Our Duty to Old People

 Points: Different stages of life — Ripe experience of old age — Homage to old age is homage to life.

             Manes life passes through the different stages — Childhood, Youth and Old Age. These are like the beginning, the middle, and the end of a drama. Youth, it is true, is the most active and productive period of life. But old age has its role and charm too. An old man has the maximum experiences of life. He can advise best in many matters. Old teachers, old judges, old scholars are invaluable.
             A retired life need not be an idle life. It may not be strenuous but it can be fruitful. The society has a duty to its veterans — the old men and women. The Governments are nowadays establishing Old Men’s Homes. Some Associations are also coming forward. But individually we should pay respect to old men. This makes life graceful. There is a custom to celebrate the birthdays of the veteran people. The fiftieth, the sixtieth and the seventy-fifth years are observed as golden, diamond and platinum jubilee respectively.
             Life is a continuous process, from generation to generation. From parent to child, the river of life flows on. The old people are our lighthouses to guide the young sailors. One day the younger sailors will become old and become the lighthouses to guide the next young generation. This tradition is a treasure. And we must preserve it with care. Our duty to old people is nothing but our duty to ourselves, to our tradition, to the process of life itself.

The Art of Advertisement

Points: Advertisement as a link between the buyer and the seller — Should be informative and decent — It is an art.

             Advertisement is culled the soul of business. Through advertisement we come to know of the new products available in the market. It is the link between the buyer and the seller, between demand and supply. A would-be buyer gets a lot of information from the ‘ads’. There are various media of ads, like the newspaper, the radio and TV, the posters and other displays. Cinema slides are also used widely now- a-days.
             Advertisement is necessary. It is good so far as it is informal live. Sometimes an ads is very attractive. It uses cartoons and pictures. But sometimes tall claims arc made in favor of a particular commodity and indecent pictures are printed. There should be some check on them. Advertisements should be factual and dignified.
             Advertisement is an art. It not only sells goods, it also keeps the buyer in good humour. Advertisement can make a buyer a cheerful buyer. The market is a place of hard competition. So advertisement plays an important part to eliminate inferior goods. The people of West Bengal are lovers of poetry. So lines from the poems of Tagore and Jibananda are often used in advertisement here. This is commendable.

Your Favourite Book

Points: The particular book — The reason why I find it so interesting — Its universal.

             My most favorite book is Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhunit Bandyopadhyay. I have read ii times without count. Every time I read it I find new joy out of it. It is a modern classic in Bengali literature. Apu and Durga are the eternal brother and sister of a Bengali family. The hardship of the life of a poor Bengali villager is vividly described in this novel.
             The descriptions of Nature are also brilliant. Bihubati bhusàn was a great lover of Nature. By the magic touch of his pen the trees and creepers seem living. I can almost smell the flowers in the wood and visualize the village paths. I also feel for the characters like Sarbajaya the mother, and Indira Thakrain the grandmother.
             Satyajit Ray has made the story of Pather Panchali world-famous by his great film. When I saw the film for the first time, I thought it was in many ways different from the novel. But when I saw it for the second time I corrected my mistake. The film had to be different because it was made by a camera. Bibhutibhusan made his novel with words. Pather Panchali is full of sentiment and has a universal appeal. Even after seeing Satyajit Ray’s film, I find joy in reading the novel. It is an immortal book.

Knowledge is Power

Points: Secret of man’s power over Nature and animals — Knowing the laws of Nature has made man so powerful — Knowledge in war and in peace.

             Man is the most powerful of alt animals. But physically the lion or the tiger, or even a buffalo is stronger than man. Yet man has kept all animals under subjugation.  He has made the whale of Nature his storehouse. He commands far greater knowledge of Nature than a wild animal does.

             Man’s pursuit of knowledge has made him a scientist. Science is nothing but organized knowledge of Nature. Science is the source of man’s power. This means knowledge is the source of man’s power. That is to say: knowledge is power. A bird can fly. Man could not fly. But now man can fly much higher than a bird. Man’s rocket sails across the outer space. He even landed on the moon. He could do this because he knew well the laws of motion and gravitation.

             In times of war, espionage becomes a very important factor. If the position of the enemy is known beforehand it becomes easier to win. The satellites are sending us photos. With their help we flow know better the conditions of cloud and storm. This knowledge gives us the power to forecast weather. Knowledge, in brief, is power.

The Plays of Shakespeare

             Shakespeare is called the greatest dramatist in the world. He was born in England and wrote his plays in English. But his plays have been translated into most of the languages of the world. Shakespeare today belongs to all peoples of the world, and not merely to the English.
             Shakespeare wrote about three dozen plays — some tragedies, some comedies and some historical plays. Some of his best known tragedies are Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello and King Lear. The comedies include Merchant of Venice. Twelfth Night. As You Like It, Comedy of Errors, and the historical plays include Henry IV, Julius Caesar etc. He also wrote some romances like Tempest and The Winter’s Tale.
             The men and women characters created by Shakespeare are vivid and universal. Portia is a young lady who can outwit the seasoned lawyers. Shylock is a typical money-lender. Desdemona is killed by her own lover, Othello. Hamlet stands for the man who can never make up his mind. Romeo and Juliet are the idols of all young lovers; they die as martyrs of love. Lady Macbeth is a masculine type of lady who instigates her husband to commit a heinous act of murder. Some scenes of Shakespeare have become immortal, such as the sleep-walking scene in Macbeth, the storm scene in King Lear, he abdication scented in Richard II, the wooing scene in Richard III etc. Some Shakespeare quotations, too, are well known such as:
(1) Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow (Macbeth),
(2) To be, or not to be: that is the question (Hamlet)
(3) As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods (King Lear)
(4) Put out the light, and then put out the light (Othello)
(5) Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears. (Julius Caesar)
(6) We are such stuff as dreams are made on (The Tempest)
(7) The quality of mercy is not strained (Merchant of Venice)
(8) Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks (As you like it)
(9) Some arc born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them etc. (Twelfth Night)
             Shakespeare’s plays re very popular in India. They have been translated into all Indian languages. Shakespeare is now part of world culture.

