Short Essay on 'A Visit to Jantar Mantar'

'A Visit to Jantar Mantar' (285 Words)

A visit to a historical monument is always an exciting experience. It is a fascinating adventure. I had one such experience during the last summer vacations, when I visited Delhi.

With my familt, I reached Delhi by train. After some rest, we undertook a visit to Delhi. Delhi is a historical city. It has been called by different names in different periods of time. On one hand there are Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, India Gate which narrate the glorious past of India; while Rashtrapati Bhawan, Lotus Temple, Parliament, to name a few, are the wonders of modern times.

We visited the Jantar Mantar first. Jantar Mantar was built in 1724 by Raja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in Delhi. Jantar Mantar of Delhi, is an astronomical observatory with masonry instruments. Jantar Mantar in Delhi is a remarkable and curious creation of Raja Jai Singh II, the mathematician and astronomer king.

Jantar Mantar has instruments that can graph the path of the astronomical universe. Jantar Mantar means 'instrument for calculation.' There is a colossal Samrat Yantra at the periphery of Jantar Mantar. To the south of Samrat Yantra there is an amazing instrument called Jai Prakash.

Jantar Mantar is built of brick rubble that is plastered in lime. We saw the following instruments inside the Jantar Mantar of Delhi- Samrat Yantra, Jai Prakash, Ram Yantra, Niyati Chakra, Misra Yantra. All these instruments can be used for various astronomical calculations.

By noon, we had completed the tour of Jantar Mantar and returned back. I enjoyed my trip to the Jantar Mantar very much. It was really an unforgettable experience which apart from being intellectually rewarding gave us a glimpse of our country's proud history. 

Short Essay on 'A Visit to Golden Temple'

'A Visit to Golden Temple' (215 Words)

A visit to a historical place is always an exciting experience. It is a fascinating adventure. I had one such experience during the last summer vacations, when I visited Amritsar.

With my family, I reached Amritsar by train. After some rest, we undertook a visit to Amritsar. Amritsar is a historical city. We visited the Golden Temple first. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is the holiest shrine of the Sikh region. This Temple has been destroyed many times and had been rebuilt again. It was built during the reign of Akbar, who had great respect for all religions. The domes of the Temple are covered in gold.

Golden Temple of Amristar is also known as Harmandar Sahib or Darbar Sahib. It is a great pilgrimage centre of the Sikhs. The holy temple was completed under the direct control and supervision of Guru Arjan Dev. It's foundation stone was laid by a renowned Muslim divine, Mian Mir. It was given four doors, one in each direction. It has a large pool around it.

By noon, we had completed the tour of Golden Temple and returned back. I enjoyed my trip to the Golden Temple very much. It was really an unforgettable experience which apart from being intellectually rewarding gave us a glimpse of our country's proud history. 

'A Visit to Delhi'

Essay on 'A Visit to Delhi' (300 Words)

A visit to a historical city is always an exciting experience. It is a fascinating adventure. I had one such experience during the last summer vacations, when I visited Delhi. New Delhi is the capital of India. It is a city of great historical importance of its own.

With my family, I reached Delhi by train. After some rest, we undertook a visit to Delhi. Delhi is a historical city. It has been called by different names in different periods of time. On one hand there are Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, India Gate which narrate the glorious past of India; while Rashtrapati Bhawan, Lotus Temple, Parliament, to name a few, are the wonders of modern times.

We visited the Red Fort first. The Red Fort is also known as Lal Quila and is the landmark of Delhi. It stands on the bank of river Yamuna. It was built by Shah Jehan in 1648. It is built using red stones. It consisted of Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Rang Mahal etc. Then we visited Raj Ghat, Parliament, India Gate and Lotus Temple.

Next day we visited the Qutub Minar. It is one of the beautiful and perfect towers in the world. It has a blend of pink, red arid orange stone and many artistic carvings. It is a gem of architecture I liked it very much. Then we went to see the Iron Pillar and the Jamma Masjid. The biggest of all masjids in India. We visited jantar-mantar an old astrological lab.

By the evening, we had completed the tour of Delhi and returned back. I enjoyed my trip to the Delhi very much. It was really an unforgettable experience which apart from being intellectually rewarding gave us a glimpse of our country's proud history. 

Essay on Indian Army

 Essay on Indian Army

India has one of the finest armies in the world. Our soldiers have proved their mettle in all theatres of wars since prehistoric times, hi recent times our soldiers were sent to the Congo, Suez, Indo-China and Korea on missions of peace.
During the last two World Wars our soldiers fought in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and won laurels for the British Empire. Our soldiers served in France and other countries also.
They helped to bring Hitler and his armies to their knees. Wherever they were sent, victory was theirs. It goes to the credit of the Indian Anny that the first Victoria Cross went to the credit of an Indian soldier.
Our soldiers have never surrendered. Their motto has always been "do or die". In the India-China war of October-November 1962 and later in the Indo-Pak war of September, 1965 one Indian soldier killed many times his enemy counterparts on various fronts.
If India retreated in the India-China war it was not for want of courage but for want of adequate weapons which the Chinese had and we did not. hi fact our soldiers were not even adequately clothed. As an American paper said, our soldiers were fighting on icy tops of the mountains in summer uniforms.
If we had fought for the British so heroically, we could certainly fight for defending our freedom. But we have to train our army for the purpose. We are not only short of weapons but also short of trained officers to lead the armies. We will have to fill all the gaps as rapidly as possible. It is a hazardous task to give rapid promotion to junior officers but we are sure they will justify the confidence of the nation placed in them.
The Indian Army has three wings-land forces, navy and air force. The Chiefs of the three forces are directly under the President of India, who is the Supreme Commander of our armed forces.
The three wings of the Indian Army need to be strengthened. It is a pity that some of the leaders of our country failed to foresee the Chinese threat and slowed down defense production. The India-China war has served a useful purpose. With the aid of friendly nations we will soon make up the loss. Let every Indian soldier remember the inspiring message of one of the ablest leaders of India, Sardar Patel:-
"The deeds of gallantry you performed in the two Great wars adorn the pages of world history. Even the enemy recognised your merit in war. You proved yourself first-class soldiers, inferior to none in the world. But then you fought for others. Now you have to fight for your own country, your beloved India.
"You should prepare yourself for the responsibility which will continue to increase. We have won the freedom. It is for you to guard it. You have to make an all-round effort to maintain and consolidate it. Let the discharge of your duties be your privilege. You will enhance the reputation of your country and the country will be proud of you."

Essay on Nelson Mandela

  'Nelson Mandela' (200 words)

 

'Nelson Mandela' was born on July 18th, 1918 in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, then a part of South Africa's Cape Province. His story symbolizes a lifestyle struggle against apartheid in South Africa. It was a terrible form of institutionalized racism that held the South African society in it's grip for a long time. It was not easy for Mandela to fight against it, as he too was among those who were oppressed by the system.

Before becoming actively involved in the anti-apartheid struggle, Mandela survived many years of his life as a subject of colonialism. As a child in Africa, Mandela was a victim of the European colonial project which involved 'civilizing' indigenous communities by silencing African ways of life in favour of a Euro-centric culture.

In the early 1960's, Mandela was imprisoned for his stand against the racist laws of the government. He stayed in prison for nearly three decades but refused to compromise his position, which was to fight for justice and equality for all people.

A courageous and uncompromising hero, Mandela was a man of principles, strength and integrity. In 1994, he led the country to the end of apartheid and was elected the first black president of South Africa. He served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. After he retired from public life, Mandela continued to embody the hopes and dreams of a free and equal world. He died on December 5th, 2013 at the age of 95 at Johannesburg, South Africa.

