THE INDIAN COMMENTATOR

Writing a review of a book one has loved deeply is difficult. This is one of the matters, which the unsung heroes of book reviewers often unite upon.  Sapiens  is one such book. I could click a picture of the cover of the book, with its blackened human thumb impression and multi-colour typesetting on the cover with a white background, post this picture on various social media pages. However, that does not mean I reviewed it. For me, to be able to articulate the many nuances of the book is a herculean task. To make my job easier, therefore, I'd like to point out some of the important points and areas in the book.  Sapiens  is a nonfiction book about the origin and growth of the human species.  Sapiens underscores the Cognitive Revolution as the decisive geological/biological event that carved out a trajectory for Homo sapiens. The author raises several arguments to suggest that an animal of no special importance became a geological force 1500 years ag...

English Common Course (ECC) 2A03 ENG It is important to understand the following concepts before reading the prescribed text. The prescribed text for Readings on Life and Nature is Nature Matters. The text shall be made available soon. Ecology : According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Ecology is the study of the relationship of plants and living creatures to each other and their environment.            Remember, Ecology is not just a study of nature, as some would misinterpret. It is the study of the  relationship , everything in nature has with the environment of the planet earth. The term 'relationship' is of utmost importance. A discussion of ecology in the present century is essentially a discourse about the rupture in this relationship. This notion, we have to keep in mind. Environmental Movement : To denote the Environmental Movement, another term is often used- Ecology Movement. It includes scientific, social, and p...

KANNUR UNIVERSITY English Common Course (ECC) Readings on Life and Nature Prescribed Textbook: Nature Matters by MainSpring Publishers 2A03 ENG Welcome Dear students welcome to the second-semester classroom. You may be sitting in the same classroom and meeting the same teachers. This might force you to think that everything is just the same. This is a misunderstanding. You are in the second semester, a semester older since you first joined college. Now, it's time to move forward with some new and exciting plans. You may have committed several mistakes in your academic as well as personal life. Please do not repeat them all. Try as much as you can to avoid mistakes. Your intelligence is visible in the way you avoid committing the same mistakes again. Introduction One of the greatest mistakes made by human beings is the mistake of thinking that the earth and nature are abundant with resources. Human beings in almost every culture have been using natural resources...

On 20 November 2019, I received the privilege to visit Government College, Thalassery at Chokli as a resource person to teach students how to read and review an academic book. The class was composed of fifty brilliant students. The session was part of the  Walk With the Scholar Programme  conducted by the Department of Collegiate Education. Here are some of the insights that I planned for the class. I hope those who are unable to attend the class and those who are less fortunate to have a formal education in government colleges could get a glimpse of the concepts I discussed and benefit from it.     Reading Reading is a very complex activity. Researchers are done on the activity of reading. There are many reasons for reading. In the early stages of growth, a very young reader goes through simple texts, often short in length. Such reading involves reading aloud. This early reading phase is for a very short period. After that, the readers move to 'real'...

Classes for second semester UG students shall start on 20 November 2019. The date is subject to change as per the decision of the University. Semester Break: 25 November to 6 December 2019 (for all semesters) Dates for End Semester Exams: Even Semester Sixth Semester: 4 March 2020 Fourth Semester: 16 March 2020 Second Semester: 6 April 2020

The Name of God is Mercy  is an exploration into the heart of Christianity in general and the Catholic faith in particular. This volume offers a reading experience like none other to anyone interested in the philosophy and ideologies of world religions. Andrea Tornielli, renowned Vatican journalist converses with the present Pope to answer some of the most crucial questions faced by our contemporary culture. In the introduction to the book, Andrea Tornielli affirms that mercy has always been at the centre of Pope Francis's preaching. Andrea Tornielli paints a picture of Pope Francis at the beginning of the book. In this picture, we see Pope Francis celebrating his first Mass after his election as Bishop, at the church of St. Anna. In his homily, the Pope refers to the Mercy exhibited by Jesus Christ and he tells the people that the strongest message given by Christ is the message of Mercy. In the introduction, through a specific reference to the Gospel According to Jo...

Origin  is a novel written by Dan Brown whose character Robert Langdon is also the protagonist of  The Da Vinci Code,  which is more popular than any other novel on the earth.  Origin  is a good work; good, not in the same way as  The Da Vinci Code. Origin  explores a contemporary subject with a futuristic twist to it while exploiting all the thrilling-strategies of the novelist. Edmond Kirsch, Ambra Vidal, Winston, Valdespino, Suresh, Garza, Prince Julian, and Agent Fonseca are the main characters in the novel along with the unstoppable Robert Langdon. The coterie of non-living characters includes the surreal museum of Bilbao, where Ambra Vidal works and Robert and Ambra first meet. The Museum of Bilbao appears to be one of the major characters in the novel. It becomes the ground zero of devastating events, which dictate the fate of many characters, including Robert Langdon. It is also noteworthy how museums find their special place in  ...

Narasimha  is the first book in 'The Mahaavatar Trilogy' by Kevin Missal. This book comfortably bridges the subtle gap between mythology and fantasy. I could suggest this book to anyone with an interest in reading fantasies and a challenging retelling of mythologies.  Narasimha  satisfies you in both these areas. Good fantasy writers are so rare in India. Rarer still are those writers who could help the reader forget about their realities, take them to a land of adventure, and thrill. Kevin Missal proves his mettle with  Narasimha.  In his "Note to the Reader" Kevin Missal gives a blueprint of his working strategy in creating the fantastical narrative. He uses elements from the great Indian epics such as Mahabharatha. His fictional world, which is the alternative version of the Vedic Age, according to the author, is called Illavarti. It's a place, which is rich in its possibilities. Different clans, kingdoms, and groups rule Illavarti, where the rea...

Kannur University Common Course Readings on Kerala (1A02ENG) Module 1 1. A Conversation that Spreads Light: Sree Narayana Guru by M K Sanu Vallabhassery Govindan Vaidyar and T K Kittan Writer visit Sree Narayana Guru on 19 January 1928 to request Guru to sanction a pilgrimage to Sivagiri. First Guru asks them if they want a pilgrimage centre, as there are other sites for pilgrimage. They insist by saying that pilgrimage centres of Upper caste Hindus are not open for people of the lower caste. Guru grants permission. Guru tells his disciples to observe ten days of abstinence and Buddha's five ideals of purity (Purity of body, food, mind, word, deed), wear yellow garments, practice thrift and discipline. According to Guru, eight aims of pilgrimage are- education, cleanliness, piety, organization, cultivation, trade, handicrafts, technological training). Starting of pilgrimage 1 January 1933. 2. Curing Caste by Sahodaran Ayyap...