Kolkata and its Beauty

             Kolkata is one of the biggest cities of the world. But it is not an ancient city like Rome or Varanasi. It is hardly four hundred years old now. Its importance grew when it became the capital of British India. Even after the capital was shifted to Delhi, its importance did not decline.
             There have been rapid changes in Kolkata after Independence. The partition of Bengal brought crores of people from East Bengal down here. As a result, thousands of new houses were built in and around the city. Many skyscrapers have shot up and the skyline of Kolkata has changed completely. The new fly-overs — near Sealdah and Howrah Bridge — have given a new look to the city. The Metro Rail and its stations are adding a new dimension. When fully completed, Kolkata’s Metro Rail will be a great attraction to tourists. The Circular Rail is already operating along the river Ganga. When fully completed, it will ease the burden of traffic, specially of the commuters.
             But it will be wrong to suppose that the new look of a city depends only on new buildings and constructions. The most important thing is maintenance. It Kolkata remains unclean and its parks dirty, the new buildings will only make the city look dirtier and uglier by contrast. It is good news that campaigns for a clean Kolkata are gaining momentum day by day. Recently, the students took part in such a campaign and got pres for their commendable work. In some parts of Kolkata roads have of late been weekend. This has really given a new look to the city. Trees are being planted every year along the roads the Southern Avenue and the Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue are good examples. The toy train at Rabindra Sarobar and the ‘Jhilmil’ park at Salt Lake have become new attractions to children. Such things really give a new look to Kolkata.

Processions

Points: Various kinds of processions — Road-jamming and other features of  processions — Group psychology operating in processions.

             There is hardly any week when there is no procession on the road. Processions are of various kinds, There are marriage processions. religious processions, political processions and processions by trade union people. Processions arc a feature of the city-life. Some of the processions are highly colorful, some are more musical. Flags and festoons are parts of most of the processions, specially the processions of the May Day, Sports Day, Health Day etc. 
             When a procession passes along a road, the vehicular traffic comes to a standstill . Slogans are repeated and if it is a protest march, angry fists are displayed by the marchers. Maharam processions are marked by the loud utterances of ‘Hai Hasan, Hai Hosain’ by the devotees. The Durga Puja immersion processions turn the whole city into a sea of human beings and lorries. Processions on the national days such as the independence Day (15th August) and the Republic Day (26th January) are marked by the display of National Flags and singing of national songs. While processions of mourning are solemn and silent, processions of victory are full of joyous outbursts and songs.
             Men forming a procession lose their individual identities. The procession itself assumes a character of its own. The individual ego then is overpowered by the social ego. Processions thus symbolize the gregarious nature of man.

Keep away from Evil Company

Points: Man must mix with others — Need for being careful — Man’s company may be either good or evil.

             There is a saying that man is known by the company he keeps. There is great truth in this saying. Man is a social animal. He cannot live or thrive alone. He has to mix with other people and make friends with some of them.
             We cannot always choose our neigh hours. So we may not be very selective about the people we should mix with. And is not easy to know beforehand who is good and who is bad. Still we should be careful about choosing our close friend. It is always good to keep evil company at arm’s length. After we know that somebody is dishonest, it will be foolish to keep company with him and still hope that corruption will not touch us.
             Keeping away physically may not always he possible. What is important is to keep away mentally. Good or evil operates in our mind. So it is the mental aptitude which decides everything. Every company does not always mean company of evil persons. It also flanks the company of hooks and films that corrupt us. We may not be extremely choosy, but we should be alert.

Self-taught is Best Taught

Points: ‘Education’ is not ‘literacy’ — We are taught at school hut we learn at home — Character is formed at home 

             By ‘education’ people usually mean the lessons caught in schools or colleges. Now-a-days school-going is almost compulsory for every child. But ‘education’ and ‘literacy’ arc not the same thing. Emperor Akhar was illiterate, he did not know how to read or write. But he was not uneducated. Take the example of Rabindranath Tagore. He did not have much of formal training in schools or colleges. But was he not one of the wisest and most educated among the Indians? He was not taught but self-taught.
             In fact, education is self-development. We become educated by what we learn and not by what we are taught. We are taught at school, but we learn a lot elsewhere. We learn most at home and best by ourselves. We learn to love and respect a home where our character is formed. Education at home is, therefore, as valuable as education in school.
             We can say that we have more of ‘learning’ in school, But we have more of ‘education’ at home. Learning refers to knowledge and skill. ‘Education’ refers to character and outlook. There is, of course, no opposition between the best result is obtained when we can combine both learning and education, school and home, knowledge and character. But even after all education in school, college or university, our whole life remains to be self-taught.

We Live in Deeds, Not in Years.

Points: Man is known by his work — Great men In different fields live in their undying fames —The quality of life depends on the quality of our performance.

