Author: Glam World

Honesty cannot be only a policy. It can be a principle. There is a difference between policy and principle. A policy changes. You change a policy when it does not pay. But a principle does not change. You do not and cannot change a principle even if it causes loss.

Can honesty, then, be only a matter of policy?

No. Honesty is the best of wealth. The reward of honesty is honesty itself, for there is nothing better than honesty. Character is the crown of life and honesty is the crown of character itself. No one can be good or great without truth and honesty. So, all great men have always led an honest life.

Honesty is necessary for real happiness. A dishonest man may cheat the whole world but how can he cheat his own soul? A dis­honest person is always in fear of something. This sense of fear cannot give him rest. An honest man may be poor. He may have to lead a hard life. But still he is happy.

But today almost everybody is dishonest. Honesty does not give wealth and power. Honest persons have to suffer a lot. But dishonest persons have become very rich and powerful. Dishonesty, and not honesty, has become their policy. But it never means that dishonesty is better than honesty.

Even dishonest persons claim that they are honest. What does it prove? It proves the greatness of honesty. Who can hide the sun of honesty? The cloud of dishonesty may hide this sun for some time. But can a cloud hide the sun forever?

Decline of Mauryan Empire

No political empire lasts forever. Every empire in history broke down for certain obvious causes. Among these causes, some causes appear almost as common, namely, the weak successors, vastness of the empire, independence of the provinces, foreign invasion, and internal revolt. The causes for the downfall and decline of Maurya Empire are discussed below:

Vastness of the Empire

The Maurya Empire was too vast in its extent. While extending to the farthest corners of the Indian sub-continent it also included territories outside the natural frontiers of India.

This vastness was itself a source of weakness rather than of strength because of the lack of communication. Distances were so great that the empire could not remain a closely integrated political unit for a longer time.

Weak Successors of Ashoka

The first three Maurya Emperor were Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Ashoka the Great. They were men of exceptional abilities. As heroes, conquerors, and administrators, they were indeed great. But, heredity in succession does not guarantee ability in character for all time or all successors to follow. Ashoka’s sons and grandsons did not prove themselves worthy of the Great Mauryas.

Independence of the Provinces

Though the Maurya administration from the days of Chandragupta was strong enough to control the distant provinces bound to a centralized system, it was also necessary for the provincial governments to enjoy sufficient power. When the centre declined and its authority became weak, the provinces assumed independent character.

Internal Revolt

When the Maurya rule was thus weakening and the empire was breaking up within the half century after Asoka’s death, there finally came a death blow to it by an internal revolt. This revolt was led by the chief of the Maurya army, General Pushyamitra Sunga in about 185 or 186 B.C. when the Maurya King Brihadratha ruled in Magadha.

Bana, the famous author of Harsha-Charita describes the incident saying that Pushyamitra held a parade of the army which he invited the King to witness, and thus created an occasion to kill him on the spot with the support of the army.

Thus, ended the dynasty of the Mauryas. The fall of the Maurya Empire was a tragedy no doubt.

Importance of Railways in India

Indian Railway provides the most important mode of public transport in India. This is the most commonly used and cost effective long distance transport system of the country. Indian Railway is operating by Ministry of Railways. Indian Railways is touching life of almost every people across India covering 29 states and 7 Union Territories with its over 40,050 miles or 64,460 kilometers railway network as of 2011.

Indian Railways is the fourth largest railway in the World which is transporting around 7651 million passengers & over 921 MT of freight per annum (As of 2011).

Considering its importance, Railways were first introduced in India with passenger rail service from Mumbai to Thane on 16th April, 1853 by two companies, East India Railway and Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Both the companies were created to construct railway line between Kolkata and Mumbai. Then the Governor General of India, Lord Dalhousie made plan to construct various railway lines between principle regions in India.

Indian Railways is also helping Indian economy in many ways like by providing fast and reliable transport medium for various needy articles across the country. These include Rice, Wheat, Cereals and Vegetable oils etc. Indian Railways is also transporting various petroleum products like Petrol, Diesel, Cooking Gas, Natural Gas, Kerosene etc.

The various types of railways running within our country are:

Duronto Express: Duronto Express, the non-stop trains which eventually running faster than Rajdhani Express between state capitals & major cities.
Rajdhani Express: The Rajdhani Express, the full AC train which connects all major cities to our capital New Delhi. It is running at over 150 km per hour.
Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi Express: These are only chair car trains which connect inter cities in the neighbouring states.
Garib Rath Express: These are trains which has AC 3 tier facilities at the lower cost in compare to different train in the same class.
Superfast Express: These trains are running more over 55 km per hours and have few stops in their travelling routes.
Express and Mail Train: These are common kinds of trains which have more stops than Express trains in India but have lower fare than it.
Fast Passenger and Passenger Train: These common trains have lowest fares and have sitting, sleeper class facilities. These trains stop at almost every station.
Suburban Trains: The Suburban trains are running in the major cities in India like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai etc. These trains have only sitting facilities and fare starts at only Rs. 5.00. The Mumbai Suburban trains have 1st Class facilities.
The need of railways is felt by every Indian. Every people in India can get every useful item in time. Our Railways is supporting our economy by providing lakhs of jobs to people and it is also setting up various Locomotive units across the country.

