Is all the beekeeping, baking and leatherwork just escapist fantasy or the start of a radically human approach to work?

Is all the beekeeping, baking and leatherwork just escapist fantasy or the start of a radically human approach to work?

In the 18th century, the streets of East London were filled with flowers. Fuchsias, auriculas and star-of-Bethlehem grew from the window boxes of tall terraced houses. And tulips and dahlias sprouted from the narrow allotments kept by local silk weavers, who often tended to their gardens on Mondays. But as mechanical looms took over, and the weavers were forced to work long hours in factories to earn a living, there was little time left for growing flowers.

In 1795, John Thelwall, the son of a silk mercer, wrote about his memories of the weavers’ gardens:

I remember the time, myself, when a man who was a tolerable workman in the fields, had generally, beside the apartment in which he carried on his vocation, a small summer house and a narrow slip of a garden, at the outskirts of the town, where he spent his Monday, either in flying his pidgeons, or raising his tulips. But those gardens are now fallen into decay. The little summer-house and the Monday’s recreation are no more; and you will find the poor weavers and their families crowded together in vile, filthy and unwholesome chambers, destitute of the most common comforts, and even of the common necessaries of life.

Like many others, Thelwall was nostalgic for a lost way of life. The historian E P Thompson notes that almost all writing about cloth workers in the 19th century is ‘haunted by the legend of better days’. And, like many others, Thelwall used the flowers that artisans had grown (and then woven into their patterns) as a symbol of that loss.

Vocabulary


1. Cherubic : (adjective)
Meaning : Having a sweet, innocent, and childlike beauty. (देवदूत जैसा सुंदर और मासूम)
Synonym : Angelic, Innocent, Sweet, Seraphic
Antonym : Devilish, Wicked, Sinister, Harsh
Example : The child had a cherubic smile that everyone loved.
Related Words :
Cherub (noun), Cherubically (adverb)
Trick: Cherubic sounds like cherub; imagine a cute angel-like baby with an innocent face.

2. Flurry : (noun)
Meaning : A sudden brief rush of activity, excitement, or light snowfall. (अचानक हलचल या हल्की बर्फबारी)
Synonym : Rush, Burst, Commotion, Gust
Antonym : Calm, Stillness, Peace, Quiet
Example : A flurry of messages arrived after the announcement.
Related Words :
Flurried (adjective), Flurry (verb)
Trick: Flurry sounds like hurry; jab sab log hurry me ho, tab flurry of activity hoti hai.

3. Oblong : (adjective)
Meaning : Having a long rectangular or oval shape. (लंबोतरा)
Synonym : Elongated, Rectangular, Oval, Lengthened
Antonym : Round, Circular, Square, Short
Example : She placed the cake on an oblong tray.
Related Words :
Oblong (noun), Oblongness (noun)
Trick: Oblong me long chhupa hai; jo shape long ho, use oblong yaad rakho.

4. Scenario : (noun)
Meaning : A possible situation or sequence of events. (संभावित परिस्थिति)
Synonym : Situation, Circumstance, Possibility, Outline
Antonym : Reality, Actuality, Fact, Certainty
Example : The worst-case scenario is that the project may be delayed.
Related Words :
Scenarist (noun), Scenic (adjective)
Trick: Scenario sounds like scene; kisi bhi scene ki possible story scenario hoti hai.

5. Throes : (noun)
Meaning : Intense pain, struggle, or difficulty. (तीव्र पीड़ा या संघर्ष)
Synonym : Agony, Anguish, Pain, Struggle
Antonym : Comfort, Ease, Relief, Calm
Example : The country was in the throes of a severe economic crisis.
Related Words :
Throe (noun)
Trick: Throes sounds like throws; life jab pain aur struggle throw kare, you are in throes.

6. Default : (verb)
Meaning : Fail to fulfill an obligation, especially payment or duty. (चूक करना)
Synonym : Fail, Neglect, Omit, Forfeit
Antonym : Fulfill, Pay, Perform, Comply
Example : The borrower may default on the loan if he misses more payments.
Related Words :
Default (noun), Defaulted (verb), Defaulting (adjective), Defaulter (noun)
Trick: Default means duty me fault; jab duty ya payment me fault ho, that is default.

7. Infest : (verb)
Meaning : To be present in large numbers and cause harm or trouble. (कीटों या हानिकारक जीवों से भर जाना)
Synonym : Overrun, Swarm, Invade, Plague
Antonym : Cleanse, Purify, Clear, Disinfect
Example : The old house was infested with termites.
Related Words :
Infestation (noun), Infested (adjective), Infesting (verb)
Trick: Infest sounds like insects fest; jab insects ka festival ho jaye, place infest ho jata hai.

8. Remand : (verb)
Meaning : To send an accused person back into custody or send a case back to a lower court. (हिरासत में वापस भेजना)
Synonym : Detain, Imprison, Return, Recommit
Antonym : Release, Free, Discharge, Acquit
Example : The judge decided to remand the accused to police custody.
Related Words :
Remand (noun), Remanded (verb), Remanding (verb)
Trick: Remand sounds like re + mand; court ne bola re-send him back to custody, that is remand.

9. Octave : (noun)
Meaning : A series of eight musical notes. (संगीत के आठ स्वरों का समूह)
Synonym : Eight-note Scale, Musical Range, Scale, Register
Antonym : Monotone, Single Note, Discord, Silence
Example : The singer’s voice covered more than one octave.
Related Words :
Octaval (adjective), Octave (adjective)
Trick: Octa means eight; octave means eight notes in music.

10. Vintage : (adjective)
Meaning : Old, classic, and of high quality, especially from a past period. (पुराना, उत्कृष्ट और शास्त्रीय)
Synonym : Classic, Antique, Old-fashioned, Traditional
Antonym : Modern, New, Contemporary, Recent
Example : He bought a vintage watch from an antique shop.
Related Words :
Vintage (noun), Vintner (noun)
Trick: Vintage sounds like wine age; old wine ki tarah old and classic cheez vintage hoti hai.