             Man’s life is measured by his work. It is not the number of years a mart has lived which makes him adorable? Man is known by his good or had deeds. Flame, says the proverb, makes man immortal: Kirtir yasya sa jivati.
             A good man is one whose work is good. A man’s charitable work lives long after his death. Great men of old are remembered through centuries. A great inventor or scientist lives in our memory. A notorious man, too, lives in our memory. But he is remembered as a Satan or a tyrant. The social reformers are adored for their noble works. Iswarchundra Vidyasagar, for example is a household name. Poets anti artists, too, are cherished with love in the memory of mankind. We do not know much about the life of Kalidasa or Homer but their poetry has left them immortal. Raphael, Da Vinci, Picasso are great artists who still live in their works. Our great poets Valmiki and Rabindranath will live as long as the Himalayas exist.
             Life is short. We cannot hope to do everything we like in one life. So we have to put our mind to some chosen areas. It is the quality, not number, which is important. So whatever we perform we should perform well.

Choice of Books

Points: Book explosion in modern times — High and low categories — Room for individual tastes.

             When there was no printing press, books were all in manuscript. The number of books available was also limited. But today hundreds, even thousands, of books are being published daily all over the world. It is impossible to keep track of them by a single person.
             When there are so many books, we have to be choosy. The general reader chooses books of general interest. A specialist will procure a honk related to his special subject. Students will be interested in textbooks. Common readers always like novels and travelogues.
             We should read the classics if we want to cultivate our taste. Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Rabindranath, Whitman, Rolland are for all times and all ages. It is true we must also choose, for our recreation, light and humorous books. Choice is always personal. Choice of books is a matter of personal preference.  One’s choice need not be restricted to the so-called ‘good’ books only. Good, bad, indifferent — all kinds of hooks are enjoyable at different times. A reader should be allowed to develop his own taste without being over taught by his guides.

A Farewell Meeting

Points: The meeting — Some highlights of the occasion — Reminiscences flees of the old days.

             A few months ago our beloved teacher Harisadhan Babu retired from school. On the occasion of his retirement a farewell meeting was organized. The ex-students of the school look the initiative in the matter. The Headmaster helped them in all possible ways.
             The school took a festive look on that day. The hail was decorated. Many well known persons of the locality were invited. Most of them were once students of Harisadhan Babu. After the Headmaster made a few introductory remarks, an address was read out on behalf of the students and ex-students.
             Some songs were sung and a dhoti and a chadar were presented to the beloved teacher. Harisadhan Babu spoke nicely, recalling the old days and the old boys. We listened with rapt attention. He was speaking of the time when we were not yet born. It was a fascinating account. The oldest pleader Sudhir Babu lamented that the old tie between the teacher and the taught had been slackened now-a-days. Harisadhan Babu, he said, combined in him both discipline and love. He gave many instances of Harisadhan Babu’s love for students and sense of charity.

The Night Scene in a Town

Points: The evening scene — The scene at late hours — The mysterious night sky.

             The town I live in is not as big as a city. Still it is full of bustle in the daytime. At night it is not as quiet as a village. But it becomes quieter than in the daytime. At nightfall there is a rush of cinema-goers for the evening show. The commuters return from offices, mostly from Calcutta. The shops still make good business if there is no load- shedding.
             As the night deepens, the streets become more and more deserted.The street lamps look like watchmen’ of the town. A few cycle rickshaws ply from and to the near-by railway station. At a particular hour, the cinema goers return from the night show. They often discuss loudly the hero or the heroine. Slowly the town sinks into silence and sleep.
             If the smog is not too heavy, the stars look bright and dazzling. The Great Bear or Saptarshi (seven stars) shines prominently in the midnight sky like a big question mark. A lone passer-by may often be heard singing an old song. The night scene is, on the whole, dreamy and drowsy.

The Village Scene at Night

Points: The scene at nightfall — The scene at midnight — A dreamy and strange atmosphere

             At sundown, the village I live in looks like a different village altogether. As if by magic the crowds of people vanish and all noises die down. The roads or mites become almost invisible. The trees form a mass of shadow. It is so dense at places that even a full moon cannot cope with it. 
             As the night deepens, fire-flies are seen floating in the air. The crickets chirp hidden in the grass. Some night-birds and bats scuttle across the treetops. A lone passer-by on the highroad is heard singing an old song. Dogs bark at a distance, now singly now in a chorus. The Chowkidar is out on his round. The village defence party is also out with its volunteers and torch lights. They challenge every stranger they come across on the road.
             The Great Bear or Saptarshi (seven stars) hangs pasted on the midnight sky like a big question mark. The village at night appears to be a cradle of fairytales and dreams. Each tree seems to be a living person, having a story to tell.

Dress and Food-habits of Bengali People

Points: The Bengalis a nationality dress on ordinary and on festive days — Their food on normal and special occasions.

             India is a vast country. It is almost like a continent. So is called the Indian subcontinent. India is one nation hut it comprises many nationalities. The Bengali people form one of the major nationalities of India. Like the Bengali language, the Bengali dress and food-habits also are peculiar to the Bengali people.
             The traditional Bengali dress is dhoti and panjabi for the men and sad for the women. An old man often wears dhoti and chadar. Sometimes he does not wear any upper garment at all. Nowadays the male working people are adopting trousers and shirts in place of dhoti and Panjabi, but the working men still prefer saris to skits. The Bengalis arc not used to any head dress like turban or topee. On festival or national days men revert to dhoti and punjabi and wear light chappals instead of shoes. In ceremonial meetings they often wear chadar over panjabi. The women, on special occasions like marriage, puja or birthday wear additional ornaments, specially gold and jewellery.
             As regards food, they relish rice and fish. A typical Bengali prefers parboiled rice to sun-dried rice. He likes fish very much, and is fond of various preparations of fish — like fish fry, fish soup, fish gravy, fish with mustard, fish sour or chatni. With hilsha fish is prepared dahi-ilish. The Bengali's are usually non-vegetarian. They are also fond of sweets and milk preparations such as rasagolla, sandesh and payas (milk pudding). Rice is their staple food. But they also take polao and luchis, instead of bread, on festival days.

