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REFLECTIVE ESSAYS: A HAPPY HOME

Outline

Any concept of a happy home is personal and not material – the house, the physical aspect of home, should be decent and pleasing - the head of the family should have an adequate income; the lady of the house should not go out for work - love and harmony are the soul of a happy home.

REFLECTIVE ESSAYS: A HAPPY HOME

There are different ideas of happiness, and corresponding to them, there are different kinds of happy homes. Some associate happy homes with skyscrapers and palatial bungalows, while others believe that happiness can dwell in humble cottages and one-room tenements in cities. Opinions differ on whether articles of luxury and prestige value are essential in a happy home. Any concept of a happy home is bound to be personal and my ideas on the subject are no exception to this truth.

Home in its physical aspect is a house, a structure of walls and a roof situated amidst certain surroundings. Though the physical aspect of a home is not very important, it should be, if possible, decent and pleasing. A fairly spacious and good house is one of the elements that constitute a happy home. Thinking of an ideal home, I conjure up a vision of a house where every adult member of the family has a room of his own, and which is situated either in a quiet suburb of a city or amidst the beauties of nature in a village or small town.

From this it follows that the head of the family living in a happy home - in my opinion, it is not a large family - should have an adequate income. Poverty and happiness do not go hand in hand. To adapt a line from Gray, "chill penury freezes the genial current of the soul”. I have said that the head of the family should have an adequate income. In the happy home of my conception, the lady of the house does not supplement the family income by going out for work. A working wife neglects her primary duty of attending to her husband and children and spreading that atmosphere of sweetness and tenderness which transforms a house into a home. My opinions are I admit very archaic but old is gold it is said and as far as building a perfect and happy home I believe the lady of the house ought to be a house-wife.

Today while we are already into the twenty first century with the cost of living so very high most wives are forced to go out to work owing to circumstantial pressures. Under such conditions, both husband and wife must work hand in hand, share the chores of the house equally among them. To help build a happy home, both the husband and wife ought to be free from ego problems, in fact they should be humble and open to accept each other's ideas and strive towards a common goal together.

Difficult Words:

Skyscrapers - very tall buildings. concept - idea, conception. conjure up - call up a picture or vision in one's mind. penury - poverty. genial - happy. perforce - of necessity. bickerings - petty quarrels. archaic - very old-fashioned; no longer used.

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QUICK ACTION SAVED A PRECIOUS LIFE

At first l ignored the alarm. It sounded like a fire alarm, such as the ones we used at the fire drill in our building. I had taken part in so many fire drills that when the real thing happened I mistook it for a drill in the hospital where my Dad was a patient. Then I saw the matron running excitedly shouting "Fire". The look on her face said it all.

Being fairly well built myself, without second thoughts, I just reached down and lifted my Dad who was asleep in bed and started walking towards the exit. By now the doctors and nurses were running here and there shouting orders. I saw some patients gallantly helping others and taking them to the exits. We started to file out. We were on the first floor and the fire seemed to have started on the second floor, we had to hurry. I held my father close to me. He was awake and realising what had happened he smiled at me weakly. I returned the smile reassuringly.

As we reached the exit I heard the welcome sound of the Fire Brigade sirens. Soon a burly fireman walked in, and with crisp instructions had all of us moving as one body down the stairs. Once down, I saw my mother crying and pushing the police away in her efforts to enter the hospital. I called out to her and the moment she saw me, the sorrow that creased her lovely face turned to that of sheer joy.

An attendant of an ambulance standing close by, motioned to me and I helped my father on to a stretcher and into the ambulance. He was going to be taken to another hospital. My mum was a bundle of nerves as she realised that she had been on the brink of widowhood and back. When the ambulance moved off, she just leaned against me and sobbed and sobbed. I held her tightly to me and consoled her as best as I could. We then hired a taxi and followed the ambulance.

Difficult Words: gallantly - in a brave or heroic manner. file out - march out. reassuringly - in a way that removes someone's doubts and fears. burly - (of a person) large and strong; heavily built. creased - to get creases; to make something get creases. motioned - to make a movement, usually with your hand, that tells somebody what to do. sob - to cry while taking in sudden, sharp breaths; to speak while you are crying. consoled - to make somebody happier when he/she is very sad or disappointed.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY

The fifteenth of August 1947 is a great day in the history of India. On this day India achieved her independence after centuries of slavery. It was an historic event. India became free after a long struggle and countless sacrifices. The National Tricolour Flag was hoisted on the Red Fort. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, hoisted the National Flag in 1947. Since then, the fifteenth of August has been celebrated as Independence Day every year.