Nelson Mandela received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the Bharat Ratna. Today, Nelson Mandela, popularly known as ‘Madiba' in South Africa, is a household name all over the world. 

Essay on Naag Panchmi

'Nag Panchami' (200 words)

'Nag Panchami' is a famous festival of Hindus. It falls on the fifth day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravan according to Hindu Calendar. It is celebrated across all over India. It generally falls in the month of July or August according to Modern Calendar.

There are many stories behind the celebration of this festival. The most popular legend is about Lord Krishna. When Krishna was just a young boy. he was playing the game of throwing the ball with his friends. During the play, the ball fell into Yamuna River. The legend, how Krishna vanquished Kalia Serpent and saved the people.

Nag Panchamī is a festival during which Hindus worship live Nagas (cobras) or images of them. In South India, Nag Panchami is a festival that brings siblings together to celebrate their family's well-being. On this day, married women and girls wake up early in the morning. They take bath, arrange for puja, and go to the nearest ant hill (snake's home) to perform puja. Traditionally, married young women visit their premarital house to celebrate this festival. Celebration of Nag Panchami involves women swinging on swings hung on tree branches. 
 

Essay on National Science Day

 'National Science Day'

'National Science Day' is celebrated in India on February 28 each year. This day is observed to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on 28 February 1928. Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (C. V. Raman) was born on 7 November 1888 at Thiruvanaikoil, Tiruchirappalli, Madras Province, India. C. V. Raman passed his B.A. examination in 1904 in first place and won the gold medal in physics, and in 1907 he gained his M.A. degree with the highest distinctions.

Sir C. V. Raman was an Indian physicist whose work was influential in the growth of science in India. He was the first Indian scientist to be honoured with the prestigious Nobel Award in Physics in the year 1930. His discovery 'Raman effect' or 'Raman scattering' is popularly known as an inelastic scattering of a photon. He was honoured with a large number of honorary doctorates and memberships of scientific societies.

National Science Day is observed to spread the message of importance of science and its application among the people. This day is celebrated to accelerate the pace of development. National Science Day brings an opportunity to focus on issues related to science and technology.

Report on Nepal Earthquake 2015

'Earthquake' means a sudden movement of the earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along geologic faults or by volcanic activity. They are usually followed by aftershocks. The total amount of energy released by an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale.

2015 is the year of destruction for Nepal. On April 25, 2015 the scene of earthquake was heart chilling. Thousands of people were killed, many children have been orphaned and thousands of people were left homeless. Out of 75 districts, 30 districts in Nepal have been affected with the earthquake.

In 2015 Nepal earthquake was 7.9 on the Richter scale which occurred at local time 11:56 on the morning of April 25, 2015. Earthquake epicenters Lamjung, was 38 km away from Kathmandu. Nepal for the first time since 1934 in the so ragged intensity earthquake, which caused more than 10,000 deaths and more than 7000 injured. The earthquake destroyed many important ancient historical temples and other buildings have encountered. Earthquakes in China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan were also mirrored in.

Immediately after the earthquake, the Indo-Nepal Friendship operation picked up speed. After the quake to rescue, a team of N.D.R.F was sent to Nepal. 13 military aircraft has sent 50 tons of water and other materials.

The earthquake has destroyed the four important UNESCO cultural heritage sites of Nepal which was important historical record of the Indigenous population in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. They used to hold significant role in the practice of cultural rituals too.

Debate on Should Student be allowed to carry Cell phones with them [Against]

The students of this generation want every gadget in their hands. They want to have the latest technology with them, and the first are mobile phones.

Nowadays, these are the most popular things to have. Even students are not able to escape from it.

Earlier, it was used to make and receive calls and send and receive messages, but nowadays students don't buy mobile phones for these purposes. They buy them to listen songs, to watch movies and videos, to play games etc. which hampers their studies. They listen audio with earphones which can cause a great problem in their ears as well as in their brains.

Every mobile has internet facility nowadays. By spending only few bucks they are able to get a multimedia mobile phone with every feature as well as with touch screen. Internet of the mobiles can be used by the students to gather some information which can help them in their studies, but they use this feature of mobiles to see the web pages which they should not see. They bring mobile phones to schools which is not allowed.

By calling and sending messages and using internet they waste a lot of money and pay the bill by wrong methods or the burden of the bill lies upon the parents. Mobile phones can also cause great damage when used while driving. Sometimes, they misuse the calling feature of the mobiles by making fake calls, which creates a problem in the work of the other people. The students use mobile phones to cheat while exams.

So what to do now? The answer is to stop the students from buying the mobile phones or the parents must not provide it to them. The main motive we have to follow is to save the future of the students going on wrong path.

Essay on Leisure Time

Short Paragraph on Leisure

Leisure means the free time at one’s disposal. In fact, Leisure time is the time when a man is his own master and is at liberty to pass his time in the manner he chooses. It gives a man an opportunity to engage in various leisure activities for enjoyment.

There is a proverb, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This is quite true. Constant work brings fatigue to a man. Leisure gives our muscles and nerves rest. It releases a man from the monotony of toil and releases him from the worries of duty. And thus it gives him new vigor and energy. As a machine needs rest and oiling, so it is for a human body. Without leisure human life would have been a dull affair.

Aristotle said that leisure is an essential condition of happiness. It has been rightly described as the mother of art, science, philosophy and culture, as leisure time provides us time for deep thought and meditation.

Of course, leisure time should be properly used. It should not be wasted away in idleness as it is rightly said, ‘An idle brain is a devil’s workshop’.

There are various ways of spending one’s leisure time through various leisure activities. Some go out to the countryside or some places of interest and feed their senses with sweet sights hobbies that fill their leisure with pleasure.

However, we see that leisure is often abused. Many spend it in idle gossips over trifle matters. Some others waste their leisure time by drinking, gambling etc.

At any rate leisure should not be wasted in any unworthy activity. Actually we require leisure as it helps us to forget for a time the cares and worries of life and to stand and stare at the intervals of work.

Essay on

 'Id-ul-Fitr' or 'Eid' (200 words)

'Id-ul-Fitr' or 'Eid' is one of the greatest festivals of Muslims. It is celebrated to mark the end of Ramzan. Eid is an Arabic word meaning 'festivity', while Fiṭr means 'breaking the fast'. It was during the month of Ramzan that Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed. It is celebrated all over the world by all Muslims.

The Muslims fast during the month of Ramzan. At the end of the month, Eid is celebrated with feats. For Muslims, the festival of Id-ul-Fitr is occasion of showing gratitude to God and remembering him.

Muslims all over the world make great preparations for the festival of Id-ul-Fitr. All Muslims buy new clothes. When the new moon is seen just after the fast of thirty days, the next day Eid is declared. All look very happy. On this day they wake up very early in the morning, clean their teeth, have a bath and wear the best of clothing which one possesses and also apply perfume. 

Eid prayer is performed in open areas like fields, community centers, etc. or at mosques. After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives and friends. On Eid gifts are also given to children and immediate relatives. 

