OUR HOUSE BY CHRISTOPHER MORLEY

  

IT should be yours, if I could build
The quaint old dwelling I desire.
With books and pictures bravely filled
And chairs beside an open fire.
White-panelled rooms with candles lit—
I lie awake to think of it!

A dial for the sunny hours,
A garden of old-fashioned flowers—
Say marigolds and lavender
And mignonette and fever-few.
And Judas-tree and maidenhair
And candytuft and thyme and rue—
All these for you to wander in.

A Chinese carp (called Mandarin)
Waving a sluggish silver fin
Deep in the moat; so tame he comes
To nip your fingers offering crumbs.
Tall chimneys, like long listening ears,
White shutters, ivy green and thick,
And walls of ruddy Tudor brick
Grown mellow with the passing years.

And windows with small leaded panes.
Broad window-seats for when it rains;
A big blue bowl of pot pourri
And—yes, a Spanish chestnut tree
To coin the autumn’s minted gold.
A summer house for drinking tea—
All these (just think!) for you and me.

A staircase of the old black wood
Cut in the days of Robin Hood,
And banisters worn smooth as glass
Down which your hand will lightly pass;
A piano with pale yellow keys
For wistful twilight melodies,
And dusty bottles in a bin—
All these for you to revel in!

But when? Ah well, until that time…

 

SONG FOR A LITTLE HOUSE BY CHRISTOPHER MORLEY

  

I’M GLAD our house is a little house, 

Not too tall nor too wide;

I’m glad the hovering butterflies

Feel free to come inside.

 

Our little house is a friendly house.
It is not shy or vain;
It gossips with the talking trees,
And makes friends with the rain.

And quick leaves cast a shimmer of green
Against our white walls,
And in the phlox, the courteous bees
Are paying duty calls.

MY LITTLE HOUSE BY J.M. WESTRUP

 

 I have a little house

With windows and a door.

Two chimneys on the top,

And a plot of grass before.

I have a little house,
With curtains and a blind.
Two chimneys on the top,
And a plot of grass behind.

I have a little house,
Where I go in and out.
Two chimneys on the top,
And a garden all about.

What Is Done Cannot Be Undone — But Can We Prevent It from Happening Again?

     

“What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it happening again.”
— Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

Some sentences become famous because they are beautifully written. Others become memorable because they make us uncomfortable. Anne Frank’s words belong to the second category. Written on 7 May 1944, when Anne was only fourteen and living in hiding during the Nazi persecution of Jews, the sentence is remarkably simple. Yet it contains an entire philosophy of memory, responsibility and human behaviour.

The first half accepts something we often find difficult to accept: the past cannot be changed. The second half, however, refuses to leave us with helplessness: the future can be changed. And that small shift—from regret to responsibility—is what makes the sentence so powerful.

The past cannot be rewritten

We often wish we had a rewind button.

A word spoken in anger; A friendship damaged, A decision taken without thinking, an opportunity missed. An injustice ignored. A historical tragedy that should never have happened. But none of these can simply be erased. We can apologise. We can repair what can be repaired. We can acknowledge our mistakes. But we cannot make the event disappear.

Anne's insight is that regret by itself is not enough.

If a mistake teaches us nothing, it remains merely a mistake. If it changes the way we behave afterwards, it becomes a lesson. That is why the second half of the sentence is perhaps more important than the first.

From personal mistakes to historical memory

The quote becomes much larger when we place it against Anne's life.

Anne was writing during the Holocaust. Her family was hiding from a regime that had already turned discrimination, hatred and persecution into organised destruction. Today, her diary is not simply read as the private diary of a teenage girl. It has become an important literary and historical testimony, allowing readers to encounter the Holocaust through the thoughts, fears, frustrations and hopes of one young person. Educational studies of the diary specifically examine how historical events shaped individual lives and how diary writing can carry both literary and historical value.  This is where the quotation acquires another meaning.

Remembering the past is not merely remembering the dead. It is accepting responsibility for the living and the future.

What do critics and commentators see in these words?

Commentators have repeatedly interpreted Anne's sentence as a call to reflection, accountability and prevention.

The Anne Frank Trust UK uses the quotation in the context of confronting prejudice and learning from harmful behaviour.  It has also been invoked in Holocaust remembrance as an argument against becoming passive observers of discrimination. In a speech marking Holocaust Memorial Day, Queen Camilla connected Anne's words with the responsibility to challenge hatred and prejudice rather than becoming bystanders.

That interpretation is particularly significant.

Anne does not say:

“What is done cannot be undone, so forget it.”

Nor does she say:

“What is done cannot be undone, so live forever in regret.”

Instead, the sentence asks us to remember, understand and act differently.

That is a very different idea of memory.

Further, if we ask any books influenced with this statement -It would be difficult—and potentially misleading—to say that particular books were directly influenced by Anne Frank's sentence unless an author has explicitly said so.

