Duties of A Student

             A student is seeker after knowledge. It is obvious that a student’s main concern is to study. There are some people who say that students should be like devotees in the temple of learning. They must keep aloof from all other activities. The main duty — the only duty — of a student should be to study and learn. There are others who opine that a student is as much a member of a society as anybody else. As such, he must be alive to the other demands that society makes on him. A student life, according to the latter, should be alive to the bigger problem of life. The fact is that a student of today is a citizen of tomorrow. As a future citizen every student has the duty to equip himself properly.

Patriotism

             A deep love for one’s motherland is called patriotism. It is noble feeling and it lies burning or dormant in the mind of everybody. A true patriot puts his country before himself. So he never hesitates to sacrifice his self-interest for the good of his motherland. He dedicates himself to the service of his native land. He considers it to be his sacred mission. No material gain can deter him from that noble commitment of his life. True patriots are the idols of the people. Their fame spread far and wide. Rana Pratap, Sivaji and Netaji are a few examples of such true patriots born ii India. There are people who profess to be patriots. But an analysis of their motives and activities does not support the claim of those self-styled patriots. They secretly run after their selfish ends. Such men are dangerous. They generally abuse the great virtue o patriotism. Such a cry as my country, right or wrong, is to lead, often leads to war. So we should guard ourselves against such extreme and infantile nationalism. The facists or the nazis, or the so called nationalists have in this way already destroyed the human values and peace of this world. The true patriots must honor other’s patriotism and thus, the integrity of each nation will be protected to create a better human understanding. Patriotism, in this way, is the protector of peace.

Androcles and The Lion

             Long and long ago there lived in Carthage a slave named Androcles. Once he did something wrong’ to his Roman master. To save his life from his cruel rage, be ran away into the woods.
             There he hid himself in a cave and lived on whatever food he could find.
One morning Androcles was sitting in a cave with a mind full of anxiety. To his terror he saw a lion coming towards him. It held up its paw in a pitiful way, and was groaning in pain.
             Androcles took up the swollen paw, and found a thorn inside it. With great care he pulled out the thorn. The lion being free from pain, wagged its tail and licked Androcles’ feet.
Some days later, Androcles was caught and taken back to his cruel master. He was ordered to be thrown to the lions at the next public games.
             On the appointed day a huge lion from a large iron cage was let out to kill Androcles. But fortunately for him it was the same lion he had helped. The fierce animal, instead of devouring him, lay at his feet and licked his hand. The Romans were struck with wonder at this sight. The Roman master set both Androcles and the lion free.

Moral: Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

No One to Bell The Cat

             Some mice lived in a big house and always did some mischief or other. The master of the house brought in a stout cat for killing them. So the mice could not get out of their holes for fear of being killed. Thus being unable to get any food, they were about to starve and grew lean and thin,

             In this crisis the mice met in a council to find out what to do. But nobody could find out plans to solve the problem. At last a smart young mouse got up. He said, “I have thought of a good plan. It is to tie a bell round the cat’s neck. It will ring at every move of the cat. Its sound will be a signal for us to run away.” The rest of the mice jumped for joy at the idea.

             But after a few minutes a grave old mouse rose and said, “It is a good plan indeed, my dear friends, but which of you will dare to beII the cat ?“

             At these there was silence, for no one wished to risk his life in such an adventure. They left the meeting one by one.

Moral: ‘Things are more easily said than done.’

Science — A Friend or Foe

             Science is neither a friend nor a foe. It all depends on how you utilize it. Thus we cannot determine whether science is bad or good, — it depends on the person who uses it. If you utilize it to make a television-set, it is as good as a friend, but if you use it to develop an atomic bomb which can cause great harm to the world, it becomes an enemy. Thus, it depends on the usage of science.
             These days we are living dangerously. Both the super powers, the USSR and the USA, have developed deadly weapons, with the use of science of course, which can practically wipe out the whole world. It will not take very long to push a button in the USA and see the destruction taking place in China. Here science is just an enemy to mankind.
But, there are people who are using science to better the standard of living. People, who have invented the radio, the television, telephone, electricity, etc. have done a great service to mankind with the use of science has also helped us in developing various medicines which cure even the fell diseases.
             So, what is important in this context is the proper usage of things. Science should be used to develop things which will bring comfort mid ease in everyone’s life. When science brings bliss, it is a friend and when it brings curs, it is a foe.

Autumn in West Bengal

             Autumn in West Bengal spans the period from mid August to mid October. Amongst the six seasons in this State, Autumn is the best of all. As this season is preceded by monsoon, autumn wears a festival and charming look with lush green all around. The floating clouds, clear blue sky, moonlit nights, quiet nature, soothing climate and the rivers and ponds full of water make the nature so romantic.
             Autumn is also the season of festivals. Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of Bengal falls in this season. The other festivals like Luxmi Puja (Dewali) follow thereafter. The distant sound of beating drums fills the early. People, irrespective of their social status, eagerly wait for this happy season, as they enjoy the festivals very much. Schools, Colleges and even office remain closed enabling people to take part in the festivals and enjoy themselves. Everyone is in a holiday mood. This season also being the harvesting season, farmers are happy with their land full of paddy and other grains. The vast stretch of luxuriant paddy crops undulation in autumn breeze fill the heart of the farmers, The little they earn this season makes them happy. Once this season is over, they anxiously wait for harder winter months.

Pulse Polio Immunization

             Polio is the abbreviated name of Poliomyelitis. It is an infantile malady, starting from the mother’s womb, it continues to make its victim suffer throughout his life. Its virulence is markedly manifested in children. It causes painful bone-deformities of a child that ails him till he dies. It is a scourge, a menace. The sure remedy of this disease is in the periodical oral administration of the medicine ‘Pulse Polio’ during the early years of a new born baby. This medicine creates immunization in the metabolic system of the baby killing the polio- bacteria attacking the process of forming bones and bone-marrow.
             This immunization is imperatively essential for a baby for eradicating the chances of the disease’s onslaught in future. Hence, pulse polio is a must even for a healthy new-born to stop any possibility of this disease in future. It is very easy to administer. It is to be administered orally at intervals of certain period of time to be tied by the physician. According to the UNICEF reports, this disease is on the wane — thanks to the raised against this devil.
             Success of this world-wide Immunization programme depends entirely on the conscious efforts of the public. The people must be made, through constant propaganda and continuous campaigning, aware of the dangerously lingering attack of this disease and it’s very easy remedy. The governments of the backward countries have come forward and now its total success depends on the cooperation of the public for their own good.