Communication Through Satellites

Points: Communication iii the Space Age — Lie broadcasts of far-off events possible with the help of satellites — The satellites arc our platforms in the sly.

             We are now living in the Space Ag. The outer sky is already crowded with satellites launched by the different countries. They are called communication satellites because through them long-distance communications can he made. Many of them are being used for relaying radio-waves and receiving radio signals across the countries.
             Sports events in Los Angeles may be directly telecast over the TV network in India. Olympic Games and Asiad games may be viewed by spectators as if they were national or local events. What a thrill it was when the Indian viewers viewed our first man in space, Rakesh Sharma, in his space capsule. The very launching of the satellite was telecast live with the help of another communication satellite. Accurate weather forecasts are possible flow with the help of the idea-photographs sent by the satellites. But nothing matched the live pictures of the games from abroad in which India won world championship.
             The powerful television cameras fitted to the satellites are like mankind’s new pair of eyes in the outer sky. Through them we are communicating or trying to communicate with the strange, unknown world of the stars and constellations. The satellites are our platforms in sky or farthest roofs. Going over them we can see a vaster region we can communicate with much longer distances.

Life is Action, Not Contemplation

Points: A person is known and assessed by his work — Character is formed by action — Contemplation also may be active like action.

             We Live in deeds not in years Man is judged by his output, not longevity. A good football player is one who has actually played many excellent games. A good debater is also a man who has won many trophies in debates.
             Merely wishing for something or dreaming of something great has no value in life. We must live up to our Ideas. Some of our thoughts have to be brought into practice. Just as a tree is known by its fruit, so a man by his action. Good intentions is not enough, good performance is also necessary. One may spend all the time in planning without doing anything at all. Such planning is useless.
             It is through work that our ideas become clearer. It is through work that we gain our character. It is through action that man achieves success and wins fame. There are some actions which are very much associated with contemplation, but not idle contemplation. When a writer writes a novel or a poet writes poetry, his work is not like the work of an engineer or a farmer. It is the product of contemplation. But here contemplation is productive and, therefore, active. It is also a kind of action.

Uses and Abuses of The Newspaper

Points: The role of a newspaper in a democracy — Press and censorship — Freedom does not mean license.

             There is no freedom where there is no freedom of the press. Free press and free country are almost synonymous. The press or newspaper has a big role to play a democracy. It organizes public opinion. In fact, it educates the public also. Newspapers supply us with news of all kinds everyday. Newspapers arc also views paper. They make public criticism on various matters. The editorials are essays on public events or issues. Some of these are local or national, some International.
             The newspapers cater to the tastes of the readers. News on sports, films, accidents and natural calamities are also displayed in the press. A newspaper brings the whole country closer by highlighting’ the national events everyday. In short, the newspaper is one of the most powerful mass media It Is called the fourth estate.
             But if the power of the press or its freedom is misused it can do a lot of harm. If it foments encourages communalism and fails to denounce anti-national or anti-Social forces, it only abuses its power. We want freedom of the press. But freedom should not mean license or responsibility. In a democracy there is no formal restriction to writing. Nobody will support censors of the press. But the journalists themselves should seek public opinion from time to time and guide themselves accordingly. No one is above law, and no one is above criticism — even the press. The press is free, hurt it is not free to weaken or destroy the freedom of the country.

Population Explosion

Points: Population figures alarming in India — More population means greater poverty — Comparison between India and the advanced countries of the west.

              India is known to be over-populated. Next to China it is the most populate& country of the world. Its population has more than doubled within the last fifty years. This is very alarming. With more mouths to feed, our per capita income is bound to fall. This means greater poverty. Our production is increasing. But our population is increasing even more. If the growth of population is not checked, food shortage will occur and poverty will increase.

              People should be properly educated about this danger. Explosion or outburst of population will only mean more misery and more suffering. The poorer section of the people will suffer most. So they should be taught how to keep the size of a family smaller.

              In the advanced countries of the world, population growth is almost zero per cent annually. It is possible because most of the people there are educated and responsible. In India poor peasants and poor workers think that more children would mean more money earners. They care little for how to bring up the children properly. They do not care at all for their education. The result is, the poor family is burdened with more poverty, more hunger, more want, more dirtiness and more disease.

A Debating Society

Points: Debating, an art, needs practice — Value of speech in a democracy — Debating in schools.

              A school or a college has its debating society. All students are members of such a society. Debating is an art. It is a form of elocution. Without practice nobody can be a good speaker or orator. In ancient Greece, oratory was highly valued.
India is a democratic country. Indian people elect their representatives’ by votes. During the election, many public meetings are held. Good speakers make very good impressions upon the voters. In the Parliament, only good speakers can be good speakers can be good parliamentarians.
              A school or college debating society helps a student to acquire the power of speech. Debating competitions are held among different schools and colleges every year. Sometimes all-India debating competitions are organized. Ready wit, presence of mind, sound general knowledge and a sense of humor make a good debater. All these can he developed through a debating society.
              School debates teach discipline. Every debater has to conform to rules. He has to maintain the time limit very strictly. The mover of the motion is like the opening batsman. He introduces the subject of the debate in the form of a motion or resolution as in the Assembly. He appeals to the audience to support his motion. The leader of the opposition these come up. He tries to point out the hollowness of the motion. After all the speakers have addressed, the mover of the motion gets his light to reply. After his reply, the motion is put to vole.  A competition debate takes the form of a debate in the Assembly or Parliament. It is often called a mock Parliament.

Strike

Points: What it means — Strike in industrial disputes and elsewhere — Strike In India.

