Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

NOTICE AND CIRCULARS

A Notice is a type of formal communication. It is used as Intra-Organizational as well as
Inter-organizational Document. It is widely used by individuals and organizations to
announce events and celebrations. It further invites the interested candidates to participate
in the event. Most of the times notices are meant to be pinned up or pasted on special
boards.
Components of Notice
1- Heading
2- Date
3- Time
4- Venue
5- Agenda
6- Purpose
7- Specific Instructions
8- Contact Person/Address
..............................Name of the institution or school.................

(leave a line)
date..
...........................NOTICE(in capital letters)................................

(leave a line again)

....................................write the topic's heading...............................

Start writing...

Name
Designation(if required)

Circulars:
Circulars
•A circular letter is one which is sent out to many people at the same time
Used both within organization and for sending out information from organizations•
he letter may be prepared once only and then duplicated•
With modern technology, however, it is more likely that each letter could be personalized
to look like an original.

Need of Circulars
1- Introduce a new product /service•
2- Opening of new branch•
3- Change of address•
 Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

4- Seasonal discounts•
5- Increase in price, etc•
6- Obtaining an agency•
7- Change in constitution of the firm.

Salient features /Guidelines

1- Contains a heading, date, circular number and signed by the authorized person• 2-
2- Attention – getting or exiting opening•
3- Keep it brief, otherwise it may not be read•
4- Ensure the letter is informative and direct
5- Must be worded in a personal style.
6- Use individual terms, e.g. ‘you’ and not ‘all of you’ or ‘you all’• Use singular
expressions.
7- Persuasive approach.
8- Tone of the circular is always in the form of a request instead of a command.

Minutes :
Whether you’ve been tasked with taking notes for a committee or you’ve been appointed
Secretary to the Board of your organization, preparing meeting minutes doesn’t have to be
an arduous task. Here are some tips and ideas that will help you get started with writing
and preparing effective meeting minutes.
Why minutes are important

You shouldn’t be intimidated by the term “minutes” since it’s actually a little misleading.
After all, your committee or Board doesn’t want or need a record of its meeting
proceedings minute by minute! But it is important to capture the essence of the meeting,
including details such as:
 decisions made (motions made, votes, etc.)
 next steps planned
 identification and tracking of action items

Minutes are a tangible record of the meeting for its participants and a source of
information for members who were unable to attend. In some cases, meeting minutes can
act as a reference point, for example:
 when a meeting’s outcomes impact other collaborative activities or projects within
the organization
 minutes can serve to notify (or remind) individuals of tasks assigned to them and/or
timelines.

Tips that might help your note taking:

 Create an outline – as discussed earlier, having an outline (or template) based on the
agenda makes it easy for you to simply jot down notes, decisions, etc. under each item as
you go along. If you are taking notes by hand, consider including space below each item on
 Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

your outline for your hand-written notes, then print these out and use this to capture
minutes.
 Check-off attendees as they enter the room - if you know the meeting attendees, you
can check them off as they arrive, if not have folks introduce themselves at the start of the
meeting or circulate an attendance list they can check-off themselves.
 Record decisions or notes on action items in your outline as soon as they occur to be
sure they are recorded accurately
 Ask for clarification if necessary – for example, if the group moves on without
making a decision or an obvious conclusion, ask for clarification of the decision and/or next
steps involved.
 Don’t try to capture it all – you can’t keep up if you try to write down the
conversation verbatim, so be sure to simply (and clearly) write (or type) just the decisions,
assignments, action steps, etc.
 Record it – literally, if you are concerned about being able to keep up with note
taking, consider recording the meeting (e.g., on your smart phone, iPad, recording device,
etc.) but be sure to let participants know they are being recording. While you don’t want to
use the recording to create a word-for-word transcript of the meeting, the recording can
come in handy if you need clarification.
3. The Minutes Writing Process

Once the meeting is over, it’s time to pull together your notes and write the minutes. Here
are some tips that might help:
 Try to write the minutes as soon after the meeting as possible while everything is
fresh in your mind.
 Review your outline and if necessary, add additional notes or clarify points raised.
Also check to ensure all decisions, actions and motions are clearly noted.
 Check for sufficient detail: For Board of Director’s minutes, an Association Trends
article (by lawyers Jefferson C. Glassie and Dorothy Deng) suggests the following for
Board minutes:
o include a short statement of each action taken by the board and a brief
explanation of the rationale for the decision
o when there is extensive deliberation before passing a motion, summarize the
major arguments
 Edit to ensure brevity and clarity, so the minutes are easy to read
 What NOT TO INCLUDE: EffectiveMeetings.com offers some these tips from the
International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP):
o Be objective.
o Write in the same tense throughout
 Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

o Avoid using people’s names except for motions or seconds. This is a business
document, not about who said what.
o Avoid inflammatory or personal observations. The fewer adjectives or adverbs
you use, the better.
o If you need to refer to other documents, attach them in an appendix or indicate
where they may be found. Don’t rewrite their intent or try to summarize them.
Agenda
An organized meeting needs a well-written agenda. Don't let your meeting become the
overlong, inefficient slog that so many meetings seem to devolve into. By sticking to a
detailed yet flexible agenda, you can keep your meeting streamlined and focused, ensuring
that you meet all of your goals for your meeting in the shortest amount of time possible.
Whether you're looking to write your own agenda, use a template, or make the most of an
agenda you already have, see Step 1 below to get started!