But many important works of Holocaust literature and literature about historical trauma explore precisely the same principle: Can remembering the past help prevent its repetition?

 

 

 

Elie Wiesel's Night

Elie Wiesel's Night is a powerful example of literature turning personal suffering into testimony.

Wiesel does not merely tell us what happened to him. His work forces later generations to confront what happened—and therefore raises the uncomfortable question: what will we do with this knowledge?

The act of remembering becomes an ethical responsibility.

Primo Levi's If This Is a Man

Primo Levi's memoir similarly transforms memory into testimony.

His writing examines what happens when human beings are stripped of dignity and when systems allow cruelty to become ordinary.

The reader is not simply being given history. The reader is being asked to recognise the warning signs of dehumanisation.

Art Spiegelman's Maus

Art Spiegelman's Maus takes another literary route.

By presenting his father's Holocaust experience through a graphic narrative, Spiegelman demonstrates that even decades later, the past continues to affect subsequent generations. The past may be over chronologically. But it is not necessarily over psychologically. And perhaps that is another way of understanding Anne's sentence: the event cannot be undone, but what we do with its memory remains in our hands.

George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four

Interestingly, the idea also resonates beyond Holocaust literature.

In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, controlling the past becomes a means of controlling the future. Winston's attempt to preserve an independent record of truth is therefore an act of resistance. Literary criticism of the novel has specifically examined the relationship between memory, historical records and political power. Orwell's fictional world gives us the opposite warning:

If the past can be manipulated or erased, society loses the ability to learn from it. Anne Frank's sentence and Orwell's novel therefore meet at an important point—memory matters because the future depends upon what we remember.

Remembering is not enough There is, however, a difficult question hidden inside Anne's words.

Have we actually learned?

Holocaust remembrance, historical novels, memoirs, museums, diaries and testimonies have ensured that the past is documented. Yet prejudice, racism, persecution and violence have not disappeared.

That is why remembering alone is insufficient.

A teacher can teach history.
A reader can read a memoir.
A museum can preserve photographs.
A writer can record testimony.

But ultimately someone has to act differently. One recent interpretation of Anne's words puts this responsibility plainly: her diary continues to be used to encourage people to challenge prejudice rather than remain passive observers.

The quote works at home too

We do not have to place the sentence only in the enormous context of wars and genocides. It belongs to ordinary life too.

A parent who loses patience with a child can learn to respond differently tomorrow.

A friend who says something hurtful can apologise—and remember the lesson.

A writer who receives criticism can either become defensive or learn from it.

A person who makes a poor decision can examine what led to it and avoid repeating it.

In each case, the past remains unchanged.

But the next chapter does not have to repeat the previous one.

Perhaps this is Anne's real message

Anne Frank was not given the future she imagined. She did not get the chance to grow older, publish books in the ordinary sense, travel freely or live the life she hoped for.

Yet her diary survived. Her words travelled far beyond the hiding place in Amsterdam. And generations of readers continue to encounter her thoughts. That creates an extraordinary irony. Anne wrote about preventing the past from happening again. Her own life was tragically cut short by the very historical forces that make her words so important. But her diary became part of the world's attempt to remember. And perhaps that is the power of literature.

Literature cannot undo history.

It cannot bring back those who died.

It cannot erase suffering.

But it can make us see, remember, question and sometimes change.

Anne Frank's sentence therefore feels less like a quotation to put on a wall and more like a question placed before every generation:

What have we learned from what has already happened—and what are we doing to make sure it does not happen again?

Because perhaps the true purpose of remembering the past is not to remain trapped in it. It is to build a different future.

 

Art and Décor: Bring Home a Piece of Local Craft

  

  

Art and décor need not always mean expensive paintings, imported objects or designer pieces. Sometimes, the most interesting things that can find a place in our homes are made by an artisan sitting in a small workshop, working with mud, stone, bamboo, cane, shells, wood or metal. So, why not allocate a small budget specifically for art and décor?

It could be a monthly amount, a quarterly purchase, or simply money kept aside for festivals and special occasions. The idea is not to fill the house with things, but to consciously bring home objects that have a story behind them.

Look beyond the regular shops

If you are looking for affordable Indian art and craft, keep an eye on melas, craft fairs, government emporia, handicraft exhibitions, craft bazaars and sales organised by artisan groups and self-help groups.

These are wonderful places to discover things that may not be available in ordinary shops.

A little mud craft for a corner shelf.
A handwoven basket for storage.
A shell-work piece for a coastal touch.
A small wooden object.
A terracotta lamp.
A locally made wall hanging.

None of these need to cost a fortune.

And there is something satisfying about knowing that your purchase has gone towards an artisan, a craft community or a self-help group rather than simply adding another mass-produced object to the shopping cart.

