Solitude

            For a city-bred man of the twenty-first century who is a prisoner of the mechanized life-style of hectic speed solitude may seem to be a blessing of peace that grants blissful relief, release and relaxation. But, at times solitude may pose to be a curse that burdens. One’s mind and heart with desolation, despair and dejection. Under its spell, to quote Robert Browning, ‘an instant made eternity’ deprives one of hope, fancy and fight. Solitude then appears to be hanging from one’s shoulder, like a twin of despondency.

            But, solitude is mostly blessing in disguise. Like William Wordsworth, the Nature-prophet or like John Keats, a prey to the doldrums of the ‘city pent’ like London, we flee away from the rigorous routines of daily life into the blissful cavern of solitude in Nature to enjoy the eye-feasting scenes and sights, to smile at the open sunny firmament overhead, to marvel at the freedom of the twittering birds in whimsical flight, to relish the maiden verdure all around and to wonder at the motherly kiss of the fragrant breezily on our cheeks. There, fully relishing the flavor of the ‘dolce for ninete’, as the Italians say to mean ‘pleasant idleness’, we, somehow, enter the world of mind and, unknown to ourselves, we start exploring the labyrinth of our mind in an unconscious endeavour to discover our inner-selves. Blissfully we lapse into reminiscing the past, how and why had something saddened us as well as how and why had something gladdened us!

            Solitude causes loneliness that offers us the chance of being with only ourselves. And those are the opportune moments for self-analysis, very rare moments at that. We lapse into introspection. We face ourselves, and through penetrative self-analysis, we can explain the myths of self and Soul. Then we can realize what is the spirit of solitude. And, then and then only, we come to identify ourselves with strange solitude and know our solitary entity even when we are surrounded by tile multitude.

Science and War

Points: War today totally different from war in the past — War now a highly technical business — Science should help peace instead of war.

            War in modern times is completely different from the local fights of the earlier times. Now war is a highly technical operation. It s not all expensive, it is mechanical and depends much on science. The art of war has now become the science of warfare. All the modern inventions to science are made use of in a modern war.
            War is a now a push-button affair. Missiles are thrown from a long distance. The army men are just technicians of war. The air force is manned by a highly specialized team. What is more, the nuclear power is now harnessed for destruction. The atom bomb that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki are nothing compared with those that are being stockpiled by USA and USSR.
            But must science be destructive? Was science designed primarily for war? If not, why is science today aiding and abetting the war- mongers? These questions are very relevant in the context of the modern world. It is for man to turn ‘science for war’ into ‘science for peace’. He can turn swords into ploughshares and turn all battlefields into source of food grains.

A Journey in A Crowded Bus

Points: No bus but crowded — Narrow space inside — A clumsy incident.

            Now-a-days all buses are crowded. Any journey by bus will be journey in a crowded bus. Only those who live near a bus terminus can be sure of getting a seat in the bus.
            I wonder how the conductor manages to walk up and down the floor of the bus which is over packed. It always creates a problem when some passenger tries to get down or get up. The ladies have it worst if it is office time. While passengers quarrel with one another, pickpockets quietly rob them of their purses.
            The other day I was going in a crowded bus to my uncle’s place. One gentleman was carrying a suitcase with him. It caused great inconvenience to others. But the gentleman paid no heed to others’ grievances.  At one stage a baby was badly hurt when his suitcase struck the baby. At this the other passengers got furious. Many abuses were hurled on him, and one young man was angry that he forcibly threw out the suitcase. The gentleman thundered in rage and a perfect pandemonium prevailed for some time. The bus conductor remained a dumb spectator. He was neutral to the passengers quarrel. And just when the noise subsided he began to collect tickets. I will never forget that journey and the strange experience I had as one of the passengers.

Science is a Good Servant but a Bad Master

Points: Ours is an age of science — Good and bad uses of science — Stress to be laid on the quality of man.

