography: Devdutt Pattanaik, Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art: Chapter 2, Narayan's Secret 

Reading Notes: Ganesha's Secret Video

Wikipedia Commons (Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya)

I definitely grew up hearing the story of Ganesha and Kartikeya racing all the time. While, as a child, the biggest thing that I got from that story was that parents are so vastly important, I do believe that the moral of the story is that the world can be viewed in a number of different perspectives. The way it is explained, however, makes a lot of sense. Some people view the world in a purely subjective, emotional, and intuitive fashion. Others view the world in an objective, rational, and logical way. However, I think that one of the strongest ways to view the world is by incorporating both elements to really gain an understanding of different perspectives. I think a great story for this would be to create a situation: a college decision, relationship, coping with a tragedy, etc. and then develop a story from two different perspectives and how each person would handle the situation. 

I think these videos do a great job of describing some of the Indian stories in a way that everyone can understand them. In that way, DP discusses the stories and how Hindus view the world told through the lens of these stories. 

Bibliography: Devdutt Pattanaik, 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art-Chapter 1 Ganesha's Secret

Week 10 Growth Mindset/Tech Tip Cheezburger

LOLBuilder (Dog Winking)

While I strongly believe that positivity is an important trait to have, it can often be difficult to be positive. This week, I thought that it would be fun to incorporate the Tech Tip with Growth Mindset to create an inspirational post. Often times, people get so caught up in their lives and forget that it is important to grow, to be positive, and just take some time to smile. This is especially important when thinking of growth beyond school. When we are in school, we essentially have a system guiding us through the process and there is usually help provided if necessary. But, I think once people start thinking of the future, they become scared. And that is exactly where positivity comes into play. It is easy to get caught up in one's life and forget that smiling is so incredibly important. I think that the power of the growth mindset, for me, comes from the fact that staying positive and knowing that it will be okay is so very important. 

Week 8 Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset (Flickr)

Without a doubt, one of my "fatal flaws" is the fact that I am very critical of my work. Looking back to my post from the beginning of the semester, I wrote about taking risks and growing in that mindset. While I do continue to believe in that and try to take risks whenever possible, I know that regardless of the outcome, I am critical of the work that I put in. I definitely think that this class is a way to gain some important insights by reading stories but also by realizing that I shouldn't always be critical of my work. I think that by being more positive about my work, I can continue to grow by improvement while taking risks. 

Week 8 Reflections

Reading (The Blue Diamond Gallery)

When I enrolled for this course, I thought that I would just be reading Indian epics, stories, fables, etc. I was definitely excited at the chance to be able to read all these stories that I grew up learning. I did not expect to create my own stories or use the epics as inspiration for my portfolio project. But, I am enjoying every minute of it. The ability to read these stories but then reflect on them in various ways is so great because it allows me to connect to the stories and remember them better. Looking through my blog made me realize that I do have the ability to write creative stories, it just takes some inspiration. Specifically, I'm kind of proud of my portfolio because the idea is something I have always had, I just never sat down to do it. But, being able to research all of the interesting architectural sights and food of the different regions of India has been a lot of fun. I hope to use all that research when I go to India again in the future! When thinking of the second half of the semester, I definitely want to read a variety of stories. I love how all of the stories are somehow tied together and usually most of them have a moral behind them. But, I think another interesting facet of this class is being able to read the other student's posts because it not only shows their creativity but helps me gain some inspiration as well! I'm excited to see what the rest of the semester holds and can't wait to read more!

Reading Notes, Mahabaratha, Part D

 Pandavas vs. Kauravas (Wikipedia Commons)

