Our Idea of A Gentleman

             A gentleman is he who maintains ‘gentility’ in all spheres of life. The term ‘gentility’ implies some universal norms. It may be inherent as it can be acquired through careful observation can constant practice till it becomes a habit. Gentility, throughout the world, is considered to be synonymous with politeness, kindness and friendliness — all bunched together. A gentleman is not recognized and acknowledged for his wallet or attire, but for his conduct and natural capacity to translate his conduct into a practical intercourse with whoever he comes across. A gentleman can easily win the heart even of an alien and, thus, can earn the friendship of many. On the other hand, the phenomenal truth has to be admitted that in this age of sophisticated complications and stress it is very difficult to preserve one’s gentleness all the time, especially in the context of the heterogeneous characters a gentleman has to be in communion with in his everyday-life. But a true gentleman, whose gentleness wells up from the core of his character, can maintain this noble code of conduct whatever is the situation. In short, gentility is doubly blessed — blessed with one’s peace of own soul and blessed with other’s love and faith.

Unemployment

             One of the primary duties of the society or of the central or state governments is to provide opportunities of employment for everybody, especially for the young men and women. But, in our country there are more people than the number of available jobs and that is why thousands of young people, after finishing their studies remain unemployed. Everybody considers unemployment a curse. And this curse is so harmful that it becomes a disease, weakening the minds and bodies of the younger generation.
             It is also necessary for the students to change the basic attitudes towards occupation. It is a common feeling of the people that they should go only for jobs in state or central government or government owned companies, in banks or very big establishments. They do not want to take a certain amount of risk and start their own business. Never do they look for avenues in the agricultural field and in other areas where they can do things on their own. Here the question of self help, Imagination, daring and dauntless diligence comes in.
             Instead of blaming the government for everything, our people should change this attitude and look opportunities themselves. The government also should in the meantime recover from the hangover of their time-old policy of mixed economy and adopt a new fiscal policy of setting up big mother units and small ancillary units and boost up cottage industries to open up new employments.

Summer in Bengal

             Summer is a very prominent season in West Bengal. Baisakh and Jaistha of the Bengali calendar, approximately from mid- April or mid- June of English almanac, are the two summer-months here. Summer brings gradually increasing heat after the temperature climate of the spring and bathes in perspiration before the rainy season sets in.

             Summer is compared by many poets to an ascetic silently engaged in deep meditation sitting at the center of a circle of fire. It is shorn of all luxuries and excesses, Actually, Summer months constitute the lean time on the year. Our mother Earth comes nearest to the Sun in these two months. Summer gives us the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The hottest sun at its zenith drives away man and cattle equally from the open to take shelter in the shade.

             The water of the rivers and ponds is evaporated by the blazing heat of the sun. The sources of natural water dry up and the people in the areas where tap-water and tube-wells are not many suffer a lot from the lack of drinking water. Summer diseases spread like wild fire taking the toll of lives. Whirl wind goes on arising dust and flight, over the bosom of the bare fields and grey woods.

             Dearth of food and vegetables rules the market hut some juicy fruits and few fragrant flowers are the only boons these terrible months terrible bring for us.

Drought

             Drought is a period of continuous dry weather, especially when there is not enough water for people’s needs. During droughts it never rains for months and months, not even in time of the rainy season. Drought causes untold misery to the people. Rivers, canals, ponds and pools get dry. There is heat wave and hot spell. The thirsty earth gapes for rain. People experience acute shortage of drinking water. The water level for the tube wells supplying drinking water in villages goes down. The blooming cornfields dry up. As it causes widespread damage to crops, cattle perish for want of fodder and famine starts stalking the land. Various diseases break out. Prices of food stuff goes up so high that most men cannot afford to buy them. So drought is a bane to most men.

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.