Prose 2:The Great Indian Psychotherapy- Chetan Bhagat

Prose 2:The Great Indian Psychotherapy- Chetan Bhagat

 Introduction:  The Great Indian Psychotherapy by the popular author Chetan Bhagat deals with the problems in modern India and the author’s views on how to approach them. The author is also a columnist and motivational speaker.

 Change is Necessary: India has enormous potential to become a developed nation. Almost all of them accept that something is wrong in India. Many articles, books, theses, papers and research reports have tried to find the reason. Intellectuals give their valuable suggestions to improve the infrastructure and judicial system. Global experts are shocked that India has the largest percentage of poor people in the world. Despite taking every effort, no change occurs. The youth are confused and doubt whether changes will occur. They want to know who is responsible for the changes that don’t occur.

Unique Indian Psyche:  The author tries to answer the questions raised by the global experts and the youth of the country. He states that he will not blame inept politicians and offer policy solutions. Unskilled politicians are elected by the people of their choice. Policy solutions like building power plants, improving roads or opening up the economy is not blocking progress of the country. Intellectuals come up with good ideas for progress. The author states that the unique Indian psyche is responsible for blocking progress.  The three distinct traits of the Indian psyche responsible for blocking progress are Servility, Numbness to injustice and Divisiveness. These traits are instilled in the children in school, environment and home.

Servility:  Children learn servility at school. The education system kills the individual voice of the children. They are encouraged to be obedient like slaves and discouraged from questioning anything that is taught by the teacher. Creativity, imagination and innovation are not taught. For example, when teaching about the number of states in India, the basis for this division is not discussed. Hence, students fail to develop their ability to think and form opinions on their own.

Numbness to injustice: Numbness to injustice comes from the environment. Children are exposed to corruption right from childhood. When they are young, most of us have been asked to lie about our age to the train ticket checker to avail free rides. Incidents like this create a faulty value system in the children’s minds. They grow up with an idea that it is normal to lie and cheat. This results in them being numb to corruption and injustice in later life.

Divisiveness: Divisiveness is often learnt by the children at home through their family and relatives. The children are taught the differences among people. They learn the importance of their religion, culture and language. They respect and celebrate it. It is sad that they are not taught to fully appreciate those who are different from them. The children grow up with the idea that while they are good, people from other communities are bad. Each one has at least one person in the family, who despite being good has prejudice against people who are different from them. This divisiveness influences the voting patterns of individuals. Most people vote for politicians on the basis of caste. For example, Dalits vote for Dalits and Yadavs vote for Yadavs, etc. This practice of voting based on caste has to change. When we choose a mobile network, we choose the one based on the best service or value. We should apply the same principle to elect good politicians.

Mass Self-Psychotherapy: The author insists that Indians need mass self-psychotherapy to get rid of the three traits that are responsible for blocking progress. Psychotherapy also called ‘talk therapy’ is a process of talking about problems to cure mental or emotional illness. The author wants Indians to change their collective mindset. He also adds that it is not easy to bring about changes in society by simply talking about it.

Voting Based on Performance:  In 1980s, movies like ‘Gunda’and ‘Khoon Pi Jaaonga’ was released. But nowadays, movies have changed to keep up with the expectations of the audience. The filmmakers have

started showing better content. We cannot change a politician or build a road by talking among us. Instead, we have to focus on changing our minds. This single action can make the largest transformation in the country.

Action Needed:   When we change our mindset, we should unlearn everything that prevents us from progress. We should take great care to not pass on these traits to the next generation. We should encourage our children to think creatively, form opinions and speak up. They should be taught that there are only degrees of wrong. Whether it is small or big, a wrong is wrong. They should be taught to appreciate other people in spite of their differences. They should learn not to hate others based on their background. This can be instilled in the future generations only if we practice to change our minds. If we change our minds, our voting patterns will change and politicians can also be changed.

Conclusion:  The Great Indian Psychotherapy is that the author’s contribution to change the country towards progress. In politics, if we decide to vote based on performance, we can bring a worthy person to power. In this way, we can contribute to progress and have a better country in future.

Prose 1:WHAT I CHERISH MOST –Rt. Hon. V.S. Srinivasta Sastri

Prose 1:WHAT I CHERISH MOST –Rt. Hon. V.S. Srinivasta Sastri

OUTLINE OF THE ESSAY:

*INTRODUCTION

*ROLE OF A TEACHER

*VISION OF V.S.SRINIVASA SASTRI

*AS A TEACHER

*AS A POLITICIAN

*CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION: ‘What I cherish most’ is a talk delivered by Rt. Hon’ble V.S. Srinivasa Sastri on All India Radio. He is a great politician, administrator, educator and orator. In this chapter he talks about the ideals in one’s profession and defines the role of a teacher and a politician.

ROLE OF A TEACHER: He considers teaching profession as the noblest. A good teacher always be a good student. He should update himself with the latest developments in his subject. A good teacher should gather wisdom from society and should return the same to the society. He believes that those who enters the profession and feel its joy are blessed. If a person feels unhappy when he no longer teaches, then he is a real teacher. A teacher who does not pass on his knowledge is a shameful miser. In our ancient culture men and women gathered at the feet of sages seeking knowledge. It is the duty of a teacher to set up a good example in all respects to his students.

