A Short Essay on A friend in need is a friend indeed

Friends play an important role in our life. But it is not easy to find a real friend. Karna was a real friend of Duryodhana, for he did not desert Duryodhana even though he knew very well that they would be defeated in the battle. “Prosperity gains friends, but adversity tires them” is a common saying. Most of our so-called friends prove selfish, cheats and betrayers when we put them to test. Birds and frogs flock together when the lake is full of water. Once the water is dried they leave the place. Such people will desert a person when he becomes poor or if he gets into trouble. Only a real friend will stay with us in adverse circumstances whole heatedly. Only such friends can be considered as true friends. Hence a friend in need is a friend indeed.

A Short Essay on a stitch in time saves nine

This proverb means that prompt action saves a lot of time and money. For instance, if a shirt is torn, we must mend it soon or else the hole will become larger and we will have to throw it away. If anything is wrong with a machine, it is advisable for us to repair it at the earliest. Unless we do so, we will be forced to spend more money on it later. In the same way, we must consult a doctor if we are ill; In other words we must undergo treatment even when we see the signs and symptoms of a disease. Any negligence on our part to do so will make our condition worse. In short, the work done at the right time saves much energy and expenses. If the error or defect is not set right in time, it may become serious or even irreparable in course of time.

Short Essay on Union is strength

This proverb can be illustrated with the story of a father who taught his sons the necessity of unity among them. The story thus goes: His sons were constantly quarreling among them. The father wished to teach them the value of unity. So, one day, he gave them a bundle of sticks and asked them to break the bundle. None of his sons could do it. Then he took out from the bundle one stick after another and asked them to break each stick. Even the weakest among them could easily break a stick. From this his sons learn the maxim “United we stand, divided we fall”. Since then they lived with perfect unanimity. This is true in the case of nation also.

Child Labour in India

Child Labour is a phenomena prevalent mostly in developing countries of Asia and Africa. This is not to be seen in the advanced countries of the West. The reason for this is very obvious, those who feel the need for financial support of the children only allow them to work and earn. In the Western countries, where education is compulsory, the question of children found working does not arise.
Let us analyse in some detail why, this child labour is commonly found in India, or for that matter in any if the developing countries. It is these only which have teaming millions of poor people. These poor people have to make every member work for his/her own food. With the earnings of all the members of the family, they are able to make their two ends meet. This same situation prevails in all the developing countries. I do wonder if any parents prefer to see their little children work for their food, instead of enjoying at school. When the school can only be a dream for the poor, we find the little boys at tea stalls, small restaurants, in mechanic shops, cleaning cars and working as shoeshines.
We also see small girls engaged in industries like match making, candle making etc., I am sure that, given a choice, all these parents would love to see these little slogging children enjoy their childhood at home or at school, but how – is the moot point. The children who are working are adding their little mite to the family income, and it may be so that, if they do not work, they may not be blessed with even one square meal a day.
Besides this, if the child does not go to school, what does he do throughout the day. Time will be wasted, and he will only learn wrong things of life, as, “an idle brain is a devil’s workshop”. So, in this situation, I personally feel that, though the condition is deplorable it is the lesser evil, and in the bargain the child gets food to eat. From the side of the child also, it is a certainty that, if he/she is asked for a preference, it will be for going to school. So when both, the parents and the children would prefer going to school then why this labour. It is obvious that they are thus working due to compulsions and not out of choice.
The compulsion is of course, the meager income of the family, who cannot afford to even feed the children if they do not work, and besides this a lot more comes into play for creating this unhappy situation. Our Governmental agencies, private agencies and NGOs, often shout from rooftops regarding this menace of child labour. This is a menace is accepted by all and sundry but, by shouting about it and passing legislations for it, we do not reach anywhere near the solution of the problem. No one has, as yet suggested some solution of the problem. When it is amply clear that, the children work to get their basic needs fulfilled, no one can say that, it is wrong.
The practical approach to the problem would be that we attempt to find some means for providing for them, and then, the children can be forced to attend Government schools. In the absence of a practical alternative arrangement it is no use just shouting about the problem. I personally feel that the Government should first provide for such families by means of subsidies, free ration and free education. Only after such provisions are made, and the Government gets the confirmation of the solution working smoothly and honestly, can we expect children to get out of the rut of working to earn a living from an early age when they should be enjoying and playing and of course, studying and learning.
Another point closely linked with the problem of child labour comes to the fore, when these young labourers grow up into suffering adults. They are absolutely hardened and most of them tend to become anti-social. Their feeling is, and rightly so that, why should they bother about any social norms, as, what has society given to them. With this attitude, when they enter the adult world they tend to take up professions that are tained with crime. They become, smugglers, hardened criminals robbers and murderers. With such children having lost their childhood at the altar of poverty being to believe and rightly so, that in this world what really counts is riches. With this forethought, they enter the world of crime, to become rich and enjoy. Thus we may say that these criminals, are usually the creation of unhappy childhoods. So let us understand that, child labour is not an isolated problem that has to be dealt with as a single problem but, it brings in its trail a host of more complicated problems which are the offshoot of this one. The biggest problem that follows the problem of child labour is the creation of a force of criminals, and thus an increased crime rate.
The only practical and feasible solution to this problem of child labour which can be conceivable in the present scenario is provided necessitis to the families and making free education compulsory for all children. Before providing the essentials, no one can tell the poor that they should not allow their children to work, for, if they do not work, who will feed them isn’t this a pertinent question.
Child labour is not a problem that can be tackled by just talking and debating about it on various platforms. Neither can it be dealt with by making it illegal, as, no law can ban a person big or small from earning his bread. All this drama will not be able to fill the hungry stomachs of the poor. We must deal with the problem with a more practical approach and provide what the child earns for. I am sure no child does this labour for fun. It is their necessity which makes them work. No one can deny that, fulfillment of necessities has to be tackled before doing anything else. When the necessities are provided for, I am sure that, the problem that is defying a solution will automatically get solved by itself. Let us all get together and pledge to make the Government and other agencies take up a more authentic approach to this problem, and, I am sure, a solution will be at hand.