When I think of the Mahabaratha, usually what comes to mind is the battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. I think the way the epic is narrated, the story builds to the eventual battle--which in a way is a battle of good vs. evil like in the Ramayana. While the battle is a crucial element to the Mahabaratha, I think the importance of it lies with the Bhagavad Gita and the internal struggles that each of the characters face. It appeals to the reader because of the parallels with every day life. Obviously, not everyone faces a violent battle to the extent of the Pandavas versus the Kauravas, but, everyone faces battles in life. These battles often take form in internal disputes, relationship troubles, issues with work/school, etc. The various lessons within the Mahabartha act as a guide to facing one's problems head-on and confronting them. While Veda Vyasa wrote this epic with an elaborate battle, depicted with intricate details, he was really appealing to the common man in describing how to confront these every day battles. However, in keeping with this theme of tackling issues, he also makes sure to address the troubles that come from it. Specifically, the Pandavas are obviously distraught at the fact that their cousins are now dead, by their hands. The Bhagavad Gita, for example, helps Arjuna to come to terms with the fact that he will have to fight his cousins. In an every day context, the Gita can be applied to literally anything. And that is the beauty of the Mahabaratha. 

Bibliography: Mahabaratha, R.K. Narayan, Reading Notes

Reading Notes: Mahabaratha, Part C

Spy (Wikipedia Commons)

I think the part of the Mahabaratha when the Pandavas have to be in hiding for a year is the most difficult part of the exile. While it is somewhat easy to go to another city or the forest and live life elsewhere, it is more difficult to live in hiding in the same city that you are from. If the Pandavas were discovered, they would have had to restart their entire exile from the beginning. I think if I were to create a story from this reading, I would make one in which someone has to live in hiding in the city that they are from; maybe a spy. However, I would make it to where the spy takes down a super-evil organization from the inside. This would be similar to how the Pandavas work for King Virata's kingdom during their year of hiding.

Bibliography: R.K Narayan, Mahabarata, Reading Notes

Reading Notes: Mahabaratha, Part B

Shakuni playing dice (Wikipedia Commons)

One of the common themes in many of the stories that I have read has been exile, especially in the Ramayana and the Mahabaratha. However, in both of these stories, the exiled are sent afar for a lengthy period of time, though they have really done nothing wrong. Rama and the Pandavas were honestly punished for the good morals that they possessed. However, foreshadowing the end of the Mahabaratha, good triumphs over evil, like in the Ramayana. I think the other major aspect of this story was the result of the first dice game when Draupadi's sari is unnecessarily pulled away. However, I think the important part of this section was to show the power of Draupadi's prayer to Krishna. As her sari is being pulled away, more and more cloth appears. This also signifies how the "good" are being punished when they have not done any wrong. Tying this back to a story, I think it would be interesting to write a story told in the present of someone that is sent to exile but is a valued member of society.

Bibliography: R.K Narayan, Mahabarata, Reading Notes

Reading Notes: Mahabaratha, Part A

Pandavas (Wikipedia Commons)

I grew up learning about the Mahabaratha and its various tales. For this set of reading, I decided to read the RK Narayan version of the Mahabaratha. However, I quickly realized that there was a lot to the backstory that I did not know much about prior to the birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas. From reading this part, however, I think it would be interesting to write a story based off of a bystander looking onto the lives of the various members of the family. Without knowing exactly who the characters are, it can get a little confusing to understand both the major characters and even the lineage in the story. In that way, I think it would be interesting to write a story based on another person's perspective looking into the family. I think it would be especially interesting to have a story about Drona training both the Pandavas and the Kauravas or the Pandavas escaping from the fire.

Bibliography: R.K Narayan, Mahabarata, Reading Notes

Tech Tip: Google Timer

I think the timer is awesome and I wish I discovered this before. Usually, when I'm studying or working on a paper, I like to take breaks. But, often times, the breaks that are meant to be 10 minutes end up being 30 minutes long. I will definitely be using the timer more in the future!

Wikipedia Trails: From the Orlov Diamond to the Catherine Palace

Catherine Palace

I was looking through the class Twitter feed and came across the Orlov diamond, so, I decided to Google it. I found out that this diamond was originally from Andhra Pradesh, India, and it is now a part of the Kremlin in Russia. Due to the fact that I love traveling, I clicked on the hyperlink for St. Petersburg so I could learn a little about the city. According to the Wikipedia page, St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia, after Moscow, and was once the capital of imperial Russia. Scrolling through the page, the architecture in St. Petersburg is gorgeous. Naturally, during this process, I started reading about the Winter Palace. I honestly think it would be so cool to live in a palace. There is so much history and culture within the walls and it would be amazing to live within it. As I read about the Winter Palace a little bit, I clicked on the link for the Alexander Palace. This palace was the place that the Romanovs were under house arrest in the early 1900s during World War I, before they were overthrown. Finally, the last link that I went to was the Catherine Palace. This palace happens to be near the Alexander and the pictures from the Wikipedia show it to be just as beautiful. The outside is a light blue and the inside of the palace looks exceptional. I could keep going on the palaces, but I think this is a good stopping place.  