VISION OF V.S. SRINIVASA SASTRI:  All through the career of V.S. Srinivasa Sastri whether as a teacher or politician, he was inspired and guided by a noble vision. He dreamed of a United Indian people. The thought of two or more Indians made him mad. He could not bear to hear it.

According to Sastri, Professional and practice in a man’s life should be the same. One should practice what one should preach. One should not be a hypocritic in one’s life. This principle Sastri followed it throughout his life. For him ideals were very important. He practiced them without fear. According to Sastri, to achieve goal in life, one should follow Proverbs, Maxims and precepts of our elders. Sastri followed them in his life. He says, one should have faith, hope and charity in his life. These he had abundance in his life. Truth and beauty were also important to him. These values of life he practiced without fail.

AS A TEACHER: He taught his thousands of students the above mentioned ideas of life, throughout his career as a teacher. He sets an example of himself as a teacher to others. He wants a student to understand and practice these ideals throughout their life.

AS A POLITICIAN:  He practiced the principles and ideas which he taught to his thousands of students. For him politics without principles was sin. He never indulged in acquiring wealth or money. In his life he always dreamt of a United India under a United Indian people. Ashok dreamt of this One United India and One United People. Akbar and Surendranath Banerjee also dreamt the same. Ranade also enforced the same. He showed that different culture and religion were binding gradually to form one rich Indian culture. Our patriots also sacrificed their spirit and thought of one India and one Indian culture.

CONCLUSION:  Sastri taught this doctrine of ‘One United India’ and ‘One United Culture’ to thousands of his students. He hoped that our Prime Minister would speak in the name of 390 millions (at that time) with a voice and authority equal to that of Winston Churchill or Field Marshal Smuts. He trusted strongly and devoutly the ideal of United Indian Nation. This is what he cherished most.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI’S SPEECH TO THE UNITED NATIONS – 2013

MALALA YOUSAFZAI’S SPEECH TO THE UNITED NATIONS – 2013

INTRODUCTION:

Malala Yousafzai was born on 12^th July 1997 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. On 9^th October 2012, a Taliban gunman shot her when she rode home on a bus after taking an exam. This received worldwide media coverage. When she was just 16 years old, she spoke at the UN to call for worldwide access to education. On 10^th October 2014, she was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel peace prize. She is an active proponent for education as a fundamental, social and economic right.

MALALA’S GRATITUDE:

She began her speech by thanking the most merciful, God. Then she thanked every person who had prayed for her fast recovery. She thanked all the children whose words had encouraged her. Then she thanked the doctors and staff of the hospitals in Pakistan, UK and the UAE government for their support.

She showed her gratitude to the members of UN.

MALALA DAY:

She said “MALALA DAY” is not her day. It is the day of everyone who had raised their voice for their rights. She said that she is one among the thousands of people who were killed and injured by the terrorists. She had raised her voice not that because she can shout but those without a voice can be heard and also for those who have fought for peace, dignity, equality and education.

THE TRAGEDY:

On 9^th October 2012, a Taliban shot her on the left side of her forehead along with her friends thinking that the bullet would silence them but out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought that this would change their aims and ambition but her “weakness, fear and hopelessness” has only changed into “strength, power, and courage”.

MALALA’S TEACHERS:

She says that she speaks for the education of the daughters of the Taliban too. She said that she would not shot the Taliban who shot her even if she had a gun. She says that this is the compassion that she had learnt from Muhammad- the – Prophet, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy that she had inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mohammad Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of non-violence from Gandhiji, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. This is the act of forgiveness that she had learnt from her father and mother.

TALIBAN’S ATTACK:    

The extremists are afraid of the power of education and voices of women, which bring changes in the society. That’s why they had killed 14 medical students, female teachers, and polio workers and are blasting schools every day. They think that God is a tiny being who send girls to hell if they go to school. They are misusing Islam and Pashtun society for their personal benefits. She points out that Islam says that the right to education is the duty and responsibility of every child.

GLOBAL SUFFERAGE:

Globally women and children are suffering in many ways. In Pakistan and Afghanistan they are suffering from terrorism. The Afghan people are suffering due to the hurdles of extremism for many decades. Young girls are forced to do domestic labor and get married at early age.  In India they are suffering from child labor. Many schools are destroyed in Nigeria. She says that poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems faced by both men and women.

MALALA’S REQUEST:

She asks the women to fight against these by themselves instead of calling men activists to do for them. She calls all the global leaders to change the strategic policies in favor of peace and prosperity to protect women and children’s rights. She requests all the governments to ensure compulsory education, fight against terrorism and violence. She called the developed nations to help the educational opportunities of girls in the developing nation. She called upon all the communities to be tolerant to reject prejudice based on caste, creed, sect, religion and gender.

EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION:

She stresses that education and schools are necessary for every child’s bright future. We should strive hard to achieve peace and education for everyone. We should believe in the power and strength of our words. As we are united for the cause of education let us all empower ourselves with knowledge and shield by unity. She wants us to wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism.