REPORTS

The word Report is derived from the Latin word ‘Reportare’- that means ‘to bring back’.
Over a period of time, it has evolved to mean that the gathered information is unbiased and
evidence-based.

A Report is usually a piece of factual writing, based on evidence, containing organized

information on a particular topic.

It may contain facts of a situation, project, or process; an analysis and interpretation of

data, events, and records: inferences or conclusions drawn from objective data; or
suggestions and recommendations. Although reports may include a variety of topics and
objectives, they all help in the process of decision making by answering questions and
determining ways to improve certain situations.
SIGNIFICANCE

As a common type of communication used during work, reports reinforce, prompt,

motivate, and persuade the readers to act. Reports normally move in an upward direction
and are used to communicate to the senior levels in an organization.

The importance of reports for any professional lies in the fact that

 A number of business decisions and research conclusions are made on the basis of
information presented or recommendations made in reports.
 By helping in dissemination of ideas, views, and suggestions, reports develop
information and understanding essential for effective decision making.
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

 They serve several purposes:

1. presenting data
2. describing problems and suggesting solutions
3. discussing and analyzing data
4. recording events and happenings
5. analyzing a situation or a condition
6. giving feedback, suggestions, or recommendations

OBJECTIVES

1- To present a record of accomplished work . (Project Report)

2- To record an experiment. (primary research report/laboratory report)
3- To record research findings or technical specifications. ( A report on the details of a
new product)
4- To document schedules, timetables, and milestones. (A report on long term plan)
5- To document current status. ( An Inspection report)
6- To record and clarify complex information for future reference. (A report on
policies and procedures)
7- To present information to a large number of people. ( annual report)
8- To present organized information on a particular topic. (a report describing the
working of various divisions of an organization)
9- To recommend actions that can be considered in solving certain problems.
(recommendatory report)

Characteristics of Reports :
1- Precision
2- Purpose
3- Factual Finding
4- Relevance
5- Reader-Orientation
6- Objectivity of Recommendations
7- Simple and Unambiguous language
8- Clarity
9- Brevity
10- Grammatical Accuracy
11- Special Format
12- Illustrations
13- Homogeneity
14- Documentation

TYPES OF REPORTS

1- Informative Reports
2- Analytical Reports
3- Periodic Reports
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

4- Special Reports
5- Oral Reports
6- Written Report.

1- Informative Reports
An Informative report, as the name suggests, entails provision of all details and facts
pertaining to a given topic or problem.

2- Analytical Reports
An analytical report is also known as ‘interpretative and investigative report’. Is a report
merely presents facts pertinent to an issue or a situation, it is informative. On the other
hand, if it analyses the facts, draws conclusions and makes recommendations, it is
described as analytical report.

3- Periodic Reports
Periodic or routine reports are either informative or analytical in their purpose. As they
are prepared and presented at regular, prescribed intervals in the usual routine of
business, they are called periodic and routine reports. They may be submitted Daily,
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annually, annually.
4- Special Reports
Special reports are related to a single occasion or situation. A report on the feasibility of
opening a new branch, on the unrest amongst staff in the particular branch, or the causes
behind the recent fire incident in a factory are special reports.
5- Oral Reports
When one joins duty after attending an international seminar, one may be asked to meet
the officer and report about the deliberations of the seminar. This type of report comes
under oral report. It is based on the mode or presentation.

6- Written Report.
On the basis of mode or presentation if one joins duty after attending an international
seminar and asked to present the written report about the deliberations of the seminar is a
written report.

FORMATS OF REPORTS

1- Manuscript Format
2- Preprinted forms Format
3- Letter Format
4- Memo Format

ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURE OF A REPORT

Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

1- 1 Title Page
2- Preface
3- Letter of Transmittal
4- Acknowledgement
5- Table of Content
6- List of Illustrations
7- Abstract/ Executive Summary.
8- Introduction
9- Methodology
10- Discussion/Finding/Analysis
11- Conclusion
12- Recommendations
13- Appendices
14- References and bibliography
Telephonic Skills

There are many tips and techniques available on the market to help your employees build
great telephone skills; however, there are only 10 that can truly deliver. The following Top
10 skills have been gathered from the Telephone Training Program, an award winning
resource that is entertaining and simple for any practice to use.

1. Telephone Responsibility - It is important to identify and clarify whose role it is to

answer the phone to avoid confusion and chaos.

2. The Greeting - It is much more than a "hello" or "good morning." Use your greeting to
warmly welcome existing and potential customers to your business.

3. Telephone Etiquette - It's not so much "what you say," but "how you say it," that truly
matters to your customers - continue to provide important information but focus on the
delivery.

4. Scheduling Appointments - Make sure your employees know how to schedule those
appointments - don't take it for granted that they already know!

5. Placing Callers on Hold - Establish a customer - friendly manner to place callers on hold
without offending the customer.

6. Transferring Calls - Don't leave the caller hanging: let him or her know when and why
you are transferring their call to another employee.

7. Leaving and Taking Messages - Identify what an appropriate message is to leave for a
customer, as well as, how to gather all the necessary information when taking a message for
other employees.