Influence of Cinema in India

Cinema is by far the most common and cheapest means of entertainment in cities in India. The maximum we Indians can look to cinema is as an exposition of art. In a country like ours, where most people are illiterate and so poor that they can ill afford any other recreation, Cinema has taken its toll.
Poor, hard pressed and illiterate people find that the cinema is the only means by which they can break the monotony and drudgery or their routine mundane lives.
The village or urban labour class are casual about pictures because they de not have the time, the means or occassion to dabble with any of the luxuries they see on the cinema screen. However, it is the urban lower class and small children of all classes who treat movies as something more than mere entertainers. Thus we see that the urban population is mostly influenced by the cinema.
The influence of cinema can not be underestimated for, cinema is a visual aid to learning. So what is seen on the cinema screen is automatically assimilated by those who see the picture. Now, what is to be measured is the depth and amount of influence on different individuals. As we all know the most impressionable people are the illiterates and the young minds so, when picture are seen by the masses, the greatest and deepest influence is on the young and illiterate, while all other categories only get their share of entertainment and forget about it all. The educated may view the cinema as an art, besides it being entertainment but the influence on the illiterate and children is seen in their trying to copy or imitate what they see. Besides, these categories also start visualising the screen to be a picture of real life which leads them to disappointment and frustration.
The cinema being a very important visual aid can play a vital role in educating the masses. If pictures are based on realities and deal with society evils and the like, the impressionable minds will understand life and society better, and the cinema will be playing its role. The cinema can play a positive educative role in the spheres of photography, art, dancing and singing and this would be a positive contribution of cinema to the teaching of all these fine arts.
What we said in the previous paragraphs is just what could be achieved by the cinema as its influence is tremendous. However, at least in India the influence is just the opposite Cinema is not at all educative in its role instead, it is only influencing impressionable minds in the negative. That would go to mean that, the quality of our cinema is very low. The impressionable minds are, as expected, learning what they see in the cinema. They behave as they see, they dress as they see and act as they see. So, the influence is undoubtedly full and complete but absolutely negative. This has to be because, the young and the illiterate learn and ape all of what they see as, they do not possess the capacity to clean the hay from the chaff.
Another very dampening effect of the cinema to day is in causing depressions, frustrations and then suicides. People who see that life is all roses as depicted ok the screen, life is all glamour and money, expect the same from life for themselves. When this is mot to be, they are sadly disappointed with what life has to offer them in reality.
Cinema can be of great utility and influence if the cinemas made are educative and provide clean entertainment, clean songs and dances of some standard. However, in our country, like all other things, cinema has also become an industry highly commercialised each picture produced must be a commercial hit no matter what it may all be about. The producers and directors get together to produce picture to earn a fortune and not to provide quality education or entertainment for people. This is why to day the picture we see are mostly those which cater to the lower classes if people, and children, as, only they can be frivolous and appreciate as fun, meaningless gestures and overtures.
Thus, the influence of cinema has got to be tremendous and it is being so. We are getting the return of our cinemas in all our crimes and violence and sex. So it is playing its role of teaching no doubt but what, is just nobody’s business. If the cinema has to play the role it is meant to play, the quality of cinema must improve no matter ever if quantity is not retained. It is not important to know how much we learn, it is all important to know what all we learn, as the influence of cinema is great and irrepairable.

What I forsee for Indian women in the 21st century

God created both man and woman to live together in this beautiful world, but it is amazing how and why woman has been a topic of discussion for all times to come. It does sometimes make me wonder whether woman is the special creation of God to be the talk on platforms or is she so troublesome that she is always in discussions. Whatever may be the cause of it, the fact remains that women have always been a topic for discussions.
In the ages gone by at least in India women were highly respected, specially in the role of a wife and a mother. However, as time rolled on, and Muslim influence came into India, women were as if thrust into their shells, and India saw the advent of the Purdah system and the like. Men did this, saying that woman is so attractive that if she goes out in the main world she will face trouble. This situation pleased both men and women, men because they felt it was on opportunate moment to decry women and throw them centuries behind them.
On the other hand, women took the help of their instincts of their love being praised and so, really believing men, they preferred to stay in purdah and indoors. This game of praise and appreciation continued for centuries till at last in the second half of the 20th century women awoke and realised that men had been coolly fooling them and they were taking it all lying down and happily.
In the mid 20th century women started stepping out of the four walls of their homes and started going to schools, colleges, clubs and then offices gradually. With this advent of opening a haven of premissiveness, women took a big leap. They were not to be satiated only by studying now, in the third quarter of the 20th century; their desire to enter into nation building grew vigorously. Now they started entering into all educational institutions, offices, hotels, hospitals, etc. They left no arena untapped and it is this situation where we stand now at the end of the 20th century.
This entry of women in the main stream of nation building is undoubtedly very encouraging but, at the same times this achievement is mot without, a fatal sacrifice of the home.
At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of 21st century the scenario is rather bleak. The women in their own status may have won and will continue to rise but their contribution to the family and society is bound to be decreased. The trend in this direction is already set. The women once they are educated automatically and naturally become less submissive and less pliable so the educated women pose serious problems of maintaining peace at home. Now, once they start working, they gather more air and become wholly independent and less of home birds.
This change over of the women from the home to the office has given them some solace, but it has been a sad day for the home. In the 21st century if things continue to be like this, women may have nothing to-do with their homes. Family life will be disrupted and children will be totally neglected. There will be no social commitment of a family because in the busy day’s routine, socialising will find no place. The homes will get fragmented which will certainly result in a near broken society. All this because the women will have no time and interest and energy to spare for the family and society.

If I were a Millionaire

Million rupees is quite a big sum, even when the rupee is so much devalued. Oh! How wonderful it would be if I were ever to get a million rupees and what, yes, what would I do with it. Just let me think and make out my plans for, one never knows when Lady Luck comes and knocks at my door and I am found napping. So let me put on my thinking cap and start, yes start.
If I were a millionaire, would life have to change for me? Would I spend it all on myself and my family.But, how would I do that, I already have all that I want for a comfortable and happy living, how and what would I add? Could then I be in a position to help others in need, with that money, as, with a million to spare, I could render a lot of help to several people in need.
Yes, yes, that is the moot point would I spare it or take it as if it was my earning and cling to it as, we all cling to hard earned money for it was to be in reality my earning, the earning of my luck, if not my hard work. However, in better moments I’d think I manage to fulfil all my needs with the normal income what can I do with an extra amount of money, and that also so much of it, Oh! I’m confused and I cannot visualize what would be right for me to do in the very circumstance.
Come on, come out of the labyrinth of confused thoughts, it is really difficult to plan expenditure of an unexpected huge amount of money that’s true but, I remember I have some specific plans which have been eating dust due to lack of money reserves, now is the time to fructify those very plans. I have some plans which would only be possible if God would bloss me with a gift of such money that I could conveniently spare. Such money, I would love to use more for the benefit of others than for the fulfillment of my desires.
This is because I know that the desires of man are unlimited and unending. No matter how much we have, we can never feel satiated. But God is great and He has given me the satisfaction in as much as I have, and this money I would definitely like to spend for the benefit of others.
I would spend all this money as my contribution towards man’s basic needs. A storehouse of knowledge would be constructed in the shape of a public library, at the doors of which, poor people would get educated. This education may not be in the form of formal kind but this education would help in making the poor, moral and self reliant. This library would have books which, besides knowledge, would also give the readers insight into their behaviors. I would also start for the poor only some vocational centres where they would be taught skills by virtue of which, they would, at a later stage be able to earn a livelihood.
The plight of the poor sick in our country is absolutely heart rending. I would like to ensure treatment of the urban poor in good, well established hospitals. This would be financed by me for at least a few patients.
In today’s fast moving and uncaring society I feel that the old people have a very sad and dejected life. Old age homes for the poor old would also find a place of priority in my list of services I would like to render. The plight of the old, makes my heart cry and I wish I can do something for them. If I ever get a big amount of money to spare, establishing old age homes would find place in my list of services.
So, if I were to become a millionaire these items would remain in top priority of expenditure. Why I chose these areas of service – the cause is not far to seek – these are the areas that have remained untouched by any one safe and they are the greatest sufferers in todays.
As far as I am concerned, I feel, I may take a short holiday with my family, and that is all I’II spend on myself, as, the rest of it all, I’ve got it all. I would love to be, of some little use to someone else, some of my less lucky, brethren. So, if I ever become a millionaire I would spend all the money on my comrades for, I genuinely believe they have a share in all that God gives me.

