INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S YEAR

THE UNITED NATIONS DESIGNATED 1975 AS THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S YEAR.THE PURPOSE BEING TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE PROBLEMS CONCERNING WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.FIRST A WORLD CONGRESS WAS HELD IN MEXICO UNDER U.N. PATRONAGE AND THEN ANOTHER CONGRESS WAS HELD IN BERLIN. WOMEN DELEGATES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ATTENDED TWO CONFERENCES  AND THE WOMAN'S QUESTION WAS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. WOMAN'S EXPLOITATION IN THE MAN- DOMINATED SOCIETY  WAS STRESSED AND EQUALITY ,FAIR PLAY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WERE DEMANDED.THE MAIN STRESS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S YEAR WAS ON SEEKING MEANINGFUL EQUALITY IN SOCIAL RIGHTS,EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK AND ELIMINATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT, ONE OF BASIC POLICY OBJECTIVES IS UNIVERSAL EDUCATION OF WOMAN, THE LACK OF WHICH TENDS TO PERPETUATE THE UNEQUAL STATUS QUO. AS IT IS RIGHTLY SAID,''EDUCATE A MAN,AND YOU EDUCATE AN INDIVIDUAL; EDUCATE A WOMAN AND YOU EDUCATE A FAMILY.''
                  THE CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S YEAR SERVED ITS PURPOSE.IT SUCCEEDED IN STRESSING THE BACKWARDNESS OF WOMAN ALL THE WORLD OVER. IT MADE THE PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL EQUALITY,OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR BOTH MAN AND WOMAN,MERELY REMAINS EMBODIED IN THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE WORLD AND IS NOT IMPLEMENTED IN PRACTICE. IT RESULTED IN MUCH RE-THINKING AND HEART SEARCHING. IT WAS FELT THAT CHANGES IN SOCIAL ATTITUDES ARE NECESSARY, IF WOMAN IS TO COME OF HER OWN. THEREFORE THE DECADE 1975-86 WAS DECLARED INTERNATIONAL  WOMAN'S DECADE.IT WAS DECIDED THAT DURING THIS DECADE THE GOVERNMENT ALL OVER THE WORLD WOULD DO THEIR BEST TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF WOMAN. IN 1986 i.e AFTER TEN YEARS,THERE WOULD AGAIN BE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE DURING THIS PERIOD AND TO SUGGEST LINES OF FURTHER ACTION.

MOTHER[THE HEART OF THE HOME]

'HOME SWEET HOME' IS THE DESIRE OF EVERY HEART. A HOME DOES NOT CONSIST A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING ,NOR IT ONLY MEANS PHYSICAL COMFORTS,RICH ,COSTLY, TASTY FOOD HAS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THERE IS A PARTICULAR CHARM AND WHICH ATTRACTS PEOPLE TOWARDS THE HOME.NOW THE PLACE OF MOTHER IN MAKING THE ATMOSPHERE OF A HOME ATTRACTIVE , IS UNIQUE. A MOTHER PLAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAKING THE HOME A PARADISE. SHE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE NOBLE VIRTUES WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM IN EVERY SOCIETY. IT IS THE QUALITIES OF HER HEAD AND HEART WHICH MAKE THE HOME WORTH LIVING. A MOTHER OCCUPIES THE HIGHEST AND INDISPENSABLE PLACE IN THE HOME.

          MAN HAS AN INBORN INSTINCT  FOR LOVE AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF HIS  LIFE. WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE HAPPILY WITHOUT LOVE. THE LOVE OF THE MOTHER IS OF THE HIGHEST AND  PUREST TYPE. SHE LOVES ALL HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS ALIKE. EVEN THE MOST UGLY OF HER CHILDREN IS LOVELY TO HER IN THE SAME WAY AS THE OTHER CHILDREN. THE FOUNTAIN OF HER HEART ALWAYS REMAINS FULL OF LOVE FOR HER CHILDREN.