8. Handling the Unhappy Caller - It is important that employees keep their own cool when
talking with an unhappy caller and work towards a mutually acceptable answer to the
 Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

caller's concern.

9. Handling Tough Questions - Recognize how much information is okay to provide and
when it is time to seek the assistance of a more seasoned employee.

10.Personal Calls - There really is no time that is acceptable for employees to make and
receive personal calls. This behavior communicates to the customer that their time is more
valuable than the customer's - a big put-off!

You can provide your employees with these necessary phone skills in your employee
manual and through hands-on instruction. Consider adding a web-based front office
and/or telephone training program to supplement your own training. This will ensure that
you cover all bases and give your employees the best foundation possible.

In Short...

Do not ignore the significance of an employee that possesses great telephone training.
Review the Top 10 skills with your employees on a regular basis and train a new employee
as a part of their employee orientation. Your business will continue to thrive with every
ring of the telephone.

 Customer Service Skills – Answer and make telephone calls in a professional

manner.
 Complaint Handling – Constructively responded to a customer’s concern or
complaint.
 Telephone Etiquette – Respond to customer calls with professional telephone
etiquette.
 Building Rapport – Build rapport and satisfy customers needs quickly via effective
dialogue skills.
 Communication Skills – Gain telephone communication skills and effective listening
techniques.
DO’s and Don’ts
"Do" Speak Clearly

 Make sure that all your words are clear when you speak to the caller. Enunciate
your words while slightly smiling. Speak slowly; the person on the other end of the phone
conversation needs to understand you.
"Do" Greet Customers Appropriately

 When you answer the phone, greet the customer according to the time of day (e.g.,
"good morning," "good afternoon," "good evening"). Thank the customer for calling in
 Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

your initial greeting -- this invites the customer to feel comfortable voicing a complaint or
asking a question.
"Do" Ask How You Can Help

 Ask the customer how you can be of service when greeting them. After listening to
the customer's reason for calling -- and you can't be of assistance -- attempt to transfer the
consumer to the appropriate department.
"Do" Listen to the Caller's Request

 Listen carefully to the caller's request. Ask the customer applicable questions to
determine how you can help. Don't interrupt when the caller is speaking.
"Do" Ask to Place the Caller on Hold

 Before you place a caller on hold, ask permission first. Once you've pressed the hold
button, quickly work to address the customer's problem as quickly as possible.
"Don't" Talk with Your Mouth Full

 Don't pick up the phone with your mouth full. This makes it difficult for the caller
to understand you -- and is frustrating-- especially if the call is urgent. Answering the
phone at work while eating gives an unprofessional impression.
"Don't" Speak too Loudly or Softly

 Answer the phone in the volume that you normally speak. Speaking softly will make
it challenging for the caller to understand what you're saying. Talking softly may confuse
the caller, unsure that he has dialed the right number. Answering the phone too loudly
sounds harsh and abrasive, which is an unappealing to the caller.
"Don't" Leave the Caller on Hold

 If you have to place the caller on hold, don't leave the person calling on hold for a
long period of time. Check back every few seconds to keep the caller informed on your
progress.
"Don't" use Slang Words

 Using slang or shortened words during phone conversation is inappropriate and

unprofessional. For instance, if you have to check on something for the customer, say "just
a moment," not "hold on a sec".
 Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

'Don't' Answer the Phone Casually

 At home, answer the phone with "(family last name) residence"; greet the caller
according to the time of day. Instead of simply saying "hello" when answering a business
phone, state the name of the business or state the company's slogan immediately.
Negotiation is Defined as:-
“ To confer or discuss with another with a view toward reaching agreement where some
interests may be shared and some may be opposed.”
“ And interactive communication process that may be used whenever one person wants
something from another and seeks their cooperation in obtaining it”
“I is A skill”
“Haggling or bargaining over limited resources”
“ A useful way to resolve a problem or conflict”
Types of Negotiation
1- Integrative vs. Distributive Bargaining
2- Creating and Claiming Value
Integrative Bargaining:
• Seek Interests
• Create Value
• “Expand the Pie”
• Look for joint gains

Distributive Bargaining:
• Establish Starting
Positions
• Make Gradual
Concessions
• “Cut the Pie”

Distributive negotiation
Distributive negotiation is also sometimes called positional or hard-bargaining negotiation.
It tends to approach negotiation on the model of haggling in a market. In a distributive
negotiation, each side often adopts an extreme position, knowing that it will not be
accepted, and then employs a combination of guile, bluffing, and brinkmanship in order to
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

cede as little as possible before reaching a deal. Distributive bargainers conceive of

negotiation as a process of distributing a fixed amount of value.
The term distributive implies that there is a finite amount of the thing being distributed or
divided among the people involved. Sometimes this type of negotiation is referred to as the
distribution of a "fixed pie." There is only so much to go around, but the proportion to be
distributed is variable. Distributive negotiation is also sometimes called win-lose because of
the assumption that one person's gain results in another person's loss. A distributive
negotiation often involves people who have never had a previous interactive relationship,
nor are they likely to do so again in the near future. Simple everyday examples would be
buying a car or a house.