            Modern age is the age of science. From morning till next morning our life is helped and guided by science. Our fans are moved by electricity and aero planes are driven by petrol. We talk to friends through telephone and read newspapers which are printed by i rotary machine, Science is our excellent servant.
            But science has become so specialized and so complex that at times it seems uncontrollable. The war machines produce deadly weapons. Atom and Hydrogen bombs may destroy the entire population of the earth. Man is becoming more and more mechanized. A day may come when man will be just like robot. Our dependence on science may make us a servant of science. Unless we keep our control over science, science may be a destructive force, the worst master, a monster, a Frankenstein.
            When an Indian, Rakesh Sharma, goes to the space, we feel proud. His camera takes photographs of the difficult regions and thus helps us explore new natural resources. But if from a similar satellite deadly missile are thrown by an enemy, the picture becomes different. It is man who will ultimately make good or bad use of science. Therefore, as science develops we should pay more and more attention to man.

The Problem of Robbery in a Running Train

Points: Hazards of train journey — Operation of criminal gangs — drastic measures to be taken and public opinion to be mobilized.

            Train journey is no longer comfortable. Like crowded buses and mini-buses, over-crowded trains also have become normal scenes. What is more, journeys are no longer safe. Pickpockets and pilferers are thriving. In more recent limes, robbery in trains has become frequent.
            Organized gangs seem to operate in certain sections of railways. They commit dacoity in a running train, then pull chain and decamp. People complain that some railway men have connection with these gangs. Railway police seems to be either helpless or inadequate.
            Drastic steps must be taken and exemplary punishments given to the criminals to stop robbery in a running train. If we cannot give protection to passengers, we are not a civilized nation. There, should be special arrangement for armed guards in all trains, if necessary. Public opinion should be organized against such gangsterism. Newspapers have an important role in this. Resistance to robbery by the public should be more active than passive. Sometimes foreigners become victims to robbery and they carry a poor impression of our country. The government must take an all-out effort’s to stop robbery in both local and long-distance trains.

Technical Education

Points: One of the two main branches — Technical education neglected in the past — Use of the mother tongue should be encouraged — Reorientation of education necessary.

            Education may be broadly divided into general and technical. General education includes Humanities and Science. Technical education includes Engineering and Technology Polytechnics and various workshops are at the lower level, and colleges and universities of engineering and technology are at the higher.
            During the British rule, education was meant mostly for training up people for office jobs. So technical education was neglected. But after independence, India needed thousands of technicians and engineers to build up the country. So emphasis was laid on technical education. And hundreds of technical schools were set up.
            Unfortunately, technical education is imparted only through English. For mass education in technology we should write technical books in our mother tongue. We should start technical training from a very early age.
            Technical education should not be kept separated from general education. Until now it remains elitist one reason is that technical education is far more expensive than general education. As a result, the poorer section cannot afford it. If it is included in the composite course at school and college levels, only then it may reach all section.

A Visit to A Historical Building

            The Taj Mahal is a myth, a myth if the deathless beauty of the formless death that begets life eternal. This life is carved in the whiteness of milky marble of the Taj.
            I, too, could not express my enchanted wonder when I caught the first fleeting glimpse of that world-famous historical building, —the Taj Mahal. When I first set my eyes on the Taj from the window of my speeding train, I was simply amazed and awed to see its majestic minars. Then when on the next day I actually stood in front of the Taj. I was wonder-struck and I stood speechless.  My steadfast gaze feasted on the beauty of the marble-dream bathed in the bright beams of the young sun. After a long spell of reverie, I slowly traversed the garden- path to the tomb. The tomb stood on a big platform of white marble with magnificent minaret on each side. The main dome was hundred feet high. The mortal remains of Mumtaz and Shahjahan lay buried in the tomb. Architecturally every inch of the Taj is the creation of exquisite art. The walls are decorated with precious multicolored stones, — giving out a bright rainbow-like sheen.
            But the Taj must be visited in the moonlight that enhances its beauty thousand times. Fortunately, it was the full-moon when I visited The Taj next time. The sublime experience beggars description. The moonlit Taj seemed to stand like a poet’s dream conic true. The Taj is beyond Time. She is great in her reality, she is greater in reminiscences.