Essay on Lal Bahadur Shashtri

'Lal Bahadur Shastri' (200 words)

'Lal Bahadur Shastri' was born on 2nd October, 1904 at Mughal Sarai, Uttar Pradesh, India. His father's name was Sharda Prasad, who was a school teacher and later became a clerk in the Revenue Office at Allahabad. His mother's name was Ramdulari Devi. He was hardly an year old when he lost his father. After the death of his father, his mother took him and his two sisters to her parent's house.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was educated at Mughalsarai and Varanasi. He graduated with a first-class degree from the Kashi Vidyapeeth. He was given the title 'Shastri'. He offered Satyagraha and was sentenced to imprisonment at different times. He joined the Indian independence movement in the 1921. He was deeply impressed and influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Lastly, India became independent on 15th August, 1947. He became the second Prime Minister of India after Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Lal Bahadur Shastri showed rare quality of courage and determination during India-Pakistan war. He gave a slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kissan'. He was the first person to be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, A memorial 'Vijay Ghat' was built for him in Delhi. Shastri was known for his honesty and humility throughout his life. He died on 11th Jan, 1966 at Tashkent, USSR. Lal Bahadur Shastri was truly a great man who gave less importance to himself.

Essay on Importance of Atmosphere

 Importance of Atmosphere (200 words)

The Atmosphere is a transparent envelope of gases and suspended particles that surround the Earth. Without Chemical processes involving several of the atmospheric gases, life could not exist. Even the physical processes that operate in the atmosphere are of vital importance because they are responsible for the Earth's varied climates. The Atmosphere is composed almost entirely of Oxygen and Nitrogen.

The Atmosphere is the source of every living thing in the world. It plays a very important role in serving the world's needs. It provides ventilation to the Earth, as the atmosphere filters the ultraviolet rays, coming from the Sun. Thus, it acts as the Earth's protective armour without which all living things in the world would die. The ozone layer is a matter of tremendous concern as it profoundly influences the environmental conditions on the planets surface. The Atmosphere provides the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and above all it supports LIFE.

Atmosphere is very imperative to sustain life on Earth. To protect the atmosphere it is possible and simple, avoid polluting the air and water basically. Fight global warming by planting more trees and keeping your surrounding clean. You can reduce fuel consumption by using energy efficient appliances. We can preserve the atmosphere by practicing and encouraging good hygiene, reducing green house gases and emissions that are going into the air. Thus there are several solutions and ways that we can practice to protect the Earth's atmosphere. Effort is the key in life to your success.

Essay on Guru Nanak Jayanti

 'Guru Nanak Jayanti'

'Guru Nanak Jayanti' is also known as Gurpurab. It is one of the biggest festivals of Sikhs. The birthday of Guru Nanak Dev is celebrated as Guru Nanak Jayanti. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Kartik on the day of full moon known as Kartik Purnima.

Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion. He was the first Sikh Guru. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on 15th April 1469 in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present Shekhupura District of Pakistan, which is now known as Nankana Sahib.

On Guru Nanak Jayanti , Sikhs wear new clothes and go to the Gurudwaras. The morning of Guru Nanak Jayanti starts with Prabhat Feris in the Gurudwara followed by processions in localities singing hymns. Sikhs offer their prayers and pay homage to the Guru Granth Sahib. On this day, the holy book of Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is continuously read and recited in the Gurudwaras. Lamps are lit, processions are taken out, free langars (meals) are arranged and a sweet prasad is distributed all over the country. The Nanakpanti Hindus and the other followers of Guru Nanak’s philosophy apart from the Sikhs also observe this sacred festival.

Essay on 'Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti'

 'Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti'

'Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti' is a famous festival of Sikhs. It is celebrated as the birthday of tenth and the last Guru of Sikhs Gobind Singh ji. Guru Gobind Singh was born at Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti generally falls in December or January or sometimes twice within a year as it is calculated according to Hindu Bikrami Calendar, which is based on the lunar calendar.

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last guru of Sikhs after his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Gobind Singh gained great stature as both Saint and soldier a leader of firm spiritual principles and intense devotion to God. He was inspired to write many powerful spiritual compositions that infused a martial spirit in the people.

This day witnesses large processions and special prayer gatherings at all Gurudwaras. It is a religious celebration in which prayers for prosperity are offered. People sing devotional songs during the procession and share sweets and cold drink or sharbat among the adults and children. Special dishes that are unique to this occasion are prepared and served during the festivities.

Essay on Dr. Rajendra Prasad

 'Rajendra Prasad'

'Rajendra Prasad' was born on 3rd December, 1884 in the Ziradei village, Siwan district of Bihar, India. His father's name was Mahadev Sahai, who was a scholar of Sanskrit and Persian languages. His mother's name was Kamleshwari Devi, who was a religious woman.

After the completion of elementary education, Rajendra Prasad went to study at T.K. Ghosh's Academy in Patna. He joined the Presidency College, Calcutta in 1902. Once an examiner wrote on his answer sheet 'examinee is better than examiner'. It proves that he was a great scholar. Rajendra Prasad served in various educational institutions as a teacher. He joined the High Court of Bihar and Odisha as a lawyer in 1916.

Rajendra Prasad was a good political leader, lawyer, statesman and social worker. He took active part in the freedom movements of India. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1911. He was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress during the Bombay session in October 1934. He was sent to Jail many times. He was elected the President of Constituent Assembly on 11 December 1946. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the first President of the Republic of India.

Dr Rajendra Prasad died on 28 February 1963. His death was a great loss for the nation. He was subsequently awarded the Bharat Ratna, the India's highest civilian award. He authored many books. He was a great educationist and a man of world fame. High principles and ideals of Dr. Rajendra Prasad will always alive to show the right path.

Essay on C.V Raman

  C. V. Raman

'Sir C. V. Raman' was born on 7 November 1888 at Thiruvanaikoil, Tiruchirappalli, Madras Province, India. His full name was Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. He was the son of R. Chandrasekhara Iyer and Parvati Ammal (Saptarshi Parvati). His father was a lecturer in mathematics and physics at Presidency College in Madras. C. V. Raman passed his B.A. examination in 1904 in first place and won the gold medal in physics, and in 1907 he gained his M.A. degree with the highest distinctions.

Sir C. V. Raman was an Indian physicist whose work was influential in the growth of science in India. He was the first Indian scientist to be honoured with the prestigious Nobel Award in Physics in the year 1930. His discovery 'Raman effect' or 'Raman scattering' is popularly known as an inelastic scattering of a photon.He was honoured with a large number of honorary doctorates and memberships of scientific societies. He died on 21 November 1970 at the age of 82 at Bangalore. National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28 each year to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on 28 February 1928.

An Ideal Teacher

 An Ideal Teacher

I have studied under many good teachers. I have liked and respected them. I learnt a lot from them. They exercised a deep influence on my character. But the best I have yet come across is Mr. A.K. Mishra.

He is a teacher of Hindi. I regard him as an ideal teacher. His pupils love and respect him. They are always happy in his company. It is his qualities that have made him so popular. He believes in simple living and high thinking. He wears simple Clothes which are always neat and clean. He has a well-built body. He has never been known to fall ill. The secret of his good health lies in his balanced diet. He is clean in his habits. He avoids all things that are harmful to healthy living. He always looks at the bright side of things. He makes light of his difficulties. He has pleasing manners. His attitude towards his pupils is always sympathetic He welcomes questions from his pupils. He is their friend and guide.

He knows his subject very well. His pupils and the Principal of the college admire him for his learning. He makes his teaching very interesting. Hindi Grammar is a headache for many students but he teaches it in a very easy way. Even the dullest boy can follow him. He has a keen sense of duty and does not waste a single minute in the class. He keeps his pupils busy. That is why he is able to maintain perfect discipline in his class. He commands obedience from his pupils. He takes a great interest in all the activities of the college. He organizes debates, dramas and annual functions. He is held in great esteem by his old pupils also.

Essay on Childhood

 'Childhood'

'Childhood' is the age spam ranging from birth to adolescence. It is a kingdom where nobody dies, just as a rose gets its colour and fragrance from its roots, man gets his virtues from his chilhood. According to the International Labour Organization there are tremendous economic benefits if children are sent to school. Without education, children do not gain the necessary skills and understanding.

