School Annual Function

              On the 20th of April, Baita Higher Secondary School appeared to be at its best. The whole school had been well swept and cleaned. The hall was decorated with flags, festoons of leaves and streamers of colored papers. The pathways were laid with red gravel. The furniture had been re-polished. The school peon had his new uniform on, and the Head Clerk was smartly dressed. The Headmaster looked happy and pleasant as usual. The teacher seemed to be busy and full of good humour; and the students also appeared very happy.
              It was a grand occasion in the history of the school, because the Governor was to give away the prizes. For this purpose a fine carpet had been spread on the dais. A table, decorated with a richly embroidered table-cloth and a number of vases full of beautiful flowers, was placed there. The boys were all seated on benches arranged in front of the platform. Near the platform, there were chairs for guests. The boys who had won prizes were given special seals near the platform; while those who were to take part in the various performances had a whole classroom near the hall to themselves.
              The guests began to pour in at about four. The guardians of the boys were the first to come. Vakils turned up next. Then came high officials and the gentry of the town. Last of all arrived the Governor accompanied by his wife. They were received at the gate by the Headmaster and members of the Governing Body of the School and were profusely garlanded. After this, they were conducted to their seats on the dais. Before they took their seats there, all the boys and guests stood up and clapped their arrival heartily.
              The proceedings began with the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ which was sung by our school boys, to which all listened standing up.
              Then the Headmaster came forward and read out the School Report for the year. The report was very interesting and gave a good account of the progress the school had made in sports and studies during the year. It spoke of the brilliant results the students had shown in the Higher Secondary Examination.
              After the Report had been read, some performances were given. First of all, the famous song depicting the bravery of the Rani of Jhansi was recited in a sweet, clear voice by a student of the sixth class. After this there were sung some patriotic songs in Hindi. Next came recitations in English. One of the little boys recited one of Kipling’s most inspiring poems. The Dramatic Club of the school staged a one-act play, which dealt with the blessings of national integration.
              After the play the Governor gave away the prizes which consisted mostly of books, stationery and other articles. When the prizes had been given away, the Governor made his closing speech. He said that he was very pleased with the progress the school had made during the last year. He congratulated the Headmaster and the staff on the brilliant results the school had shown in the University examination. He congratulated also the prize-winners as well as the boys who had taken part in the performances. He closed his speech with the remark that the boys, who had not received any prizes that year, should not at all be disheartened but try to win them next year.
              The function came to a close with the singing of the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana and with loud shouts of Jai Hind! Jai Hind! Then the guests were entertained at an enjoyable tea-party.

Your Best Friend

              There are various kinds of friends in our life like childhood friends, school friends, college friends, etc. We make new friends in our life-span.
              I know other boys whom I would call “visiting friends.” They often visit me at  my place, and I also visit them at their homes. Whenever I meet them, they greet me cordially, and entertain inc liberally. If I ever go to their place, they do not spare any expense to stuff me with nice things. These friends know me, but not so deeply and intimately.
              My best and most intimate friend is Abhishek. He can read me like a book. He knows all my moods, whims and humours. He is fully aware of my difficulties and troubles. He knows all my hopes and fears. There is no secret that I conceal from him. There is nothing that  hold back from him. When I am unjustly accused of some fault, I pour my tale of woe into his ears. Oh I what a relief it is then to know that there is one in this world who never misunderstands me! If there is anything to test my patience, temper, or courage, he never refuses me help. His kindliness and sympathy are the greatest assets I possess.
              Abhishek  is one  of the most  sympathetic friends I have ever  come across. He  is the son of’ a rich man. but he never tries to  show himself off. He  puts on fine clothes, hut he seems to he quite unconscious of them, He never speaks ill of  anybody. He never gives himself airs, and is friendly even to the poorest. In joy he is the gayest of companions: in sorrow he is the tenderest of sympathizers and Is very helpful.
              Abhishek is thus a friend after my heart. In the class-room he is the most well-behaved boy; on the playing-field, he is the best sportsman. At home he is most entertaining of friends: and outside he is the nicest and noblest fellow.

The Imaginary Adventures of an Umbrelle

              I was made in the Swadeshi Umbrella Factory, Kolkata, of such materials as steel, bamboo, cloth and other things. When I was ready, I was packed. along with ninety-nine other companions, in a wooden box and placed in a goods train. After about three weeks’ journey in a closed box, we reached the shop of a general merchant, in Chandni Chowk. Delhi.
              The merchant opened the box and inspected all of us. He found that some of us had been damaged during the journey, while others were all right. He made up his mind to sell the damage ones very cheap. I arrived in good condition and the merchant was struck by my neat and tidy look.
              I remained in the merchant’s shop for about a week when an old man came and bought me. Next morning, the old man took me along with him during his morning walk. All of a sudden a fierce storm rose and rain began to fall in torrents. He spread me out over his head. But so strong was the wind that it blew me off in spite of the strong hold of the feeble old man. The old man ran after me while I flew from bush to bush. After a hard chase, he was at last able to catch me. He again spread me over his bead, and again the wind blew away the entire cloth. I was badly damaged. I was, however, repaired the next day. But now was hot the same beautiful thing as before.
              Now I lie in the corner of the old man’s house, without being used by anybody. At times, the little children pay rue a visit and play with me. All my bones and ribs are jutting out. So much changed am T that you can hardly believe that I was once a beautiful, charming umbrella.