Integrative negotiation
Integrative negotiation is also sometimes called interest-based or principled negotiation. It
is a set of techniques that attempts to improve the quality and likelihood of negotiated
agreement by providing an alternative to traditional distributive negotiation techniques.
While distributive negotiation assumes there is a fixed amount of value (a "fixed pie") to be
divided between the parties, integrative negotiation often attempts to create value in the
course of the negotiation ("expand the pie"). It focuses on the underlying interests of the
parties rather than their arbitrary starting positions, approaches negotiation as a shared
problem rather than a personalized battle, and insists upon adherence to objective,
principled criteria as the basis for agreement.[1]
Integrative negotiation often involves a higher degree of trust and the forming of a
relationship. It can also involve creative problem-solving that aims to achieve mutual gains.
It is also sometimes called win-win negotiation.
Negotiation styles
Kenneth W. Thomas identified 5 styles/responses to negotiation. These five strategies have
been frequently described in the literature and are based on the dual-concern model.[7] The
dual concern model of conflict resolution is a perspective that assumes individuals’
preferred method of dealing with conflict is based on two themes or dimensions [8]

1. A concern for self (i.e. assertiveness), and

2. A concern for others (i.e. empathy).

Based on this model, individuals balance the concern for personal needs and interests with
the needs and interests of others. The following five styles can be used based on individuals’
preferences depending on their pro-self or pro-social goals. These styles can change over
time, and individuals can have strong dispositions towards numerous styles.
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

1. Accommodating: Individuals who enjoy solving the other party's problems and
preserving personal relationships. Accommodators are sensitive to the emotional
states, body language, and verbal signals of the other parties. They can, however,
feel taken advantage of in situations when the other party places little emphasis on
the relationship.
2. Avoiding: Individuals who do not like to negotiate and don't do it unless warranted.
When negotiating, avoiders tend to defer and dodge the confrontational aspects of
negotiating; however, they may be perceived as tactful and diplomatic.
3. Collaborating: Individuals who enjoy negotiations that involve solving tough
problems in creative ways. Collaborators are good at using negotiations to
understand the concerns and interests of the other parties. They can, however,
create problems by transforming simple situations into more complex ones.
4. Competing: Individuals who enjoy negotiations because they present an opportunity
to win something. Competitive negotiators have strong instincts for all aspects of
negotiating and are often strategic. Because their style can dominate
the bargaining process, competitive negotiators often neglect the importance of
relationships.
5. Compromising: Individuals who are eager to close the deal by doing what is fair and
equal for all parties involved in the negotiation. Compromisers can be useful when
there is limited time to complete the deal; however, compromisers often
unnecessarily rush the negotiation process and make concessions too quickly.

Negotiation Outcomes

Win-Lose
In a win-lose scenario, both sides attempt to win, without much regard for the outcome of
the other party. In this scenario, both parties may enter the negotiation with a best case
scenario and a "walk away" point. In a Win-Lose scenario, one party falls within their
target range (or better) and the other party falls outside their target range.

Lose-Lose
In a Lose-Lose scenario, one of two things can happen: either both parties concede
bargaining positions outside their target ranges, or no deal is struck. Both parties may end
up in worse positions than when they started the negotiations.

Win-Win
In a Win-Win scenario, both parties end up at minimum within their target ranges. In
some cases, a win-win can mean that a new solution is found that improves the position of
both parties.
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

Example Negotiation - With Three Different Outcomes

Say Chris wants to sell her car. She recently moved into the city and found that her
commute using public transportation is less expensive than the insurance, maintenance,
and gas costs for her car. She checked the blue book and found that the car is worth about
$4700 but would be happy to get close to $4200. Her next year's insurance payment will be
due at the beginning of next month, so ideally, she'd like to sell the car before then. Mary's
best case scenario is anything over $4500. Her walk away point is $4000.

Pat is looking to buy his first car. He's saved up about $3700. He recently made a big sale at
work and expects an extra bonus check of about $1000 later in the month that he plans to
apply to the purchase as well. In the meantime, he wanted to start looking at the local used
car market since a group of his friends plan to go hiking next weekend, so he'd love to
avoid the car rental fee. His father suggested he start at $3200 so he has room to negotiate.
Pat's best case scenario is $3200. His walk away point is $4200.

 The Great Trial-Robert Payne

 The Home Coming - Rabindra Nath Tagore

Summary
Phatik, his younger brother Makhan and their mother, that was his family. His father had
died long ago and it was their mother who brought them up. Somewhere in the go, mother
began to favor Makhan and poor Phatik was eventually ignored or feared. Phatik had to
seek love and consideration outside his divided home. It was during this breaking away
time that Phatik’s uncle paid an unexpected visit. Having heard from his sister, this uncle
agreed to take Phatik home to Calcutta.
Well, Phatik could do nothing better than DIE!

Phatik Chakravorti was ringleader among the boys of the village. A new mischief got into
his head. There was a heavy log lying on the mud-flat of the river waiting to be shaped into
a mast for a boat. He decided that they should all work together to shift the log by main
force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be angry and surprised,
and they would all enjoy the fun. Every one seconded the proposal, and it was carried
unanimously.
But just as the fun was about to begin, Makhan, Phatik’s younger brother, sauntered up,
and sat down on the log in front of them all without a word. The boys were puzzled for a
moment. He was pushed, rather timidly, by one of the boys and told to get up but he
remained quite unconcerned. He appeared like a young philosopher meditating on the
futility of games. Phatik was furious. “Makhan,” he cried, “if you don’t get down this
minute I’ll thrash you!”
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

Makhan only moved to a more comfortable position.