From early childhood, children are forced to work. Child labour is highly prevalent in the leather, fireworks, silk, diamond industry, brick kilns and as domestic help. Low paid child labourers lower India's per capita income and hazardous working conditions lowers India's welfare level too. Further high illiteracy rate puts long term economic growth at risk. To keep the economy prospering, a vital criteria is to have an educated work force equipped with relevant skills. Additionally the lack of female education can be an impediment to the countries social and economic development.

The problem of child labour continues to pose a challenge before the nation. The government has been taking several pro-active measures to tackle this problem. Considering the magnitude and extent of this problem, we see it inextricably linked to poverty and illiteracy. Thus, it requires a concerted effort from all sections of the society to make a dent in the problem. When you educate a boy, you educate an individual, when you educate a girl you educate a generation. Join hand and bring a smile of freedom, and peace on the face of every child. Save Childhood Save Future.

Essay on Sachin Tendulkar

‘Sachin Tendulkar’

Full name of ‘Sachin Tendulkar’ is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. He was born on 24 April 1973. His father, Ramesh Tendulkar, was a well-known Marathi novelist and his mother, Rajni, worked in the insurance industry. He married with Anjali Mehta, the paediatrician daughter of Gujarati industrialist Anand Mehta, in 1995

Sachin Tendulkar is a former Indian cricketer and captain. He took up cricket at the age of eleven, He is the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries. He is the first batsman to score a double century in a One Day International. He is the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar received the Arjuna Award in 1994 for his outstanding sporting achievement. He received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997, India's highest sporting honour, and the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards in 1999 and 2008, respectively.

After a few hours of his final match on 16 November 2013, the Prime Minister's Office announced the decision to award him the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. He is the youngest recipient to date and the first ever sportsperson to receive the award. He also won the 2010 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards. In 2012, Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.

In December 2012, Tendulkar announced his retirement from ODIs. He retired from Twenty-20 cricket in October 2013 and subsequently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, retiring on 16 November 2013 after playing his 200th and final Test match, against the West Indies in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

Sachin Tendulkar is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. The Master Blaster is considered one of the complete batsmen ever. He has all the shots in the book. He is the most admired cricketer in the world. Every Indian should be proud of him. None of the batsmen can replace him and no words can express his amazing talent, power and achievement. It is rightly said that if cricket were a religion, Sachin would be the god.

Essay on World Yoga Day

'World Yoga Day'

On June 21st, 2015 'World Yoga Day' will be celebrated for the first time all over the world. Then on June 21 every year, the day will be celebrated as the World Yoga Day. A proposal was made by the current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to the United Nations in this regard.

UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa announced June 21 as International Yoga Day. He said that more than 170 countries have supported the proposal of the International Yoga Day, which shows the sum of the invisible and visible benefits of Yoga in the people of world. UN General Assembly President also congratulated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose initiative on June 21 every year has been declared the International Yoga Day.

Yoga is an ancient art which was originated in India around five thousand years ago. Yoga is a good practice if one does in daily life. It helps to live healthy life style and better life forever. Yoga is a practice to bring body parts together to make a balance of body, mind and soul. We should let our kids know about the benefits of Yoga as well as practice Yoga in daily routine.

It is considered that Yoga began in India in the pre-Vedic period. Since thousands of years Yoga has been part of the Indian lifestyle. It is India's heritage. Yoga has the power to unite the entire human race. It is a perfect blend of knowledge, action and devotion. Countless people around the world have made Yoga a part of their lives. In many parts of the world, it has been spreading. But it is expected that it will spread rapidly after this announcement of the United Nations.

The aim of the World Yoga Day is to make people aware of the benefits of Yoga in the world. On World Yoga Day on June 21 at all the district headquarters Yoga program has been put together at 7 am. The program will also be organized at block and panchayat headquarters. All schools, colleges, Yoga institutions including a large number of policemen will take part in Yoga program.

Essay on Rani LakshmiBai

'Rani Lakshmibai'

 

'Rani Lakshmibai' was born on November 19, 1835 at Kashi. Her father's name was Moropant. Her mother's name was Bhagirathi Devi. Laxmi's childhood name was Manikarnika but affectionately she was called Manu in her childhood.

Rani Lakshmibai was married to Gangadhar Rao in 1842. Gangadhar Rao was the king of Jhansi. In 1851, the Rani had a son; he unfortunately died when he was barely four months old. Raja Gangadhar Rao could not bear the shock and after a long illness, he died on November 21, 1853.

Jhansi became a major center of the revolt of 1857. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, began to strengthen security and started a volunteer army. Ordinary people also contributed to the revolt. In 1857, the kings of the neighboring state of Jhansi, Orchha and Datia attacked. Rani Lakshmibai defeated them successfully. In March 1858 the British army besieged the city of Jhansi. But Rani, with her adopted son Damodar Rao was able to escape. Rani died on June 18, 1858.

Rani Lakshmibai was the great heroine of the First War of Indian Freedom. She was the embodiment of patriotism, self-respect and heroism. Her life is a thrilling story of womanliness, courage, adventure, deathless patriotism and martyrdom. Rani Lakshmibai was the real meaning of the ideal heroine. She was proud of not just India but the world's women. 

Essay on Narendra Modi

 Narendra Modi

Full name of 'Narendra Modi' is Narendra Damodardas Modi. He was born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, Mehsana district, Bombay State (present day Gujarat). His father's name was Damodardas Mool Chand Modi and mother's name was Hiraben. He was born into a middle class family. At the age of 13, he was engaged with jasoda Ben Chaman Lal and when they were married, he was just 17.

At the age of eight Modi discovered the RSS, and began attending its local shakhas (training sessions). He made his focus on the social and cultural development organizations, national volunteer organization. He served flood victims in Gujarat in 1967. Narendra Modi played important roles on several occasions during his work with RSS.

In 1987, Narendra Modi entered into the main political stream by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Within a year he was appointed as General Secretary of the party's Gujarat unit. He truly pioneered the challenging task of enabling the party workers, because of which the party started gaining political mileage. In October 2001, Narendra Modi was appointed as Chief Minister of Gujarat. In the 2007 elections the BJP led by Modi once again got a massive majority. In the 2012 elections, the BJP led by Modi once again gained a large majority. Modi sworn in as fourth consecutive Gujarat Chief Minister.

Due to his fame and style, Modi was declared as candidate for Prime Minister by Bhartiya Janata Party in 2014 general elections. After being declared candidate for Prime Minister, he visited the whole India. Under his leadership, the BJP gained phenomenal success in the 2014 elections. On May 26, 2014, Narendra Modi was sworn in as India's 15th prime minister.

Image of Narendra Modi is considered of a stern administrator and protective strict discipline. He has keen interest in science and technology. He is realistic as well as idealistic. He is full of optimism. He is best known for rising from humble beginnings to become prime minister of India. He will be always remembered as a successful politician and poet.

Essay on Conservation of Fuel

Conservation of Fuel

Fuel is any substance used to produce heat and energy through a chemical or nuclear reaction. The energy is used by the conversion of a portion of the fuels mass. In India, we are suffering a severe fuel crises. In view of this, the Petroleum Conservation Research Association is encouraging fuel conservation. Our goal should be to reduce gasoline consumption progressively each year.

Fuel serves as a major part of our energy requirement. Petroleum, a major fuel is widely used in our everyday lives and also used to power automobiles, produce containers and to keep us warm. All plastic is made from it and used in cars, houses, computers, paraffin wax, paints and pharmaceuticals, at times it is also used as a solvent found in large quantities below the surface of the Earth and is used as fuel and raw material in the chemical industry.