             WHAT MAKES A MOTHER WORK FROM MORNING TILL EVENING WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATIONS OF REWARD? SHE IS ALWAYS IMBUED WITH A GREAT SENSE OF DUTY. IT IS HER GREAT SENSE OF DUTY WHICH KEEPS HER BUSY ALL DAY IN DOMESTIC WORK. IT MAY BE THE CHILLY WINTER OR THE SCORCHING HEAT OR HEAVY RAINS , SHE PREPARES THE FOOD HERSELF. SHE GETS UP AT 4 A.M IN THE MORNING AND AFTER PERFORMING OTHER MORNING DUTIES PREPARES THE FOOD IN TIME SO THAT NO ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS MAY GO TO HIS WORK WITHOUT FOOD. IT IS THIS SENSE OF DUTY WHICH MAKES HER RUN THE HOME EFFICIENTLY. NO ONE CAN SURPASS A MOTHER IN MAKING SACRIFICES. SHE NEVER FEELS HER LIFE TO BE HER OWN. INDEED IT IS MEANT FOR OTHERS . SHE IS ALWAYS REEDY TO SHARE THE SUFFERINGS AND SORROWS FOR HER CHILDREN. IF THERE IS ANY ONE SICK IN THE HOME,SHE PROVES TO BE THE BEST NURSE. SHE MAY PASS DAYS AND NIGHTS WITHOUT FOOD BUT SHE WILL NEVER LET HER CHILDREN GO TO BED EVEN ONCE WITHOUT IT. IT IS HER SACRIFICE WHICH MAKES EVERY ONE BOW DOWN HIS HEAD BEFORE HER.

    GENERALLY PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AT THE FAILING AND SHORTCOMINGS OF OTHERS. THEY LOSE PATIENCE EASILY . THEY DO NOT SHOW TOLERANCE FOR THE POINT VIEW OF OTHERS. BUT A MOTHER NEVER LOSES PATIENCE. WHATEVER THE SHORT COMINGS OF HER   CHILDREN, SHE ALWAYS TRIES TO SET THEM RIGHT PATIENTLY. ALL THE ABOVE VIRTUES MAKE THE MOTHER THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN HER HOME. IT IS TRUE THAT 'EAST OR WEST HOME IS THE BEST'. BUT IT CAN NOT BE THE BEST WITHOUT A MOTHER IN IT. ONLY THE MOTHER  CAN MAKE A HOME PERFECT BY MAKING EVERYBODY HAPPY IN THE HOME  BY DOING HER SELF-SACRIFICE.

POPULARITY ; HOW TO ACQUIRE IT

POPULARITY MAY BE DEFINED AS A STATE OF

POSSESSING THE AFFECTION AND LONG CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL. POPULARITY IS OF TWO KINDS- INTIMATE AND LONG DISTANT. AN INTIMATELY POPULAR MAN   IS ONE WHO KNOWS THE ART OF WINNING THE AFFECTION AND REGARD OF THOSE WITH WHOM HE COMES  IN CONTACT. HE IS RESPECTED AND ADMIRED BY ALL WHO KNOW HIM. ON THE OTHER HAND, A MAN WHO ENJOYS LONG DISTANT POPULARITY IS ONE WHO BY SOME MEANS OR OTHER, HAS SUCCEEDED IN CREATING  A FAVOURABLE  NOTION OF HIMSELF AMONG THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HIM. POPULARITY HAS ALSO TO SIGNIFY SOMETHING CHEAP AND OF LOWER QUALITY . FOR EXAMPLE , WE SPEAK OF A POPULAR ART AND LITERATURE

               IN THE MODERN AGE ,POPULARITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE . IT HAS BEEN RAISED TO THE STATUS OF A FINE ART. A POLITICIANS IS POPULAR OTHERWISE HE CAN NOT WIN AN ELECTION. STUDENTS MUST BE POPULAR WITH IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. FOR THERE ARE ELECTIONS OF STUDENT  UNION AND TO OTHER ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONS. A TEACHER MUST BE LIKED BY THE STUDENTS, IF HE OR SHE WANTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CAREER. GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN THE TEACHER KEEP STUDENTS WITHIN THE FOLD BY WIELDING THE ROD. NOW A TEACHER MUST CULTIVATE SUCH QUALITIES THAT ARE LIKED BY THE STUDENTS. IN SHORT A TEACHER SHOULD TRY TO MASTER THE ART OF POPULARITY.IF WE SEE, MILTON ,THE GREAT POET HAS RIGHTLY REMARKED, ''FAME IS THE LAST INFIRMITY OF A NOBLE MIND'', IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REALISED ONLY IN MODERN DEMOCRACIES.