The Autobiography of a Fly

             I am a very small and innocent-looking insect. I am found everywhere. There are few houses in a city, and few shops in a bazaar, where you will not find me. I know people do not like me much. But still I manage to live. They have devised many ways to drive me away from their houses but still I am able to find my way there, somehow 

             I do not like all places equally well. I like the kitchen and the dining-room better than the office and the drawing-room. I do not like clean houses, which have wire-gauze doors. But I do like the houses that are dirty. I Like dirty and filthy places. I like filth because I was born in filth, grew up in it, and live on it. As the air is to man. water is to fishes, so is filth , i.e. I am in my element in it.

             As there are some places which I particularly like in the same  way there are some people I like better than others. For instance. I like the careless housewife very much. She keeps her foodstuff uncovered and her sweets unprotected. I also like some of these lazy fat confectioners very much. They never cover their sweets or use whisks to trouble me. The vendors at railway stations are also my friends. They never scare me away from their sweets and other dainties. I always bless the

people who run hotels and small kitchens, for they allow me to feast upon the most delicious dishes before they are tasted by human beings.

             As there are certain persons and places very dear to me, so there are certain days which are very welcome to me. For instance, I always like festivals and weddings very much. Even before the guests arrive, my friends and I sir on sweets and dainties and have a grand feast. What a happy and gay life!

             I hate the winter, when a large numbers of my friends and relatives die of the intense cold, and others are too benumbed to stir out. Oh. then life indeed becomes a burden!

Self-help

Points: Self-help and success go together — Lack of self-help among Indians: Japan, a contract — Importance of self-help.

             “Heaven helps those who help themselves. This is a proverb that sums up the experience of men of all ages. Samuel Smiles in his book Self Help has given us hundreds of examples of self-made men in different walks of life. Successful men are usually those who make their own careers by sheer will power and personal effort.
             Long years of political subjugation have largely damped the spirit of enterprises in our people. We want that somebody will Provide US with food and shelter, give us jobs,’ and make things easy for us. An utter lack of initiative and a general spirit of defeatism’, have caused our economic backwardness and stagnation’, On the other hand, Japan, our Asian neighbor, has become the world’s major producer of steel, and leader in ship-building and Electronics, Even after the experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan stands once again on her own legs. India, sadly enough, presents a contrast. She stilt suffer from poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy. The only thing that can change all this is the cult of self-help.
            A Sanskrit proverb says that ‘the preys do not enter into the mouth of a sleeping lion.” Like the lion, man also has to be energetic and active in order to achieve success. One should depend least on others and most on one’s own self.

Punctuality

Points: Value of time in life—Punctuality means discipline—The disastrous effects of unpunctuality.

             Time is an important part of our life. Time doesn't wait for anyone it follows it's own way. What is most remarkable about time is that it brings opportunities. For a man it may be the chance of a lifetime. Punctuality makes us time-conscious.
             A punctual man disciplines himself to work according to schedule. He thus gains self-confidence and inspires confidence in others. The lazy man is usually unpunctual. He keeps others waiting and fails to keep his own appointment. Such a man is doomed to failure in life.
             One of Napoleon’s secretaries used to be very late. He always blamed his watch for it. “Either you must get a new watch,” said Napoleon bitingly, “or I must get a new secretary’ Napoleon valued ‘punctuality’.
             Unpunctuality may create all kinds of bottlenecks. It may cause stalemate in business and industry. If goods are not delivered in time, both buyers and sellers will suffer. If appointments are not kept announced, there will be only chaos. Students, in particular, should be conscious about time. They should go by the watch in everything— study, rest, play and exercise. This will give them strength and discipline and build their character.

Superstition

Points: What It is — Accidental origin — Its evil effects and how to eradicate it.

             Superstition, which is belief without reason, is common and widespread. It thrives on ignorance.
             There are various kinds of superstition prevailing in different parts of the world. A Large number of superstitions must have originated from accidental coincidences. Thus ‘13’ is an unlucky’ number; if someone sneezes or calls from behind, it is bad omen; the cry of an owl or a raven or the mewing of a cat is inauspicious; a comet is a portent and so on.
             Before the vent of modern science men were more superstitious. Superstitions destroy our self-confidence. They damp our will to work. Man could never have built up civilization if he relied entirely on irrational beliefs. Only by spreading education can we fight superstitions like untouchability or caste hatred. But once it becomes a habit of mind, it persists. A superstitious man does not know that he is superstitious.
             Sometimes superstitions are modernized under scientific terms. The quacks use medical jargons and cheat people. We have to form a really scientific attitude and encourage the power of reasoning if we want o remove all superstitions.