Various General Topics

To whom we call “mature”?

The term “mature” denotes completeness in natural growth upto the next phase. For example, an unborn human child usually “matures” in about 9 months. After birth, he/she goes through the process of “natural growth” of body and mind for several years. The stage of “completeness” of this phase is the stage of “maturity”.

Despite these technical meanings, we call a person “mature” if he/she independently takes rightful and better decisions. If he/she honours his/her promises/ words/ commitments and thus proves him/herself trustworthy. If he/she is positively tectful in his/her social interactions. If he/she is able to take proper care of him/herself, his/her family and other dependents. If he/she proves him/herself as the source of dignity and honour for his/her family, other social organizations or may be for his/her country or nation etc.

What is Poetry?

Poetry is the art of expressing passionate ideas in a balanced, composed and rhythmic form such that it could be sung or recited in a smooth and constant flow. Good poetry conveys maximum things through beautifully arranged just few words. Topics of poetry are often happy or sad general feelings of many people. An important characteristic of good poetry is that it expresses its contents in such a general way as to make it capable of many different types of interpretations. A person while reading some good poetry may feel as if his/ her own ideas, experiences and/ or feelings have been depicted by that piece of poetry.

Humans build Multi-Story Buildings and then use them for Suicide. Why?

Human behavior is really very complex. Humans live two types of life which are (i) their physical life and; (ii) their mental and psychological life. Humans tend to find happiness in material goods but fact is that happiness comes mainly from cordial and trustworthy relationships with other fellow beings. Negative or insulting behavior or even expectation of such behavior of others can lead a person to such extreme things as suicide. Then people use their own material goods for the purpose of suicide.

Doesn’t a Novel become bore because story proceeding in a Novel is quite slow?

Yes story proceedings have to be slow in novel. So if someone wants to enjoy the ‘story’, he/ she may really feel bore. But a novel reader is not supposed to find charms in the story of novel. Readers should find charms in the elucidation as well as beautiful elaboration of environment and feelings of characters. Different characters shall assume their own unique and consistent characteristics in novel. Readers should find charms in considering those characters as some lively beings whose possible behavior can be judged while reading the different situations of novel. For example consider the Asghari and Akbari characters of Novel Mirrat-ul-Aroos by Deputy Nazir Ahmed. Beauty of this novel is not in the story but lies in the opposing and contrasting qualities and characteristics of different characters.

See Difference between a ‘Story’ and a ‘Novel’ on this post.

Some Relations & Differences between ‘Novel’ & ‘Drama’:

Drama is more similar to Novel than with Story. In a story, the writer describes the events; in Novel, he also describes details of environment and thinking/ feeling of various characters. In Drama, ‘environment’ and ‘thinking/ emotions’ of characters are not ‘described’ but are ‘presented’. Environment is presented through stage design whereas thinking/ emotions of characters are presented through background music plus facial expressions etc. of actors (i.e. characters). A Story proceeds in the form of just description of interrelated course of events. Novel states the background of its story just like in short stories but rest of the proceedings is ‘evolved’ out of description of environment and interactions between characters. It means that author of a Novel doesn’t tell all the story to readers because here readers have to understand the story proceedings out of the description of situations that are faced by characters as well as out of dialogues between those characters.

In Drama, everything including background, emotions and dialogues between characters are not ‘described’ but are ‘presented’. All the story proceedings shall come out of dialogues between characters or even out of ‘self-talking’ of characters because this ‘self-talking’ technique is often used in Dramas with the view to ‘present’ the background of the story of Drama. Unlike a Novel, In Drama, even the relationship between characters is not described. Audience should understand the relationship between those characters just out of type of interaction between those characters or out of exchange of dialogues between them.

‘Happiness’ & ‘Enjoyment’:

There is difference between ‘happiness’ and just ‘enjoyment’. ‘Enjoyment’ is a temporary feeling whereas ‘happiness’ is characterized by durability, inner self satisfaction etc.etc. Enjoyment always come with momentery smiles and laughing whereas real happiness can bring tears of happiness. Enjoyment can be found in carelessness and irresponsible attitudes, whereas happiness comes mainly from caring behaviour and sense of responsibility.

But at the same time, ‘enjoyment’ and ‘happiness’ are not any opposite entities. Enjoyment also can lead to the ultimate destination of happiness.

Difference between a ‘Story’ and a ‘Novel’:

‘Story’ is a description of some inter-related course of events that usually has a meaningful (happy or tragic) end. ‘Novel’ is different from ‘story’ in that it is not just description of ‘events’ because it also describes the details of environment plus the feelings, emotions and thinking of various characters. A good novel makes us feel that we are also a part of that environment. Some novels may not have any end. Story of novel proceeds slowly due to its details about environment etc.

Also see some relations and differences between Novel and Drama on this post.

Narrow Mindedness, Close Mindedness, Open Mindedness & Broad Mindedness:

Narrow Mindedness:

A view of a person or society that only we are right and all others are wrong.

Close Mindedness:

It is another ‘we’ attitude of a person or society whereby the person or society considers itself on the right. This society, however tends to account for the superior position of other contemporary nations by thinking that other nations have become mightier just because they have taken all their good principles from ‘us’. In this way, this close-minded society considers it un-necessary to absorb or take any good idea or approach of other mightier nations. This society closes down its own mind for any alien good idea or approach and that’s why it is named ‘close minded’ society.

Open Mindedness:

It is such a view of person who accepts that learning comes from our own mistakes as well as from the successes of others. An open-minded person is receptive to all the available information whether that information has its roots in his own culture or not. Doors of his mind are not closed for alien ideas. Doors of his mind are open so that’s why he is ‘open-minded’ person.

Broad Mindedness:

An open-minded person if gets maximum possible information on the issues from all the sources of information, his mental horizon becomes vast. Now he does not think just for his own self, or his own nation or culture. He becomes ‘international’ in his approach and then tends to think for the humanity and universe as a whole.

In contrast with above mentioned ‘narrow mindedness’, ‘close mindedness’ and ‘open mindedness’, ‘broad mindedness’ would be such a view that others are not always wrong and we are not always right.

Note: ‘Narrow Mindedness’ is the characteristic of powerful nations whereas ‘close mindedness’ is the characteristic of those weak nations who were powerful in historical times.

Difference between an `intellectual` and a `scholar`:

Who is ‘intellectual’ – can be better understood if we differentiate between an ‘intellectual’ and a ‘scholar’.

A ‘scholar’ is that person who takes decisions or guides others on the basis of his vast ‘book’ knowledge. He can be expert of Christian, Jewish, Islamic, or some other religion’s sacred books, or can be expert of any other discipline of study like Philosophy, Science or any other discipline.

An ‘intellectual’ on the other hand is one who uses or applies his own ‘intellect’. Using his ‘intellect’ or ‘rationality’, he thinks over various issues relating to Universe, self, life, social life etc. As a result of his ‘rational thinking’, he forms his own opinions about those issues and in this way makes his own theories. Thus an ‘intellectual’ is that person who makes his own theories and knowledge using his ‘intellect’ or ‘rationality’.