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Divine Archer, Section A

Dashavataram (Wikipedia)

One of the aspects that I enjoyed about this reading is that it goes into some details that are not necessarily discussed in the other narration by RK Narayan. Specifically, I enjoyed that there were more sub-stories to the main plot of the Ramayana. At times, it felt like the details that were emphasized in the Narayan story were not discussed in as much detail in the Divine Archer, which provided a good contrast. Further, I also liked the inclusion of the Parashurama story because it ties the Dashavataram to the story, which is how the Ramayana came to be. After this reading, I thought that it would be interesting to incorporate all the avatars of Vishnu into a single story. Maybe even put a modern twist into it. I think it would be cool if all the avatars lived different lives around the world and did not know of the others' existence until a certain point when they had to come together and fight the ultimate demon. It would probably be a story that could be told from each perspective, leading to the avatars all meeting and then their journey to defeat the demon. It could even include the other leading characters from each story to connect the overall story.

Bibliography: F.J. Gould, The Divine Archer, Reading Notes

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part D

A dog sleeping (Wikipedia Commons)

Rama is a very noble and knowledgeable character by his own merit. However, I think what makes him more admirable is that he still chooses to take advice from those around him, namely Hanuman. It is clear that Hanuman is utterly devoted to the duty of saving Sita from Ravana and Rama recognizes this. But, Hanuman does not take advantage of this position he is in with Rama. He is still reasonable with his actions. For example, when Vibhishana leaves Lanka and goes to Rama, most of the others say that he is not to be trusted. However, Hanuman says otherwise and looks at the qualities of Vibhishana and not just his relation to Ravana. A decision that eventually helps Rama because Vibhishana is able to assist them with the battle in Lanka.

Another part that I enjoyed reading in this section was about Kumbakarna. Although he is "technically" supposed to be evil, he is absolutely hilarious. The fact that he asked for a boon to just sleep for extended periods of time is quite entertaining. My parents used to always make fun of me and say that I was similar to Kumbakarna because I love to sleep. So, I think it would be fun to write a story about a character that loves sleep (maybe from a college student's perspective?).

Bibliography: R.K. Narayan, Ramayana, Reading Notes

Wikipedia Trail: From the 62 AD Earthquake in Pompeii to the House of Savoy

Margherita Pizza (Wikipedia Commons)

I started off my Wikipedia Trail by reading about the Earthquake in Pompeii in 62 AD. When I was in elementary school, I remember watching a documentary about the volcano in Pompeii and how that destroyed the entire city. I've always been intrigued by history and I've always wanted to visit Pompeii so this Wikipedia article was interesting to read. From that article, I went on to read about Naples. As I mentioned in a few other blog posts, travelling is one of my passions. I dream to travel as much as I possibly can while learning about the cultures of other countries and eating all the delicious food along the way. Also, Naples is essentially the home of pizza so that just makes everything better. If you haven't guessed already, my next link was about Pizza. Honestly, reading about pizza just made me really hungry and I started wanting pizza as soon as I read it. But, it was interesting to read about how different cultures had variations of pizza. For example, during Darius I's empire in Persia, soldiers would cook pizza on their battle shields with flatbread, cheese, and dates. There was also some speculation on the origin of Margherita pizza being named after Princess Margherita of Savoy, however, it could just be a legend. But, that didn't stop me from learning about Princess Margherita. After reading about Margherita of Savoy, I learned that she lived quite an interesting life. She engaged in politics and even lived through World War I. She was a quiet supporter of Mussolini because she disliked democracy and longed to see the monarchy rule. So, once I learned a little bit about Margherita, I wanted to learn a little bit about the House of Savoy. As I mentioned before, I love history. I especially love European history and learning about royalty. I didn't know that Italy took part in the colonialism movement and once ruled over Ethiopia and Libya. I also learned that members of the House of Savoy went into exile due to the rise of fascism in Europe and they were even banned from entering the country of Italy until 2002. I could honestly keep reading about this and go on more Wikipedia Trails but I'm going to save that for the next assignment.

