Table of Contents
The Illiterate
Author: Laxmi Prasad Devkota
Unit 3: Education
Subject: Adventures in English Volume I
Literal Comprehension
‘The Illiterate’ is a beautiful poem written by a Nepali poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota. In this poem, he compares the uneducated/illiterate person with different things, objects, and animals.
According to him, an uneducated/illiterate person doesn`t understand the value of sunshine because an educated person utilizes the energy of the sun in different ways but an uneducated/illiterate person uses the sun only to determine the day and night.
He has also compared an illiterate person with the wind because the wind flows in any direction they doesn`t have any destination hence uneducated people don`t have any kind of aim or destination.
They were also compared with vegetables as educated people use them and fill their hunger by giving them laborious work.
An uneducated person is unable to make any kind of solution to the problem, they need to ask an educated person.
They don`t have any ability to determine what`s wrong and what`s right even god also feels sad for giving life to such an uneducated person.
At last Laxmi Prasad Devkota requested god to allow them to become an educated person.
Interpretation
This poem portrays the importance and value of education in our lives. The poet explains how a person becomes small and shameful in society if he doesn`t have sufficient education as in the poem.
He might be telling us that education is the chain, which every person has to wear to get respect from any kind of society.
Otherwise, educated person utilize their power for their benefit and the illiterate person may suffer to a great extent.
He explains the reality of society and how an educated person tends to discriminate against an uneducated person.
He explains the role of education in normal life and how education plays an important factor in making life easier and successful.
Critical Thinking
This is a beautiful and inspirational poem with a very important message attached to it presented in a good manner by Laxmi Prasad Devkota.
Although I agree with the beautiful message of this poem I found some parts of the poem unconvincing and questionable.
- How a human being can be compared with a dog?
- Is it compulsory to be educated to earn respect in society?
- Do all uneducated persons discriminated against in society?
- Is it necessary to be educated to solve any kind of problem?
Assimilation
Before reading this poem. I used to think education was just a degree to meet job requirements. People just go to school, college, and university to get certificates to get job opportunities.
But after reading this poem, I came to know the value of education in life. Education is not the thing that we should achieve for the job rather it is the gateway of respect, pride, and unity in society.
Education plays a great role in making the life of human beings bright. The person without education is the same as the fish without water which makes it hard to survive in this cruel world.
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