Some Indian superstitions

India is considered as one of the most superstitious country because here many are ignorant, backward and believe in the power of omens. Ignorance leads to superstition. People want to achieve all their ambitions without putting the best efforts. They are interested in performing many ceremonies and follow the persons who tell them the impact of evil spirits, such people always live in a fear of ghosts and take each step of daily routine keeping in mind the superstition associated with it. Superstitions have indeed led the people to believe in the existence of supernatural beings.
Some superstitions are prevalent not only in India but also in many other countries. However, the number of superstitions is much higher in India. Actually there are so many common and small superstitions that at each place, there is a superstition existing. If one sneezes, it is not considered good to go out. It is considered an ill-luck if we see a man with an empty pitcher or if a cat crosses one’s way. All these are considered ill-omens and highly inauspicious. Seeing a one-eyed man early in the morning is considered so bad that people think that they won’t get any meals during the day. If an owl is seen sitting on top of house, it is taken as a sure sign of coming ruin and destruction to the family of that house. A guest is predicted if a crow starts crowing early in the morning at one’s rooftop.
Many superstitions are made for betterment based on their inherent advantages. Such superstitions have a solid reasoning and common sense behind their cause. It is said that the small babies should not be fed outside, under the open sky, their food should always be given in covered places. This is perhaps to avoid exposure of food to possible bacterial infection outside. The grown-up children or adults should not cross-over small babies. It is usually seen that biggen children try to cross the little children. But it is not considered a good sign, it is truly sure that such cross-overs can injure the little babies.
Superstitions also teach science in very common, popular and acceptable ways. Like plucking of a flower at night is considered a sin. Similarly, the peepal trees are considered abodes of ghosts at night. The wells which have been closed are considered as underground houses of evil spirits. This for betterment of people because a closed well can store various poisonous gases which if leaks can cause fatal injuries. Similarly some of other superstitions prevent us from doing such activities which can do harm in terms of scientific approach. Such superstitions can rightly be told to children for their safeguards.
Man is a social animal and is weak in his conscience. That is why he lives in fear of unknown dangers that may strike, due to presence of an evil-spirit or ghost in a lonely or dark corner. All superstitions are signs of human weakness, particularly with reference to sights of ghosts and evil-spirits. In broad daylight, no one has ever seen a ghost or gets afraid thinking a ghost is nearby. Actually we ourselves are causes of such unforeseen misfortunes and accidents. We keep all such happenings at the back of our minds and go on thinking whenever lonely or in the dark. We should come out of such ignorant superstitions and try to be in good humour for good of all.
The increase in awareness and education level can definitely remove most superstitions associated with various innocent and ignorant people of our country. Today, most of the educated youth do not pay any attention to such superstitions and treat it all as nonsense. But in some people, these superstitions are so deeply rooted that any kind of convincing would do nothing to remove their superstitious faiths. Even in some other countries the number thirteen is regarded as very inauspicious. People don’t like to be associated with this number. So we have superstitions not only in India but all over the world though in varying degrees.

Need to promote communalism in India

Communal situation in India has improved substantially during the last few years but there is a need to further strengthen this relative peace. The wall of distrust between Hindus and Muslims must be demolished and open-ended dialogue should be started between the two communities. It is time that Muslims rethink their strategies. Hindus too cannot just wish away the Muslims. There is a communication gap between the two communities. Muslims need to explain their position on issues concerning Muslim identity, loyalty and their personal laws so that mutual antagonism between the two communities comes to an end.
The most common complaint against Muslims is that they are preoccupied with their separate identity and refuse to become a part of the mainstream. Muslims must make Hindus understand they are an integral part of the Indian mainstream, as distinct from the Hindutva unmistakable stamp of native Indian influences. However, Muslims can’t be expected to give up their religious beliefs as demanded by the RSS under the garb of “cultural assimilation”.
The dialogue has to take place essentially at the non-political level. Muslims are, by and large, bewildered and angry at those leaders who, by their confrontationial attitude, have led the community to near disaster. The dialogue has to be conducted by ordinary Muslims and Hindus at a one-to-one level shorn of any prejudice. The post-demolition period has witnessed the emergence of enough voices of sanity and modernization among Muslims. Both the Hindus and Muslims should understand that aggressive and ambitious leaders do not represent the masses. They are protecting their own political interests or those of powerful socioeconomic exploiters. It is the masses of both communities, unfortunately, who fall victim to aggressive propaganda.
The recent condemnation by Muslim intellectuals of the stand taken by the OIC on Kashmir goes to prove the point Hindus must take note that, Muslims are Indians by choice. Muslims have to stress that they consider Kashmir an integral part of India and will not be found wanting in defeating Pakistan’s design. Hindus need to be reminded that there have been three wars between India and Pakistan, and Muslims should proudly assert their Indian identity. They need to reiterate that they do not harbour any protective feelings towards migrants from Bangladesh. They are not against their deportation to their own country, but would favour proper identification through a competent administrative machinery to ensure that poor Indian Muslims are not victimized.
A related myth propagated by communal forces against Muslims is that their loyalty lies with the Islamic world. Muslims have to dispel this notion by making it clear that their only link with Islamic nations is with the holy sites. Apart from the essentially religious links, the community has nothing to do with their brethren in the Islamic world. There are widespread misconceptions among Hindus about the position of women in Muslim society. The position of Muslim women is no different from that of Hindu women. Muslim society is relatively free from the evils of dowry. Even the rate of divorce among Muslims is lower that that among Hindus. The level of literacy among Muslim women is definitely much lower and there is a pressing need for reforms in this area.
Reforms to promote communalism take their own time. Nonetheless, there is a case for reforming Muslim personal law just as there is an equally strong case for reforming other personal laws. In the process, some uniform norms and standards may evolve. Large parts of the civil and criminal laws are, in fact, common already. Only marriage succession laws are an issue. Hindus, unfortunately, are not aware of the Muslim marriage system. The misconception that Muslims are trying to overtake the Hindu population by multiplying fast, needs to be countered. Islam is not opposed to family planning, and a sizeable section of the community practices it.
The population of any group or nation trends to stabilize at a certain stage and the Muslim population is expected to stabilize at around 15 percent of the local population. In socially and educationally advanced states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Muslim population growth is less than that of the Majority community in Bihar, Rajsthan and Uttar Pradesh. Any confrontation with Hindus will cripple Indian Muslims as well as the nation.
Today’s world is making rapid strides in Science and technology. People travel thousands of miles to help others in distress. Ironically, we who were once the torchbearers of spiritualism, have been engaged in fratricidal violence in the name of religion. Muslims have a unique opportunity in India. They are neither the rulers nor the ruled. They are partners in power along with Hindus, Sikhs and others. They must be prepared to meet this challenge and avail of the opportunity. They should build pressure on the Muslim leadership to shun the politics of confrontation and instead opt for the policies of co-operation.

Gandhi’s philosophy in context of Indian religion, political, social and economic conditions