Now, if Phatik was to keep his regal dignity before the public, it was clear he ought to carry
out his threat. But his courage failed him at the crisis. His fertile brain, however, rapidly
seized upon a new maneuver which would discomfit his brother and afford his followers an
added amusement. He gave the word of command to roll the log and Makhan over
together. Makhan heard the order, and made it a point of honor to stick on. But he
overlooked the fact, like those who attempt earthly fame in other matters, that there was
peril in it.
The boys began to heave at the log with all their might, calling out, “One, two, three, go,”
At the word “go” the log went; and with it went Makhan’s philosophy, glory and all.
All the other boys shouted themselves hoarse with delight. But Phatik was a little
frightened. He knew what was coming. And, sure enough, Makhan rose from Mother
Earth blind as Fate and screaming like the Furies. He rushed at Phatik and scratched his
face and beat him and kicked him, and then went crying home. The first act of the drama
was over.
Phatik wiped his face, and sat down on the edge of a sunken barge on the river bank, and
began to chew a piece of grass. A boat came up to the landing, and a middle-aged man,
with grey hair and dark moustache, stepped on shore. He saw the boy sitting there doing
nothing, and asked him where the Chakravortis lived. Phatik went on chewing the grass,
and said: “Over there,” but it was quite impossible to tell where he pointed. The stranger
asked him again. He swung his legs to and fro on the side of the barge, and said; “Go and
find out,” and continued to chew the grass as before.
But now a servant came down from the house, and told Phatik his mother wanted him.
Phatik refused to move. But the servant was the master on this occasion. He took Phatik up
roughly, and carried him, kicking and struggling in impotent rage.
When Phatik came into the house, his mother saw him. She called out angrily: “So you
have been hitting Makhan again?”
Phatik answered indignantly: “No, I haven’t; who told you that? ”
His mother shouted: “Don’t tell lies! You have.”
Phatik said suddenly: “I tell you, I haven’t. You ask Makhan!” But Makhan thought it best
to stick to his previous statement. He said: “Yes, mother. Phatik did hit me.”
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

Phatik’s patience was already exhausted. He could not hear this injustice. He rushed at
Makban, and hammered him with blows: “Take that” he cried, “and that, and that, for
telling lies.”
His mother took Makhan’s side in a moment, and pulled Phatik away, beating him with
her hands. When Phatik pushed her aside, she shouted out: “What I you little villain!
would you hit your own mother?”
It was just at this critical juncture that the grey-haired stranger arrived. He asked what
was the matter. Phatik looked sheepish and ashamed.
But when his mother stepped back and looked at the stranger, her anger was changed to
surprise. For she recognized her brother, and cried: “Why, Dada! Where have you come
from? “As she said these words, she bowed to the ground and touched his feet. Her brother
had gone away soon after she had married, and he had started business in Bombay. His
sister had lost her husband while he was In Bombay. Bishamber had now come back to
Calcutta, and had at once made enquiries about his sister. He had then hastened to see her
as soon as he found out where she was.
The next few days were full of rejoicing. The brother asked after the education of the two
boys. He was told by his sister that Phatik was a perpetual nuisance. He was lazy,
disobedient, and wild. But Makhan was as good as gold, as quiet as a lamb, and very fond
of reading, Bishamber kindly offered to take Phatik off his sister’s hands, and educate him
with his own children in Calcutta. The widowed mother readily agreed. When his uncle
asked Phatik If he would like to go to Calcutta with him, his joy knew no bounds, and he
said; “Oh, yes, uncle! ” In a way that made it quite clear that he meant it.
It was an immense relief to the mother to get rid of Phatik. She had a prejudice against the
boy, and no love was lost between the two brothers. She was in daily fear that he would
either drown Makhan some day in the river, or break his head in a fight, or run him into
some danger or other. At the same time she was somewhat distressed to see Phatik’s
extreme eagerness to get away.
Phatik, as soon as all was settled, kept asking his uncle every minute when they were to
start. He was on pins and needles all day long with excitement, and lay awake most of the
night. He bequeathed to Makhan, in perpetuity, his fishing-rod, his big kite and his
marbles. Indeed, at this time of departure his generosity towards Makhan was unbounded.
When they reached Calcutta, Phatik made the acquaintance of his aunt for the first time.
She was by no means pleased with this unnecessary addition to her family. She found her
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