Independence Day is celebrated all over the country with great joy and pride. This day has a special significance for Delhi, the capital of India. In Delhi it is celebrated in a big way. The Red Fort is the centre of attraction. Elaborate arrangements are made for the flag hoisting ceremony. The main function starts at 7.30 a.m.

People in the Red Fort to witness the event of the year not only from Delhi but from outside as well. School children gather in big numbers. Ministers, ambassadors and other foreign dignitaries also arrive. A running commentary of the programme is broadcast on All India Radio. The programme is also telecast for the convenience of T.V. viewers.

The Prime Minister unfurls the National Flag and as he does so, the National Anthem is sung by the school children. Twenty-one gun shots are fired in honour of the solemn occasion. The Prime Minister then addresses the Nation reminding the people of the great sacrifices made by the countless men and women to help win India her freedom. He exhorts the people to protect freedom at all costs appealing to them to be united all the time.

It is my sincere belief that we the people of India should pledge to preserve our hard-won freedom every year on this auspicious day. We should also make up our minds to remain united and do everything within our power to make the country prosperous in all directions.

GROWING UP

It is a dirty orange pouch with hand embroidered flowers. It is very small and, according to my mother, extremely gaudy. The tattered threads emerging from its insides tell a story of their own. This little object was given to me by my friend Manali, when I had just turned eleven years old. It was my first "purse"! I don't know why, but I always felt that a purse made you "grown up" I was so pleased when I got it that everything precious I had went into it. In the end it felt like a rock stuffed with petty objects, but for me it was my own little world.

Since both my parents work, I had to go often to my grandmother's house which was four bus stops away from my house. Since they were at times too busy to drop me off, my mother decided that it was finally alright to let me travel to grandma's place by the local bus service. Hearing this great "verdict” gave me a great sense of inexpressible pride. It was for me a sign that I had grown up and was capable of making my own decisions.

My first ticket was bought from the money in my "purse". I felt so grown up. "Purse” in hand I proudly asked for a ticket and got out my one rupee coin from the tiny world in my hand. This pouch has given me a great sense of responsibility and the feeling that I am finally a "big girl”. Its been a source of security for me. Whenever I have held it in my hand, I have felt on top of the world. Now of course my purse has been put away because it has finally reached its twilight years. I'd hate it, if something happened to it. I now have a leather purse but it hasn't given me that feeling I got when I received that little pouch.

Difficult Words: gaudy - Something that's gaudy is showy, bright and definitely tacky. So think twice about that gaudy rainbow-colored suit and shiny gold shoes ensemble. tattered - torn into shreds. twilight years - the last years of someone's life.

A COVETED PRIZE WON BY THE OMTEX SCHOOL, DHARAVI.

Ours was a school known for academic excellence. We had never done well in any inter-school sports. But in 2021, we decided that we were going to win a prize. We were not going to train for all the events. We would put all our efforts into the 200 meters X 4 relay. Accordingly, I trained hard with the other four runners including Vishal the reserve.

On the day of the run our confidence collapsed completely. Our last and best runner Ashutosh was down with the flu. We were shaken, we had trained Vishal for all the positions except the position of the last runner. Vishal himself set about to console us and assured us that he would run as the last runner and would not disappoint the rest of us.

All eyes were on him as he received the baton without a flaw from Ronny who was the third man. The whole school began to chant, Go Vishal Go! And he went. We had never seen anything like it. He seemed to be seized by a demon, a good one of course, and dashed all the way to the tape leaving the other teams far behind. He made such a gallant effort that even the other schools cheered for him. When he touched the tape we went wild. The General School, Dharavi, had made a mark for itself in the sports arena.

When our team was invited to receive the winner's trophy, we pushed Vishal for reward even though I was the team captain. Vishal marched up to the stage and received the trophy. After the event we all gathered around Vishal and congratulated him and each other. Next, our own principal came followed by some teachers and parents to congratulate us. Before going home that day, the four of us went to visit Ashutosh at his home to show him the trophy. After all the victory was his as well.

Difficult Words: covet - to want to have something very much (especially something that belongs to somebody else). reserve - to keep something for a special reason or to use at a later time. baton - a stick which a runner in a race (a relay race) passes to the next person in the team. chant - to recite something in a monotonous repetitive tone, encourage one who is participating in the game. seized - to take hold of suddenly or forcibly. demon - an evil spirit. tape - a line indicating the location of the finish of a race. gallant - spirited, brave. arena - an area with seats around it where public entertainments (sporting events, concerts, etc.) are held. an area of activity that concerns the public.