Tech Tip: Canvas Calendar

I use the calendar on my phone to remember important events, schedule meetings, and keep track of my classes. But, after watching the video in this tech tip, I added assignment deadlines to my calendar. I'm actually kind of excited for this feature because it'll help me to plan my week out in advance and use my time more efficiently and effectively. 

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C

Hanuman Meditating (Flickr)

The story of how Rama and Lakshmana meet Hanuman is definitely on my favorites list. I remember hearing different variations of this story growing up and the detail in the R.K. Narayan version is definitely very good. Without a doubt, Hanuman is one of my favorite Hindu Gods, both in the Ramayana and in general. He is known as the God of strength and courage, which I'd say is pretty applicable to many situations. However, I also think that his stories and service to both Rama and Sugreeva work well with his title as God of courage. He is completely devoted and becomes a disciple of Rama, promising to help him on his journey to rescue Sita. I know that when I was a child and would get scared of the dark or a thunder storm, my mom or dad would tell me a Hanuman story and it would give me courage again. In that way, I think reading about Hanuman is interesting because it gives me perspective on his pure devotion to Rama but also how he came to be known as the God of courage.

Bibliography: R.K. Narayan, Ramayana, Reading Guide

Feedback Thoughts

Feedback (Flickr)

"Separate the idea from the person"

That's a quote that I have heard pretty frequently over the last semester and one that I think is very important to know when giving or receiving feedback. When reading all four of the readings (Silence the Critical Voices in Your Head, 5 Tips for Receiving Feedback Like a Champ, 7 Key Characteristics of Better Learning Feedback, The Difference Between Praise That Promotes Narcissism vs. Healthy Self-Esteem), I thought that was the underlying theme as they touched on mindfulness, "state" vs. "trait", listening to positive feedback as much as negative feedback, being goal-referenced, and health self-esteem. Personally, I love feedback because it provides room for growth while understanding positive attributes. Like what was said in the "Silence the Critical Voices in Your Head" article, I think it is important to receive positive feedback as much as negative feedback. Building on your strengths is vital to be able to work on weaknesses. In that way, I know that when I give feedback, I like to get straight to the point because it is not usually that helpful to beat around the bush. 

Week 2 Storytelling: The Ramayana

Mysore Palace (Good Free Photos)

It was a dark day. The clouds were dark and implied an impending storm. On the earth, the trees and plants were gloomy as it had been days since they had seen the light of the sun. The week had taken such a turn as the week prior, the sun peeked out from behind the light and fluffy clouds. The roses and neem trees looked healthy and bright. There was quite a difference between the two weeks. The little bird that usually chirped when the sun was out sat quietly on the branch and watched down on the little girl playing on the grass beneath. This little girl's name was Madhu.

Madhu lived with her parents and siblings in Mithila, King Janaka's kingdom. She had heard that there were people traveling through the town and that they would be at the royal court the next day to visit King Janaka. The whole kingdom was invited as the guests were rumored to be special. Madhu also knew that the King wanted to get his daughter, Sita, married. However, there was a stipulation: King Janaka had a bow that once belonged to Lord Shiva. He said that the person that could pick up the bow and then string it would be considered as suitable for Sita. Madhu had an inkling that one of these guests would be Sita's future husband.

When the day arrived for the citizens of the kingdom to go to the palace, Madhu was ecstatic. She would finally get to see and hear what the buzz for the last week had been about. When she walked in through the gates and saw the guests being brought in to see King Janaka, she felt the room immediately brighten up. The King introduced the guests as Rama, Lakshmana, and Vishwamitra. King Janaka requested that Shiva's bow be brought out in hopes that Rama would be able to string it. The anxiety in the room was building as the royal attendees brought out Shiva's bow. Some of the citizens closed their eyes, some clasped their hands in prayer, and others silently watched in hope.