No wonder, rain is regarded as a god in India. This rain-god is perhaps the most important god. For, it is the god of life itself.

Rainy season gives a new life to the earth. Everything lies dead in summer. There is a cry for water everywhere, for nothing can live without water. Then a cloud brings showers. A shower of rain is a life-force. No plant or drop can grow without the help of rain. What will happen if there is no rain? There will be famine and death everywhere. This lovely earth will be turned into a desert. The whole creation of God will fail.

Rainy Season in India is considered to be the best. Spring, no doubt, is beautiful but it is not useful. Spring gives a new beauty to plants and flowers; but who gives them life? The beauty of the rose will vanish if rain does not come. Rainy season is like a mother than feeds and nurses these flowers. That is, spring gives only beauty but rainy season gives life.

But the rainy season is very dirty. It is full of mud. This is how you complain. But really it is not dirty. It only looks dirty. It has the clean heart of a dirty mother. A mother has to make herself dirty for her children. But this dirty mother produces something beautiful. Is not a lotus born in mud? Can a lotus be born in a clean place? Can the lovely spring give birth to even one lotus?

Two major traditions have been recognized by most of the Prehistorians so far Indian Paleolithic culture is concerned.

A flake-tool tradition of North-west India centering round Sohan valley in Pakistan (Rawalpindi). Most of the tools were made on pebbles, comparable to Clac­tonian-Levalloisian flake-tradition of Europe. Some tools of Proto-Aurignacian stage are found in this assemblage. Some of the tools can be compared to the Anathian cultural findings of Burma and also to Chou-kou-tien types of China. A few Chelleo-Acheulean type of core-bi-face occurred here as a complex.

A core-bi-face tradition of the Peninsular India centering round Kortalayer river valley site of Madras. Hand-axes (Coups-de-poing) and cleavers on core are predominantly found here. These tools can be compared to Abbevellian- Acheulian cultural tools on one hand, Vaal river lithic findings of Africa on the other hand. A few Sohanian pebble flake tools occur as a complex here also.

English Name of gemstones : Hindi Names of gemstones

Ruby: Manikya, Chuni, Padmaragmoni in Hindi.
Rose red diamond: Golabi
Blue diamond: Nilbazro
Cat’s eye: Baidurya-moni
Aquamiarine: Paribhadro
Zircon: Gomed
Jade: Piloo
Tourmaline: Gandharvo
Pais Laijuri: Lajowar
Garnet: Pulak
Coral – Probal
Quartz: Sphatik
Blue sapphire: Neela
Moonstone: Chandrakantamani
Topaz: Pokhraj, Pushparag
Emerald: Panna
Turquoise: Firoza
Spinel: Sougandhika
Diamond – Hira

Superstition refers to the excessive belief and ‘blind faith’ for the supernatural. It is the belief in some customs, rites and rituals that are usually baseless and without any reason.

Meaning of Superstition

There are many things in Nature which are beyond human knowledge. We try to understand the mystery of Nature. But there are still many things in the world of Nature which cannot be explained through reasoning. We consider them the wishes of unseen power. We give fanciful causes for happenings which we cannot explain.

There are many natural events which are said to be due to supernatural forces. These beliefs in supernatural forces is known as Superstition. Our logic fails and reasoning does not satisfy us.

Superstition in India

In India, the pundits and Sanskritic scholars set some taboos or inhibitions of human behaviour, such as:

• Carrying eggs, oil and many such articles during journey was regarded as inauspicious.
• Journeys away from home were strictly codified for the seven days of the week.
• The newly initiated ‘brahmcharis’ were strictly forbidden to see the face of the lower caste men like the scavengers.

These strict rules struck root in the households and were especially so because people were illiterate, unenlightened, orthodox and sometimes dominating.

Causes of Superstition

Superstition arises from ignorance. It is a child of fear as well. Superstition is generally a legacy of our ancient civilization. But it is strange that the advancement of science and modern education can not eradicate superstition.

An ignorant man cannot understand the cause of lighting and thunder. He invents an imaginary explanation for the happening. He thinks that some unseen power is behind these natural events. There are people who believe in ghosts and spirits. They also believe in witch-craft. They think that the power of mantras controls everything. So ignorance is the cause of superstition. Most of us are superstitious in some way or the other.

It, sometimes, survives even in scholars and learned persons. An internationally reputed Hindu philosopher may staunchly object to his daughter’s marriage with fine specimen of a boy who belongs to the opposite community. People are not able to overcome the traditional snag of the past.