              ‘Strike’ means cessation of work by workers or employees. It occurs when negotiations fail between the employer and the employees. When the employers stop production and close down the work, it is called lock-out. In a factory, the workers may demand an increase in pay or allowance. The authorities or owners may not agree to the demand. As a last resort, the workers often declare a strike. They down tools and bring the factory to a stand-still. If there is no work there will be no profit also. Sometimes a strike continues for months till a settlement is reached.
              There are also strikes in banks, offices and even in schools and colleges. All strikes are not for wages or allowances. Some strikes are called to protest publicly against some wrongs. Sometimes general strikes are called when all offices, factories and transports remain practically suspended. Strike is an organized pressure. It should not be used on a flimsy ground.
              In India strike is a very common occurrence. Every year good many workdays are lost owing to strikes. Sometimes the strikers become violent. Nobody supports such violence. We should try to create a condition so that there is neither strike nor Lockout. Let all disputes be settled In a spirit of cooperation for the good of the nation.

Energy Crisis

Points: Sources of energy — Crises due to limited stock — Alternative sources to be explored.

              No work is possible without energy, and for energy man depends on Nature. We get wood from Nature, with which we make fire. By burning fire we cook food, light lamps, and melt iron. After wood came coal. It is an underground storage of energy. We dig up coal and burn it. Oil also is another source of energy. By burning oil we get heat and light. Petroleum or gas came later on. Our motor cars and aero planes are run by them. Electricity is the widely used form of energy in the modern world. From the rivers we get hydro-electricity.
              But the source of energy in Nature — coal or petroleum — is not unlimited, Petroleum may be exhausted within a few decades. Scientists are warning us that mankind may soon face energy crisis. That is why people are seeking alternative sources of energy like nuclear energy and solar energy.
Solar energy has an unlimited supply. In a tropical country like India, solar energy has a great future. Indian agriculture may be revolutionized if solar energy be available to our peasants. The initial cost of installing the apparatus is still heavy. If that could be reduced, our energy crisis would have been solved for good.

Dignity of Labour

Points: Manual work not inferior — Self-help In western countries false notion of dignity in India — Dignity of Labour should be taught.

              ‘Labor is sacred, labour is honorable’, wrote Carlyle. By ‘labour’ he meant manual labour. Manual or physical work is not inferior to intellectual work. We need both.
              In western countries, all household works are done by the people themselves. There is no porter to carry luggage. A passenger’ has to carry his own bag. There is no ‘servant’, and nobody can hire a servant or a cook for his personal service. Institutions like hospitals employ persons like nurses bit they are employees of institutions, not personal servants. The dwellers of a house have to clean their own floors and wash their own bathrooms. Everybody is self-helping there. Unfortunately, many people in India still think that manual labour is not dignified. This is a false notion. It is ridiculous to think that a clerical job alone is a good job. Neither agriculture nor industry can develop if the educated people stay away from them.
              Dignity of labour should be taught from childhood, if every child is asked to do his or her own work it will be good for the child. A self-helping person has to do a lot of things, some physical, and some intellectual. Both are necessary and dignified. What is undignified is to depend on others. What is immoral is to prosper on others’ labour.

Students and Politics

Points: Need of political awareness in a democracy — A student’s primary object: study — Partisan politics to be avoided.

             India is a democratic country. In a democracy, political consciousness should be universal. Every adult citizen takes part in our country’s election. If he is not aware of the political crosscurrents he cannot exercise his vote properly. Students are future citizens. Student life should be an apprenticeship for adult life. So students should be familiar with the national politics in all its varieties.
             But the primary objects of student life is to acquire knowledge. If a student becomes actively involved in politics and becomes a member of this or that political party, he is sure to devote less time for study. Political parties should stop recruiting their party members from colleges and universities. They should wait till the students have completed their formal education. When India was not free, students’ participation in the national liberation struggle was all right. But in free India we should think deeply over the whole issue.
             Students’ unions and clubs should have various social activities.  They should be allowed to run their own clubs, magazines, wallpapers etc. In western countries, students often run their own campus news papers. We can introduce many such things in our schools and colleges. Partisan politics generates more heat than light and brings in narrowness and one-sidedness. Political debates, studies, discussions and writings are all right, but direct and active politics may not be good for the students.

Kolkata Book Fair

Points: Fair, a feast of books — Example of a particular fair — Helps national feeling.

             A book fair is like a feast of books. To see so many books and books of so many varieties at a time is a wonderful experience.
Everybody will not buy every book. But the kind of books we are interested in can be seen in plenty only in the fair. One can compare here the books by different publishers. Maps, paperbacks, art books, reference books, children’s books, technical books, dictionaries and encyclopedias — everything is before us. All stalls are open for everybody. The book fair is an appetizer for further reading. It is a mirror of modern knowledge explosion.
             Kolkata Book Fair is a huge thing. It has grown so much in size and quality that we may call it both national and international. Most of the important publishers of India participate in it. Many renowned publishers from abroad also come here.
             Kolkata Book Fair is a truly national fair. Books written in different Indian languages, and also Indian books either translated into English or into other Indian languages, are displayed here. Books on the history, geography and culture of the different parts of India are available in the book fair. Thousands of people visit the fair; buy books and place orders for more books. They are imbued with the idea of a big family of people called Indians.

The Handicapped and their Problems

Points: Different kinds of the handicapped — They should be usefully employed In society — Philanthropic organizations for them.

