A Memorable Day In My Life

A Memorable Day In My Life

I did not wake up and find myself famous on the morning of the 14th of last month. No one wished me even when I left my bed. In those boarding homes, which accommodation two hundred students, not one thought much of me as I passed the corridor. Yet it was going to be the most memorable day in my life.

It all came in this way. I was at that time an indifferent cricketer not the well know spin bowler, nor the talented batsman that I am thought to be now. Yet as I was passing along the corridor in front of Charles’s room-Charles was the college skipper. I was curtly informed that I was to be the eleventh man in the college team that day. My heart simply leap. For, I was ambitious and of late was showing better form than I had ever done.

We were playing that day against the strongest cricket team in the town, Sutton club. There was not the ghost of a chance of our putting up a good show. They batted first and made 250 runs for the less of 6 wickets. It was hurricane batting from the beginning to the end and fours and sixes came huge numbers. Then we began our innings. Our stalwarts returned to the pavilion in a short time. They could not withstand the steady bowling of David and Brown and defeat for us was only a matter of time

. 

When we were nine wickets down, we had made only 63 runs. Then I went into bat amidst jeers and cheers of many of my college teachers. Ordinarily, I would have been very nervous, but so many strange things had happened that day I was feeling quite confident. Anything might happen! And something did happen.

James, who was the man, was a steady bat and played sensibly. He soon realized that I was set for a big score and helped me by letting me face the ball frequently. I hit ten sixes and 23 fours. Runs were coming at a fast pace. At tea time I had scored 145 run. Shortly before the end of the day’s play we reached the total 251 and the match was over.

I was simply delirious; I had turned certain defeat into victory. I was loudly cheered, garlanded and taken to the Boarding House in a Procession. I was very proud and a little giddy.

But the crowning glory of the day was the wire which reached me at 8 p.m. I had won a lottery of one lack rupee. I did not swoon or babble. Oh! I was so happy. I had never been as happy as on that day. New, the shades of the prison house, in the words of the famous poet words worth, are fast falling upon me. Things are taking a more gloomy turn. But, now I can always look back upon that day of my life and console myself that I too had my hour.

Read More

If I Were A Millionaire

If I Were A Millionaire

We have often heard old people advise the young ones not to indulge in wasteful talk about the past and future by quoting the following lines from H.W. Longfellow:

“Trust no future, however pleasant,

Let the dead past bury its dead.

Act, act in the living present,

Heart within and God overhead.

But there will hardly be man or woman who has never indulged in day dreaming. It may be a sheer wastage of time but this at least shows some of the ambition of a man.

If I were to become a millionaire, I shall use the money in my own way. Do you think that I shall have a luxurious air conditioned bungalow to take repose in, a big limousine to take me from one place to another, several servants to attend to me and be at my back and call every moment? My answer to all this would be an emphatic “No.”

India is a poor country. There are many people in India who can’t get two square meals a day, not to mention the comforts and luxuries of life. They don’t have even a very small room where they can find response. They don’t have clothes to perfect themselves from the chilly winter. Though the Government has opened a few night shelters, they are insufficient; therefore I will open more night shelters.

I find that many people still die for want of proper medical aid. I would therefore open a dispensary for the poor. This will save them from the jaws of death.

Many people particularly villagers have no means of recreation. I will open sociology cultural centres at such places for their recreation. I will open orphanages and window houses for the orphans and windows. They will live and work there in an honourable manner. Through the Government has tried its best to open secondary and primary schools in almost every village of the country, little progress seems to have been made in the direction of adult education. It is a Herculean task. I will close three or four villages for this purpose. I would provide necessary establishment there and intensity the adult literacy programme. 

There are still certain villages where the villagers have not yet been able to free themselves from the clutches of the village money lender who always charges an exorbitant rate of interest on the money he lends to them. So I shall start a co-operative society to feed a few villages which are situated near to each other. The Society will lend money to the poor farmers. Besides money it will supply them with good manure and fertilizer.

This is how I will make use of my money if I become a millionaire. There will be people who will jeer and mock at me for my foolishness of spending my money in this manner but they perhaps do not realize that the inner happiness and man gets out of helping the poor and needy is something which is far more valuable than the sensual pleasures that a man can purchase from the money he has.

Read More

Why Indians Should Study English

Why Indians Should Study English 

When India became free, there was a demand from several quarters that English should be banished from our land. It was the language of our rulers and was therefore a painful reminder of our slavery. However with the passage of time we have grown less intolerant. Experience has taught in that English is a much our language us that of the English.