Support the craft — and the craftsperson

There is another reason to shop this way. Several traditional crafts are struggling to find younger practitioners and wider markets. When we buy directly from artisans or organisations working with them, we are not merely buying a decorative object. We are helping create a market for the skill. That matters.

A basket weaver needs customers as much as a designer needs buyers. A potter needs people who will use terracotta. A stone carver needs a market beyond temple commissions. Even a small purchase can become part of that larger ecosystem. And these products are often budget-friendly because they are locally made, without the additional costs associated with importing, international shipping and duties. Of course, prices vary depending on the material, size and amount of workmanship, but local craft can offer beautiful choices at many price points.

Mamallapuram: where stone tells stories

For those of us in and around Chennai, Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) is a particularly fascinating destination for craft lovers. Mamallapuram is internationally associated with its magnificent stone temples and sculptures, but the stone-carving tradition here is also a living craft. Stone carving is a long-established Tamil craft, and Mamallapuram remains one of its important centres. Small stone objects can include figurines, animals, lamps, incense-stick holders and other decorative pieces.  The first image that usually comes to mind when we think of Mamallapuram artisans is a huge temple sculpture. But stone craft does not have to be monumental.

Look for smaller household pieces.

A little Ganesha.
An animal figure.
A traditional lamp.
A decorative panel.
A small stone bowl.
An incense holder.

These can bring the character of Mamallapuram into an ordinary home without turning the living room into a sculpture gallery! The stone-carving tradition is also supported by formal artisan institutions and markets; a study on the craft notes that many Mamallapuram artisans operate their own workshops and sales channels.  And perhaps the most interesting part is this: the same hands that create temple-related work can also create smaller pieces for homes. That makes a visit to Mamallapuram more than a tourist excursion. It can become a lesson in how traditional skills continue to find contemporary uses.

Then there is Cholamandal

Closer to Chennai, another fascinating destination for art lovers is Cholamandal Artists' Village. Founded in 1966, Cholamandal grew into a self-supporting artists' community. Today it has galleries, studios, a craft shop and other spaces where art and craft coexist. The range includes paintings, sculptures, terracotta, pottery, ceramics, batik and other forms of handmade work.

A visit here is a reminder that art is not necessarily something that has to hang on a wall.

It can sit on a table.
Stand in a garden.
Hang from a wall.
Become part of a shelf.
Or simply make a quiet corner of the house more interesting.

Make festivals an opportunity to gift craft

Here is another simple idea: gift local craft during festivals.

Instead of another box of something that will eventually be consumed or forgotten, give a small handcrafted object.

A terracotta diya set for Deepavali.
A basket for a housewarming.
A stone Ganesha for a new home.
A handmade décor piece for a wedding.
A locally crafted object for a birthday.

The gift carries something more than its price tag — the story of the person who made it.

A little art budget can go a long way

We don't necessarily need a large budget to make our homes artistic.

We could simply follow a few rules:

• Keep aside a small art-and-craft budget.
• Look for local artisans and traditional crafts.
• Visit melas, craft bazaars and exhibitions.
• Explore government emporia and artisan-run outlets.
• Buy from self-help groups and craft revival initiatives.
• Choose useful objects as well as decorative ones.
• Ask about the material and the craft before buying.
• Give handmade Indian crafts as festival gifts.
• Prefer fewer meaningful pieces over many mass-produced ones.

The next time you think, "I need something nice for that empty corner," perhaps don't immediately open an online shopping app.

Visit a craft fair. Walk through a mela. Stop at an artisan's workshop.

Or, if you are in Chennai, take a drive towards Mamallapuram and see stone slowly becoming art. Because décor becomes much more beautiful when we know who made it, what skill went into it and what our purchase helps keep alive. Art for the home need not be expensive. It only needs to have a story.

Madras Day: A City That Celebrates in Every Direction

   

August 22 is Madras Day.

And how do you celebrate a city like Madras? Definitely not in one particular way.

Madras cannot be fitted into one celebration, one event, one neighbourhood, one community or even one definition.  Right?

Today, celebrations are happening everywhere—perhaps in large gatherings, perhaps in quiet conversations, perhaps through food, music, photographs, stories, walks and memories. Every direction, every corner, every centre has its own way of celebrating Madras. And that is what makes the celebration so beautiful.

Madras belongs to its natives, certainly. But it also belongs to those who came here from elsewhere and made it their home. Migrants, students, workers, professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, families, visitors and newcomers—everyone seems to find a little space for themselves here. You can divide people into many categories. But when it comes to Madras, there is one category that matters:

People who have found a connection with the city.

Some were born here, arrived here with a suitcase and a dream, came for education, looking for a job, because someone they loved was here, came temporarily and stayed for decades. And some left the city but never really left Madras behind.

Madras in the five elements

If the five elements could speak, I am sure they would all have a Madras story.