IN THE EXAMINATION HALL

Outline: The atmosphere in the examination hall - I started writing an essay on 'examination reforms' – the spirit of the subject possessed me – I walked out of the examination hall.

It was the first day of the 10th Examination. There was an atmosphere of suspense and tension in the examination hall. As the last bell rang, the perfect silence was broken by the rustle of the question papers in English which were being handed to the candidates, and the tense atmosphere gave place to one of excitement.

I was considered to be a bright student, a promising scholar. I used to study regularly throughout the year and was not at all scared of examinations. On this particular day I was unruffled and confident, and placidly read the question paper, as though it was a newspaper.

I always made it a point to attempt the essay first. While the other questions could be disposed of quickly, the essay demanded leisure, imagination and freshness of mind. One of the essay topics happened to be 'Examination' Reforms,' and in a fateful moment I plumped for it. After arranging my ideas on the subject, I started writing on the defects of the examination system. Can the work done by a student throughout the year be judged by a single final examination ? Aren't our examinations a test of memory rather than of intelligence and understanding ? Do they not put a premium on cramming? As I went on writing, I was possessed by the spirit of the subject. I lost myself in exposing the defects of the examination system and wrote with a fervour and sincerity quite unusual in an essay of this kind. An invigilator looked at me curiously, as if I was a poet composing a poem in a state of inspiration.

I finished the essay in an hour, an unusually long time. But the arguments against examinations which I had so sincerely put forward continued to trouble me. I looked at the pale faces of some of my companions, and something within me cried for action. I had not merely written an academic essay on examination reforms; I felt that I was engaged in a crusade against an evil. I felt that I must express protest against examinations in a concrete, practical form. To the inexpressible astonishment of my fellow-candidates and the invigilators, I surrendered my answer book two hours before the end of the examination and walked out of the hall !

Difficult Words: Unruffled - undisturbed. placidly- calmly. plumped for - chose. to put a premium on – make advantageous. possessed -dominated or controlled as by a spirit. to lose oneself in - to be engrossed in. fervour - deep feeling. crusade - struggle or movement against something bad.

SMALL INCONVENIENCES OF LIFE

Outline: They are an inseparable part of life – example - some people bother too much about them – they should be viewed with a sense of humour and imagination.

Small inconveniences are an inseparable, though unimportant, part of life. A time may come when the world is rid of grave injustices and misfortunes like poverty and disease, but it is difficult to believe that life can ever be free from small worries and annoyances. Most of them are unpredictable, and wisdom lies in accepting them as inevitable and putting up with them as gracefully as one can.

Not a week passes without some small annoyance or other. You are ready to leave the house to keep an important appointment, and there is a sudden downpour of rain, which doesn't intend stopping in a hurry. You have taken a lot of trouble to reach the railway station in time for the train only to learn that the train is late by three hours. While going to school or the office, you may slip on a banana skin and be laughed at by urchins. When you want to be dressed in your best you find that the dhobi has not turned up, or if he has, the collar and cuffs of your finest outfit are frayed. It would be easy to multiply examples or small troubles that people face one time or another.

Some people bother too much about the small inconveniences of life and always complain about them. They make mountains out of molehills and make themselves unnecessarily miserable. They are usually the people who have been lucky enough to escape from the big troubles of life. Those who have endured great sorrows and misfortunes are not likely to grumble about small troubles. Hence it is difficult to sympathise with those who find little worries most overwhelming. Their miseries are unreal, and they have no right to complain about them. On the contrary, they should be grateful to God that they have been spared the bitter hardships and misfortunes of life.

Imagination and a sense of humour will help one to tide over the small difficulties of life. It is possible to laugh away some of them or regarding them with detachment, to enjoy the comedy of the situation. Alternatively, one can see poetic or symbolic meaning in some small inconveniences. In one of his essays G.K. Chesterton tells us that when once he was unable to open a drawer he regarded it as a giant and himself as a medieval knight battling with it. At last, after wrestling with it for a long time he did succeed in opening it. He did not feel at all the fret and exasperation associated with such a difficulty. Again, there is such a rich material for observation and imagination at a railway station that there is no reason why anybody should complain of having to wait there on certain occasions.