Conserving energy and fuel makes sense on different levels. It is wise to turn off your car at traffic signals, minimize the use of brakes and encourage car pooling. Spread awareness for fuel conservation amongst your friends and relatives. There are three areas where the motorist can save fuel- proper maintenance, efficient driving habits and intelligent purchase of a vehicle. One of the best ways to save fuel is to reduce speed, as speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. Tyre pressure and car's dirty air filter should be checked, if not, it could harm its performance and economy. Petrol is also called black gold.

Essay on Chhat Puja

 Chhat Puja

'Chhath Puja' is a famous festival of Hindus. It celebrated in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and many other parts of India. It is also followed in some parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Assam and also Mauritius and Nepal. It is celebrated mainly among the Bhojpuri and Maithali speaking people. Chhath Puja takes place during 6th day (Shasthi) lunar fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Karthik month according to Hindu Calendar. It generally falls in the month of October-November. The festival lasts for four days.

Chhath Puja is also known as Dala Chhath. In this important festival setting Sun (dawn) is worshiped. The festival is observed with the faith that the Sun God fulfills wishes if 'araghya' is offered with complete dedication and devotion. It is a festival connected with purity, devotion to the Sun God who is considered as the source of life on this earth and is regarded as the deity who fulfills all our wishes. The festival is with an aim to express thanks to Sun God for offering energy to earth continuously enabling the environment suitable for the people to live. Along with the Sun God people worship 'Chhathi Maiya' on this day.

On this festival devotees assemble at the ghats at rivers and ponds and take a holy dip before preparing offerings (Prasad). The main constituent of the offerings are Thekua, which is a wheat based cake. Offerings are preferably cooked on earthen Chulha (oven). During the offerings, offerings are contained in small, semicircular pans woven out of bamboo strips called soop.

Essay on Sardar Vallabhbhai Paltel

 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the “Iron Man of India”, was born on October 31st, 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat. His father, Jhaverbhai Patel, was a farmer. Vallabhbhai's early education was in Karamsad. A famous story about Sardar Patel’s strength takes place in his boyhood years. When he was young, Vallahbhai suffered from a boil. There was a man in his village who used to cure boils by touching them with hot iron. Vallabhbhai went to him to remove the boil that he had. The man heated the iron rod until it grew red but seeing how young Vallabhbhai was, he hesitated. Vallabhbhai fearlessly responded, "What are you waiting for? The iron will grow cold. Hurry up, brand the boil,". Vallabhbhai picked up the glowing rod and burnt the boil. Those who watched him were shocked. But there was not a trace of pain in the boy's face.
             Sardar Patel went to England to study law and returned to India in 1915. After returning he met Gandhi and soon joined him in many issues of the day including one in which he represented workers in a dispute with mill owners in Ahmedabad in 1918. Patel had a successful law practice, but as he became more influenced by the ideas of Gandhi he gave it up and threw himself into the campaign for Indian independence. In 1931, Patel was elected President of the Indian National Congress. Gandhi vested great confidence in him through all the years of their friendship.
             Gandhi’s assassination left Sardar Patel without the guidance of his political mentor and the "Father of the Nation. His memory as the "Iron Man of India", came from his steely determination and pragmatism. Nowhere was this more apparent than when, as Home Minister and Minister of States, he took action to consolidate the Indian Union and authorized the police to merge Hyderabad into India.
             Though a staunch Hindu, Patel had a deep appreciation for the diverse culture of India. Patel contributed very substantially to the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly.

Essay on Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (200 words)

Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan is an initiative run by the Indian government to provide accessibility for disabled people to the public places. It is also known as Accessible India Campaign and was launched by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on 3^rd of December (means the International Day of Persons with Disabilities) 2015, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi to offer equal access for people with disabilities. According to the Census of 2011, around 2.21% people of the total population of India are disabled (2.68 crore). So, it is very necessary to make accessible and barrier free environment for them so that they can participate in all the areas of community life.
This initiative is to initiate equal opportunities and full participation of disabled people in the society which is possible only through the barrier-free access in all the public places and transportation systems. This initiative is to ensure equal availability of all the facilities such as physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and other required technologies and systems in the urban and rural areas for people with disabilities. It is to initiative economic growth and development as well as productive, safe and dignified lives of disabled people in the country.

Essay on National Integration

National Integration (200 words)

In India National Integration Day is observed as a most important social event every year on 19^th of November. For more awareness among public about the national integration, a whole week programme has also been implemented by the government of India to observe annually as National Integration Week from 19^th to 25^th November. India is a country famous for its different cultures, traditions, races, religions, castes and creeds but it cannot be unseen that it is still comes under the developing countries because of the diversity in the thinking of people living here. People living here think differently according to their own culture and religion which is a big issue of hindering the individual and country development.
India is famous for its unity in diversity but it is not true as people here are not ready to accept others opinion for development. Everyone always try here that his religion is best than others and what he does is always great. People from different races living here are fighting physically, emotionally, arguing, debating in many ways to prove them best only for their own benefits. They never think by getting together about their country. They never think that the development of our country is possible only with growth and development of individual and single identity of everyone.

Essay on Dog

Dog (200 words)

Dog is a well-known domestic animal. It is very faithful and loyal friend of man. Wild dogs become very dangerous however pet ones are very friendly. They perform their duties very faithfully that’s why liked so much by the man. People love its service very much. They are available in various types; some of them are grey hounds, bull dogs, blood hounds, lap dogs, etc. It is a flesh eater however can eat plant origin foods that’s why called as carnivore as well as omnivore. Its teeth are very sharp which help him in tearing meat. Some dogs have long tail however some have short tail.
Its thin and strong legs help in running very fast. Dogs are generally differ in their size, shape, height, weight, color and behavior. Dogs eat many things (mainly flesh) however a domestic and trained dog can drop flesh diet and live on veg diet. European and wild dogs are very fond of eating meat and survive on flesh. A tame dog can also eat ordinary bread, rice and milk. Dogs are useful in many fields such as guard, police, army, etc. Kids love to play with dogs in the playground. Domestic dogs live in family as a family member as they get attached heartily with everyone very soon because of its loyal jobs. Trained dogs become very loyal to their owners and do wonderful things.

Essay on Cow

Cow (200 words)

Cow is a domestic and very successful animal. It is of great importance for the people of Hindu religion. It is a most important pet animal kept by almost all people of Hindu religion. It is female animal who gives us milk daily two times, in the morning and evening. Some cow gives milk three times a day according to their diet and capacity. Cow is considered by the Hindu people as a mother and called as the Gau Mata. Hindu people respect cow very much and do worship. Cow milk is offered to God during pooja and katha. It is also used to do abhishek of the God and Goddess statue during festivals and pooja.
Cow milk is given high status in the society as it is very beneficial to us. She gives birth to a small calf after 12 months. She does not give any practice to her child to walk or run, he/she starts walking and running just after the birth. Her calf drinks her milk for some days or months and starts eating food like her. Cow is a very sacred animal for all Hindus. It is a big domestic animal having four legs, a tail, two ear, two eyes, one nose, one mouth, one head and a wide back.