With much ease, Rama lifted the bow, strung it, and then a loud CRACK struck through the room. The bow broke into two pieces and the room went silent. When everyone realized what had just happened, the room erupted in applause and joy. Outside, the skies cleared and the sun started shining again. The little bird began chirping once more and Madhu was overjoyed with happiness.

Author's Note: This section of the Ramayana is always told from the perspective of Rama or Sita so I thought to add a little spin to it. From a complete outsider's perspective. I used the way Sita felt after she saw Rama as inspiration for the feeling of utter gloom at the beginning of the story and the rest just flowed.

Bibliography: R.K. Narayan, Ramayana, Reading Guide

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana, Part B

Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita on Exile (Wikipedia Commons)

I thought one of the strongest aspects about this reading was the first paragraph where Narayan says "Sumithra also bewailed Rama’s exile and tried to stop him" and then later says "While they were talking, a servant maid sent by Kaikeyi came bearing in her arms garments made of tree barks, a reminder for Rama to change quickly and depart." I think it's just the way these two sentences are stated that make them a stark contrast. It is clear that most of the kingdom is upset that Rama is being exiled but, Kaikeyi is ready to get rid of Rama. Rama's departure and King Dasharatha's eventual death set the stage for the next section.

It is clear that Lakshmana and Bharata are devoted brothers to Rama as one goes on exile with him and the other is outraged at the turn of events in Ayodhya. I think another strong part of this section is the way in which this devotion is described. Once Bharata finds out that his father has passed away and is told that he is actually in line for the throne, he is distraught. The kingdom is supposed to be Rama's. I thought the symbolism that Bharata shows by placing Rama's sandals on the throne was very powerful. He vows to never step foot into Ayodhya again until Rama returns.

One of my next "favorite" parts of the Ramayana is when Shurpanakha is introduced. The story of Shurpanakha is one that I grew up hearing many times. The portrayal of her as an "evil" demon is quite accurately depicted in Narayan's narration from what I remember hearing when I was a child. But, to tie it all back together, Ravana is brought into the story and he begins his plans to kidnap Sita. After reading this, I think I want to write a story based on a random court member or an animal in the forest overlooking what is taking place while Rama is in exile.

Bibliography: R.K. Narayan, Ramayana, Reading Guide

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana, Part A

Rama and Lakshmana learning from Sage Vishwamitra (Wikipedia Commons)

I grew up hearing the stories of the Ramayana and reading comic books about it, however, this is my first time reading the actual story for myself. The descriptions that R.K. Narayan uses are great, but I think my favorite part so far is the narration of the story itself. I thoroughly enjoy reading it.

I enjoyed reading the difference of opinion between King Dasaratha and Sage Viswamithra. It was interesting to see how although Viswamithra renounced his crown, he still knew the ways of the court and knew how to sway King Dasaratha's opinion. When the King decided to send Rama and Lakshmana with Viswamithra, I think it accurately depicts the relationship between Rama and Lakshmana. Their brotherhood is honestly quite remarkable and admirable.

When they all go on their journey, it was interesting to see the carnage that Thataka left before hearing about her demonic ways. As a child, I remember hearing the story about Thataka and reading it right now reminded me of when I listened to the story. Also, while I remember always knowing that Viswamithra was a teacher to both Rama and Lakshmana, I didn't realize until reading the story how they became his students. It is incredible to see how Rama and Lakshmana are accompanying Viswamithra on his journey but through it, they are learning so much. Which shows that while Viswamithra portrayed his reasoning to take the two brothers on the journey one way to their father, he had different intentions all together.

However, I think one of the stories I heard most was that of Rama and Sita. Narayan did a really god job of describing the details leading up to when Rama strikes the bow and marries Sita, but I think it would be interesting to have been a member of the audience at that time and see everything unfold. When Rama and Lakshmana return to the kingdom and the drama of Kaikeyi unfolds, I think that is where the real story begins. 

