To the Memory of a Lion by Tara Tixoari (Summary Only For Reading) Tanaji Malusare was Shivaji’s childhood friend and companion at arms. He was a very brave and daring man and Shivaji proudly called him his Simha or Lion. In this story, Tanaji is at home in Umratha preparing for his son’s wedding. One morning, a messenger arrives from Raigarh with an urgent message from the king. When Tanaji reaches Raigarh Fort, Shivaji tasks him with taking back Kondana Fort from Udai Singh Rathor and his Mughal forces. Tanaji comes up with a daring plan and with the king’s blessings, leaves to set the plan in motion. He calls his friend Suryaji and tells him to train the soldiers. But he also cautions him saying that the soldiers should not know what they were training for. The plan is that Tanaji would take some of the soldiers to Kondana Fort on a moonless night. With the help of Yashwanti the monitor lizard, they would scale the wall. Suryaji, meanwhile, would take the rest of the soldiers a...
Background of the Story - William Saroyan was an Armenian-American writer known for his simple yet deeply emotional stories about humanity, kindness, and hope. The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter reflects his belief in compassion and the dignity of all living beings. The story is set in Fresno , where Saroyan himself spent much of his life. Summary in Points The speaker lives in Fresno, California. His elderly neighbour Dikran is famous for his beautiful garden. One freezing winter day, Dikran finds a weak hummingbird in the street. The bird appears close to death because hummingbirds usually survive only in warm weather. Dikran gently warms the bird with his breath and takes it home. He and the speaker prepare warm honey for the bird. Slowly, the hummingbird regains strength and starts flying around the kitchen. When it becomes restless, Dikran asks the speaker to open the window. The bird flies away into the open air. The next summer, the speaker won...