Mahatma Gandhi who is also called “Rashtrapita” was a unique personality, a great saint, an economist, a social reformer and an advocate of non-violence and what not. Indians are proud of him who led India to the path of freedom. He preached to the world the ideas of unity and brotherhood. He worked for the upliftment of the Harijans. He was the greatest figure who dedicated his whole life to the cause of the common man. He was essentially a man of the masses and an ideal of the millions. Being the champion of love and peace, he was respected and loved all over the world.
Mahatma Gandhi did not believe in the theory that, ends justify the means, rather he always taught the people that it were the means that could justify the end. He stood for religious values in a materialistic age. His religion was truth and non-violence. For him, the centre of the whole was the very basic of truth. He always emphasized that only cowards follow the path of violence and it is only brave people who fight their battle with the weapon of non-violence and always come out to be victorious. In fact, he said that the world can always be safe from effects of wars and destruction if everybody follows his teaching of love, non-violence and patience. He liked all without any type of discrimination based on religion, nationality and caste. This made him one of the greatest religious thinkers of world history.
Gandhiji always advised the upper caster Hindus for justice to all those innocent and poor people whom the high class Hindus had enslaved and forced to live and work worse than animals. He put all his efforts for social cause and justice to all. He said that the eradication and untouchability were the very basic – issues of his mission towards bringing about social reforms in India.
He advocated equality in treatment to women, particularly who are working at par with their men counterparts. In this way, he really expressed his opinions practically on each aspect of day-to-day life and invariably what he advised has far reaching impacts and importance even after 50 years of his death. He really stood to preach and practice self-sacrifice in the crazy world of today where each one of us is after wealth, power and has become self-centred and greedy.
Gandhiji realized that thousands of poor masses are being exploited by the British rulers and such people were not able to get two square meals a day. The Indian people were getting crushed under the heels of poverty and social injustice. He decided to give a new thought to economic problems being encountered by India and suggested very practial and easy solutions which are really a class of its own.
He advocated his ways of self dependent by spinning the Charkha and use of swadeshi items. He advised people to spin and wear these clothes, and avoid the use of any imported material. He asked them to wear only swadeshi cloths and follow the economics of the charkha. This was the way to give employment to hundreds of farmers who could not do anything for most part of the year and were getting poor and idle. Thus the British rule was also getting affected as it thought that in this way India would no longer be a profitable and economical market. The cloth made in mills of England would find no buyers in India and British would have to leave the country within a short time.
In the pursuit of Swadeshi movement, even small articles of daily use like soap, matches, paper, leather and other articles began to be made in India. At several places, British cloth was burnt in heaps. People were persuaded not to even go to the shops which kept British cloth. Women took a leading part in this movement. They even sold their ornaments and other jewellery items to open shops where only Swadeshi goods were sold. The Mahatma Gandhi launched a movement called ‘Quit India’ to ask the British rulers to leave India immediately to allow the Indian people to sort out their problems the way they like. Mahatmaji gave this message to the people all over India “Do or Die”. Inspite of cruel acts by the British rulers over this movement, Mahatmaji fought bravely with patience and restrain. Gandhiji sought to arouse a feeling of self-conscience in every human being.
Gandhiji’s policy was to hate the evil and not the evil doer. He said that the British rule was an evil but we must not hate the Englishmen. Rather we must no co-operate with the British rule and wage a non-violent struggle to get freedom from the hands of foreign rule. Gandhiji was always against the policy of separating morality from politics. He tried to bring religion and politics closer. He tried to moralise politics. For him, the political weapon was the path of non-violence. His message to follow the path of non-violence is true even in today’s world which is full of tension over small issues and superiority over the other.

The Girl Child

The very fact that the girl child has become a topic of discussion and debate, points to the fact that, this is something different to the other of the human species. The girls have always and everywhere been considered to be lesser of the two beings of the human species. Why this has come to be, is beyond our comprehension, but, the fact remains that, the girl has not only been considered as the lesser, but has always been really neglected also. It can not be imagined how this situation came into being but, the sadder and more shocking situation is when, in the 20th century we call ourselves highly civilized, cultured and educated and all else, the girl still finds it more and more difficult to subsist on this planet. This situation is a world wide phenomena, the difference being only in the degree of suppression of the girl. Even to-day we hear of crimes and ill treatment of women and that also in an advanced country like the United States. This being a world wide phenomena, it is increasingly disheartening to see it take the shape of a demon in India. It is true that, India is a third world country but, this is one country that has held women in high esteem and respect.
In a country like India with such an ancient civilization where it is believed that women were worshipped, such a sad situation having developed in the status of women is really shocking. Even our sacred books point to the fact that, Indians believed that, a country where women are not respected, can never prosper and progress. It is with this background that, it becomes absolutely shocking to note the rising crimes against women, and the deteriorating position of women in the Indian social scenario. Even now, when we see women in the outside world that earlier concept that women are mere chattels, labourers and child producing machines still persists to destroy the rising image of the women. When this is the status granted to women even to –day, it is no wonder that, India is continuously on the decline in most of its developmental aspects.
The girl child has always been derided, for, the very day of her birth in a family, is the day of the doom of the family, and so, automatically when this is the welcome accorded to her, what could be awaiting her for her to enjoy through life. When we neglect the girl, we are forgetting that, we are not neglecting the individual girl, but we are neglecting the very fountain of existence, and also all the finer aspects of life which in reality make this life worth living. Is there any doubt that, it is the women who give love, sacrifice and all happiness to main involves, and above all the girl gives the man service till she lives, and what a tragedy of life that, it is the same man who misuses her goodness and service. Should this not be matter of shame for man and his world. The very woman who gives man all that she has, in her role as a wife and a mother specially, should be so maltreated? This speaks volumes of man, and his character anc conduct.
Practically speaking also, let us understand that, by suppressing women, even mathematically, the world is at a loss of growth. A country’s progress is bound to be scuttled when half the population of girls and women are kept below average standards of existence. The girl is not allowed to be educated, she is not given any freedom of expression, action or thought and she continues to remain uncared for and a forlorn individual. It is shocking to realize that, the society who neglects the women, does not seem to realize that, an unhappy daughter, an unhappy wife and, an uncared for mother can never add to a family’s happiness and growth. It is certain that, if this half of the human population is considered as relevant to existence, the progress of the other half will automatically become doublefold. This is simple mathematics of progress which seem to be missed upon, by the other half. In this of course, there are vested interests involved at least now, at this stage of the growth of the girl in the 20th century.
Now when the male of the human species is so used to domination, they are sure to resent the rise of the other oppressed half, as, they can see their domination being brought to naught. So, what is happening to the girls now is that, though the awakening to their rights has come among women, they are finding it an uphill task to fight it out with the authority of men, who are naturally not liking the coming up of women. On the other hand the man, who always thought that he was the superior being, finds it rather taxing to adjust to the idea of women coming up to their standards.
In this scenario, the girl child has a doublefold war front to fight it out for herself-one being the older women who do not allow the girl to rise, as, they do not seem to understand the need for it, and the other is the male counterpart who have the fear of seeing her become an equal as, this will snatch away from the man his centuries old platform of domination from him. In reality, what the present situation is in India is also true about the whole world but of course it is not as bad as it is in India and this is because of lack of education among the girls.
The girl child who has till now been an object of disgust, hate and wrath should become an object of care and nurturing. This can happen only if and when both women and men develop an attitudinal change, and realize the fact that, the girl is also as much of a human being as the boy, with her own desires and aspirations and capacities. She should not be treated as a mere item of possession but taken as an equal partner in the country’s destiny. Only when this happens can a country take a true recourse to progress.
However, even to-day when the girls are being educated and taking up careers they still remain as second in the two-why? This is because we are not able to understand the fact that, men and women are two partners, with distinct qualities and capacities meant to supplement and complement each other rather than one being the first and the other being the second. Only if we could take in this basic issue this war of nerves of acquiring the first position by either, would stop forthwith. By now, it is amply clear that, even being financially independent does not make women more or even equal to men. The one thing that is to understand, why does the girl have to be an equal to the boy, she should have a position of her own in the family and the society, and the boy have his own. It would be best for us to remember that a girl is a girl and a boy is a boy, and never the two can be same. They do not have to be same or equal, they are just individuals with their own responsibilities, have their own impartiance and deserve same respect and love and adoration.
Only when we start realizing this fact, that, a girl is also as much of a human as a boy, with her own feelings and aspirations, we will be able to end this long standing struggle for the girl child. Why should there be any need for us to make such a fuss about the girl? She is also a human that is all that we have to remember, an that will end all the strife for her.