      THE ART OF POPULARITY IS BASED ON THE ART OF CONVERSATION. ONE WHO WANTS TO BE POPULAR SHOULD BE A GOOD TALKER ,HE MUST KNOW HOW TO PLEASE OTHERS. WHEN IN COMPANY , HE MUST BE CONSIDERATE TO THE LISTENERS AND MUST SAY AND DO NOTHING WHICH IS LIKELY TO WOUND THEIR SENSIBILITY. HE MUST NEVER BE EAGER TO SPEAK HIMSELF BUT MUST LISTEN PATIENTLY TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY. HE MUST BE AGREE WITH THE OPINION OF OTHERS AND AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AVOID SAYING 'NO'  TO THEM. ONCE THIS ART OF SPEAKING IN APT AND SOFT WORDS IS ACQUIRED, ONE WOULD BECOME EASILY POPULAR. THE WAY TO POPULARITY LIES THROUGH THE ART OF FLATTERY.

          THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN THUS HUMOURING OTHERS AND IN CATERING TO THEIR TASTES. THIS IS NECESSARY FOR THE HAPPINESS  BUT ATTEMPT AT POPULARITY SHOULD NOT LEAD TO HYPOCRISY AND INSINCERITY. ONE SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF SAYING 'NO' WHEN ONE CAN NOT AGREE WITH OTHERS, ONE SHOULD EXPRESS ONE'S VIEWS POLITELY BUT FIRMLY. GREAT MEN WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY POPULAR, HAVE NEVER SHRUNK FROM ACTING IN DEFIANCE OF PUBLIC OPINION. GANDHI JI  ENJOYED WORLD -WIDE POPULARITY , BUT HE REMAINED FIRM AS A ROCK WHERE PRINCIPLES WERE CONCERNED. SIMILARLY NEHRU , THE MOST POPULAR MAN WAS NEVER SWAYED BY THE CURRENT OF POPULAR OPINION. GREAT MEN , IN SHORT, HAVE NEVER CARED FOR CHEAP POPULARITY.

        TRUE POPULARITY ,WHICH IS REALLY WORTH HAVING , IS ALWAYS BASED ON WORTH OF CHARACTER. VIRTUE IS ITS  ONLY SURE AND LASTING BASIS. HONESTY , INTEGRITY, CONSIDERATENESS, HUMANITY ARE ONLY A FEW MANY QUALITIES OF MIND AND HEART WHICH  GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS MAKING A PERSON POPULAR.

        CHARACTER IS ONLY THE RIGHT BASIS OF POPULARITY. BUT SUCH A POPULARITY IS HARD TO ACQUIRE . FEW POSSESSS SUCH QUALITY OF CHARACTER. AS LONG AS MEN ARE NOT ANGLES AND THIS WORLD IS NOT A PARADISE PEOPLE WOULD CONTINUE TO GAIN POPULARITY IN THE CHEAP WAY THIS ART OF POPULARITY IS LIKE THE ART OF DRESSSING WELL. AN ELEMENT OF SHOW AND ARTIFICIALITY SEEMS TO BE ESSENTIAL FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO CULTIVATE THIS ART.

