Pranshu's English Classroom (CBSE)

Festivals of Northeast India (Summary Only For Reading) The Northeastern region of India is a place of diverse cultures. The different communities and tribes that live here celebrate their unique festivals with great enthusiasm and joy. Most of their festivals are based on agriculture and are celebrated with traditional music and dance.  In Assam, Bihus are celebrated in different seasons through music and dance. They mark the beginning and end of the harvesting season and the completion of sowing. The natural beauty of Arunachal Pradesh can be seen in their festivities, songs and dances. During the new-year festival, Losar, people clean their homes and discard the old to bring in the new year. In Manipur, married women and their children are given a sumptuous feast and gifts to celebrate a festival called Ningol Chakouba. The Manipuri new year festival, called Cheiraoba, is marked by a ritual in which the villagers climb the nearest hilltops for spiritual gain. At the Chapchar Kut...

University Days by James Thurber “University Days” is a humorous story written by James Thurber about his experiences as a struggling student at university. The story focuses on three specific classes where Thurber faced challenges: botany, economics and gymnasium. In botany, all students were required to look at plant cells through a microscope. However, Thurber had trouble seeing anything through the microscope, no matter how much he tried. His professor would patiently show him how to adjust the microscope, but Thurber could only see a blurry, milky substance. This frustrated the professor, who eventually became angry and claimed that Thurber wasn’t trying hard enough. One time, after many adjustments, Thurber thought he finally saw something and drew it. Unfortunately, it turned out that he had drawn his own eye because the microscope had reflected it! Thurber also faced difficulties in economics. One of his classmates, Bolenciecwcz, was a football star who needed to pass his cours...

GLIMPSES OF INDIA  The lesson “Glimpses of India” is divided into three parts, each written by a different author. Each part gives us a picture (“glimpse”) of India’s diversity — its people, culture, food, traditions, and landscapes. Part 1: A Baker from Goa —  by Lucio Rodrigues Central Idea This story recalls the traditional Goan village life, focusing on the importance of the baker (pader) in their community, showing that Portuguese influence still continues in modern Goa. Themes Traditional occupations Cultural heritage and Portuguese influence Simplicity of village life Nostalgia for the past Message Old traditions and professions, though changed, still have cultural importance and should be respected. Tone & Mood Tone: Nostalgic and affectionate Mood: Warm, cheerful, reminiscent Key Points Bakers were important in every Goan household. Bread was essential for occasions like weddings and Ch...

Background of the Poem  Author: Vikram Seth — a famous Indian writer and poet. Form: A story told in the form of a poem (narrative verse). Genre: Satire — a funny way of showing the foolishness in rulers and society. Context: The poem uses humour and irony to show how silly decisions and blind traditions can control a city. Moral: When power has no wisdom , it leads to foolish results , and people often accept it without question . It is adapted from a folktale-style story , written in a modern humorous way. Vikram Seth uses simple language but creates a deep message about leadership and justice. The poem reflects how systems become meaningless when people follow rules without thinking. It also mocks how societies sometimes accept ridiculous rulers as long as life goes on peacefully. Background: Mappings is Vikram Seth's first book of poems, written when he was in his twenties and a student in England and California. Vikram Seth's poem, ...