Devaluation Of Values

Let us first consider what we know about the meaning of the word ‘values’. The values that individuals or societies have, make them a species apart, first from the animals, and then from each other. It is values that go to identify individuals and societies as separate enities. Values is the name given to certain human virtues which are believed to be necessary for human existence. Few of these values are universally appreciated and taught and can never lose their relevance in the world scene. These few values are honesty, justice, modesty and simplicity. These are the few values of human behaviour that are appreciated everywhere, and will always continue to be called virtues. These will never be called outdated or misplaced. These values may exist or may not exist but, they can never be called bad anywhere in the world at any time of existence. Let us now analyse why these are called values. It is because they gave strength of head and heart to individuals and societies that they were termed as values. What we have to consider in this place is whether these values have lost their sheen and strength. They still do exist but have lost their relevance in the sequence of things, which in turn means that these values have lost their value and have got devalued. For instance, let us take the value of a rupee, it is often heard that, the rupee is devalued which means that, it has lost its original value, in the market. In exactly the same way, the values just mentioned have not got lost but, they have lost their market value, and so have got devalued.
Values truly keep changing but what is really good can never be called bad. For instance, we can, in no part of the world, or at any time of any century teach our children that, it is wrong or bad to be honest, but yes, the relevance of honesty may decreased as we may stop giving it any weightage but, we will never call it a bad habit to be honest. Just for an example, in to-day’s scenario, we can not say that, to be honest is bad though we may agree that it is difficult, and also fruitless. Here it comes the devaluation of the value of honesty. This, in turn does not reduce the greatness of the value of honesty, but it may now be placed low in the hierarchy of values due to its being non-result oriented.
The present scenario of India is our centre stage of discussion. India has a very rich and ancient cultural heritage, and it is really heart breaking to see the India of ages gone by having taken the shape of the so called modern India where, honesty for one has lost all its glitter. This is because, honesty is not rewarded and the dishonest are never punished.
Leave alone the punishment of the dishonest, they are found to be enjoying the best of everything. This makes the value of honesty irrelevant in the present scenario. With this situation prevailing, the number of honest people is on the decline and when we find glamour on the other side of the fence, the numbers on the other side of the fence are increasing by leas and bounds, and honesty becomes a thing of the past.
Regarding the value of justice, where do we find justice? In a country where justice was the hallmark of governance, justice has become a word to be scoffed at, and it is only in a bundle of dates given to all clients. When justice can not, or is not given AT ONCE, it loses its very essence, and takes the shape of a mere hoax. Fancy punishing a person for a crime he committed 20 years back, does this make any sense? N, not even to me a simple citizen of India. It is high time that, people who matter, understood that, justice can be of any utility only if it is given in time. On paper we often read that, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’, but, it is very sad to realize that people who matter never seem to give a thought to this simple statement, it is sure that they also know this fact, then why is there no change in the scenario? There is no change because, justice is not been given these days but it is a commodity for sale, and given to the highest bidder. Here we see the loss of the great value of justice, in the face of the changes.
It will not be out of context here to discuss our rulers, for it is they who put the first step forward for others to follow. Where is our Raja going? In a country where the Raja sacrificed all that was his for the country and countrymen, to-day, the Rajas are fast nibbling away and feeding upon what belongs to the country and the countrymen – what a somersault the values have taken. Why do you think that, even after 50 years of self rule, India has not achieved a respectable percentage of literacy? The reason for this is just one – the ruler. The rulers, i.e., the politicians did not want the spread of literacy honestly and so it did not happen. This was done for a very simple reason, the countrymen would not be easy prey to the dragon of the politician if they were educated, so, the dragon found it convenient to give literacy a back seat in its governance. If the people were educated they could not have been be fooled as they have been, for the last 50 years, and they would have read the lines written on the walls and seen through the camouflage of the democracy we are. So here also we see the value of love for others, bringing up others, bringing up others helping others being replaced by the value of be fooling others, crushing others and eating into others. In this way, the rulers, the present day politicians have taken full advantage of the foolish and simple public to fulfil their right and wrong ambitions.
Friendship is a quality of the past, a word forgotten. In these days of competition friendship has become a rare commodity. This is because, each one of us has become very selfish and self centred, and as soon as, SELF predominates our life style we have no place left for the friend, in our arena. Friendship requires a lot of sacrifice and to-day, we have forgotten the very word of sacrifice and so, no friendship can fructify. In the present day scenario there are no friends, there are only acquaintances, whom we can only know, but can not expect to be of any help to us in times of need.
Modesty is another word that has said a good bye to the modern people. Modesty which was once considered an adornment of people is now converted, into a misnomer, and showing off whether it be the body or ones achievements has become the hallmark of the present day Indians. Each individual is found blowing his own trumpet to attract attention of others, for, there is nothing in us that will automatically attract, so, we have to shout for appreciation. Regarding the qualities like love, emotion and service and many others which are finer feelings like them have been given up with the winds of the times now there is absolutely no essence in these values as we have all, lost all of them. These finer values having disappeared and are off and on, leading us on to problems of new and varied nature, for, we have lost all the finer values of head and heart that make life really worth living.
Now once we have lost so many values, let us analyse what do we live by then? The answer is very simple, to-day the only thing we live by is our strength of money. Money has taken the place of all values and devalued them all. Values of life are all lost and only the value of money prevails. Our value is not what we know, how good we are, or how educated we are, our value is measured by all that we can buy with the money we possess. This does not mean that these values have gone. No they are very much on the horizon but, we do not cherish them any more. These values wait for us to understand their worth and come back to us on some later day. I am very optimistic and feel that, just as the good values are lost, the bad values will also find their way out of our lives one day-let us wait and watch.

Children have their woes/reasons

All of us have reasons for doing and saying whatever we do or say. But we elders normally fail to understand that children also have their own worries and their own reasons. We somehow refuse to believe that the child is, besides being a human being also an individual with his little aspirations and egos.
This little individual is, let us accept, never treated as an individual. He is always looked upon as somebody who must do only what his elders tell him to do, behave only as his elders tell him to, and so much so, even like and dislike what his elders want him to. In this very domination of sorts bring the gap between the generations I daresay, it is a bridge that cannot be crossed. It does not mean that elders should not lead the child. This, they have to but, with some caution of remembering that, the child is also an individual with his own will and brain. We elders should not try to impose upon him our likes and dislikes to such an extent that either he revolts or he loses his own power of thinking and planning for himself. This in turn makes him a mentally maimed adult.
When we try to bring up a child we have to be very careful about what we do and what we teach. If the two are identical, then the child just mimics and learns but, when there is a gap between what we do and what we teach, the child begins to reason out for himself and does what he, as an individual thinks is right or what he, prefers to do. In this way he has his reasons for doing whatever he does, leaving the elders unaware of the why and what of his action. This is because, remember, he is an individual also, besides being a child. For example as elders we teach him continuously that, he must not tell lies but, when he sees his parents or other elders telling lies, he starts reasoning out why lies should be spoken or not spoken. He has his own reasons which come out of his own capacity as an individual to understand, act and react. Then when he takes a particular path of telling lies or not telling lies, we do not understand why he does so, this in itself proves that, he has his own reasons.
Talking of a child let us be clear of whom we term as a child. The child who is very young say about 2 – 6 years old, copies his elders to some extent, intermingled with his own little brain thinking planning and opting for what he, as an individual thinks appropriate. Even after the age of say 6 to, we call them as children. Now this category of children who are on the threshold of adulthood start becoming aggressive as they start reaping the results of their behaviours. For example we often hear elders say that, children these days are not obedient. It is easy to just condemn but, do we adults ever try to understand why they are so. The answer is quite clear when there are no clear cut paths to tread upon, when there are no clear examples to follow, the children first do what they feel is correct or is result oriented. Now, for instance, when we tell them to obey, it is very well said but what they see all around is disobedience for excellence. They see their parents, teachers and others of the adult world flouting rules and regulations at every step so, they analyse in their minds, reason out and wonder why they are being instructed to be obedient. When obedience is a missing number everywhere then, there is, a very justifiable trend of disobedience. Wherever they go, they find disobedience to rules, to norms and regulations and to cap it all, no one ever seems to be punished for this out and out disobedience. Then they have their own reasons for being disobedient. They feel that when disobedience is in the thing everywhere then why should they not follow the same.
We tell them all the while to work hard as, success comes to those who work. This is all very well said but when they see some people getting places of esteem on a platter what respect can they ever have for hard work and diligence. Their power of reasoning tells them that may be diligence paid dividends in the by gone past, it has apparently no value in the present scenario. Their attitude of indifference to work is then quite justified.
Seeing these few examples, we have to accept that whatever the younger generation is today, it is our making. We must remember that in dealing with them at any stage of their childhood that they and individuals like any one of us and are thus bound to have their reasons for all that they do. Our duty as elders is to help them to reason correctly and not to subdue them to such as extent that they revolt.