own three boys quite enough to manage without taking any one else. And to bring a village
lad of fourteen into their midst was terribly upsetting. Bishamber should really have
thought twice before committing such an indiscretion.
In this world of human affairs there is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen.
He is neither ornamental, nor useful. It is impossible to shower affection on him as on a
little boy; and he is always getting in the way. If he talks with a childish lisp he is called a
baby, and if he answers in a grown-up way he is called impertinent. In fact any talk at all
from him is resented. Then he is at the unattractive, growing age. He grows out of his
clothes with indecent haste; his voice grows hoarse and breaks and quavers; his face grows
suddenly angular and unsightly. It is easy to excuse the shortcomings of early childhood,
but it is hard to tolerate even unavoidable lapses in a boy of fourteen. The lad himself
becomes painfully self-conscious. When he talks with elderly people he is either unduly
forward, or else so unduly shy that he appears ashamed of his very existence.
Yet it is at this very age when in his heart of hearts a young lad most craves for recognition
and love; and he becomes the devoted slave of any one who shows him consideration. But
none dare openly love him, for that would be regarded as undue indulgence, and therefore
bad for the boy. So, what with scolding and chiding, he becomes very much like a stray dog
that has lost his master.
For a boy of fourteen his own home is the only Paradise. To live in a strange house with
strange people is little short of torture, while the height of bliss is to receive the kind looks
of women, and never to be slighted by them.
It was anguish to Phatik to be the unwelcome guest in his aunt’s house, despised by this
elderly woman, and slighted, on every occasion. If she ever asked him to do anything for
her, he would be so overjoyed that he would overdo it; and then she would tell him not to
be so stupid, but to get on with his lessons.
The cramped atmosphere of neglect in his aunt’s house oppressed Phatik so much that he
felt that he could hardly breathe. He wanted to go out into the open country and fill his
lungs and breathe freely. But there was no open country to go to. Surrounded on all sides
by Calcutta houses and walls, be would dream night after night of his village home, and
long to be back there. He remembered the glorious meadow where he used to By his kite all
day long; the broad river-banks where he would wander about the livelong day singing and
shouting for joy; the narrow brook where he could go and dive and swim at any time he
liked. He thought of his band of boy companions over whom he was despot; and, above all,
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

the memory of that tyrant mother of his, who had such a prejudice against him, occupied
him day and night. A kind of physical love like that of animals; a longing to be in the
presence of the one who is loved; an inexpressible wistfulness during absence; a silent cry
of the inmost heart for the mother, like the lowing of a calf in the twilight;-this love, which
was almost an animal instinct, agitated the shy, nervous, lean, uncouth and ugly boy. No
one could understand it, but it preyed upon his mind continually.
There was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik. He gaped and remained
silent when the teacher asked him a question, and like an overladen ass patiently suffered
all the blows that came down on his back. When other boys were out at play, he stood
wistfully by the window and gazed at the roofs of the distant houses. And if by chance he
espied children playing on the open terrace of any roof, his heart would ache with longing.
One day he summoned up all his courage, and asked his uncle: “Uncle, when can I go
home?”
His uncle answered; “Wait till the holidays come.” But the holidays would not come till
November, and there was a long time still to wait.
One day Phatik lost his lesson-book. Even with the help of books he had found it very
difficult indeed to prepare his lesson. Now it was impossible. Day after day the teacher
would cane him unmercifully. His condition became so abjectly miserable that even his
cousins were ashamed to own him. They began to jeer and insult him more than the other
boys. He went to his aunt at last, and told her that he bad lost his book.
His aunt pursed her lips in contempt, and said: “You great clumsy, country lout. How can I
afford, with all my family, to buy you new books five times a month?”
That night, on his way back from school, Phatik had a bad headache with a fit of shivering.
He felt he was going to have an attack of malarial fever. His one great fear was that he
would be a nuisance to his aunt.
The next morning Phatik was nowhere to be seen. All searches in the neighborhood proved
futile. The rain had been pouring in torrents all night, and those who went out in search of
the boy got drenched through to the skin. At last Bisbamber asked help from the police.
At the end of the day a police van stopped at the door before the house. It was still raining
and the streets were all flooded. Two constables brought out Phatik in their arms and
placed him before Bishamber. He was wet through from head to foot, muddy all over, his
face and eyes flushed red with fever, and his limbs all trembling. Bishamber carried him in
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

his arms, and took him into the inner apartments. When his wife saw him, she exclaimed;
“What a heap of trouble this boy has given us. Hadn’t you better send him home ?”
Phatik heard her words, and sobbed out loud: “Uncle, I was just going home; but they
dragged me back again,”
The fever rose very high, and all that night the boy was delirious. Bishamber brought in a
doctor. Phatik opened his eyes flushed with fever, and looked up to the ceiling, and said
vacantly: “Uncle, have the holidays come yet? May I go home?”
Bishamber wiped the tears from his own eyes, and took Phatik’s lean and burning hands in
his own, and sat by him through the night. The boy began again to mutter. At last his voice
became excited: “Mother,” he cried, “don’t beat me like that! Mother! I am telling the
truth!”
The next day Phatik became conscious for a short time. He turned his eyes about the room,
as if expecting some one to come. At last, with an air of disappointment, his head sank back
on the pillow. He turned his face to the wall with a deep sigh.
Bishamber knew his thoughts, and, bending down his head, whispered: “Phatik, I have sent
for your mother.” The day went by. The doctor said in a troubled voice that the boy’s
condition was very critical.
Phatik began to cry out; “By the mark! –three fathoms. By the mark– four fathoms. By the
mark-.” He had heard the sailor on the river- steamer calling out the mark on the plumb-
line. Now he was himself plumbing an unfathomable sea.
Later in the day Phatik’s mother burst into the room like a whirlwind, and began to toss
from side to side and moan and cry in a loud voice.
Bishamber tried to calm her agitation, but she flung herself on the bed, and cried: “Phatik,
my darling, my darling.”
Phatik stopped his restless movements for a moment. His hands ceased beating up and
down. He said: “Eh?”
The mother cried again: “Phatik, my darling, my darling.”
Phatik very slowly turned his head and, without seeing anybody, said: “Mother, the
holidays have come.”
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

How Much Land Does a Man Need?