Difficult Words: Unpredictable-what cannot be predicted or foretold. urchins - mischievous small boys. frayed - became worn so that there are loose threads. to make mountains out of molehills-Making a mountain out of a molehill is an idiom referring to over-reactive, histrionic behaviour where a person makes too much of a minor issue. endured - to undergo especially without giving in : suffer endure hardships endured great pain. grumble - to complain in a bad-tempered way; to keep saying that you do not like something. tide over - overcome. detachment - impartial, impersonal view, opposite of attachment. exasperation - irritation. fret - to be worried and unhappy about something.

JOYS AND SORROWS OF SCHOOL LIFE

Outline: Introduction – My first film – stable friendships – boredom and hard work – punishments in schools – heartening experience – scenes during the school recess – tour - dreadful experience - prize distribution – conclusion.

Like everything else, school life has its fund of joys and sorrows. However, it is, on the whole, one of the most delightful experiences one can possibly have.

When I was a tiny tot, I happened to see for the first time an interesting film in the big hall of my school. I was literally in the seventh heaven during the film-show ! Right from my early years in school, I came across boys and girls of my age. I formed stable friendships with them, we shared common interests, likes and dislikes. We met in the class-room, on the play-ground and in fact wherever we could. Meeting my friends was and is one of the greatest sources of pleasure for me.

Apart from my schoolmates, I consider each and every teacher who taught me as my true guide and most reliable friends. It gives me immense pleasure to meet them by chance on the streets. It gives me great pleasure to show them respect and be of service to them. Their dedicated and selfless service is what has shaped a lot of my strongest convictions.

Then there is the question of punishments in schools. Fortunately we are living in an age when corporal punishment does not prevail in schools. I, therefore, ignored the minor hardships that sometimes fell to my lot in the school.

When I was in the fourth standard, I topped the list in the annual examination. This was indeed a heartening experience. It has so far played an important part in shaping my career. Right from those days I burnt the midnight oil and I have rarely lost my rank.

I vividly remember the scenes during the school recess. As soon as the bell rang at ten o'clock, there would be hustle and bustle, and jostle and tussle, and hurry and scurry. Boys and girls would plunge headlong into quick games on the school-corridors. A few would sit in the school hall, open their tiffin-boxes, eat and chat and laugh. Some would crowd around the school canteen. There would be great noise and confusion at the watercooler. However, studious pupils, after having had their lunch, would go back into their classrooms.

Last year, our class arranged a tour. I joined it. It was the most exciting event of my school-life. I saw many places of historical and industrial importance. We had a real rollicking time during the tour. I shall never forget those wonderful days.

Thinking of my school days, a dreadful experience leaps into my mind. I was in the fifth standard in those days. One of the school prefects, a big bully, caught me unawares and shoved me into a dirty pond. Down I went with a loud splash. I should surely have been drowned, had not our P. T. Instructor luckily turned up on the spot. He dived after me and the culprit was at once expelled from the school.

Every year my school gives away prizes to pupils of excellence and merit. This is done on the Prize Distribution Day. Last year, a famous cricketer was the chief guest and he also distributed the prizes. Mr. Amin, our Principal, received him and welcomed him in our midst. The school orchestra struck up a heart-warming tune. The Chief Guest made a delightful speech and gave away the prizes. All of us gave him an ear-deafening applause when he took his seat. During the prize distribution, I went up the stage to receive my prizes. My parents were among those present. They felt justly proud of me!

Indeed, these are all the joys and sorrows of my school life. They enable me to relive those bittersweet days.

Difficult Words: Monotony - dullness. prescribed - ordered the use of-e.g., a book, grinding mill - very, very hard work (idiom), corporal - physical. burnt the midnight oil - worked very hard till of the night (idiom) the late hours. hustle - act of pushing roughly against. bustle - noisy movement. jostle - act of knocking against. tussle - disorderly fight. hurry - state of great excitement, prefects - an older girl or boy in a school who has special duties and responsibilities. Prefects often help to make sure that the younger school children behave properly. drown - to die in water because it is not possible to breathe; to make somebody die in this way. midst - the interior or central part or point, middle in the midst of the forest, a position of proximity to the members of a group and a traitor in our midst. rollicking - noisy and merry. vendor - person who sells. splash - noise made by something falling into water. culprit - wrongdoer. applause - act of praising loudly by clapping, shouting or other noises.

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REFLECTIVE ESSAYS: A HAPPY HOME

Outline

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