Life is better for us than what it was for our forefathers

When we talk of forefathers we may include our elders from the very early stages of life. So, if we see the life of the early man and that of ours today, we will have to accept that our lives are much better than the lives of our distant forefather – that is, the early man.
This is because, early man lived like an animal, with hardly any civilized existence. He went in search of food just like animals, lived in caves, wore next to nothing or, at the most leaves covered his body. From this standard of living of the early man we have come a long way into civilization. The comparison between his life and ours can thus hardly be drawn as, these are two types of lives of two extremes. The correct perception and comparison can be drawn, when we delve into lives of our forefather of say 2 or 3 generations back.
For this, I daresay that, life of our forefathers was much better than ours today. To conceptualise real life of the two generations, we have to assess what we really want from life, to call it better or worse. Life can be called good only when there is a balanced admixture of all the ingredients of life, that is, a proper balance of work and entertainment, duty, comfort and hard work. This peculiar and difficult balance could be found to some extent, in the generation that reigned in the middle of the present century.
Today we can, undoubtedly claim to be far ahead of our forefathers in scientific and technological advancement. These have provided for us several gadgets which make life for us very comfortable, and also give us a sea of knowledge. All these benefits did not accrue to our forefathers. They lived very simple lives and also quite comfortable ones, without much of a hullabaloo of fast growth, fast money, fast life and fast death.
Now, let us analyse where this so called modern progress is taking us. Yes, we do get storehouses of knowledge and entertainments at our very doorsteps, but have we ever pondered for a moment as to what all we have had to sacrifice for all this. We have had to give up all social get togethers and family outings which were a treat to the previous generations. So much so that we are in the process of breaking the family links. Each member of the family is busy in his own quest for knowledge, and enjoyment. No one member of the family is aware of what the other members are busy doing. Is this a family? When such families make a society, what can be expected of life.
In our times, the family and the society, the two stalwarts of the Indian nation are giving way under the immeasurable pressure of fast technological growth. Then, where does our generation go to find other necessities of a happy life, like love care and all else? Our forefathers enjoyed the plum pleasure of loving caring families, children who would served them in the evenings of their lives. Where do we go to search for these essentials of life, which make life worth living. These are the pleasures that we of today long for. Regarding society also I’d say that our forefathers enjoyed the pleasure of social gatherings which were meant for celebrating happy occasions in the family and the society. It is not that to –day have become platforms for showing off our all, to all others, than avenues of helping each other, as they were earlier. The family is fast disintegrating with elders having been thrown out of the family ambit. The small children are spending most of their time in crèches and the parents are busy in money brokering. Where are the ties, where is the love, where are the bonds which our forefathers savoured.
This life of so fast a pace is leading this generation to known and unknown maladies, their money spinning keeps them on toes, and they are forever on tenterhooks. Is this the life that we cherish, which is completely devoid of love, care and all that was? The new buzzword of modern life is tension – I say, tension of getting what? Here I would daresay that, this tension is not of getting all we want but, it is the tension of getting all that others have. This attitude was a missing number in the previous generation, and this is exactly what contributed to their high level of happiness, which is missing now. The happiness of the previous generation was I think due to the great gift of ‘satisfaction’ that they had. It is not that they did not try to improve their lot, or they did not want to live better but, they were happy with what they had and at the same time tried to improve their lot. This was a wonderful combination of attitudes, which I feel, kept the previous generation happy.
To-day we find no one, yes, no one at all satisfied with whatever he has. All people seem to want to have just what they do not possess, and all that the others possess. To this attitude I’d say there is no remedy, and it is just this which makes us unhappy in the midst of all amenities and affluence. This an attitude of living in a fool’s paradise, for we must realize that, all of us cannot get everything that all others have. If we keep struggling for all this, it is no wonder, we will always remain tense, and this tension will cause all kinds of ailments. We must remember at this point that our bodies and the minds are one composite whole, very closely effecting each other. If we are mentally disturbed, the physical aspect cannot remain unaffected. So, in this aspect also, our forefathers were better off than us. They worked to improve but, apparently, remained happy with whatever they possessed, and this was the master key to their happy and wholesome existence.
Regarding enjoyment also the irony of this so called progressed generation is that, they have all modes of entertainment, at their beck and call but, where is the time from money spinning. So, may I ask as to what is the use of having things and never being able to enjoy them – is n’t it worse than not having them.
Another thing though inanimate, was enjoyed by our forefathers in great abundance were qualities of honesty sincerity and devotion. These qualities found often in most people in earlier times must have made human relations easier, plainer and happier. Today finding these qualities in people around us is like trying to hold the wind our palms. It is this that makes life difficult and even miserable to most of us. Wherever we go, in whatever sphere we dabble we have to encounter dishonesty insincerity and lack of dignity. With all these negative qualities to be faced every where, where can we of this generation find solace and peace of mind. If we do not fit into the grooves of these disgusing qualities, we find it impossible to function. Here again, our forefathers have taken the cake. Today, life at home, in office and in society is virtual torture where can we claim to be better off than our forefathers.
Summing up the lives of our forefathers and ours, I am of the opinion that the lives of our forefathers were positively better than ours. They were happy and content which I think is the essence of life, no matter what else we have if we miss upon this, our lives are deserted. Today, all the good things that make life livable are missing in our modern pattern of life. Though we have progressed apparently but, the bug of dissatisfaction is grasping our very existence, and making life meaningless and void.