How Much Land Does a Man Need? Summary
Summary
An elder sister from the city visits her younger sister, the wife of a peasant farmer in the village.
In the midst of their visit, the two of them get into an argument about whether the city or the
peasant lifestyle is preferable. The elder sister suggests that city life boasts better clothes, good
things to eat and drink, and various entertainments, such as the theater. The younger sister replies
that though peasant life may be rough, she and her husband are free, will always have enough to
eat, and are not tempted by the devil to indulge in such worldly pursuits.

Pahom, the husband of the younger sister, enters the debate and suggests that the charm of the
peasant life is that the peasant has no time to let nonsense settle in his head. The one drawback of
peasant life, he declares, is that the peasant does not have enough land: “If I had plenty of land, I
shouldn’t fear the Devil himself!” The devil, overhearing this boast, decides to give Pahom his
wish, seducing him with the extra land that Pahom thinks will give him security.

Pahom’s first opportunity to gain extra land comes when a lady in the village decides to sell her
three hundred acres. His fellow peasants try to arrange the purchase for themselves as part of a
commune, but the devil sows discord among them and individual peasants begin to buy land.
Pahom obtains forty acres of his own. This pleases him initially, but soon neighboring peasants
allow their cows to stray into his meadows and their horses among his corn, and he must seek
justice from the district court. Not only does he fail to receive recompense for the damages but
also he ruins his reputation among his former friends and neighbors; his extra land does not bring
him security.

Hearing a rumor about more and better farmland elsewhere, he decides to sell his land and move
his family to a new location. There he obtains 125 acres and is ten times better off than he was
before, and he is very pleased. However, he soon realizes that he could make a better profit with
more land on which to sow wheat. He makes a deal to obtain thirteen hundred acres from a
peasant in financial difficulty for one thousand rubles and has all but clinched it when he hears a
rumor about the land of the Bashkirs. There, a tradesman tells him, a man can obtain land for less
than a penny an acre, simply by making friends with the chiefs.

Fueled by the desire for more, cheaper, and better land, Pahom seeks directions for the land of
the Bashkirs and leaves on a journey to obtain the land that he thinks he needs. On arrival, he
distributes gifts to the Bashkir leaders and finds them courteous and friendly. He explains his
reasons for being there and, after some deliberation, they offer him whatever land he wants for
one thousand rubles. Pahom is pleased but concerned; he wants boundaries, deeds, and “official
sanction” to give him the assurance he needs that they or their children will never reverse their
decision.

The Bashkirs agree to this arrangement, and a deal is struck. Pahom can have all the land that he
can walk around in a day for one thousand rubles. The one condition is that if he does not return
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

on the same day to the spot at which he began, the money will be lost. The night before his
fateful walk, Pahom plans his strategy; he will try to encircle thirty-five miles of land and then
sell the poorer land to peasants at a profit. When he awakes the next day, he is met by the man
whom he thought was the chief of the Bashkirs, but whom he recognizes as the peasant who had
come to his old home to tell him of lucrative land deals available elsewhere. He looks again, and
realizes that he is speaking with the devil himself. He dismisses this meeting as merely a dream
and goes about his walk.

Pahom starts well, but he tries to encircle too much land, and by midday he realizes that he has
tried to create too big a circuit. Though afraid of death, he knows that his only chance is to
complete the circuit. “There is plenty of land,” he says to himself, “but will God let me live on
it?” As the sun comes down, Pahom runs with all his remaining strength to the spot where he
began. Reaching it, he sees the chief laughing and holding his sides; he remembers his dream and
breathes his last breath. Pahom’s servant picks up the spade with which Pahom had been
marking his land and digs a grave in which to bury him: “Six feet from his head to his heels was
all he needed.”

VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER

ONCE upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince, but because his
head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether small, and weak, and ridiculous, his
neighbours called him Vicky–Little Vicky the Weaver.
But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance, Vicky was very
valiant, and loved to talk for hours of his bravery, and the heroic acts he would
perform if Fate gave him an opportunity. Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky
remained little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his boasting.
Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito settled on his left
hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his right hand, and by chance, after
gliding swiftly through the warp, the shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very
spot where the mosquito had settled, and squashed it. Seeing this, Vicky became
desperately excited: 'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I only had the chance I
knew I could show my mettle! Now, I'd like to know how many people could have
done that? Killing a mosquito is easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at
one time is a mighty different affair! It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking man–
there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and crossbows are made for
shooting; but to shoot a mosquito with a shuttle is quite another thing. That requires a
man!'
The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over his skill and
bravery, until he determined that he would no longer suffer himself to be called
'Vicky.' No! now that he had shown his mettle he would be called 'Victor'–'Victor
Prince'–or better still, 'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits. But when he
announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with laughter, and though
some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such sniggering and giggling and mock
reverence that the little man flew home in a rage. Here he met with no better
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