             The handicapped or disabled persons are our own people. We come across lots of persons who are born with defective limbs or organs. There are others, who have lost limbs or organs as after effects of diseases like smallpox, typhoid, poliomyelitis, leprosy etc. Others are victims of accidents like road accidents, bomb explosions, fire burns, and so on.
             We forget that the handicapped may not be perfect of limbs, but can be usefully employed in various crafts and occupations. A man who is blind may develop talent for music. The world-famous blind composer Beethoven is a good instance. We should not just pity the handicapped, but help them to be self-helping. We should rehabilitate them in society where they can live with dignity. We can devise suitable works for them and give them special training. It is not charity but fellow-feeling which is needed.
             There are some philanthropic organizations that are doing good works for the handicapped. Artificial limbs are being manufactured for those who need them. Special training centers have also been opened where the disabled get proper training for various kinds of occupation. Above all, our attitude to the handicapped should be changed. As human beings it is our duty to help those who need our help.

Can We do without English?

Points: The harmful slogan against English — Usefulness of English for modern science and technology — Its role in national integration.

             The cry of Angreji Hatao or “Drive English away” is a cry for putting the clock back. The inevitable result of downgrading English in parts of India has been a general decline of academic standards.
             Some of the Indian vernaculars have, no doubt, a rich and varied “literature of power” — poetry, novels, plays etc., but not “literature of knowledge”, books on Science, Technology, Law and Medicine etc. English at this stage is our only window to the world at large. It is through English that we keep track of all that is happening in Arts, Science, Technology, and in trade and commerce. In giving up English, we shall be, in fact, isolating ourselves from the advanced nations of the world; we shall lag behind modern science and modern civilization. That will mean stagnation and decay. The fanatics may scrap English? But that will give a blow to the unity and progress of the country.
             Without English we cannot keep our country one and united, we cannot communicate between one state and another. Without English we cannot communicate between one country and another, we cannot convene a non-aligned summit and have our deliberations. English is indispensable for a North-South dialogue within the country itself. We cannot simply do without English at this moment.

Discipline

Points: What it means — Examples from individuals and corporate lives — Its value.

             Discipline is the spirit of maintaining order. Discipline in human activities issues out of the discipline or control of the mind. In corporate life, the need for discipline is of primary importance. Standing in a queue, observing punctuality, maintaining order, helping women and children before helping oneself — all these are acts of discipline.
             In corporate life, where a large number of people live together, discipline is very much needed. Without it civilized life is impossible. If each and every car does not keep to the left, there will be road accidents all the time. Unless we respect a social code, we shall have the law of the jungle. The riots and street fights are the results of indiscipline on a large scale. An army is a fine example of the force of discipline. When a solider is shot down, another takes his place. If necessary an army will go on fighting to the last man. If, however, a rabble is fired upon, all the men will run away. It is the spirit of discipline which makes all the difference between an army and a rabble.
             True discipline, however, comes from a sense of dedication, not fear or compulsion. It adds grace and strength to our life.

Science a Friend or a Foe of Man?

Points: Negative role of science — Positive rote of science —Responsibility of man.

             We are living in a precarious world today. Atom bombs are being stockpiled by the two super-powers competing with each other. If there be any third world war, that will spell the total destruction of mankind. Science has given man the weapons to kill the entire human race within a short time. So there is a tendency to damn science as an enemy of man.
             But human civilization would hardly have been what it is today without the achievements of science. Television and wireless bring the world to our doors. There is hardly any disease which the doctors cannot cure today. And all this is due to science. Science by itself is neither a friend nor an enemy of man. If man is wise he can easily make this world a much better place to live in. Already the scientists are talking of “atoms for peace.” That is the most hopeful sign of our times. It shows that the enlightened sections of mankind are against using science for war or destruction.
             Man should not only have knowledge but also wisdom to make proper use of his knowledge of science. Our education should teach us values, not merely information. For it is the kind of man which will determine the kind of society and the kind of the world we have.

India in Space Age

Points: History of space flight — Indian advances in space technology — Achievement of mankind.

             ‘Twinkle twinkle little star/How I wonder what you are’. The nursery rhyme says that the stars and planets have been to us perpetual wonder and mystery. When Uri Gagarin’s ‘Vostok’  first shot out to move around the earth’s orbit in April 1961, the world gasped with wonder. Only in a month’s dine after that, Commander Shepherd of U.S.A. went into the orbit with his space-ship. In June 1963 a Russian lady Tereskova sailed through the outer space and exchanged talks with cosmonaut Bikovosky already in orbit. About the same time, Gordon Cooper circled the earth 22 times. Then man landed on the Moon. Since then attempts to probe Mars, Venus and other planets are continuing. 
             India is now making rapid advances in space technology. Our Haricota space centre is well equipped and is doing researches on satellites and space morning. In collaboration with Russia India is launching her own space-ships. A time will soon come when India will be self-sufficient in space science and use her own launching pad to put her space-ship into the orbit from Indian soil. Rakesh Sharma has already become the first Indian spaceman; we are proud of him.
             This great achievement belongs not to any particular nation but to mankind as a whole. H. G. Wells while writing his history, had a vision. With the earth as his foot-stool, he dreamt, man would one day reach out his hand among the stars. Space flight is indeed mankind’s flight into the future.

Student-life

Points: Preparation for life — A student’s debt to society — Years of idealism.

             There is a saying in Sanskrit that a student should concentrate wholly on studies. But in the modern age the old principle no longer holds good and a hook-worm is not regarded as an ideal student. A student-life is, after all, an apprenticeship of life itself. Books alone cannot give us the knowledge we need for future life.
             Harmonious development of body, mind and spirit—that is true education, and this should be the aim of every student. He should show interest for sports and athletics, arts and music, social service and charity. In our country where a large number of people are poor and illiterate, every student has to do something for others. A student may join N.C.C. or N.S.S. just as he may join Boy Scouts or Bratachari. He should work for the betterment of the community. Every student should bear in mind that he owes a debt to his or her society.
             Students should read the country’s history and visit places of historical interest. They will thus acquire a sense of patriotism. A student ought to be imbued with idealism. Idealism alone can help him rise above all pettiness. A student will, of course, think of his career. But he should not be self-centered.

