Conclusion of the Peace Week Celebration at KIPS

Inauguration by Dr. Lebi Philip Mathew (YMCA National President)

12th K. C Mathew annual lecture inauguration by Dr. Abraham Karickam

 Sri. V. K. Ibrahimkutty delivering presidential address during 12the K. C. Mathew Memorial lecture

P.K. Ramachandran giving 12th K. C. Mathew memorial lecture at ICSD, Valakom

 Sri. Y. Thomas, former teacher and Scout Master being honoured at ICSD, Valakom during 12th K.C. Mathew memorial lecture

Independence Day Celebrations and KIPS annual sports-2016

Independence Day Celebrations and KIPS annual sports-2016

Sweet Swan of Avon

William Shakespeare walked upon the earth only for 52 years, before he died in 1616. England and Stratford celebrates the 400th year of his departure this year. Conferences are being held all over the world to mark this special occasion; dramas enacted almost in every theater far and near. His works have been translated to seventy languages and these are all available in the Central library here in Stratford. There is no other genius like this man of. Avon.Literary giants and critics still grope in the dark about the real identity of this man, who still challenge our imagination. No wonder, Matthew Arnold wrote:"Others abide our question, Thou art free.We ask and ask, Thou smilest and art still."It was Ben Jonson who named him the "sweet swan of Avon". Even today we can find many a swan playing in the Avon river at leisure. Ben Jonson's certificate is enough to fix the real identity of Shakespeare. Come centuries and generations, he will be their with his enigmatic smile to be fool all those who deal in riddles about who the real man was.It is surprising that I was driven to the shores of Avon in 2016. I am grateful to all my angels who made it possible. A visit to be cherished for ever, as said by Rev. Dr. M. J. Joseph, my long-time friend and guru.

Cambridge

From this space, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge". This is the motto of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209. It is the second oldest university in the English speaking world. The beginning was quite accidental. There was a dispute between the Oxford community and the public and a few teachers and students had to flee from Oxford. They settled in Cambridge and later it blossomed into what we see today.

 Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, Subrahmanian Chandrasekhar and a long line of Nobel Laureates are among the alumni. There are 31 colleges on the campus today.

Abraham Karickam

Dover Beach

Dover Beach

The sea is calm tonight.

The tide is full, the moon lies fair

Upon the straits; on the French coast the light

 Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,

Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.

Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!

Only, from the long line of spray

Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land,

 Listen! you hear the grating roar

Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,

At their return, up the high strand,

Begin, and cease, and then again begin,

 With tremulous cadence slow, and bring

The eternal note of sadness in.

 How many times I taught the poem 'Dover Beach', in Literature classes, I don't remember, but now when I am here on the real shores of Dover Beach in England, I enjoy every word written by Matthew Arnold in 1867. I am thrilled. I can see the French Coast from here and France is only 27 miles away. There is a tunnel under the sea now through which trains run fast every day.

 

A century and half ago, Arnold sang about the retreating tide of faith. How is it now?
The Sea of Faith

Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear

Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.

He remembered the melancholy note of Sophocles. He wrote about the futility of war where ignorant armies clash by night. As we remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I would like all of you to read this poem, which will remind us about the absurdity of war once again.

 As we all recite the peace prayer ( Thanks to Bishop William Swing and "The Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons Cooperation Circle of URI), let us hope that we can eradicate all the 17600 nuclear weapons one day.

I thank Mr. Mathew Varghese profusely for taking me to the Dover Beach in the Kent County.

                                                 Abraham Karickam

House of William Shakespeare at Stratford - Upon - Avon