Discipline

These days there is a lot of talk discipline having gone down, and indiscipline being rampant in every feasible sphere of life. This is very true but, let us quite clearly understand what discipline really means. Discipline is in essence, the training of the mind to obey instructions. In the bygone days, this training of the mind to obey was found in all people and in every sphere of functioning but to-day it is missing everywhere, yes, everywhere. Let us now analyse why this has happened and can we find any solution for it, or then consider it a lost cause?
I feel that the reason is mainly in our education. It is a wonder though but it is true that we have started believing that we being intellectuals, need no rules to be laid down for us, and do not need any discipline. The obvious and simple result is that India today is a picture of absolute indiscipline. This is because we think that since we are educated we can do what we know or feel is correct. Here is exactly where we falter, agreed we are educated, modern and a lot more but, just think when every so called educated person does what he/she thinks is correct, the outcome is chaos and here it is. This is a very unhappy misnomer that has crept up in our attitudes that, we do not need to obey or obedience is foolish, or still further we do not need any rules and we need not follow anyone.
We have no understand that all the confusion and chaos we see everywhere is the result of a simple thing-lack of discipline. A society that is really educated, in the true sense, must be a society that is absolutely obedient and thereby absolutely disciplined. However our education has inculcated this awkward feeling within us and, brought us to the lowest ever level of discipline in the end of the 20th century. Let us remember no matter how much we advance in any sphere, how much educated we are if we lack discipline, we are just as indisciplined animals of the jungle, and we can never achieve any progress till we attain a high standard of discipline.
To look for indiscipline now let us move out, yes, on to the roads first. For one thing, just let us consider what the signal lights are fixed for. They are there to tell us to go when the green light comes but we, the modern and educated Indians think that we know better than these lights, and here we jump the red light. Now, just before the red light, there is a row of white lines and the word STOP written in bold letters, but again, disobedient as we are, we always cross the STOP mark and then stand in the middle of road. What does this show about us?
It very clearly indicates that, no matter how small an instruction is given to us we are here to flout it. Is this what we understand about modernity, education and freedom?
From the road, let us go to an office. If the time for office 10’O’ Clock I say that it being a modern office it will never start functioning at least before 11’O’ Clock. Besides, inside the office also, there is no work seen as, the boss is not yet in. this shows we do not work because we have to work or that we are supposed to work, or because we are being paid for working, but we work only when there is someone to see us work, or scold us for not working. Is this what discipline is all about?
Back home, we see the children doing what each one wants to for, after all they are the children of the modern times, children who took their first breath in free India. These children cannot be cowed down to any norms but they have their own ways of thinking and applying their minds, for are they not an enlightened generation?
In the schools, colleges and Universities, we see a wonderful scenario of absolute disobedience and lack of discipline. Let us now analyse why is it that we have just got to be, yes got to be indiscipline? I personally feel that this is all because we have developed in us very wrong notions of education and freedom and modernity. It appears that we believe that being able to do what an individual wants to do at any time, is the true measure of freedom. This may be quite true but, to a very limited extent. For, if we all start doing what each one of us wants to do at any given time we will land us in a state of utter confusion and chaos. This is exactly what has happened to us today, we have reached the zenith of chaos in every sphere of life.
Let us remember my friends that, rules and regulations are made for good governance of any institution, big or small. We do not in any way become small by obeying any rules. It is discipline that can work wonders with any nation. We being a highly disciplined society in the 60s and 70s have degenerated to such an extent that, to-day the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. This is because we seem to believe that each hand has a right to do what it wants, and also a right to its own privacy. This I daresay is taking freedom too far. Such gross indiscipline can take or is rather taking our country to the gates of hell. Indiscipline is a society can break it into smithereens and this is exactly what is happening.
Let us take a new look at our attitudes to discipline. Always remember that discipline makes a home, it makes a society, and it is just this magic that makes a nation. By being discipline, we do not become slaves but we are just being good citizens, the pride of the nation. Let us take a pledge to develop in us the great force that is discipline. It is only this force that can bring us back to the old traditional cultural level which has been lost somewhere on our way in search of freedom. At one time we seemed to have an inbuilt system of obedience, where has it gone and given its place to an inbuilt desire to break rules no matter to what effect. Let us look for that inbuilt mechanism of obedience, and I am sure we will not be far from excelling in every field of existence extent.

Cause of frustration among the Indian youth

Let us first of all analyse what is meant by the word frustration. Frustration is a deep feeling of defeat that makes home in minds of an individual. Why is this feeling in the young ones when they are expected to be bubbling with enthusiasm and the like? Youth is always the storehouse of energy, enthusiasm and have an inbuilt fire of action burning within them. If this inbuilt fire for activity is not channelised in the proper direction, the same fire can burn the very essence of a living community – the youth.
Aspirations and desires are always the hallmark of the young, which always existed and still exist among the young. This is because they have not seen the world and have their own imaginations about the world and life in it. They have all sorts of ideals of what life should offer to them. This is not at all wrong and nothing peculiar to the young of today. This has always been and is today, and will be tomorrow. If it is nothing so new then why the – never – before – heard frustrations among the young. It is now time to retrospect and ponder over the latest genesis of these frustrations among the youth. The very seeds of these frustrations I feel are sown in early childhood days by the parents themselves, though unknowingly. Quite unwittingly, the way the parents bring up the children, it is imminent that frustration has to be the natural concomitant of the training period of the child. Almost all the parents partner make children feel that the world is for them and they have not much to do for the world in return. This in itself is enough to give a setback to the child, even as he just enters adolescence. The world makes him realize very soon that it is he who is to do something in the world and that he is irrelevant to the world, if he does nothing for it. This is a rude shock to the young mind. For till now he had been brought up to believe that he will get everything from the world but just opposite is the truth for, the world does not care for anyone unless he is something in the world and for the world. In early childhoold it has been seen that the parents dote so much on the child that he naturally starts believing that, he can get anything just heasr for. When this proves to be untrue, he is shocked out of his wits, and loses balance patience.
It is this training of the child in his early days of childhood that prepares the ground for his unhappiness and frustrations in youth. The feeling that he can get anything he first deserve becomes a nightmare for him when he grows a little and realizes the bitter truth that, little does the world care for anyone and that he is not getting all that he wants of demands. At this point of time, his parents and his mentors also start demanding from him, and leave all that doting. This is an additional shock for the young mind.
To give a finishing touch to his home training come the very latest and modern modes of entertainment, the television and the cinema. The glamour seen on these screens makes the still immature child feel that this is real life. This again is bound to discouragement to his mind to get fulfill his expectations from life. Oh! What a crash of his hopes when facts of living standards shatter all his dreams of a glamorous adulthood. This is because, what he sees on the screens by way of riches, lifestyle, love and the like, which he just does not get in real life, his frustrations and disappointments take a hold of him.
Besides the glamour, what adds to his already shattered aspirations is the violence he observes on the screen. He sees that one person – the hero fight away and wins dozens of adversaries. This gives the young mind an idea that, for one, if you are strong you can win, no matter how many adversaries. He also starts believing that violence is a means to an end. Once he is so convinced, he tries it at the first opportunity and he ends up all bashed up and bruised, and even in jail. This gives him a big shock. He is utterly confused and does not understand what the world and life really are. All this together, gives the young child enough cause to be disheartened, disappointed and frustrated with what life really is. This happens because what he had seen on the television and the big screen is nowhere near what he gets, but he has seen others with it, and he himself had also been brought up with the desire for all that he sees. Now, how can this ever end up in a harmonious outlook to life. It is the collection of all these peculiar circumstances enveloping the modern child and youth that are causing frustration in him.
It is an important matter of a very large magnitude that calls for immediate thought and action. Why did the youth of the prevbious time, say the previous generation not feel these pangs? For one thing perhaps, children were never before pampered as they are today. They almost always get whatever they want, or they ask for. This makes them automatically get used to getting all just for the asking. However, this never gets translated in real life. This yawning gap between aspiration and realities is too large for them to bear. In the previous generations, the youth were taught to stay within their means and the means of the family, so they grew up with the art of sacrificing and not getting what they wanted. This is what made them fit to face life as it really is, sometimes kind, and generous, and sometimes very unkind. From the very beginning, they knew that they will not get whatever they want, but what their elders deem fit or what the elders could afford. Besides this, earlier the children were taught to get their targets after working towards it. This is also a quality very difficult to imbibe in the children of today because they see all around them elders resorting to every means to achieve their ends.
Thus the causes of frustration in the modern youth lie within their style of bringing up. The training imparted to them in general, is one of hit and run, snatch your choice and be done with it. Fe we teach them this, we cannot expect a better return. We must be satisfied with the end product of disgruntled youth. If at all we really want to put an end to this wave of frustration among the youth, we must bring them up with full knowledge of what a deal life is. The less they expect of it, the happier they will be. It is not that they should not have ambitions or not do well, but this will prepare them for every failure that life may have to offer.
If the young are brought with a correct perspective of life, they will know how to face discontent without committing suicide or taking to drugs.

