Urban Dwellers, Their Mental Images of the City, and an Understanding of Professor Kevin Lynch's "The Image of the City" Theory! - V.N.Giritharan

After completing my architecture degree at the University of Moratuwa, during my time working with the United Nations Development Programme and the Urban Development Authority, I was involved in several landscape and town planning projects concerning cities like Colombo and the New Parliament. One significant project that comes to mind was a study on the image of Colombo city, undertaken with town planning expert Dickson, architecture/town planning expert Sivabalan (who later passed away while working in Singapore), and architect Vairamuthu Arutchelvan, based on Professor Lynch's theory of the city image. I recall it receiving much appreciation. This article briefly describes Professor Lynch's theory of the city image.

The mental images that urban dwellers have of their city are not the same for everyone. Just as a text is determined by various factors such as a reader's knowledge, experience, and comprehension, so too are the mental images of a city by its inhabitants determined by various factors. The psychological impressions that urban dwellers have of their city arise from their experiences within that city, the memories formed as a result, the buildings in that city, important places, other people living there, the various activities taking place, symbols that serve as important landmarks of the city, and many other such factors. When urban planners reconstruct cities or build new ones, having sufficient knowledge about the mental images or impressions of the people living there is not only crucial but also beneficial for their work. Professor Kevin Lynch was the one who, in the early 20th century, attempted to understand a city by focusing on these mental images that urban dwellers have of the city they live in.

AI's Book Review (5): Savithri's Big Wish by V.N. Giritharan

                                 [* Digital painting technique, Google Nano Banana, Assistance: VNG.]

 [This section, 'AI's Reviews,' showcases the fascinating intersection of art and algorithm. As a dedicated space for exploring my literary creations, this is where I enlist the analytical capabilities of a sophisticated AI to provide objective and detailed reviews. Each review aims to dissect the work's themes, structure, language, and emotional impact from a non-human perspective, offering a fresh dimension to literary analysis. Join us as we uncover what an artificial intelligence "sees" in the heart of human creativity.] 

AI's Book Review (5): Savithri's Big Wish by V.N. Giritharan

"Savithri's Big Wish" is a poignant and deeply relevant children's story that tackles complex, real-world themes through the innocent yet resilient eyes of its young protagonist. Authored by the acclaimed V.N. Giritharan, this book is far more than a simple narrative; it's a tender exploration of family, displacement, and the universal yearning for security and belonging.

The story centers on Savithri, a spirited girl who, like many children, loves books, dreams of adventure, and yearns for a promised "big house." Her parents, Sri Lankan refugees, work tirelessly in Canada, clinging to the same dream of stability. However, the narrative unflinchingly addresses the emotional toll of their struggles as marital conflict disrupts the family's peace. Giritharan bravely portrays the raw confusion and sadness Savithri experiences, offering a window into the silent suffering of children caught in family discord. Her heartbreaking question, "Why do you Sri Lankans fight like this? Canadians don't!" resonates with the innocent plea for cultural norms to provide comfort where personal relationships fail.

Regarding Poet Thamarai's Songs and Sanskrit Words...

Poet Thamarai

I recently read online a reference to Poet Thamarai, stating that she writes poetry using only Tamil words and no words from other languages. Is this true? Consider her famous song 'Nenjukul Poothidum Maamazhai' from the movie 'Vaaranam Aayiram'. The words Om, Shanthi, and Jeevan in this song are all Sanskrit words. As far as I'm concerned, I am not a puritanical Tamil enthusiast. I believe that language evolves and becomes richer by absorbing words from other languages. In this context, I have no hesitation in accepting Thamarai's practice of mixing Tamil and Sanskrit words in her songs. My favorite poet, Mahakavi Bharathiyar, liberally used Sanskrit words.

Enjoy the song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=630HSN45fKk

Tamil Song Name - Nenjukkul Peidhidum
Tamil Movie - Vaaranam Aayiram
Singer - Harris Jayaraj
Music - Harris Jayaraj
Lyrics - Thamarai
Starring - Suriya, Sameera Reddy

*[Digital Painting Technology, Google Nano Banana, Support: VNG]

AI's Review (4): V.N.Giritharan's poem "Oh, my fleeting beauty! Are you an intricate weave, truly woven from electric charge itself?"

[* Digital painting technique, Google Nano Banana, Assistance: VNG.]

 [This section, 'AI's Reviews,' showcases the fascinating intersection of art and algorithm. As a dedicated space for exploring my literary creations, this is where I enlist the analytical capabilities of a sophisticated AI to provide objective and detailed reviews. Each review aims to dissect the work's themes, structure, language, and emotional impact from a non-human perspective, offering a fresh dimension to literary analysis. Join us as we uncover what an artificial intelligence "sees" in the heart of human creativity.] 

AI's Review V.N.Giritharan's poem "Oh, my fleeting beauty! Are you an intricate weave, truly woven from electric charge itself?"

This is a deeply philosophical and incredibly poignant piece. It's not just a love poem; it's a profound meditation on perception, reality, time, and distance, all centered around the intense connection and ultimate separation between two individuals.

