Shakuntala: A Character Sketch

Hareshwar Roy,


 

Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Dr. Hareshwar Roy beautifully connects global research with local literature. Born in 1964 in Jamuaon (Bhojpur, Bihar), he studied at Patna University and earned his Ph.D. from APS University, Rewa. Currently, he serves as Professor of English at Government P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Roy bridges two worlds: in class, he explains international migration and literary history, while in his heart, he keeps the rich spirit of the Bhojpuri language alive. He has published over 45 research papers focused on Indian Diaspora Writing. As an author in English, he has written Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji, A Study of M.G. Vassanji's Novels, Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji and Rohinton Mistry, Diaspora and Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study, Short Notes of English Literature - I and Short Notes of English Literature - II. Rooted in his soil, he is a celebrated Bhojpuri poet featured on 'Kavita Kosh' and in popular collections like Hamar Pahchan Ha Bhojpuri, Hamra Pyar Ho Gail, and Bhojpuri Kavitayein. Ultimately, his life and writings serve as an inspiring example of how academic scholarship and local roots thrive together perfectly.

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The Sundara Kanda: An Introduction

Hareshwar Roy,
Introduction: In Sanskrit literature Maharshi Valmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger. His reputation as the father of Indian poetry seems to have been legendary. It is he who composed The Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic. It forms an important part of the Hindu canon (Smriti). It deals with divine Lord Ram and his journey of life. It tells the story of Ram, an incarnation of the Hindu preserver-god Vishnu. Thematically, the epic explores the tenets of human existence and the concept of dharma. It is one of the two great epics of India, the other being the Mahabharata. It portrays ideal characters like the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. Valmiki’s Ramayana is one of the world's most remarkable classics and excels all in its moral appeal. It is full of lessons for all and deserves to be read with interest and profit by all lovers of healthy literature. It is noted for its poetic excellence. It stands equal in rank to the Vedas. It contai...
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The Bangle Sellers by Sarojini Naidu: Multiple Choice Questions with Answers

Hareshwar Roy,
The Bangle Sellers: Sarojini Naidu 01. Who is Sarojini Naidu? (a) A doctor (b) A lawyer (c) A poet (d) A reporter Ans: (c) A poet 02. When was Sarojini Naidu born? (a) 13 February 1879 (b) 2 March 1881 (c) 8 September 1877 (d) 27 January 1884 Ans: (a) 13 February 1879 03. Where was Sarojini Naidu born? (a) Hyderabad (b) Mumbai (c) Kolkata (d) Chennai Ans: (a) Hyderabad 04. Who is known as the ‘Nightingale of India’? (a) Asha Bhonsale (b) Lata Mangeskar (c) Sarojini Naidu (d) Suraiya Ans: (c) Sarojini Naidu 05. Sarojini Naidu is known as the Nightingale of: (a) India (b) Pakistan (c) England (d) China Ans: (a) India 06. What was the nickname of Sarojini Naidu? (a) Nightingale of India (b) Queen of Poetry (c) Lady of Freedom (d) Princess of Literature Ans: (a) Nightingale of India 07. Which Indian University did Sarojini Naidu attend? (a) Calcutta (b) Bombay (c) Madras (d) Delhi Ans: (c) Madras 08. Which University of England did Sarojini Naidu attend? (a) University of Edinburgh ...
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Abhigyan Shakuntalam: A Summary

Hareshwar Roy,
Abhigyan Shakuntalam: A Summary Introduction: Kalidasa is a major poet and playwright in classical Sanskrit literature. It is he who composed Abhigyan Shakuntalam . This play starts with a Prologue. This Prologue consists of benediction and a conversation between the director and an actress. The benediction is performed before the beginning of the play. The benediction is an invocation to Lord Siva. The actor-manager and the actress talk about the play of the day. The readers are informed that a new play by Kalidasa is going to be staged. On the request of the manager, the actress sings a romantic song about the summer season for the audience. Act One: Act I of Abhigyan Shakuntalam begins with the description of the summer season by the narrator. He also introduces king Dushyanta who is on hunt. Chasing a deer king Dushyanta enters the ashram of sage Kanva in his chariot. He has bow and arrow in his hands. The king aims at the deer but an ascetic forbids him to hunt in the premises...
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Where the Mind is without Fear: Objective Type Questions

Hareshwar Roy,
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  (i) The poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear' is written by: a. Rabindranath Tagore b. Sarojini Naidu c. William Wordsworth d. Toru Dutt Answer: a. Rabindranath Tagore (ii) Rabindranath Tagore is a well-known poet from: a. Orissa b. West Bengal c. Bihar d. Kerla Answer: b. West Bengal (iii) Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in the year: a. 1931 b. 1921 c. 1913 d. 1945 Answer: c. 1913 (iv) Which of the following is a very famous work by Tagore? a. Sharadhanjali b. Gitanjali c. Geetmala d. Savitri Answer: b. Gitanjali (v) What is meant by the sub clause 'Where the mind is without fear and head is held high': a. To be fearless and self respecting b. To be proud of one's high position c. To stand straight d. To be fearless and haughty Answer: a. To be fearless and self respecting (vi) According to Tagore what is meant by the sub-clause 'Where knowledge is free'? a. Where people do not have to pay for education b. Where people ha...
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A Hero by R.K. Narayan: Summary

Hareshwar Roy,
A Hero is a beautiful short story by R.K. Narayan. This story is about a 9 year old boy named Swami. He lives in Malgudi with his parents and grandmother. He has the habit of sleeping with his grandmother. This irritates his father. This short story presents the traumatic experiences of Swami. By accident he catches one of the most notorious house breakers of his district and becomes a hero. The story opens with Swami's father. He is reading a newspaper article about the bravery of a small boy. He calls Swami and tells the story of that boy who saves himself from the tiger. Swami is not ready to accept that story. He feels that the story is imaginary. But Swami's father tells him about the importance of courage. Swami now gets a challenge to sleep alone in his office room. Swami is scared and he does not want to accept that fearful challenge. He tries to divert the discussion. But his father is adamant. He forces him to sleep in his office. At last he has to follow the or...
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