FRIENDSHIP

-------------------------------------DEVENDRA SRIVASTAVA

Friendship is a kind of happiness
which inspires us for our aim.

Friendship is a kind of power
which is an addition in our life.

Friendship is a special kind of lamp
which burns with the oil of remembrance.

Friendship is a special kind of stairs
which makes us reach the zenith of success.

Friendship is a special kind of shadow
which never leaves us alone.

"Always make new friends
but never forget old,
because new is silver,
but old is gold."

IRRATIONAL BELIEFS

A large number of people comprising the educated ones believe the sight of a black cat as dangerous.If a cat crosses our path,we consider it as a bad omen.Why a cat in general and a black cat in particular are believed dangerous?
 This is a thousand years old belief. The ancient Egyptians worshipped the cat.They had a goddess called pasht whose head resembled that of a cat.They believed that this goddess had nine lives.Whenever a black cat died in Egypt, its dead body was preserved as a mummy.Remains of thousands of cat have been recovered from a cemetry of Egypt.Killing a cat then was consideredas an offense,punishable with a death sentence.Thus people feared a black cat.During the middle ages witches and doctors always used the skull of black cat to prepare mysterious medicines. As a result people started thinling that a black cat was a bad omen.The truth is that no cat is dangerous. The cat is a pet animal that was domiscated about 5000years ago.
 Other superstitions are: If you hear a dog whining, get ready to start mourning because someone close to you is going to die.
   If you are leaving the house and someone calls you back for something, you had better give up your programme for that day.If you go ahead with it, you will fail and flounder.
  If an owl lives somewhere near your house,block your ears. If you hear the hooting of an owl, someone will fall sick.
 Some people believe that starting out on a journey on a saturday is bad luck.So they miss some interviews even when they could almost certainly land some very good jobs.The people of Randikarna in Orissa do not clip their nails because they believe that this protects them from a certain disease.
  These irrational beliefs are simply superstitions. Needless to say superstitions make us afraid.These fears do serious harm to us by limiting our possibilities for growth.
                                  DEVENDRA  SRIVASTAVA    

OUTLANDISH BELIEFS

A lot number of people, including the well educated persons , strictly follow the outlandish beliefs which are sans any rational basis. They make themselves slaves of superstitious fears.

   Sophia Loren,the Italian actress,believes that the colour purple is evil and brings bad luck,which is why she refuses to wear or even touch anything purple. Bjorn Brog,the Swedish tennis legend ,wore the same shirt and never shaved as long as he was winning at Wimbledon.The English football captain,David Bekham, always touches the grass in the centre circle before kick-off.Julia Roberts always lies on her back while being made up on a film set.Tiger Woods, the world's most famous golfer, has worn something red on the final day of a touranament ever since he was eight.

    European people believe that number 13 is an unlucky number. Many hotels have no room no. 13 and no floor no. 13!

                                 -----Devendra  Srivastava

THE WOLF AND THE DOG

A farmer had a pet dog.He used to keep it chained during the day time. At night it was let loose to guard the farm. the master fed it very well. it grew very strong and fat.

     One day a wolf came to attack the sheep. The sheep were well - guarded by the dog.The dog confronted the wolf who was lean and thin and said,"do some honest work. If you serve my master, you will be happy.he will feed you well."

    The wolf consented. Noticing a mark round the dog's neck, the wolf asked him,"what is this mark due to?" the dog responded,"It is the mark of the chain with which I am kept chained during daytime."

 The wolf growled,"I refuse to be chained. I love freedom.I will never serve under a man and be his slave.

 MORALE:::FREEDOM IS THE ESSENCE OF LIFE.

CULTURE

 We should not feel superior to anyone else, thinking that our culture is greater than his people's; nor we ought to feel inferior to others thinking that our culture is poor or we are uncivilized.It is to be noted that civility is the beauty of culture and behaviour.Civilized persons follow civilized behaviour and culture.They are disciplined and respect the rights of others.They do not fling garbage on the roadside outside their house.A civilized person does not litter or spit in public places.He does not leave the public toilets dirty after using them.He is polite to all and sundry.
      Civilized people neither create a fuss nor are noisy, pugnacious and boisterous in public places.According to need, they say 'sorry" or "thank you".They are gentle and kind to poor and respect the aged.
      A truly civilized person is not the one who is best dressedor stepped out of the band box,is the richest,but one who makes others feel civilized and important.One should be proud of one's culture.

DARA SINGH

            BY------DEVENDRA KUMAR
 
The sad news that veteran wrestler cum actor DARA SINGH ceased to exist in flesh and blood came as a bolt from the blue.The entire nation plunged into grief and mourning.It is an irreperable loss to the nation and the void created by his demise can not be filled.Dara singh had many feathers in his cap.As a wrestler, he stood second to none.He fetched laurels for the country by walloping much vaunted foreigner wrestler.He also made many wrestlers lick the dust in the competitions.He was a kind and gentle person. Inside his stout and sturdy body lay a soft and compassionate heart.
     AS a actor he was par excellence.Who can forget his role as Hanuman in the classic serial "Ramayan"? He acted superbly and adorably and won many accolades.I wish he had lived for some more years, but man is a puppet at the hands of invisible and invincible Super power whose will ultimately prrevails.
       I pay my homage to the departed soul and offer my condolence to the bereaved family.
         May his soul rest in peace!

                   

MY PET AVERSIONS

Let me call a spade a spade.I have a strong aversion to pet dogs.Are not they good for nothing? I opine that a pet dog is good for nothing.It relaxes in the cosy confinement of the house and its duty is only to yowl ferociously at the innocent and unwary guests and visitors.When confronted by the street dogs, it gets cowed down and hides behind its master.
Every morning when I go out for a stroll,I come across many guys clutching a chain the other end of which is tied round the neck of their pet dogs.The dog leads the way, they follow ambling.It passes beyond my comprehension as to who is making whom walk. Whether the master is making his dog walk or vice-versa.
The lovely atmosphere of the morning is vitiated by these pet dogs. They poop on the road. The foul smell pervades the area.They,with their one hind leg up in air,pee in the garden,thus spoiling the sweet aroma of the morning flowers. It is most disgusting to see that after the dog has pooped,its owner lifts it up blithely and hugs without washing or wiping its rump.It makes me feel like vomitting copiously.
I shudder to visit the house having a pet dog. When I thumb at the door bell ,the shrill howles of the canine from inside the house gives me goose-pimples.Iusually prefer to tiptoe back but when the host invites me to step inside,I apprehensively and nervously glance at howling dog.The host chides the dog in a melliflous tone,"Oh Jacky ,calm down. Go and sit there."It is quite amusing that inmates of the house speak with themselves in Hindi,But they talk in English with the dog.
On going inside the house, a thrill of horror shimmies down my spine when the bloody dog dashes upto me and starts sniffing me from head to toe.I start crooning Hanuman Chalisa and implore lord Hanuman to deliver a crushing blow to it with his mace and save me from the rascal.
moreover it is impossible to enjoy the snacks smoothly and comfortably served by the host reluctantly when the beast is constantly glaring with its dirty tongue darted out.
My another aversion is against the nasty habit of some people.These people after devouring mooli ka parathas,belch loudly and frequently let out foul and obnoxious farts without any shame.
BY------DEVENDRA  SRIVASTAVA

ogs, it gets cowed down and hides beyond its master.