Essay on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (250 words)

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has talked about a new scheme called as Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat on 31^st of October 2015 (birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) in his speech. This is an initiative in the process to be launched in near future. It is an effort by the Indian government to strengthen the unity and harmony all over the country. It is a programme aimed to connect people to people all through the country. India is a country which is the best example of “Unity in Diversity”. This programme is also an initiative to improve the quality of unity in India. He also said in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme that Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat scheme is to make India “One India Supreme India”.
This solid initiative of enhancing the peace and harmony need to uphold the law and order in order to maintain the same. In order to make this programme more effective, PM has requested the views, ideas and suggestions of common public on a government portal ‘MyGov.in’. He has also requested to suggest the structure, logo and ways to increase public participation in this programme. There are various creative minds hidden in the crowd who can give better suggestions to connect people of India to unity and harmony to make it Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. There is a plan to make it a specific and prestigious scheme to connect people in easy manner to achieve the main goal of enriching the culture of unity and harmony in the country.

Essay on Money

Money (200 words)

In such a costly and competitive society and world, no one of us can live without money. We need money to fulfil our basic needs of the life such as buying food, and other many basic necessities of life which are almost impossible to buy without money. People in the society who are rich and have property are looked as honourable and respectful person of the society however a poor person is seen as hatred without any good impression.
Money increases the position of the person in the society and gives good impression to him. All of us want to be rich by earning more money through good job or business in order to fulfil all the increasing demands of the modern age. However, only few people get this chance of completing their dreams of being a millionaire. So, money is the thing of great importance all through the life. Money is required by everyone whether he/she is rich or poor ad living in urban areas or rural areas. People in the urban areas are earning more money than the people living in backward or rural areas as the people of the urban areas have more access to the technologies and get more opportunity because of the easy sources.

Gender Inequality

Gender Inequality

We proud Indians of 21^st century rejoice in celebrations when a boy is born, and if it is a girl, a muted or no celebrations is the norm. Love for a male child is so much so that from the times immemorial we are killing our daughters at birth or before birth, and if, fortunately, she is not killed we find various ways to discriminate against her throughout her life. Though our religious beliefs make women a goddess but we fail to recognize her as a human being first; we worship goddesses but we exploit girls. We are a society of people with double-standards as far as our attitude towards women is concerned; our thoughts and preaching are different than our actions. Let’s try to understand the phenomenon of gender inequality and search for some solutions.

Definition and Concept of Gender Inequality

‘Gender’ is a socio-cultural term referring socially defined roles and behaviors assigned to ‘males’ and ‘females’ in a given society; whereas, the term ‘sex’ is a biological and physiological phenomenon which defines man and woman. In its social, historical and cultural aspects, gender is a function of power relationship between men and women where men are considered superior to women. Therefore, gender may be understood as a man-made concept, while ‘sex’ is natural or biological characteristics of human beings.
Gender Inequality, in simple words, may be defined as discrimination against women based on their sex. Women are traditionally considered by the society as weaker sex. She has been accorded a subordinate position to men. She is exploited, degraded, violated and discriminated both in our homes and in outside world. This peculiar type of discrimination against women is prevalent everywhere in the world and more so in Indian society.

Causes and Types of Gender Inequality in India

The root cause of gender inequality in Indian society lies in its patriarchy system. According to the famous sociologists Sylvia Walby, patriarchy is “a system of social structure and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women”. Women’s exploitation is an age old cultural phenomenon of Indian society. The system of patriarchy finds its validity and sanction in our religious beliefs, whether it is Hindu, Muslim or any other religion.
For instance, as per ancient Hindu law giver Manu: “Women are supposed to be in the custody of their father when they are children, they must be under the custody of their husband when married and under the custody of her son in old age or as widows. In no circumstances she should be allowed to assert herself independently”.
The above described position of women as per Manu is still the case in present modern day social structure. Barring few exceptions here and there, women have no power to take independent decisions either inside their homes or in outside world.
In Muslims also the situation is same and there too sanction for discrimination or subordination is provided by religious texts and Islamic traditions. Similarly in other religious beliefs also women are being discriminated against in one way or other.
The unfortunate part of gender inequality in our society is that the women too, through, continued socio-cultural conditioning, have accepted their subordinate position to men. And they are also part and parcel of same patriarchal system.
Extreme poverty and lack of education are also some of the reasons for women’s low status in society. Poverty and lack of education derives countless women to work in low paying domestic service, organized prostitution or as migrant laborers. Women are not only getting unequal pay for equal or more work but also they are being offered only low skill jobs for which lower wages are paid. This has become a major form of inequality on the basis of gender.
Educating girl child is still seen as a bad investment because she is bound to get married and leave her paternal home one day. Thus, without having good education women are found lacking in present day’s demanding job skills; whereas, each year’s High School and 10+2 standard results show that girls are always doing better than boys. This shows that parents are not spending much after 10+2 standard on girl child and that’s why they lack in job market.
Not only in education, in case of family food habits, it is the male child who gets all the nutritious and choicest foods while the girl child gets whatever is left behind after the male members have taken their meals or the food which is low in both quality and nutrition. And this becomes a major health issue in her later years. One of the main reasons for the high incidences of difficult births and anemia in women is the poor quality of food which a girl always gets either in her paternal home or in her in-laws as also is the excessive workload that they are made to bear from their early childhood.
So the inequality or discrimination against women is at various levels in the society, either in home or outside home.

Gender Inequality in India: Important Data

Global Indices:
Gender Inequality is also reflected in India’s poor ranking in various global gender indices.

• UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index- 2014: India’s ranking is 127 out of 152 countries in the List. This ranking is only above Afghanistan as far as SAARC countries are concerned.
• World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index- 2014: India’s ranks at 114 in the list of 142 countries of the world. This Index examines gender gap in four major areas:
• Economic participation and opportunity.
• Educational achievements.
• Health and life expectancy.
• Political empowerment.

India’s position on these indicators was as follows:

• Economic participation and opportunity: 134^th
• Educational achievements: 126^th
• Health and Life expectancy: 141^st
• Political empowerment: 15^th

These two important Global Indices show the sorry state of affairs in India as far as gender equality is concerned. Only in case of ‘Political Empowerment’ India is doing fine which is a welcome sign. But other indices are very poor and a lot need to be done to improve the same.

Gender Inequality Statistics

Gender inequality manifests in varied ways. And as far as India is concerned the major indicators are as follows:

• Female Foeticide
• Female Infanticide
• Child (0 to 6 age group) Sex Ratio: 919
• Sex Ratio: 943
• Female literacy:46%
• Maternal Mortality Rate: 178 deaths per 100000 live births.

These above mentioned indicators are some of the important indices which show the status of women in our country.
Female foeticide and female infanticide are most inhuman of acts. And it is a shame that in India these practices are prevailing at large scale.
The data shows that despite the law in place viz Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 sex selective abortion is still on the rise. One estimate done by MacPherson shows that more than 100000 illegal abortions are being performed every year in India mainly for the reason that the featus is of girl child.
Due to this, there is an alarming trend which has come to the notice in 2011 census report; the report shows Child Sex-Ratio (i.e sex-ratio of children between the age group 0 to 6) at 919 which is 8 points lesser than the 2001 data of 927. The data indicates that sex-selective abortion is increasing in our country.
As far as overall sex-ratio is concerned, it’s 943 in 2011 report as compared to 933 of 2001 which is 10 points increase. Though it is a good sign that overall sex ratio is increasing but it’s still tilted against females.
Female literacy is at 65.46% in 2011 as against 82.14% of male literacy. This gap indicates a wide gender disparity in India that Indians do not give enough importance to the education of girls.
All these indicators points towards the sorry state of affairs in India regarding gender justice and women’s human right. Though every year government starts various schemes and programs apart from existing ones for the benefit and empowerment of women but on the ground there are not enough visible changes. The change will appear only when the mind set of Indian society would change; when the society would start treating male and female on equal footing and when a girl would not be considered as a burden.