The Wonders of Electricity

Points: We owe heavily to electricity — Its gifts to urban life — Its gifts to rural life.

             Electricity is the miracle that has modernized our life. It serves us at all hours. It gives us light cooks our food, cools our room in the summer and keeps it warm in the winter. In fact, modern civilization is mainly a gift of electricity. One needs only to switch it on or off; the rest is done by electricity, in the twinkling of an eye. Electricity is like Aladdin’s lamp. A hundred years ago people had to depend for light, heat or cower on candle, wood, coal and beasts of burden. Benjamin Franklin, we are sure, never dreamt that his kite-flying in a storm would lead to such a revolution one day.
             No industrial development is possible without electricity. Electric razors, carpet cleaners, toasters, driers, grinders washing machines, refrigerators, elevators, escalators, electric typewriters, calculating machines, and hundreds of tools and gadgets are coming into daily use. The traffic signals, radio, television, telephone, everything owes its existence to electricity. And so also do the electric trains and tramcars.
             When we talk of modernization of villages we call it ‘rural electrification’. Pump-sets in fields are now being operated by electricity. As a result, peasants are getting the benefit of irrigation. Formerly, crops would be harvested only once or at best twice a year. Now crops are being raised thrice. Electricity is giving ‘shock treatment’ to our sick villages and bringing them up. Electricity is, in fact, the soul of our civilization.

Choice of Companions

Points: Influence of companions — Choice not always possible — Common bonds.

             A man is known by the company he keeps. We should be cautious, therefore, in choosing our friends. We cannot escape their influence for good or for evil, when they are most of the time around us. Upon the minds of young men, such influence is bound to be very strong.
             We cannot, however, always choose our company. At school or college or elsewhere in life, we are likely to come across people whom we may not like. We have to get on with such people as best as we can. Our best defence in any company is our own innate decency and dignity of character. Besides, we are likely to find in most places a few good souls who are refined and companionable.  We can form our own circle with such people. Those who are extremely selfish or self-centred cannot be good companions. Man is by nature social. That is why he hankers after friendship and company. But the company he chooses may determine his own character and Life-style.
             “Birds of a feather,” it is said, “flock together.” No doubt when people are of like taste and temperament, they naturally come close together. A hobby or common pursuit may serve as a common bond for a life-long friendship. But it is not necessary that friends should always share each other’s views or tastes or even the way of life. Rabindranath, for example, was a poet and Jagadish Chand a scientist — each the greatest of his kind— and both remained life-long friends.

Newspaper Reading

Points: Part of our daily routine — Our window to the world — Various services of the newspapers.

             There was a time — only a few centuries ago — when there was no newspaper in the world. But today, like our morning tea-cup the newspaper is a must. We are, in fact, very much news-hungry.
             A reader gets much more out of his daily paper than merely sensational stories. The newspaper brings the world to our door. We come to know of what is happening in Israel, in Iran, in South America and so on. The events of sports and games, the Test Matches and the Olympics — we read in newspapers. It is in the columns of newspaper that we can learn how our own country is faring. Important official announcements are also made public through the newspaper.
             Newspapers are also views papers. The editorials voice the feelings of the common people. The ‘Letters to the Editor’ column is a kind of public forum. Here all kinds of queries, comments and protests are made by the readers themselves. The ‘Wanted’ columns guide the reader to the job market. Even marriages are settled through the ‘Matrimonial’ columns. The newspaper is nothing but a printed mirror of the contemporary world. It is our every day’s historian.

Kolkata's Metro Rail

Points: The metro makes its start — The section already under operation — Future hope.

             Kolkata’s Metro is now the talk of the town. It is the first of its kind in India. It has made its start and has already become a focal point of attraction.
             The Metro railway is being constructed in several sectors. The work of the sector from Dum-Dum to  Tollygunge  is completed. The work in the Tollygunge sector has at last been completed and regular operations have started between  Dum-Dum  and Tollygunge. The stations on this route are Dumdum, Belgachia, Shyama Bazar, Shova Bazar, Girish Park, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Chandni Chowk, Esplanade, Park Street, Maidan, Rabindra Sadan, Netaji Bhawan, Jatin Das Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarovar, Tollygunge. 
             Later on further constructions started from Tollygunge Metro station and extended to Kavi Subhas.
The stations between this route are Netaji, Masterda Surya Sen, Gitanjali, Kavi Nazrul, Shahid Khudhiram, and Kavi Subhas. Nowadays, construction is going on to extend  the Northern end beyond Dum-Dum to Noapara.
             The underground stations are very neat and clean and the platforms are well lighted. The arrangements in the compartments are also excellent. When we get down to a Metro station we feel like being in a western country. Kolkata’s Metro compares well with the Metros of London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and even Moscow and Kiev.
             The most challenging sector of the Metro, however, is the Shyambazar-Esplanade sector. The work here was very slow but has gained speed in recent month. For the success of the Metro Railway it is essential that the total work is complete within a reasonable time. Of course, even after the completion, there will remain the problem of maintenance. The habits of the citizens need adjustment to the new traffic systems.
             There are, and will be, sceptics and critics. But we hope that Kolkata’s Metro, will he Kolkata’s pride and best show-piece.

Value of Sports

Points: The virtues of a sportsman — Importance in Individual and collective — Significance in the civilized work.

             A nation is often known by her sports. For example, the Englishmen are great lovers of sports. Some of the common English expressions show the English attitude towards sports. “To play the game” means for English “to act honourably.” “That’s not cricket” means “that is not fair.” When we say of a man, “He is a sports man, all that we mean is, he is “frank, generous and free from petty spite.” These are sportsman like qualities.

