The Convocation Address (Prose)

Unit 5 – Prose

The Convocation Address

Dr. Arignar Annadurai

Warm Up

A. Work in pairs

Look at the mind map below and add a few other features of democracy you can think of. Share your answers with the class.

Mind Map
- textbooks
- uniform
- smart classroom
- laboratory
- competent teachers
- library
- mid-day meals
- blackboard
- stationery
- playground
- sports equipment
- washrooms

Democracy
- People
- Rights
- Majority
- Individual
- Common
- Voting
- Individualism
- Politics

B. Classify the items

Given below is a list of items or features you find in a good school. Study the list and classify the items as individual and common.

Individual	Common
textbooks	playground
uniform	laboratory
stationery	library
blackboard	smart classroom
	competent teachers
	mid-day meals
	sports equipment
	washrooms

C. Who provides these common facilities?

Tick the appropriate source.

• Parents
• Educational institutions ✓
• The Department of Education ✓
• Social Service Organizations
• Other agencies ✓

The common facilities you enjoy such as the playground, classroom etc. help you achieve your academic, vocational or any other goal in life. They are the facilities created for students’ welfare by society.

D. Discuss

Discuss this aspect with your partner and share your views on how students can give back to society.

The Convocation Address

Delivered by Dr. Arignar Annadurai
Annamalai University, 18 November 1967

“What goes around comes around!”

Every activity in a society—be it development of infrastructure, education, health care—demands resources. Resources are mobilized through human efforts. The fruits of development we enjoy today have come about only through the hard work of many unsung heroes.

It is our duty to contribute by giving back what we have taken. When a qualified student embarks on a career, an element of service should always be part of motivation. Graduation is the apt time to give back to society the gains we have obtained.

“This is the age of the common man… and it is his point of view that matters most.”

Key Ideas from the Speech

1. Role of Universities
   - Repositories of knowledge
   - Nursing ground for emissaries of thought, wisdom and service
   - Must develop the true spirit of democracy

2. Democracy & Education
   - Democracy requires more qualities than other forms of government
   - Universities must teach appreciation of others’ views and adjustment of differences through discussion

3. Duty of Graduates
   - Education is a privilege; repay society through service
   - Bring light into dark alleys, hope to the despondent
   - Serve with courage, even when the environment is discouraging

4. Tamilian Legacy
   - Purananuru celebrates selfless service:
   > “They would never do a wrong deed even if offered the world as a reward.”

Glossary

Word	Meaning
conferred	granted a title, degree, benefit, or right
reiterate	say or do again
enunciated	spoke clearly, proclaimed
ruggedness	strength, toughness
repositories	storehouses
emissaries	ambassadors
eschewed	have nothing to do with
autocracy	government by one ruler
feudal	relating to the Middle Ages, old
confronting	aggressively resisting
secluded spheres	isolated areas
cloistered	restricted
perseverance	continued effort, steadfastness
inherent	inborn
perils	dangers and risks
indebted	obliged to repay
tillers	persons who cultivate crops
toilers	workers who perform hard physical labour
replenish	refill
despondent	depressed, frustrated
sermons	preachings, moral teachings
endowed	gifted
crusade	campaign for a good cause
inheritors	successors
lustre	glow of reflected light

About the Author

Dr. C. N. Annadurai (15 September 1909 – 3 February 1969)
- Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1967–69)
- Great orator and acclaimed Tamil writer
- First non-American to receive the Chubb Fellowship at Yale University
- Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Annamalai University

Comprehension

A. Answer briefly

1. Who does the speaker claim to represent?
   The common man in all his ruggedness.

2. Why are universities necessary for a society?
   They develop the spirit of democracy and train citizens to serve society.

3. What was the role of scholars and poets in olden days?
   To adorn royal chambers; their wisdom was for the mansion, not the marketplace.

4. In what ways have universities improved society?
   By producing graduates who bring light, hope and service to the community.

5. How does Dr. Radhakrishnan drive home broad-mindedness?
   Universities must teach appreciation of others’ views and adjustment through discussion.

6. What should youngsters aim for after graduation?
   Something higher than material advancement—service to society.

7. How can a graduate give back to society?
   Through service: toning up society, bringing light, hope and new life to others.

B. Answer in 3–4 sentences

1. “Wisdom was meant for the mansion, not for the marketplace.”
   It signifies that ancient scholars served royalty, not the common people; their knowledge was confined to palaces.

2. How should universities mould students today?
   They must train them to face real-world problems, serve democracy and uplift the common man.

3. How does Anna highlight graduates’ duties?
   Graduates must repay society through service, not money; they must bring light, hope and solace to the afflicted.

4. Values instilled at universities
   Broad-mindedness, tolerance, spirit of service, responsibility, faith, confidence and perseverance.

5. Hindrances graduates face
   Corrupt environment, self-seekers in power, tyranny, discouragement, temptation to choose ease over service.

C. Paragraph writing (100–150 words)

1. How do universities mould students apart from academics?
   Universities shape character by fostering democracy, tolerance and service. They teach students to appreciate diverse views, resolve differences through discussion and shoulder social responsibilities. Co-curricular activities, exposure to social issues and interaction with peers from varied backgrounds cultivate empathy, leadership and ethical values, transforming students into responsible citizens.