Legal and Constitutional Safeguards against Gender Inequality

Indian Constitution provides for positive efforts to eliminate gender inequality; the Preamble to the Constitution talks about goals of achieving social, economic and political justice to everyone and to provide equality of status and of opportunity to all its citizens. Further, women have equal right to vote in our political system. Article 15 of the Constitution provides for prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sex also apart from other grounds such as religion, race, caste or place of birth. Article 15(3) authorizes the Sate to make any special provision for women and children. Moreover, the Directive Principles of State Policy also provides various provisions which are for the benefit of women and provides safeguards against discrimination.
Other than these Constitutional safeguards, various protective Legislations have also been passed by the Parliament to eliminate exploitation of women and to give them equal status in society. For instance, the Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 was enacted to abolish and make punishable the inhuman custom of Sati; the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 to eliminate the practice of dowry; the Special Marriage Act, 1954 to give rightful status to married couples who marry inter-caste or inter-religion; Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Bill (introduced in Parliament in 1991, passed in 1994 to stop female infanticide and many more such Acts. Furthermore, the Parliament time to time brings out amendments to existing laws in order to give protection to women according to the changing needs of the society, for instance, Section 304-B was added to the Indian Penal Code, 1860 to make dowry-death or bride-burning a specific offence punishable with maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
So there are varied legislative safeguards and protection mechanisms for women but the ground reality is very different. Despite all these provisions women are still being treated as second rate citizens in our country; men are treating them as an object to fulfill their carnal desires; crimes against women are at alarming stage; the practice of dowry is still widely prevalent; female infanticide is a norm in our homes.

How we can Eliminate Gender Inequality

The list of legislations as well as types of discriminations or inequalities may go on but the real change will only come when the mentality of men will change; when the male species of human beings would start treating women as equal and not subordinate or weaker to them. In fact not only men but women also need to change their mindset as through cultural conditioning they have also become part of the same exploitative system of patriarchy and are playing a supportive role in furthering men’s agenda of dominating women.
Therefore, what is needed is the movement for Women’s empowerment where women can become economically independent and self-reliant; where they can fight their own fears and go out in the world fearless; where they can snatch their rights from the clutches of men and they don’t have to ask for them; where women have good education, good career, ownership of property and above all where they have freedom of choice and also the freedom to make their own decisions without the bondages of age old saying of Manu.
Let’s hope and wish that our participative democracy, in times to come, and with the efforts of both women and men, would be able to found solutions to the problem of gender inequality and would take us all towards our cherished dream of a truly modern society in both thought and action.

Homosexuality in India

India has a long tradition of tolerance for all kinds of beliefs, faiths, philosophies, orientations and ways of living. Though India is a deeply religious country but at the same time it is also a country which has accepted non- religious communities as well. In ancient India there was a place for all kinds of diverse cultures, arts and literatures; the society was very assimilative. At one place we have purely and strictly religious painting and sculptors like at Konark or at Jagganath Puri temples and at another place we have monuments like Khajuraho which is famous world over for its erotic arts and sculptors; this also includes sculptors with homosexual activities. This shows that not only all types of sexual orientations were there in ancient past but people were so tolerant and broad minded that paintings and sculptors depicting the same sex love-making were being freely created and displayed.

But our modern society somehow has become less tolerant towards anything which is not regular or common according to their collective perception; whether we study society’s behavior towards religious minorities such as Islam or Christianity or its behavior towards sexual minorities such as gays, lesbians or bisexuals. In all such cases, it can be found that people in minority are the target of the people in majority and harassment or discrimination against such minorities is widely prevalent.
Thus unlike ancient India, people with different sexual choices i. e. homosexuals are not treated equally in today’s society and their basic human rights are violated frequently.
Like food, shelter and water, sexual need is also one of the basic human needs without which life cannot be fully realized or enjoyed. Sexual orientations may differ from person to person. Though persons with non- regular sexual behavior are in minority but they are a reality. Non-regular sexual behavior may be understood as sexual preference and attraction not with opposite sex but with same sex persons.

What is Homosexuality?

It is natural tendency that persons of one gender are sexually or emotionally attracted towards persons with opposite gender i. e. males are attracted towards females and vice versa. But sometimes and in some cases this sexual or emotional attraction is not towards opposite sex rather it is towards the same sex persons. This same sex attraction or orientation is known as Homosexuality and persons with such orientation are called as Homosexuals. Homosexuals can be persons of both the sexes i.e. Gays (male-male) and Lesbians (female-female). Another term LGBT is also commonly used for persons with homosexual orientations; LGBT being abbreviation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans-genders.

Causes of Homosexuality

The reasons for such type of sexual behavior or choice are not yet fully known but several researches have been done and different experts have found different results or theories. The reasons may be biological, psychological or both.
Biological Reasons
Several scientists have concluded that one is born with a particular kind of sexual orientation and it is in the genes. Thus it is a natural phenomenon. But no conclusive proof is there that homosexual behavior is simply a biological thing. There may be a factor of genetics in determining one’s sexual choice but other factors might also be there.
Social and Psychological Factors
It is a fact that socio-cultural environment affects the development of a child in significant ways. One’s family, friends, society, and experiences decides how one views life, how one feels and how he or she acts. Thus psychological factors are also very important in determining one’s sexual preferences.
But it is true that not one single factor but combination of many things determines one’s sexual orientation. And whatever be the reason as it is natural for a person to decide what kind of food he/she wants to eat, what kind of living he/she wishes to have; similarly, it is also natural that with whom he/she wants to have sexual relationship either with opposite sex or with same sex.

Discrimination Against Homosexuals

Discriminations faced by homosexuals in our society are at various levels; beginning from within their homes to outside world as a whole. Their entire life is a struggle only because they are born with a particular sexual orientation which is different from others. In fact it is proved through various scientific or psychological studies that such behaviors are perfectly natural.
Our society is a very complex one; at one side we are most modern of societies of the world with all the liberal thoughts and beliefs but at on another level we are the most conservatives of societies of the world. We specially avoid facing so-called taboo social issues such as pre-marital sexual relationship, live-in relationship, inter-caste or inter-religion marriages etc. Homosexuality is also one of the most avoided or detested issues in our society. Even the mentioning of the terms Gays or Lesbians is a strict no-no. Thus, the society as whole has not accepted persons with different or so-called unnatural sexual behavior.
The discrimination against LGBT community persons is fairly common. And it begins from their own homes; their own family members treat it as a disease or perversion and accordingly treat them badly. In fact family members feel ashamed of in the society if any member of their family has such sexual orientation.
Outside of home, they experience all the more severe and hateful behavior of people, be it at work place, school, and colleges or at any other public place. Everywhere they become a target of obnoxious comments and sexually colored jokes. The problem is due to their appearances and way of walking or talking they are easily recognizable and become victim of such derogatory remarks etc. In our day to day life we pass jokes and messages ridiculing and making fun of LGBT people; even in our movies these people are presented in a very objectionable way just to invoke some kind of laughter among the audiences.
So overall general perception of the society is against such individuals and we are not ready to accept them as one among ourselves.