             Sports, which include both games and athletics, have a tremendous importance in our individual as well as collective life. It is through games and athletics that the individual attains the highest standards in body-building. Besides, he acquires stamina and skill. His morale reaches a high standard and he discovers the value of discipline and team work. A genuine sportsman is bold, frank, generous and outspoken.

             Sports and games are joyful activities. When a goal-keeper saves a goal or when a tennis player smashes a ball or a batsman scores a boundary, he feels elated. Sports may, in fact, be an effective substitute for war. There is something essentially combative in human nature. Sports and games are a civilized outlet of those instincts. The Olympic Games, in which sportsmen of all lands participate, stand thus for human unity and brotherhood.

Rights and Duties of a Citizen

Points: The realty between the citizen and the society — The duties of the State and the duties of the citizen — Rights and duties go together.

             Rights go with duties. We owe as much to the society as the society owes to us. The government of the country should ensure the safety and security of all citizens. Every citizen also should uphold the peace and stability of the State. The citizens should be duly protected against thieves, robbers and blackmailers. These lawless elements of society should be strongly put down so that Life may be safe for everybody.
             What does the citizen owe to the government in return? Besides the police, he himself should be a champion of law and order. His morale should be high. If his neighbor’s house is on fire, he should be the first man to ring for the fire-brigade. He should do his part in keeping the streets and parks of his locality clean.
             It is the duty of every citizen to love his or her country. A person who is not proud of his country is a bad citizen, it is our duty to see that public property is not stolen, the buses and trains are not damaged, the road rules are followed and the law is not taken by anybody into his own hands. Individual freedom is a precious thing. It is our duty not to encroach upon others freedom.

Seasons in India

Points: The six seasons — Brief descriptions of the seasons — Seasonal festivals and functions.

             India is a big country and her seasons are nowhere the same. Still the cycle of Indian seasons follows a certain broad pattern. It has six well-marked divisions: summer, rains, early autumn (called Sarat), late autumn (called Hemanta), winter and spring.
             Summer is the most uncomfortable of seasons, when people gasp and faint in the heat. They sigh with relief when the monsoon clouds gather in the sky and the rains come. It there is too much rain, there are chances of floods. Floods will mean untold sufferings to the poor people. But if there is cool little rain, there will be failure of crops and great scarcity of food. It is, therefore, a critical season. Autumn, both early and late, is a very fine season. In Sarat, the sky becomes blue. The fields look gay and bright with gold-green crops. The greatest festival of the Hindus— Durgotsav— falls in Autumn. People celebrate it with feast, fun and cultural functions. The season is neither hot nor cold and the sky is blue but not wholly free from clouds. Hemanta is practically a continuation of Autumn. Hemanta is also the harvesting season. Winter is rather hard on the poor. But food-stuffs become cheaper and the market is full of cabbages, peas, tomatoes etc. Then comes the spring which is the loveliest of seasons.
             Our festivals are bound up with the seasons, like Durga Puja or Dussera or Ramjan in Autumn, Holi in Spring. Rathajatra in the rains, and so on. It is good to welcome each season with a festival.

A Picnic I Enjoyed

Points: The occasion — How it began — Happy ending.

             It was early December. The day was bright and clear. We went to a lovely picnic spot in the heart of a big Sal forest. It stretches for more than a mile not tar from our place. We planned to cook on the spot by ourselves.
             Our baskets were bursting with all the nice things that our loving mothers had given us. One of our classmates Abhishek took care of the cooking. We dug an oven with bricks and stones. We started with a round of tea, gobbling up all the sweets, singaras, biscuits and toffees in our stock. Some of us strolled about. Some others went to fetch water from the neighborhood.
             By noon we sat down to a hearty meal of steaming roast meat. Everybody congratulated Abhishek on his marvelous cooking. After the meal was over, we spread a cloth under a big shade and had some rest. Ravi then announced that he was going to recite poems of Jibanananda. He was very good at recitation, and we all encouraged him. His recitation of ‘Banalata Sen’ was wonderful, specially when he was slowly reciting the lines—Her hair was dark as night in Vidisha, and her face the sculpture of Sravasti’. Ashik sang two Tagore songs, one of love and the other of Nature.
             By the time it was getting dark, we packed p for home. It was a memorable day.

Third South Asian Federation Games in Kolkata

Points: The Third South Asian Federation games at Salt Lake Stadium — The opening ceremony — The results — The message of friendship.

             The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata wore a week-long festive look from 20th to 27th November, 1987. It was the venue of the third South Asian Federation Games commonly known as South Asian Federation games.
             The seven participating countries were Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldwip, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The games were declared open amidst great fanfare by the President of India at the Salt Lake Stadium on 20th November. He expressed the hope that the meets would stand out as symbols of peace and progress among the South Asian Federation countries. The opening ceremony was grand and spectacular and everybody praised the arrangements at the Salt Lake Stadium. The Stadium. the biggest in Asia, was packed to its full capacity of one lake and twenty thousand.
             The host country India firmly established its leadership in the games by winning 75 gold, 41 silver and 19 bronze medals—a total of 135 medals. Pakistan trailed poorly behind with only 12 gold and a total of 46 medals. P.T.Usha. India’s sprint queen won as many as five gold medals and was hailed by one and all.
             The meet boosted the sports and games of the countries in this region. But the most important achievement of the games was the strengthening of the bond of friendship and cooperation among the neighbouring peoples of South Asia. On the 27th, the President of the Indian Olympic Association declared the games closed with a call to reassemble in 1989 in Pakistan for the fourth South Asian Federation games.