Comprehend the intension of raj kinger in "oh father, dear father".... Give me a good answer..
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Raja Rao Pagidipalli Page 1
B Tech 1st Year English – Study Material
LITS-KMM
Unit 5 – Oh Father, Dear Father
Introduction:
“Oh Father Dear Father” is an excellent satirical story, written by Raj Kingeron the present education system and on those parents and teachers who are after suchkind. It inspires parents to think of their child's precious childhood. It is personality that ismore important than ranks and grades but our system demands good numbers from a childin an exam not to show his personality. Hence a child is not well exposed to outer worldand he or she might not be able to develop a personality. In this story, here is a letterwritten by a boy to his father about what he thinks of his education, and the kind ofeducation he is really interested in. The writer strongly denounces the rote learning sayingthat what he learns gives him no practical exposure to the real world. He is especiallycritical on the emphasis placed on examinations, marks and ranks.
Father & Son Relationship:
The letter writer Rahul’s father is angry because he has obtained the second rank in hisclass, instead of the firs. The letters is written by the son in response to his father’sdisappointment. The father and son in the letter do not agree with their world view, moreprecisely, any of their views. The two are poles apart. The father is a rigid-mind with a setof rules written for his son. He is an uncompromising philosopher who has always taughthis son to be moulded in his mould of beliefs. Rahul, the boy, loves life as natural aspossible while his father enjoys a complicated life. Father was not very happy with theboy’s approach to life. Here are the essential differences between the father and son. Fatherbelieves in high score and cannot compromise in it. He believes that money is veryimportant. He doesn’t trust his son but he trusts his teachers. Rahul believes in simple lifeand a flexible going. The son believes that peace of mind and happiness is important. Hetells his father that the overemphasis on his studies has taken away all enjoyment fromchildhood; he says that education does not seem to make people happy. He wants his fatherto be his friend, philosopher and guide. His imagination wants to fly like a rocket to Jupiterand Mars; to traverse a new world and new fields.
Raja Rao Pagidipalli Page 2
B Tech 1st Year English – Study Material
LITS-KMM
Grand Parents & Their Outlook towards World:
The son’s grandfather used to speak of a carefree and beautiful childhood, of his days whenhe spent plucking mangoes and guavas from their orchards, of picnics on the banks of theriver where men cooked mouth-watering food, of playing marbles and other games. Fromhis talk it was evident that studies were only secondary for our survival. In his opinion lifewas to be lived, enjoyed and experienced. Rahul had always found his grandfather in theright place. He was a man who believed in simplicity in sharp contrast to Rahul’s father.Rahul asks this logical question to remind his father that his grandfather’s life had not beena joke but one worth living. He asks his father if the world turned topsy-turvy in just 70years. Seventy years refers to the grandfather’s age. It is significance because during these70 years, grandfather had acquired lot of experience that shaped a philosophy that Rahulconsiders ideal. Rahul’s grandmother was not very much educated as his mother was yetthe older woman was a happy one. Hid grand mother lived a life of contentment while hismother is high-strung, tense and nervy.
Problems with Education System:
The son explains to his father that whatever he learnsin school has no practical application. He narrates the incident of his biology teacher notbeing able to help him with a practical science-related problem. The teacher did not thinkRahul’s question relevancy in her class so she asked him to approach the gardener foradvice. The teacher had a low character as she was of the opinion that out of syllabusquestions do no good in a class. From the way she responded to Rahul, “Go, ask the guy whokeeps gardening things,” reveals her crossness and irritability. He also gives the example ofhis father’s friend’s and his father himself to support his stance, saying that none of thesepeople use what they have learnt like Pythogoras’ theorem or Newton’s Law of Gravity inschools. Rahul explains that he lost the first rank owing to a disagreement with his teacherover a minor point in English grammar, and criticizes the education system which curbsindependent thinking and encourages blind adherence to what the teacher says. He saysthat his teacher was an adamant person. For Rahul, practical education matters more thantheoretical. In his opinion, there is no good in scoring high marks on one side and on theother, being unable to apply theoretical knowledge into practice. Classroom knowledgeshould come handy in our day-today life.
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