Relevance of Gandhian values in the 21st century

Let us first consider what really are values. These are, the general norms we set for ourselves to live our routine lives in the family, in society, in office and in the nation. In all these aspects of life, we all need some guidelines, and it is these guidelines that we set for ourselves that are called values. When we thus talk of values, we mean what are the basic standards of behaviour we have set for our lives, for, without a clear cut pathway it would be difficult to tread.
We are presently here to discuss Gandhian values, and their relevance in the 21st Century. At this juncture, I’d like to say that, there are some values of behaviour that can never become irrelevant, no matter what the scenario, and no matter what the Century. Let us find out what are the basic values which we call as Gandhian. What were these values, which were relevant in the beginning of the 20th Century, and have lost their hue in the 21st century. These values were, simplicity, merging with the common man, non-violence and prayer. As far as these values are concerned not even the hardest of criminals will call any of them bad or irrelevant but, the moot point is that, can we follow these values in today’s scenario? However there should not be any problem in following at least some of these values if not all of them. Now, let us take each of these above mentioned values and try to study their utility in the present century.
Simplicity, well, I daresay that, it is not possible to find a single person who is simple in dress, in manners and behaviour. This is not because we cannot remain in the society if we are simple in thought and deep but, it is that we ourselves do not wish to be simple. This attitude is because we are aping the west in all its entirety. It is not that simple people are not seen or that they are not liked or are shunned by society but, the fact is that they do not become centres of attraction, and, today, we prefer to be centres of attraction rather than be our true selves. This means that we are not simple because we do not want to, and not that it is not possible to exist if we are simple. If we have left the beauty of simplicity because we want to, we cannot say that the value is not relevant, but that we do not cherish the value. However friends, if we want to be centres of attraction, where could we find a greater centre than the Gandhi, the 20th century produced. Wouldn’t we all like to be as attractive as him, would we not like to get his name and fame? All this he managed to get inspite of his extreme simplicity. So, how can we say that this value is not necessary now. Even in later times we have had simple people getting name and fame, people like Vinobha Bhave, Mother Teresa and then, Baba Amte. This goes to prove that centres of attraction are made by other qualities which do not get stopped because people are simple. Thus we can hardly underestimate the value of simplicity. It is this, which may be, gives and individual more time to work on things more substantial, and prove his worth. We can not say that simplicity is not of use now, as there are no simple people, here. I would say that, in a crowd of made up beauties, a simple person would be an oasis in the desert of show and show biz., Once a person is simple he has no qualms in mixing with the lowest of the low and this makes him really well known and popular. Just see the simple Mother Teresa what laurels she got throughout the world, how can we then say that the value of simplicity is redundant now. It is this value of being simple in head and heart, that will always have its monumental importance, no matter what the century.
Regarding the value of non-violence, I daresay that, even to-day, if all of us, yes, all of us decide to become non-violent because others are violent. Let us ponder for a moment, are we succeeding in returning violence for violence? The net result is an increase in violence the next thing we must analyse is, are we achieving any worthy ends by being violent? I’m sure all of you will agree that, violence only begets violence and it ends there, bearing no fruit at all. Then it is for us to understand that violence is only an experiment in futility, resulting only in death and disaster. We should try to find out ways and means to stop the existing vilolence instead of, joining the bandwagon of violent people saying that, we have to be so because others are violent, this is no practical approach to the problem of violence. I an sure that, even to day if we all decide to remain non-violent, we will all be happier and we will understand that these values of Gandhiji are not for any one period of away their utility. Such sterling qualities will always be relevant but with a rejoinder that, all of us follow them just as meticulously as we are following the present qualities of degradation.

Traditional social system of India

Through the ages past India has been very well known throughout the world for its strong social bonds. We have for long been the envy of several far off countries for this very tradition of social bonds.
When we consider a society, the first tier we have to consider and look upon, is the smallest unit of a society, i.e. the family. In India, the family was the nucleus of the social structure. This included more often than not, at least three generations of a family living together, unde one roof, and sharing all that came their way together. These three generations were the grand parents, the parents and the children of the family, and this constituted the much talked of joint family of India. This system prevailed in India very successfully, and was a topic for the world to talk about. This single large joining family was as though a grand fete always, and there was much of fun and frolic all the time for the family. However, this system also had its inherent flaws as, all members had to adjust a lot to each other at each step, and the liberty of an individual was as though choked. Absolute obedience had to be given by all members to the eldest, whether they liked it or not. This must have even been torture at times specially when we see it all, keeping in mind the attitudes of freedom and adjustment today. However, this system inspite of all its defects had great inbuilt advantages for all the members. In times of stress there was never any loneliness as, the family was always together. This advantage can be understood in the context of life today when we in trouble are absolutely alone to face the stress and strain, as there is no one in whom we can confide, as the concept of the joint family of Indian tradition has now given way to the single unit family.
Next to the family comes the hierarchy of the social building, the society itself. What is society? This is just the conglomeration of a number of families. This again in the tradition of India presented a wonderful oneness of pattern. People could count on friends and relatives, and other members of the family in times of need. This has also been destroyed in the present scenario, as, at least in big cities and towns, even next door neighbours do not know each other, they do not care to meet each other or help each other.
The social fabric of the India of traditions was a remarkably well knit system, with all people for all others in the family or in the community. This has been curiously exchanged for an absolutely opposite system evolved by the influence of the West.
The next item of the tradition of the Indian social system is the much talked of Caste System. This was a system of obvious occupation being handed over from one generation to the next. This was the original of the Caste System as, children always followed the traditional occupation of the father. This was the system as it was meant to be and see what an ugly shape of separationism it has taken today. Though even today, is it not true that the sons usually follow the occupation of the father, this is because they find it easier, and they are adept to all its methodologies. The son of a farmer becomes a farmer, the son of a judge studies law, the son of an actor becomes an actor, what is wrong in this scheme of things? This is just an extension of the original caste system into the 20th century and beyond. Thus we see that, the traditional social system of India was a very well knit, well organized system that brought closeness among all its members.
Another important tradition of the Indian society that we can not leave out of our purview is the famous Dowry System. This was a very well thought of system for the well being of daughters in a family. This system was the giving of some jewels and other household goods and cash to the daughter at her wedding. This was very sensible at that point of time, because in the past, girls were not educated, and would not be able to fend for themselves in the event of a tragedy. So, this money given to her at the wedding held her in good stead in times of emergency. Besides, the girls had no right in the father’s property, so, in this way, the parents would be able to give her some part of their assets as her share in their property.
The system as envisaged at that time was very appropriate in the scheme of things at that time. However, now, the same dowry system has become a convenient tool in the hands of the boy and his family to earn a dowry, and pester the girl continuously for more and more, throughout her life. Not only this, if more dowry is not forthcoming the girl is even killed.
Thus we see that, the traditional social system was woven neatly in a compact and well considered system which is now giving way under the weight of the infiltration of the customs of the West and so called modern living. By and by all the pillars of the traditional social system of India are giving way to a newly founded modern and western system of social upbringing and living. Joint families have given way to small nuclear families, and the very concept of a large family is altogether blown to the winds. The neat and well organized Caste System has taken an ugly shape due to the ugly designs of people at the helm of affairs in India for the last 50 years. This genuine caste system has been distorted and multilated to a point of no return.
It would be nice at this juncture, to retrospect at what our society was, and what it has become now in the so called progressing country that India is becoming. If we see with an open eye and an open mind and compare the society that was and the society that is, it may help us now to mend our ways before it is too late, and the loss in well nigh complete.