Bibliography: R.K. Narayan, Ramayana, Reading Guide

Growth Mindset

Picture of a Heart (Public Domain Pictures)

I have never really heard about growth mindset, as a phrase, but I have applied some of the concepts before. I watched the second video about how challenges should be the new norm, which I completely agree with. One of my most favorite things to do is take risks because I do think it is the best way to grow and learn more about oneself. In that way, I think that some of the greatest things that I have done or learned have been because I have taken a risk and challenged myself. It's something that I have tried to apply in all aspects of life and I hope to continue to take up challenges in the future. 

Time Strategies

Clock (Pixabay)

I read "The Myth of Too Busy" by Tim Grahl and thought he had some interesting things to say. Namely, being able to prioritize your time is the ultimate step towards being more productive with a busy schedule. I think that making lists and planning out the day or week ahead is important and something that I would like to get into the habit of doing more often, especially for this semester. In that way, I think it will be a pretty smooth semester if things are planned well.

Reading Options

Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and Hanuman (Wikipedia)

I decided to read R.K. Narayan's Ramayana because I really like reading stories out of books. Also, I have heard that this edition of the Ramayana narrates the story really well and it is interesting that he translated it from the Tamil version. While I have grown up learning about the stories in the Hindu religion, I am interested in reading the stories to learn more about them and the significance behind the tales. However, the biggest interest for me is learning the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in greater depth.   

Storybook Favorites

Indian Subcontinent with Indian Flag (Wikipedia Commons)

Nakshatras of the Trinity

I've always known about Nakshatras and their function in Hindu/Indian culture. However, I found this topic interesting because it was exploring the Nakshatras of the three main Hindu Gods. The introduction definitely caught my attention and compelled me to read the stories, but I was surprised to find that it was about romances of the Trinity. However, I was interested to read how the author discussed the Nakshatras with the romances of the Trinity. I thought the page format was good and easy to follow as I read through the storybook. I liked how simple the pages were and the use of pictures in between text. I may incorporate those aspects to my blog.

India Travel Diary

I have always wanted to travel around India and that is why I decided to read this storybook. The introduction was interesting because the author talked about their travels through religiously significant places in Hindu culture in India. The layout of the introduction was quite simple and did not have an impact while I was reading through the pages. However, personally, I will likely add some more color to my blog and will probably not use things from these pages on my blog.

Food & Culture: An Indian Scrapbook

I grew up around Indian food and culture and that is what drew me to this storybook. I really liked how the introduction not only introduced the inspiration behind the author's reason for the blog but also how they planned to use it. I also really liked the layout of the page and the use of the picture at the top so that the readers are able to directly know what the blog is about. Personally, I like the idea of big pictures and I think I will incorporate those into my blog as well.

Introduction to An Experience-Maker

My name is Rijutha Garimella and I am a senior economics major, minoring in chemistry and political science. Wait what? Chemistry? Although I am an economics major, I dream to one day become a doctor...which is where the "experience-maker" title and the chemistry minor come into play. I am a person that loves trying new things, exploring new places, and taking up crazy challenges. In fact, one of my most favorite things to do is cook, whether it is a recipe I have made a billion times or a dish from a new cuisine, I love cooking...and then eating whatever I make. As I love trying new cuisines, one of my other favorite things to do is travel. I have only been to 5 different countries (including the United States) but I hope to bring that number up quickly. There's just something about immersing myself in a new culture, getting to know the people of that country, and (again) trying their food that I absolutely love. When I'm not travelling or cooking, I enjoy reading, watching TV shows on Netflix, hanging out with my family and friends, and dancing. But, as a student, I usually don't have time to do all of that. I enjoy keeping myself busy and as a result, find myself getting involved in various organizations across campus. In the last few years at OU, I have been a member of the Class of 2017 Council, Campus Activities Council, Student Alumni Association, and the Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth, among others. But, one of my most favorite parts of being involved is being able to make an impact on the community, whether it is on the student body or on a real-world problem. So, after I graduate from college, I hope to continue making an impact on the community while continuing to travel, try new things, and take up challenges along the way.