Common Superstitions

Today we have learnt the scientific explanations for many natural events. But we are yet not free from the chains of superstitions.

• If somebody sneezes, we take it as a sign of something unfavorable.
• If we are going somewhere and a cat moves across the road, we become upset. We lose our confidence. We begin to pray to God for a safe journey. Thus we are always afraid of unseen forces.

Superstition in India is not based on common sense.

There is a basic difference between ‘common sense’ and ‘common belief’. The latter may harbor superstition or may not; it depends upon the degree of enlightenment within the society. But common sense has something to do with reason, logic and argument. It is a healthier tradition. Primitive society and culture followed customs, ritual and traditional practices. But today even rustic or illiterate persons are amenable to reason. They are often prepared to give up their blind and obsolete ideas if they are made to see reason in the changed outlook.

Conclusion

Many superstitions still rule the lives of the backward classes and tribal people. They are ignorant people. But when the educated people fill his life with superstitions, we hardly find any explanation.

To conclude, superstition in India is a sequel to fear for the unseen. It seems extremely difficult to erase out from the mind all considerations of a nameless fear, although it is not an unattainable ideal.

Cricket is a national sports of England. Today Cricket is a very popular game in some countries. But it is not played everywhere in the world.

How cricket is played? The game of Cricket is played between two sides, each having eleven players. The cricket ball is rather small and very hard. On the wicket at each end there are three sticks with bails on them. One batsman stands at each end while a bowler throws the ball to hit the sticks on stumps. The batsman stands before the stumps to hit the ball before it hits the stumps. While one side fields and bowls, the other side bats. Two umpires conduct the game.

The bowler directs his ball by his arm. The batsman on the other side stops it or drives it into the field. When the batsmen score runs the scorer keeps the record.

Importance of Cricket: It is one of the healthiest of sports. All the parts and muscles of the body are fully moved and exercised while playing cricket. It teaches the players to cultivate the virtue of cooperation, patience and perseverance and while making the players sharp and prompt. It helps to give them a healthy recreation.

Popularity in India: Cricket is a very interesting game. It is a very popular sports in India. Indian cricket team is a powerful side in all three major cricket formats, viz. Test cricket (first class cricket), 50 over One-day cricket, and Twenty-20 (limited to 20 overs each) cricket.

Cricket is very popular in India, England, Australia and West Indies.

This short article on Library explains what a Library is, its sections, its benefits and uses, and a conclusion.

What is a Library?

The library is a place where there is a large collection of books. Libraries are of two kinds – public and private.

Some people are very fond of books and collect them to satisfy their thirst for knowledge. They go to public libraries which are open to all and anybody can go and read the books.

Some people like lawyers, chartered accountants, doctors, etc., have to consult many books in connection with their respective professions. So, they have to maintain a library of their own. These are private libraries.

Sections of a Library

Public libraries have got two sections generally. One is the reading-room section and the other is the issue section. In the reading-room varieties of newspapers, weeklies, and monthly magazines are placed on the tables. Anybody can go and read them. A catalog of books is maintained by the librarian. Everybody can consult this catalog and get any book issued for reading in the reading-room.

In the issue section a list of members is maintained. The members have to pay a small monthly subscription. They have also to pay an initial deposit as a security for the books. Then they can get books for use at home. The rules regarding issue of books for home-use different from library to library.

Benefits and Uses

The library is a very useful institution. It is not possible for everybody to purchase books on every subject. In the library the same books pass through several hands by rotation. A man can read a large number of books at a very little cost or even no cost. It is a fit place for close and careful study. Here, there is no disturbance and everybody can read with rapt attention.

The library helps a good deal in spreading knowledge and education. Many books are so costly that a man of average means cannot purchase them. People can derive benefit from these books by consulting them in the library.

Conclusion

In India, there are very few good libraries. There is great need for opening a library in each village. Only then can the huge illiteracy prevailing in Indian villages be removed.

Superstition is a kind of blind faith. We believe in something without any reason. Religion, too, means faith in God. But this faith is based upon love and respect for God. Superstition, however, is based upon fear and ignorance. So, religion gives light to our mind and soul. But superstitions produce only darkness and we move about like blind men and women. This means that superstition is just opposite to religion. Superstition means lack of faith in God. You believe that a star will harm you. Who can harm you if you have full faith in God? Is not your superstition a product of your ignorance? Does it not also prove that you have no faith in you’d kind Father?

Even educated persons fall victims to some superstition or the other. In England, thirteen persons will never sit together. Nobody will stay in room No. 13 Why? Such superstitions are found everywhere. Who does not believe in magic and fortune-telling? How many of us do not believe in the power of evil spirits?

All these superstitions have no basis. But we still believe in them and are even guided by them. We cannot get rid of them, because they have become a part of our lives. We are all like modern types of slaves. Our mind does not work. Science has killed all these superstitions. But our habit gives them a new life every day. How sad that we do not try to come out of darkness into light?