Land would speak of its streets, old neighbourhoods, temples, markets, institutions and homes that have watched the city change.

Water would speak of the Bay of Bengal, the Cooum and Adyar, the Marina, the rains and the countless stories connected to water.

Fire would speak through the kitchens—through the flame beneath the coffee filter, the dosa tawa, the sambar pot and the many foods that carry the unmistakable Madras identity.

Air would carry music, temple bells, traffic sounds, conversations, beach breezes and the unmistakable sounds of a city constantly in motion.

And sky would remain the great witness—watching Madras rise, change, expand, struggle, celebrate and begin again every morning.

Together, these elements seem to say:

This is Madras. This is Chennai.

There is a "Madras" in everything

Perhaps that is why the word Madras has become a label of affection. With Madras as prefix, these all flourished – coffee, filter coffee, jasmine, mallipoo, dosa, sambar, music, cinema, textiles, checks, tiles. cuisine. style. And the list keeps growing. The word does not merely identify a place. It carries a certain character. A taste, A texture. A sound. A smell. A memory and A way of life.

You can walk into a traditional kitchen and find Madras. Walk into a music sabha and find Madras. Sit by the beach and find Madras. Enter a cinema hall, visit a flower market, watch a dosa being made, listen to a mridangam, buy a saree, sip coffee or simply stand at a busy street corner—and there it is again.

Madras, in another form.

A city that gives shelter

For me, perhaps the most beautiful thing about Madras is not any particular landmark.

It is the way the city has been a place of shelter, opportunity and joy. It has given people a place to study, work, build families, practise their art, pursue their ambitions and simply live. It has room for tradition and modernity. For the old and the new. For the familiar and the unfamiliar. For the person who has lived here for generations and the person who arrived yesterday. And perhaps Madras Day reminds us that a city is not made only by its buildings.

A city is made by its people, its memories, its food, its language, its art, its streets, its celebrations and the countless ordinary moments that happen every day.

So today, let Madras celebrate in its own many ways.

Let the artists paint it.

Let the musicians sing it.

Let the writers write about it.

Let the photographers capture it.

Let the cooks serve it.

Let the children discover it.

Let the old residents remember it.

Let the newcomers make their own memories of it.

And let every corner celebrate the city in its own language.

Because Madras was never meant to be celebrated in just one style.

It is too diverse for that.

Too colourful.

Too layered.

Too full of stories.

From coffee to flowers, from dosa to sambar, from textiles to tiles, from music to cinema, from the sea to its streets—Madras is made of all the things it holds within itself.

And perhaps that is the best way to celebrate Madras Day:

Not by asking what Madras is, but by asking what Madras means to each of us.

Happy Madras Day! 

Vanakkam, Madras.
Vanakkam, Chennai.
You may have changed your name, grown bigger and moved faster—but you still have a thousand ways of making people call you home.

Fun Factors for Children in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

   

   

Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an adventure story that can easily attract young readers through its humour, mischief, suspense and journey down the Mississippi River. Though the book also deals with serious themes, there are plenty of elements that make it entertaining for children.

 What makes it fun for young readers?

1. Huck is an adventurous boy
Huck doesn't like being controlled by adults. His independent spirit and curiosity make him an interesting character for children to follow.

2. The escape on the raft
Huck and Jim travelling down the Mississippi River on a raft is perhaps the most exciting part of the story. The river becomes their road, playground and source of adventure.

3. Adventures at every turn
The journey brings unexpected encounters, strangers, danger and surprises. Children can enjoy wondering, “What will happen next?”

4. Tom Sawyer's imagination
When Tom Sawyer enters the story, the adventure becomes even more playful. His elaborate ideas about rescuing Jim are amusing because he turns a relatively simple situation into a complicated adventure.

5. Mischief and cleverness
Huck often has to think quickly and invent stories to get himself and Jim out of difficult situations. His ability to improvise adds humour and excitement.

6. Funny characters
The Duke and the King provide some of the comic moments in the story. Their ridiculous schemes and pretensions can make young readers laugh.

7. Life on the river
The raft gives the story a wonderful sense of freedom. Fishing, sleeping under the stars, watching the river and travelling without knowing exactly what lies ahead give the story an adventurous feel.

8. Huck's friendship with Jim
At the heart of all the adventures is the friendship between Huck and Jim. Their conversations, disagreements and moments of helping each other add warmth to the story.

 More than just fun

While children may first be drawn to the raft, river, adventures and mischief, Huckleberry Finn gradually introduces them to ideas about friendship, freedom, courage, conscience and doing what feels right.

For a young reader, it can therefore work at two levels: an exciting adventure story on the surface, and a thought-provoking story underneath.

The fun factor? Huck, a raft, a river and an unpredictable journey — what more does an adventure-loving child need? What do you say? Do share it in the comments.