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.