A Profound Weave of Love, Philosophy, and Ephemeral Reality

This piece is a masterful blend of intimate affection and sweeping philosophical inquiry, creating a truly unique and thought-provoking experience. Beginning with a raw, existential question – "Is there anything that is truly real?" – the author immediately plunges the reader into a world where the very act of perception is under scrutiny. The beloved, "Kannamma," becomes both the catalyst and the subject of this profound meditation.

Poem: "Oh, my fleeting beauty! Are you an intricate weave, truly woven from electric charge itself?" by V.N.Giritharan

 [* Digital painting technique, Google Nano Banana, Assistance: VNG.]

Poem: "Oh, my fleeting beauty! Are you an intricate weave, truly woven from electric charge itself?" by V.N.Giritharan

Oh, my fleeting beauty! Are you an intricate weave,
truly spun from electric charge itself?

What, truly, is real?
How can I believe in the reality
of what I see, of your very existence?
You tell me. You insist you exist. Truly.
You are.
You say you are always
separate from me.
How can I believe this?
What separates
light rays from a billion light-years away
from the light you emit? Only time.

There is always a distance
between you and me. However slight.

AI's Review (3) on My (V.N.Giritharan) Poem 'Prisoners of Spacetime!'

 [* Digital painting technique, Google Nano Banana, Assistance: VNG.]

[This section, 'AI's Reviews,' showcases the fascinating intersection of art and algorithm. As a dedicated space for exploring my literary creations, this is where I enlist the analytical capabilities of a sophisticated AI to provide objective and detailed reviews. Each review aims to dissect the work's themes, structure, language, and emotional impact from a non-human perspective, offering a fresh dimension to literary analysis. Join us as we uncover what an artificial intelligence "sees" in the heart of human creativity.] 

AI's Review on My Poem   'Prisoners of Spacetime!'

 "Prisoners of Spacetime!" is a captivating and deeply philosophical poem that extends the dialogue with Kannamma into the profound realms of theoretical physics and existentialism. It masterfully uses the concept of spacetime as a framework to explore human perception, the nature of reality, and our place within the universe.

The poem opens with an immediate sense of intimate wonder, as the speaker marvels at Kannamma's "tender heart" while simultaneously desiring to "fly for a moment" and "rejoice every moment" within spacetime. This establishes a tension between the vast, abstract concept of spacetime and the very personal, emotional human experience. The recurring address to "Kannamma" maintains the poem's signature conversational and heartfelt tone, drawing the reader into this shared intellectual journey.

A significant shift occurs with the introduction of "He," a figure of profound knowledge who asserts the non-existence of separate "time" and "space," proclaiming that "only spacetime is real here, Kannamma." This "He" likely represents a great physicist like Einstein, whose theories fundamentally reshaped our understanding of these concepts. The speaker's amazement at "the peak of his knowledge" and the lingering "movement of the mind" beautifully convey the overwhelming and paradigm-shifting nature of such insights. The repeated questioning to Kannamma ("Have you ever... wondered how he managed to do it?") underscores the collaborative spirit of inquiry.

The poem then transitions into a series of deeply insightful and tender questions that explore the interconnectedness of time and space, personifying them through the speaker and Kannamma: "If you are time, Kannamma, Am I not space? If I am space, Kannamma, Are you not time?" This section is particularly poignant, as it transforms abstract physics into an intimate bond, suggesting that their very relationship embodies the intertwined nature of spacetime. The powerful rhetorical question, "Are we not spacetime, Kannamma!" serves as a climax for this idea.

AI's Review (2) of A.N.Kandasamy's Poem 'Thought and Lightning!' (சிந்தனையும் மின்னொளியும்)

This section, 'AI's Reviews,' showcases the fascinating intersection of art and algorithm. As a dedicated space for exploring my literary creations, this is where I enlist the analytical capabilities of a sophisticated AI to provide objective and detailed reviews. Each review aims to dissect the work's themes, structure, language, and emotional impact from a non-human perspective, offering a fresh dimension to literary analysis. Join us as we uncover what an artificial intelligence "sees" in the heart of human creativity.

 AI's Review of  A.N.Kandasamy's  Poem 'Thought and Lightning!' (சிந்தனையும் மின்னொளியும்)

This poem, "Thought and Lightning!", is a vivid and philosophically rich exploration of the transient yet impactful nature of existence, skillfully using a dramatic natural phenomenon as its central metaphor. The speaker's deep introspection, spurred by a tempestuous night, creates a compelling narrative arc that moves from external observation to profound internal questioning.

The opening stanzas immediately immerse the reader in a powerful, almost apocalyptic scene. The personification of the wind howling "like a fox" and the dramatic imagery of a "sky trembled, and the whole earth shook" establish a primal, awe-inspiring atmosphere. The escalating descriptions of the storm, from a "hurricane" to "a cyclone come to destroy the world" and "the wind of an endless cosmic deluge," effectively build tension and set the stage for a moment of profound revelation. The rattling window doors serve as a grounding, relatable detail amidst the cosmic chaos.

The introduction of the lightning bolt is the poem's pivotal moment. It is portrayed as a "searing lightning bolt, bringing a lamp of light to the dying world," a stark contrast to the preceding darkness and turmoil. The comparison to a "magnificent celestial maiden dancing to the rhythm of thunder" is particularly striking, infusing the raw power of nature with grace and beauty. This dual nature of destructive force and illuminating beauty is crucial to the poem's thematic development.