We are living in a world which is well inter linked. No one can live as a frog in the well. If anything happens in one corner of the world it is bound to affect us. In this world of globalisation we have to interact with people of other nations and cultures. English being the most popular language is the best medium to communicate. We have to be aware of all the world events. English is the greatest window for in to look at the world outside.

Luckily, this language is no stranger to us. Our contact with it is now tow hundred years old. We shall have therefore, not much difficulty in winning its appeal. Countries like Africa are importing teachers to teach English, but fortunately we have a large number of teachers to fulfill our requirements. It we were ever to abolish this language, it will not only mean starting afresh but we would also be throwing away a jewel.

English is a language which embraces within its happy fold all the priceless treasures of science and technology, art and literature. Science is developing very fast and without this language India would not find it easy to keep herself abreast of the latest trends and discoveries. In literature, the translation from English has enriched our language and it will be the height of ingratitude to exile this mother who has helped us in so many ways. For all these reasons it will be wise and prudent for Indians to study this priceless language.

Read More

A Quarrelsome Man

A Quarrelsome Man 

A story is a told of a Scotsman who saw two persons fighting. He approached them and asked, “Gentleman, is it a private quarrel, or can I also enter it?” There are some persons who are always itching for a fight. They are born under the influence of mars, the God of Battles. I have in my neighbourhood a man who picks a quarrel eight times in a week. A day that passes without a quarrel is a day last and wasted. He is the most in his element when he is threatening and gesticulating. Words come out of his mouth as brave comes out of crates.

I have tried to find out the causes of this quarrelsomeness. In the first place, the man has very poor health. Doctor is of the view that in such cases black like goes an accumulating in the body and that undermines health. Second, the man has financial difficulties. He is always indebted to others. Whenever his children ask for a book, clothes or pocket money, he harangues them in vehement language. Any talk about money is sure to start off a heated discussion and then it is an easy passage to verbal fireworks and even blows to the unfortunate children. It is amazing, how soon this man discovers or creates an occasion for a quarrel.

The other day, he purchased a little vegetable from a street hawker. He gave his a one pound note and asked for the balance. Now it so happened that the hawker insisted on some small change. That was signal enough for a quarrel. The poor hawker was threatened that he would be taken to the police station as a hoarder of small coins. With considerable difficulty the poor fellow was allowed to resume his itinerant trade. 

But sometimes the quarrel many not have upper hand. One day our hero boarded a bus and gave the money to the conductor for a ticket. The conductor asked him to wait, upon which he started quarrelling. The conductor was a big man and was about to pounce on him, when passenger intervened and saved some bloodshed. Quarrelling should be avoided at all costs.

Read More

भारतीय खेलों का वर्तमान और भविष्य

भारतीय खेलों का वर्तमान और भविष्य 

खेल-विमुखता क्यों – जिस देश में बच्चे को खेलता देशकर माता-पिता के माथे पर चिंता की लकीरें खिंच जाती हों, अध्यापक छात्रों से बचाने का प्रयास करते हों, खिलाडियों को प्रोत्साहन देने की बजाय ताने सुनने को मिलते हों, उस देश का वर्तमान और भविष्य रामभरोसे ही हो सकता है | भारत में भी खेलों का वर्तमान तथा भविष्य रामभरोसे है | आज देश में दिन-प्रतिदिन न्य इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज, आई.आई.टी., प्रबंधन संस्थान, मेडिकल कॉलेज, मीडिया सेंटर, काल सेंटर आदि खुल रहे हैं | परंतु खेल-सुविधाएँ निरंतर कम हो रही हैं | खेल-संस्थानों में भी परंपरागत सिक्षा को महत्त्व मिलता जा रहा है |