reception, for his wife, a fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her
ridiculous little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue and
not make a fool of himself. Upon this, beside himself with pride and mortification, he
seized her by the hair, and beat her most unmercifully. Then, resolving to stay no
longer in a town where his merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread
for a journey, and set about packing his bundle.
'I will go into the world!' he said to himself. 'The man who can shoot a mosquito dead
with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under a bushel.' So off he set, with his bundle,
his shuttle, and a loaf of bread tied up in a kerchief.
Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came daily to make
a meal off the inhabitants. Many mighty warriors had gone against it, but none had
returned. On hearing this the valiant little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my
chance! A great haystack of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a
mosquito with a shuttle!' So he went to the King, and announced that he proposed
single-handed to meet and slay the elephant. At first the King thought the little man
was mad, but as he persisted in his words, he told him that he was free to try his luck
if he chose to run the risk; adding that many better men than he had failed.
Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to take either
sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed only with his shuttle.
'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied boastfully to those
who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and it has done its work in its time,
I can tell you!'
It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet his enemy, while the
townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the fight. Never was such a valiant weaver
till the elephant, descrying its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at
him, and then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting his new
name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and his bread, and bolted
away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him.
Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and had put all
sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide the flavour of the poison she had
put in it also; for she was a wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her
tiresome, whimsical little husband. And so, as the elephant charged past, it smelt the
delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long trunk, gobbled it up without
stopping an instant. Meanwhile fear lent speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran
like a hare, the elephant soon overtook him. In vain he doubled and doubled, and the
beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned, hoping to bolt
through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind with fear, however, he ran full
tilt against them instead. Now, as luck would have it, at that very moment the poison
took effect, and the elephant fell to the ground stone dead.
When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe their eyes, but
their astonishment was greater still when, running up to the scene of action, they
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on the elephant's head, calmly mopping his
face with his handkerchief.
'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would never have engaged
me. Then I gave him a little push, and he fell down, as you see. Elephants are big
beasts, but they have no strength to speak of.'
The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky spoke of his
achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very distinctly what had occurred,
they went and told the King that the little weaver was just a fearful wee man, and had
knocked over the elephant like a ninepin. Then the King said to himself, 'None of my
warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have done this. I must
secure this little man's services if I can.' So he asked Vicky why he was wandering
about the world.
'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest! ' returned Valiant Vicky, laying such stress
on the last word that the King, in a great hurry, made him Commander-in-Chief of his
whole army, for fear he should take service elsewhere.
So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a peacock of
having fulfilled his own predictions.
'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full fig, with shining
armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and shields; 'I felt I had it in me!'
Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country, and at last the
city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor might be sent out to destroy it. So
out he went at the head of his army,–for he was a great man now, and had quite
forgotten all about looms and shuttles. But first he made the King promise his
daughter in marriage as a reward. 'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute little weaver to
himself, and when the promise was given he went out as gay as a lark.
'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who flocked round him
praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous to suppose the tiger will have a
chance. Why, I knocked over an elephant with my little finger! I am really invincible!'
But, alas for our Valiant Vicky! No sooner did he see the tiger lashing its tail and
charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest tree, and scrambled into the
branches. There he sat like a monkey, while the tiger glowered at him from below. Of
course when the army saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they
followed his example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they
spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree.
'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was jealous of the little
weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a son-in-law.
Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger occupied itself
below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling its whiskers, till poor Vicky
nearly tumbled into its jaws with fright. So one day, two days, three days, six days
passed by; on the seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever.
As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made him brave, and
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its mid-day snooze. He crept
stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot was within a yard of the ground, and then?
Why then the tiger, which had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar!
Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort, swung himself into
a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to keep them out of reach, for the tiger's
red panting mouth and gleaming white teeth were within half an inch of his toes. In
doing so, his dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open
mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died!
Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after prodding at the body
with a branch, and finding it did not move, he concluded the tiger really was dead, and
ventured down. Then he cut off its head, and went home in triumph to the King.
'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he, wrathfully. 'Here have I
been fighting that tiger for seven days and seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst
you have been guzzling and snoozing at home. Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose
every one is not a hero as I am!' So Prince Victor married the King's daughter, and
was a greater man than ever.
But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the King, came with
a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing to put every man, woman, and
child within it to the sword. Hearing this, the inhabitants of course cried with one
accord, 'Prince Victor! Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver was
ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after which he was to
receive half the kingdom as a reward. Now Valiant Vicky, with all his boasting, was
no fool, and he said to himself, 'This is a very different affair from the others. A man
may kill a mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill him. And here
is not one man, but thousands! No, No!–what is the use of half a kingdom if you
haven't a head on your shoulders? Under the circumstances I prefer not to be a hero!'
So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden dishes, and follow
him–'Not that you will want the golden dishes at my house,' he explained boastfully,
'for I have heaps and heaps, but on the journey these will be useful.' Then he crept
outside the city, followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through
the enemy's camp.
Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into Valiant Vicky's
face. 'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a terrible taking, and setting off as fast as
he could, never stopped till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed.
His wife set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a clang.
The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked, flew to arms; but
being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark, they could not distinguish friend
from foe, and falling on each other, fought with such fury that by next morning not
one was left alive! And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince
Victor's prowess. 'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant little gentleman
Devesh Kumar Sharma :- Notes 7th sem (Communication Skills )

modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a shuttle, everything else is child's
play.'
So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity, refusing ever
afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never fought themselves, but paid others to
fight for them.
Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky was the
greatest hero the world had ever seen.