Laws in India and Homosexuality

India has a very dynamic and progressive Constitution which in a way is the backbone of this very vast and complex nation. The Indian Constitution provides rights and protections to each and every citizen of this country whether he is in majority or in minority. The Constitution treats everyone equally without any discrimination. It is the duty of the State to ensure that no one should be discriminated against.
LGBT community persons are in minority and they too have equal constitutional rights. But their right to equality and right to get equal treatment in the society are violated on regular basis. Not only society as whole but State machinery also treat them differently, especially police. They are regular victim of rights violations. They are deprived of their basic human right and right to life which includes right to enjoy life properly.
Section 377 of IPC and Rights of LGBT community:
One of the major lacuna or contentious legal provision in our laws is Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Section 377 of the IPC says:
Unnatural offences: “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offense described in this section.
Thus the section makes any sexual activity against the order of the nature as criminal offence. Even voluntary act of such kind is punishable. Thus consent between two persons of same gender for such activity is immaterial.
Therefore, section 377 criminalizes homosexual activity and makes it punishable with as high punishment as life imprisonment.
This provision of IPC has become a major controversial point and topic of debate in recent times. People of LGBT community are trying from quite sometimes to convince and pressurize our law makers to decriminalize Section 377. In other words, LGBT social action groups are demanding that if two consenting adults of same sex are involved in homosexual activities, it should not be a criminal offence.
But when their plea was not responded by our legislatures, they went to the Court for appropriate and just solution to their grievances through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The said PIL was filed by a NGO namely Naz Foundation in Delhi High Court.
In the case Naz Foundation v Govt. of NCT of Delhi (2009 Delhi H C) passing a landmark judgment on 2nd July 2009, Delhi High Court declared Section 377 as illegal as far as it criminalizes same sex sexual activity between two consenting adults done in private. Thus, in effect Delhi High Court, in its historic decision upheld and secured the LGBT people’s right to sexuality.

The SC and LGBT Rights

The decision of Delhi High Court in Naz Foundation Case was further challenged in appeal at the Supreme Court of India.
The SC in a far reaching judgment quashed the decision of the Delhi High Court and reverted back to the earlier position i. e. once again made homosexual relationship as criminal offence. The decision came as a shock to the LGBT community and also to the liberal members of the society. The reasoning of the SC was that the Indian society is not yet fully mature to accept same sex relationships and if necessary changes are needed to decriminalize Section 377 of the IPC, it must be done by the Parliament and not by the SC.
Several legal and constitutional experts have criticized the decision as regressive and disappointing. Experts are of the view that the SC could have upheld the decision of Delhi High Court or could have advised the Parliament to make necessary changes in the IPC; but unfortunately the SC fell short of in fulfilling such expectations and securing basic human rights of sexual minorities.
Therefore as per the present scenario, LGBT community people are again feeling themselves insecure and discriminated against. If the SC had given an authoritative judgment on the issue, the matter would have been settled for all times. And it was also expected of the highest Court of the country that it would recognize the rights of LGBT people and would decriminalize the same sex relationship. But as many experts are pointing out, the SC has missed a historic opportunity to provide equal constitutional and human rights to LGBT people.
Now again the ball is in the hands of our law makers to amend the law and decriminalize the same sex relationship among consenting adults done in private sphere. Because now the only hope for LGBT people is country’s Parliament.

Suggestions:

India, in 21st century is trying to become a super power and the world leader; in fact it has all the potential to become one. But this potential would not be realized until and unless we as a society will not be able to freely accept and discuss so-called taboo issues such as homosexuality.
And for that to happen above all mentality of the people will have to be changed. The first step is sex education in schools and at homes. A child must feel comfortable to discuss his/her problems or issues related to sexual matters and even their sexual choices with their parents or teachers. And it is important that parents/teachers fully appreciate their wards’ situation and guide them accordingly. Therefore, not only children but grown-ups or adults need more education and sensitization as far as matters related to sex are concerned.
Law enforcement agencies such as police also need sensitization so that they will be able to appreciate the genuine concerns of LGBT people.
Similarly, our media and film fraternity are required to be more considerate while depicting such people in their shows and films respectively. In fact they can play a very important role in imparting knowledge and disseminating true information about LGBT people and their sexual choices so that society could get a real picture of their situation and conditions.
Apart from all these, the most important single step in eliminating the stigma over LGBT people is to decriminalize section 377 of the IPC so that they could have a normal regular life like others and avail their basic human rights without harassment or discrimination. Hopefully our law makers would soon listen to their rightful plea and make necessary changes in the law.

Poverty in India

What is Poverty
Poverty can be defined as a condition wherein a person is unable to fulfill the basic necessities for the sustenance of life. These basic necessities include- food, clothing and shelter. Poverty is a condition which drives out the essence of a decent standard of living for the people? Poverty becomes a vicious trap which gradually ends up entailing all the members of a family. Extreme poverty eventually leads to death. Poverty in India is defined keeping in mind all the dimensions of economy, semi-economy and the definitions which are devise according to international conventions. India judges poverty levels on the basis of both consumption and income. Consumption is measured on account of the money that is spent by a household on essential goods and income is calculated according to the income earned by a particular household. Another important concept that needs to be mentioned here is the concept of the poverty line. This poverty line acts a benchmark for the measurement of poverty in India vis- a-vis other nations. A poverty line can be defined as the estimated minimum level of income that a family needs to be able to secure the basic necessities of life. As of 2014, the poverty line is set at Rs 32 per day in rural areas and Rs 47 in towns and cities.

Causes of Poverty in India

According to the international economist Ragnar Nurske, “a country is poor because it is poor” pointing towards the unfortunate reality that poverty is a vicious trap. This trap consists of the low level of savings which reduce the scope of investments which then leads to a low level of income.
A major reason of the existing poverty in India is the weather condition of the country. The non-conducive climate reduces the capacities of people to work in the farms. Floods, famines, earthquake and cyclones disrupt the production. Population is another factor which contributes to the menace. Population growth reduces the per capita income.
Further, larger the size of a family, lower is the per capita income. Unequal distribution of land and assets is another problem which deters the concentration of lands in the hands of the farmers equally.

Impact of Poverty

It needs to be taken into account that although the economy has shown some visible signs of progress in the last two decades, this progress been uneven across various sectors or areas. The growth rates are higher in Gujarat and Delhi as compared to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Nearly half of the population doesn’t have proper shelter, access to a decent sanitation system, villages do not have a nearby water source, and villages also do not have a secondary school and lack of proper roads. Some sections of the society like the Dalits are not even included in the poverty list maintained by the concerned authorities assigned by the government. They’re groups that are marginalized in the society.

Government Schemes to Eradicate Poverty

Government efforts to alleviate poverty in India cannot be overlooked while discussing poverty. It needs to be brought to the forefront that whatever marginal drops that has been observed in the poverty ratios have taken place due to the government initiatives aimed at uplifting people from poverty. Though, a lot still needs to be done as far as the corruption levels are concerned.
PDS– the PDS distributes subsidized food and non-food items to the poor. Major commodities distributed include staple food grains, such as wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene, through a network of public distribution shops established in several states across the country. But, the grains provided by the PDS are not enough to satisfy the consumption needs of a family. Under PDS scheme, each family below the poverty line is eligible for 35 kg of rice or wheat every month, while a household above the poverty line is entitled to 15 kg of food grain on a monthly basis.  Being the most important system, the system is not without its flaws. Leakages and diversions of grains from the PDS are high. Only 41% of the grains released by the government reach the poor. The alternative against the PDS that has been suggested is that of a cash transfer along with food support, but this will not fulfill the need of the buffer food stocks.
MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)–  This aim guarantees the right to work and ensure livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Employment generation under this act has been higher as compared to other schemes.
RSBY (Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana)- This is a health insurance for the poor. It provides for cashless insurance for hospitalization in public as well as private hospitals. Every below poverty line family holding a yellow ration card pays 30 rupees registration fee to get a biometric-enabled smart card containing their fingerprints and photographs.
Conclusion
Most of the schemes are clouded with implementation challenges. Programs are plagued by leakages on subsidies that limit its impact on the poor. These programs need to be centralized under one organization so that leakages can be prevented at multiple levels.