खेलों को प्रोत्साहन कैसे मिले – भारत में खेलों को प्रोत्साहन तभी मिल सकेगा, जबकि भारत सरकार अपनी सिक्षा-निति और खेल निति में परिवर्तन करेगी | आज भूखे बेरोजगार भरक को पेट भरने के लिए आजीविका के साधन चाहिए | इसलिए स्कूल से लेकर घर तक सभी बच्चों को व्यवसायिक सिक्षा दिलाने में लगे हुए हैं | व्यवसायिक सिक्षा पाने वाले छात्र से यह अपेक्षा नहीं की जाती कि वह किसी खेल या कला में पारंगत हो | विद्यार्थियों का मुल्यांकन भी केवल शैक्षणिक आधार प्र किआ जाता है | यदि शिक्षा सम्पूर्ण विकास को पाने लक्ष्य बना ले | छात्रों के लिए खेल तथा कलात्मक गतिविधियों में उतीर्ण होना भी अनिवार्य कर दिया जाए तो खेल-जगत में नए अध्याय खुल सकते हैं | तब माता-पिता बचपन से ही बच्चों के लिए पुस्तकें नहीं, गेंद-बल्ला भी लाया करेंगे और उसके साथ खेलकर उनकी रूचि बढ़ाएंगे | 

पुरस्कार और खेल-ढाँचे की व्यवस्था – यदि भारत में नई प्रतिभाओं को खेलों की ओर बढ़ाना है तो उसके लिए गाँवों से लेकर बड़े नगरों तक कुछ मुलभुत सुविधाएँ प्रदान करनी पड़ेंगी | खेल-प्रशिक्षण की नई अकादमियाँ, प्रशिक्षण, धन-राशि, प्रतियोगताओं के आयोजन, पुरस्कार, सम्मान आदि की व्यवस्थाएँ बढ़ानी होंगी | यह अकेले सरकार के भरोसे नहीं हो सकता | जिस प्रकार एक गायक, नर्तक, भजन-मंडली और नाटक मंडली को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए समाज में नए-नए आयोजन होते रहते हैं, उसी प्रकार खेलों में भी ऐसे आयोजन करने पड़ेंगे | लोग इसे मनोरंजन का साधन मानेंगे | और उसमें अपने बच्चों की सहभागिता बढ़ाएंगे तभी इनका विकास हो पाएगा |

हमारा वर्तमान – खेलों में भारत जैसे विशाल राष्ट्र का वर्तमान बहुत निराशाजनक है | केवल क्रिकेट ही ऐसा खेल है जिसमें ग्लैमर के कारण लोग इस पर जान छिडकते हैं | पूरा देश क्रिकेट के पीछे पागल है | यह खेल न तो भारत की परिस्थितयों के अनुकूल है, न इसे खेलने की सुविधाएँ हमारे पास हैं | विश्व में क्रिकेट के सबसे अधिक आयोजन भारत में ही होते हैं | परंतु हॉकी की दुर्दशा देखिए | इसी खेल में भारत ने विश्व-भर में अपनी पहचान बनाई थी | भारत ने इस खेल में आठ ओलंपिक स्वर्ण और दो कांस्य प्राप्त किए हैं | परंतु न तो सरकार ने उसे प्रोत्साहन दिया, न मीडिया और जनता ने बढ़ावा दिया | परिणाम स्वरूप हॉकी के खिलाड़ी हाशिये प्र होते-होते ओलंपिक से ही बाहर ह गए | इसी भाँती हमारे पहलवान, मुक्केबाज, तैराक, निशानेबाज समाज में उतना सम्मान और धन नहीं पा सकते | इस कारण येखेल पिछड़ते गए | बीजिंग के अलोंपिक में भी जिन खिलाडियों ने पुरस्कार जीते, वे अपनी निजी मेहनत के बल पर जीते | उनकी जीत में सरकार और समाज का योगदान बहुत कम है |

भविष्य – यदि बीजिंग अलोंपिक के स्वर्ण पदक ने भारत सरकार और जनता की आँखों को खोलने में सफलता पा ली, तो खेलों का नया अध्याय खुल सकेगा | यदि करोड़ों के पुरस्कार देकर उन्होंने कर्तव्य से छुट्टी पा ल तो फिर ढाक के वही तीन पात रहेंगे | हमें आशा है कि नई जीत से उत्साहित होकर कुछ परिवर्तन अवश्य आएँगे और हम खेलों में आगे बढ़ेंगे |

Read More

लड़का-लड़की एक समान दोनों से ही घर की शान

लड़का-लड़की एक समान, दोनों से ही घर की शान 

लड़का-लड़की में असमानताएँ – लड़का-लड़की की समानताओं को समझने से पहले उनकी असमानताओं को समझना अनिवार्य है | लड़का-लड़की दोनों के कुछ अंगों में अंतर है | परंतु उनके अधिकांश एंड और तंत्र एक जैसे हैं | उनका जन्म, खान-पीन, पाचन-तंत्र, बीमारी, इलाज, मृत्यु आदि लगभग एक-समान हैं | अंतर मात्र प्रजनन-तंत्र का है | उनमें भी वे दोनों सहयोगी हैं | दोनों में से किसी के बिना सृष्टि-तंत्र नहीं चल सकता |