CONCLUSION:

She concludes her speech by saying that we have to fight against the evil with our books and pens. They are the most powerful weapons. “ONE CHILD, ONE TEACHER, ONE PEN AND ONE BOOK” can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first. This is what she stresses again and again.      

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF by Dr.A.P.J.ABDUL KALAM

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF  by  Dr.A.P.J.ABDUL KALAM

SUMMARY

OUTLINE OF THE ESSAY:

·        INTRODUCTION

·        KALAM’S VIEWS ON INDIANS’ INTELLIGENCE

·        INDIANS’BROADMINDEDNESS

·        INDIANS’NEGATIVE ATTITUDE

·        CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION:  Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born in Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu on October 15, 1931.  He was the 11^th President of India from 2002-2007. Dr. Kalam was a recipient of several prestigious awards.  He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour ‘Bharat Ratna’. He was the first Asian to be bestowed with Hoover Medal Top Engineering Prize, by America, for his outstanding contribution to public service on April 29, 2009.  The essay ‘Believe in yourself’ is taken from his book “India 2020”, Chapter Two, ‘What Other Countries Envision for Themselves’.  

KALAM’S VIEWS ON INDIANS’ INTELLIGENCE:  Dr.  Kalam had always wanted Indians to have faith in themselves.  He felt unhappy to see Indians having negative attitude about India.  He asks the people to remember, that only the Indian Remote sensing satellite was used in the superbly made German Calendar with maps of Europe and Africa.  He recalls a dinner meeting with his guests in which they had discussed the early history of rocketry. When they only glorified about the Chinese invention of gun powder, Dr.Abdul Kalam, rightly spoke about Tippu’s military rockets kept in the London Museum.  But a senior Indian said that the French would have imparted the knowledge to Tippu.  Dr. Kalam was unhappy about this kind of negative attitude among most of the Indians.  Dr. Kalam proudly stated that our rockets were the first rockets used in the world.  He added that the British had been so impressed that they wanted to study those rockets and improve upon them. They used the improved versions for their warfare. 

 INDIANS’ BROADMINDEDNESS: Kalam stresses the fact that India has never opposed to welcome anything from outside be it people, ideas or technology. We have received them and adapted them to suit the needs of the country and the people. Similarly, Indians have gone abroad and spread our culture and knowledge.  He recalls how India was glorified in the yester years. He also stresses that any new idea was accepted as an innovation. However, in recent times we only want to imitate or follow what others have done. Dr.Kalam had even taken the efforts to authenticate that the book by the British scientist Sir Bernard Lovell, was a credential for Tippu’s rockets.

INDIANS’ NEGATIVE ATTITUDE:   When Dr. Kalam had referred to the description of Tippu’s rockets by a British writer, the Indian guests at the dinner had only made a brief remark “interesting”. He claimed that Indians often forget the pride of their country and people. He also says that they have a blind admiration for anything just because it is outside `our borders’. He stresses the fact that Indians should always remember that their heroes have always been creative and have very often contributed to the development in technology.

CONCLUSION:  India has high calibre scientists and technologists who enrich the economies of foreign countries.  Dr. Kalam asks the people of India to overcome the defeatist mentality that Indians cannot do anything new for India. He concludes that people of India should generate documents which express their future vision for the country and the world at large. 

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN     - ROBERT FROST

OUTLINE OF THE ESSAY:

*INTRODUCTION

*UNCERTAINTY IN THE CHOICE

*POET’S JUSTIFICATION

*FACTS ABOUT THE CHOICES

*CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION: The poet Robert Frost was born in San Francisco on March 26th, 1884. He developed a particular interest in poetry. In this poem he speaks about how an individual has to make choices in the different stages of life. The poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.

UNCERTAINTY IN THE CHOICE: One morning the poet stood in a junction of two roads. The roads split to two different directions into a forest.  The poet wants to travel on both the roads.  Since it is impossible for him to travel on both the roads, being a single traveller , he decided to choose one. He stood long and felt sorry that he could not travel on both the roads.

POET’S JUSTIFICATION:  The poet considers both the paths and concludes that each one is equally well-travelled and appealing. He says that the first road was quite often travelled and so it would be good. He thought the second road, was better as it was new, grassy and not travelled much. So he decided to choose the second road. It is possible that our poet is the first to travel to this place on that day. The paths are covered with leaves which have not been turned black by feet crushing them. This selection suggests that he has an independent spirit and does not wish to blindly follow the usual crowd.

FACTS ABOUT THE CHOICES: The poet remains committed to his decision to take the road he had previously selected, saying that he will save the other road for another day. He observes, however, that he probably will never pass this way again and thus will never have an opportunity to take the other road. In the years to come, the speaker says, he will be telling others about the choice he made. While doing so, he will sigh either with relief that he made the right choice or with regret that he made the wrong choice. Whether right or wrong, the choice will have had a significant impact on his life.

CONCLUSION: The poet could firmly say that his choice made all the difference. Hence he took the road less travelled by and that made the difference. In life, it is important to overcome obstacles and to overcome the fear of the unknown. Without determination, Christopher Columbus would not have discovered America and Neil Armstrong would not have walked on the Moon.