2. Common men contribute to higher education.
   Revenue for universities comes largely from taxes paid by farmers, labourers and ordinary workers who never enjoyed higher education. They toil and sacrifice so the next generation may live better. Thus, every graduate is morally indebted to these unsung benefactors and must repay through service to society.

3. Importance of giving back to society.
   Anna reminds graduates that education is a privilege funded by the masses. Unless graduates replenish the social chest through service, future generations will find it empty. He urges them to bring light to dark alleys, hope to the despondent and new life to all, thereby justifying the community’s investment in them.

4. Letter to a friend after hearing the speech
   Dear Ravi,
   Today I heard Arignar Anna’s convocation address. He stressed that our degrees are gifts from society, especially from toiling farmers and labourers. He asked us to repay not with money but with service—bringing light, hope and courage to the needy. His words stirred me; I’ve decided to volunteer for literacy programmes in nearby villages. The speech transformed my outlook from job-seeking to life-serving.
   Yours,
   Kumar

Vocabulary

A. Mind Map – Democracy

(Students to complete based on paras 6–7)

B. Educational Field Words from the speech

• universities
• graduates
• convocation
• education
• academic
• tuition
• curriculum
• scholarship
• fellowship
• repository
• emissaries
• knowledge
• wisdom
• degrees
• institutions

C. Classify words under fields

Music	Agriculture	Computer	Commerce	Medicine
Carnatic	fertile	keyboard	dividend	clinical
vocal	cultivation	hacker	investment	orthopaedic
unplugged	organic	desktop	trade	operations
orchestra	harvest	motherboard	contracts	diagnostics
hip-hop	livestock	internet	industries	disease
guitar	uprooting	proxy		cure

D. Words with different functions

Word	Noun	Verb
book	a favourite book	book tickets
frame	the frame is broken	frame questions
guide	a tourist guide	guide me
play	a humorous play	play in the ground
plan	my plan worked	plan our work
print	the print is unclear	print wedding cards

E. Match –ism words

Word	Meaning
patriotism	love of country and willingness to sacrifice
barbarism	brutal, barbarous, savage act
nationalism	doctrine that your country’s interests are superior
amateurism	participating in sports as a hobby
idealism	belief that the best concepts should be pursued
criticism	serious examination and judgment
absenteeism	habitual failure to be present at work
feminism	doctrine advocating equal rights for women
egocentrism	concern for one’s own interests
heroism	exceptional courage when facing danger

Listening

Listen to the information about Vishalini and complete her profile:

Vishalini, hailing from Tamil Nadu, is 13 years old. She is endowed with an outstanding memory and analytical skills. Her IQ is 225, higher than the previous score of 189. She has been the youngest speaker in International conferences. At the Google India Summit, she was honoured as the youngest Google Speaker. She is the recipient of multiple international awards. This child prodigy is considered a genius girl.

Speaking

Prepare a five-minute formal speech on “The Importance of Education” for your School Assembly.

Structure
1. Introduction – greet, introduce, state topic
2. Body – elaborate main points with examples
3. Conclusion – summarize, thank audience

Reading – Open Letters

Rabindranath Tagore to Mahatma Gandhi
Shanti Niketan, 12 April 1919

“Power in all its forms is irrational… Passive resistance can be used against truth as well as for it… India’s opportunity for winning freedom will come when she proves morally superior to her rulers…”

Questions

1. Who can fight evil and how?
   Only heroes, not men led by momentary impulses, can fight evil with good.

2. Gandhiji’s ideal?
   Fight evil with good; avoid cowardliness and submissiveness.

3. When will India win freedom?
   When she proves moral superiority to her rulers.

4. How does Tagore acknowledge Gandhi?
   By offering a poet’s prayer for courage and faith in love.

5. Meanings
   a) vengefulness – malevolent desire for revenge
   b) diplomatic – tactful
   c) disdains – despise

6. Antonyms
   a) naturally ← artificially
   b) frailness ← strength

Grammar – Reported Speech

Rules & Table (already formatted above)

Tasks

A. Report the dialogue
Prabhu asked Kiran what he was doing there and added that he had not seen him for a few months. Kiran replied that he had just come back from his native town Virudhunagar… (continue similarly)

B. Report Virat Kohli’s words
Virat Kohli said that it was a day he felt really good… (convert entire passage)

C. Convert to Direct Speech
1. The cyclist warned the driver, “Don’t move your car till the police arrive!”
… (continue similarly)

Writing

a) E-mail

Format reminders
- To, Cc, Subject
- Short, clear, polite
- No postal addresses or date

Tasks
1. Thank uncle for gift from abroad
2. Request scholarship from charitable trust

b) Formal Letters

Parts
1. Heading
2. Inside address
3. Salutation
4. Body
5. Closing
6. Signature
7. Envelope address

Sample – Book order letter (already formatted)

Tasks
1. Letter to Editor – need for seat belts
2. To Commissioner – sanitary conditions
3. To Sports company – order sports items
4. To Chief Reservation Supervisor – rail concession
5. To Museum curator – permission for visit

Letter of Application / Cover Letter

Structure – First, Second, Final paragraphs; courteous tone; no contractions; highlight relevant skills.

Task – Respond to:
- Part-time Graphic Artists ad
- Female IELTS Teachers ad

Tips for Vocabulary Building

• Read extensively; guess meaning from context
• Note pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms, derivatives
• Learn a new word daily
• Play word games
• Listen actively and use new words

End of Unit 5 – The Convocation Address