स्वभाव में अंतर – लड़का-लड़की के मन में एक-जैसे भाव होते हैं ; फिर भी उनकी प्रमुखता में अंतर होता है | नारी में कोमलता, भावुकता, व्यवहार-कुशलता अधित होती है | पुरुष में कठोरता, उग्रता, ताकिर्कता अधिक होती है | इस अंतर का मुख्य कारण उनके कर्म हैं | नारी को संतान-पालन का कर्म करना पड़ता है ; इसलिए ईश्वर ने उसे शरीरिक कोमलता और सुकुमारता प्रदान की है | पुरुष को रक्षण और पालन का कर्म  करना पड़ता है, इसलिए उसमें कठोरता अधिक होती है | परंतु ये अंतर मुलभुत नहीं हैं | परंतु समाज बस इतने-से अंतर से ही लड़के-लड़की में जमीन-आसमान का अंतर कर देता है |

लड़के को महत्व मिलने का कारण – भारतीय समाज पुरुष-प्रधान है | इसमें पुरुषों को अधिक महत्व दिया जाता है | लड़कियों को मात्र ‘खर्चा’ माना जाता है | इसलिए वे ‘कामधेनु’ जैसी होती हुई भी ‘बोझ’ मानी जाती हैं | धर्म-क्षेत्र में यह धारणा भी प्रचलित है कि पुरुष योनी में ही मोक्ष मिल सकता है | इसलिए लड़के को अनिवार्य माना जाता है | परिवारों में यह धारणा भी प्रचलित है कि लड़के से ही वंश चलता है | व्यावहारिक कारण यह कि लड़की को ‘पराया धन’ मन जाता है | उसे विवाह के बाद पति के घर जाना पड़ता है | अतः हर माता-पिता अपने बुढ़ापे के लिए लड़का चाहते हैं |

लड़की को समान महत्व मिलना चाहिए – लड़के को हर प्रकार अपने लिए उपयोगी मानकर अनके माता-पिता लड़के के लालन-पालन शिक्षा पर अधिक व्यय करते हैं, लड़की पर कम | यस अन्याय है | सौभाग्य से शिक्षित परिवारों में यह अंतर मिटता जा रहा है | आज अवश्यकता एस बात की है कि सभी लोग लड़के-लड़की का अंतर करके लड़की को दबाना उचित नहीं | दोनों को अपनी-अपनी अभिरुचि के अनुसार फलने-फूलने का अवसर दिया जाना चाहिए |

Read More

The Life of a Soldier

The Life of a Soldier

A soldier is the pride of his nation. He defends the honor of his motherland with his life and blood. He has to rise above his own self to defend his nation. His profession brings out the best qualities in him like chivalry, discipline, team sprite, loyalty and steadfastness. His example serves as a beacon light to others who are tame and cowardly. His life is a source of inspiration to the youth of the nation. He has no politics in his makeup. He serves the nation to the best of his ability.

We love the soldier as much as, if not more than as the scholar, the statesman and the poet. The soldier embodies in himself the sprite of youth. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose lives in the memory of the Indian youth much more than Tilak or Tagore. The great and glorious past he played in the INA movement will be cherished by generation to come. The brace deeds of our soldiers at Kargil have 

become part of over folk love.

The life of soldier is very tough and full of discipline. He has to be mentally and physically alert and keep his body in fine shape for any battles that may come up. His performance in the theatres of war has been heroic and daring. He is the finest specimen of humanity who is prepared to given the supreme sacrifice of his life for the lives of his fellow countrymen. He has to brave the  tyrannies of nature and in thunder, lightning or rain, extreme hot or cold, in deserts, mountain or seas, day and night fight continuously for the know of his nation. He has to sacrifice his family life, be away from his children, only to the save the life of other children.

These days soldiers are involved in many other types of activities. They help civilians in fighting terrorism, communal violence, fury of floods, building of bridges, crop cutting, locus fighting, road building etc. the soldiers is truly secular in character and serves people of all castes, creeds, religions. We should always salute our soldiers.

Read More