Mohammedali Shihab’s autobiography introduced

The students read the news in admiration, and they stood back to discuss the news admiringly. Admire means to respect somebody for what they are. (ബഹുമാനത്തോടെയും ആശ്ചര്യത്തോടെയും നോക്കുക).

Anvar: Hey, what do you mean by “ Inspiring Civil service aspirants”?
Sabitha: Inspire means: To give somebody the desire or enthusiasm to do something well. Example: My teacher inspired me to give a speech in the assembly. Inspiring is adjective. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was an inspiring teacher. In the news the Collector said that Mr. Shihab’s struggles in life should be an inspiration for today’s students.
Shobha: Aspirants is the plural of aspirant. Here they are talking about two IAS officers, Malappuram Collector Amit Meena and Nagaland’s Collector Mohammedali Shihab during the latter’s book itnroduction function( മുഹമ്മദലി ശിഹാബി ന്റെ ആത്മകഥയായ ‘വിരലറ്റം’ പ്രകാശനം ചെയ്യുന്ന ചടങ്ങായിരുന്നു). The word Aspirant is used as a noun and adjective as well. It means “ A person with a strong desire to achieve a position of importance”.(പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട ഒരു സ്ഥാനത്തെത്താന്‍ അതിയായ ആഗ്രഹമുള്ള ആള്‍).
Raseena: ( Reads the news) Two young IAS officers whipped up the Civil services ambitions of a small group of students. Whip means to hit a person hard, then, Did they hit anyone? (ചാട്ടവാര്‍കൊണ്ട് അടിച്ചോ).
Gazi: No, no, dear! Here it is whipped up, that means , to deliberately make people excited about something (ആവേശം കൊള്ളിക്കുക എന്നര്‍ഥം).

“Rouse” is thes synonym (പര്യായം). Prof. Sukumar Azhikode was a speaker who could really whip up a crowd.( ഊര്‍ജ്ജസ്വലരാക്കുക്ക, ഇളക്കി മറിക്കുക എന്നര്‍ഥം). And another meaning is ,to quickly make a meal. Example: When we reached Goa,my hometown, my mother whipped up a delicious lunch for us in 20 minutes.
Raseena: Thank you very much Gazi. I owe you.
Gazi: No mention ! It’s my pleasure. And another meaning for whip is to stir cream.( നന്നായി ഇളക്കുക). Example: Whip the egg whites up into stiff peaks (മുട്ടയുടെ വെള്ള നന്നായി ഇളക്കുക).
Shammem: And the occasion marked the introduction of an autobiographical sketch authored by Nagaland’s Kiphire Ditsrict Collector Mohammedali Shihab titled “viralattam”.( ശിഹാബ് രചിച്ച അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ജീവചരിത്രമായ വിരലറ്റം പ്രകാശനച്ചടങ്ങായിരുന്നു സന്ദര്‍ഭം).
Raseena: Introducing the book, Ditsrict Collector Amit Meena said that Mr. Shihab’s struggle in life should be an inspiration for today’s students.( ഇന്നത്തെ കുട്ടികള്‍ക്കൊരു പ്രചോദനമായിരിക്കും).
Mr . Meena said that Mr. Shihab won IAS fighting against all odds. Odds here means “something that makes it seem impossible to do or achieve something”. Example: My grandfather was seriously ill, against all odds he made a full recovery.
Shameem : That sounds great! Mr . Shihab called upon the students never to take a flippant attitude to life and to view everything they confront with importance. A flippant attitude , what does he mean?
Raseena: Flippant means, “ showing that you do not take something as seriously as other people think you should”, (ഒന്നും ഗൗരവമായിട്ടെടുക്കാതെ എന്നര്‍ഥം).During these monsoon days , students have been warned to stay safe at home. Unfortunately some of them had a flippant attitude and went to river for swimming and lost their lives.
Shameem: Exactly, We shouldn’t show a flippant attitude against our parents warning. Mr Shihab urged the students to view everything they confront with importance. Here confront means to face (ജീവിതത്തില്‍ അഭിമുഖീകരിക്കുന്നവയെല്ലാം ഗൗരവമായിട്ടെടുക്കണം).
Lissy: He added: “ Be your own mentor if you have none. You should not be blinded by the flashy side of life.” Mentor , I do not remember the meaning exactly!
Shobha: A mentor is an experienced person who advises and helps somebody with less experience over a period of time.( പരിചയസമ്പന്നനും മാര്‍ഗദര്‍ശിയുമായ ഉപദേഷ്ടാവെന്നര്‍ഥം).
Lissy: Okay, Now I understood, My uncle is my mentor !
Raseena : Really, My elder brother is my mentor. Blind , I know , not able to see . Blinded to something means , not noticing or realizing something. For example: My neighbour is blind to her husband’s fault. She always turns a blind eye to his fault.( കണ്ടില്ലെന്ന് നടിക്കുക).
And you know there is an idiom “as blind as a bat”, means not able to see well . My father is as blind as a bat without his glasses.
Lissy: Can I add one more regarding blind, “The blind leading the blind” is a situation in which people with the almost no experience or knowledge give advice to others who also have no experience or knowledge. Example: Recently my brother read a book on tax and he told me that he would file my tax return. Then I told him, No thanks, then it would be like, the blind leading the blind.
All together ( cheer up) : Superb Lissy, Lissy , Lissy.
Shameem : Flashy side of life means, attracting attention by being bright, expensive flashy (പകിട്ടുള്ള എന്നര്‍ഥം).You should not be blinded by the flashy side of the life (അല്‍പായുസ്സുള്ള പകിട്ടുകണ്ട് വിവേകമില്ലാതാകരുത്).