World Map with Flags of Nations (Wikipedia Commons)

Week 1 Story: The Elephant and the Fly

The Elephant and the Fly

A fly, who lived in a palace, once said to one of the king's elephants, "Look! you do such hard work, yet you are confined in a shed, far from the palace; whereas I do nothing, yet I range over the whole palace and amuse myself where I like, even on the crowned head of the king." 

"That is because you are such an insignificant thing," said the elephant. 

The fly was abashed, and said, "Alas! it signifies nothing where a fly lives!"

An Indian Fable by Ramaswami Raju

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived an elephant by the name of Raja. Raja lived a majestic life as he was the royal prince's favorite elephant. Due to his position as the "favorite elephant," Raja lived a life of luxury and joy. Everyday, his meals would be served on the finest metal plates in the kingdom, he had his own barn on the royal grounds to sleep in, and the prince would make a visit at least once a day. However, when Raja wasn't eating, sleeping, or spending time with the young prince, he would get quite bored as none of the other elephants were friends with him. You see, the other elephants were jealous of the special treatment that Raja received. One day, a palace fly ventured out onto the royal grounds and happened upon Raja's barn. The fly was surprised to see the level of luxury the elephant lived in as he had seen the other animals on the royal grounds did not receive much special treatment.

He asked Raja, Oh, fine elephant, why do you live in such extravagance while the other animals get pushed around?

Raja replied, While it seems like an extravagant life, I myself live in misery as I have no friends to share my time with.

Astonished, the fly asked why Raja did not have any friends. 

Raja responded, I have had the unfortunate blessing of being the prince's favorite elephant. But, my fellow elephants do not wish to speak to me because of the special treatment I receive.

Realizing that it was soon getting dark, the fly soon departed back to the palace. However, that night, he decided that he should become friends with Raja and connect him with the other elephants on the royal grounds. The next day, the fly visited the other elephants...

Oh friendly elephants, why do you ostracize my friend Raja? He has done no wrong.

To which the elephants replied, We do not ostracize him, we just thought he did not want our company.

The fly said, Oh but that is not the case. Raja longs to be friends with you all!

Joyfully, the fly flew over to Raja's barn to tell him the happy news. Raja was overjoyed and quickly walked (as fast as an elephant can walk) to the other elephants. Soon enough, all of the elephants became the best of friends and also became close friends with the fly.

An elephant on palace grounds (Wikipedia Commons)

Author's Note: The inspiration for my story came from Ramaswami Raju's fable The Elephant and the Fly. In his fable, a fly from a palace tells an elephant that it is constrained in life and does not have any freedom. However, the elephant then says that it lives a more valued life than that of the fly, demonstrating that while the elephant has a tougher life, his purpose is greater. When I read this story, I wanted to create one that had a friendship between the elephant and the fly. But, I also wanted a story that incorporated the royal undertone, while creating one in which the ending was happy for all parties. 

Bibliography: "The Elephant and the Fly" from Indian Fables by Ramaswami Raju

My Favorite Place: Oxford, England

In the Summer of 2014, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Oxford, England through the Honors at Oxford Program at OU. Without a doubt, this was one of the most incredible experiences of my college career...so far. Not only did I get to live in Oxford for about a month, but I made some lifelong friends, took a course on archaeology (taught by one of the greatest professors at one of the oldest and most renowned archaeological facilities), and I was able to immerse myself in European culture. One of the most amazing parts of the trip was the architecture around the entire city. For example, below is the Radcliffe Camera which is located in front of Brasenose College (also pictured below) and one of the landmarks of Oxford. 

Radcliffe Camera. Source: (Wikipedia)

Brasenose College, Old Quad. Source: (Wikipedia)

Although I only stayed in Oxford for a few weeks, it is a city that I called home. I learned how to navigate the streets, the best food places, and the quirks that made it the city that it is. I hope that I will be able to go back one day, maybe for a longer period of time as a full-time student. But, until then, I'll reminisce on my Oxford days.  

Comment Wall

Sunset in India

Storybook!

Testing New Blog