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DRESS AS AN INDEX TO CHARACTER

IT IS SAID THAT WE CAN JUDGE A CHARACTER OF A MAN FRO.M HIS DRESS. BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS SO. DRESS CAN ONLY HELP US TO A CERTAIN EXTENT IN KNOWING  THE BROAD FACTS OF A MAN'S CHARACTER.A MAN WHO WEARS  A COSTLY DRESS IS NOT NECESSARILY  A MAN OF LAVISH HABITS. ON THE OTHER HAND, A MAN WHO WEARS TATTERED CLOTHES IS NOT NECESSARILY A MAN OF MISERLY HABITS. HE MAY BE DOING SO ONLY DUE TO HIS FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. YET IT IS TRUE , IN SOME CASES DRESS SERVES AS A USEFUL INDEX TO THE CHARACTER OF A MAN. SOME COMMON EXAMPLES FROM WHICH WE CAN GET GET SOME IDEA OF A MAN'S CHARACTER  FROM HIS DRESS ARE GIVEN BELOW-

WE DAILY COME ACROSS SUCH PERSONS AS PUT ON CLOTHES OF FAST COLORS .WE FIND THEM IN GAUDY COLORS. THEY WEAR THE BUSHSHIRTS  PRINTED  WITH THE FACES OF ACTORS AND ACTRESS. SO IS THE CASE WITH THEIR SHOES- SHOES WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNS . WE CAN EASILY KNOW THE CHARACTER OF SUCH  PEOPLE BY LOOKING AT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY DRESS. SUCH PEOPLE, IF WE ,CAREFULLY OBSERVE THEM,ARE VERY FOND OF SHOW AND OSTENTATION. THEY LACK THE MATURITY OF TASTE. THEY DO NOT HAVE SOBER HABITS. WE CAN KNOW THIS BY THEIR DRESS.

MANY PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY ARE GIVEN COSTLY AND DECENT CLOTHES , WILL MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE  SHABBY AND INEFFECTIVE. THEY WILL PUT ON THE COAT BUT NEVER BUTTON IT UP. THE LACES OF THEIR SHOES WILL REMAIN UNTIED. IF THEY USE THE TIE,THEY WILL NOT PUT THE KNOT PROPERLY .THEY NEVER BOTHER  WHETHER THEIR CLOTHES ARE PRESSED OR NOT. AS THESE PEOPLE ARE WITH THEIR CLOTHES,SO THEY ARE WITH THEIR HABITS. THEY BEHAVE CARELESSLY IN OTHER MATTERS ALSO. THEY ARE SLOVENLY  IN THEIR DRESS, LIVING ,READING AND OTHER WAYS ALSO..SO IN THIS WAY DRESS REFLECTS THEIR CHARACTER. BESIDES THIS ,WE FIND PEOPLE WEARING VERY SIMPLE CLOTHES- A WHITE KURTA, DHOTI,  AND A WHITE CAP ON THE HEAD  AN D SIMPLE SLIPPERS, BUT THEIR CLOTHES  ARE ALWAYS VERY NEAT AND CLEAN. SUCH PEOPLE SHOW THAT THEY ARE THE FOLLOWERS OF THE PRINCIPLE ,'SIMPLE LIVING AND HIGH THINKING'. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN OSTENTATION. MOSTLY SUCH PEOPLE  ARE INTELLECTUALS.

BROADLY SPEAKING THE DRESS OF A MAN HELPS US TO KNOW  HIS CHARACTER. BUT AT  THE SAME TIME , IT MAY ALSO BE ADDED THAT THE DRESS SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS THE SOLE INDEX TO THE CHARACTER  OF A MAN. MANY SAINTS AND SADHUS COMPLETELY NEGLECT THEIR DRESS,BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN  THAT THEY ARE VERY LOW EITHER IN THEIR  MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL STANDARD . ON THE OTHER HAND , THEY RAISE THEMSELVES SO HIGH FROM THE LEVEL OF SUCH WORLDLY CONSIDERATIONS THAT  DRESS BECOMES MEANINGLESS TO THEM.SO IN JUDGING THE CHARACTER OF A MAN DRESS CAN HELP US ONLY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT .IT CAN NEVER BE THE SOLE GUIDE .WE SHOULD ALSO TAKE OTHER FACTORS IN TO THE CONSIDERATIONS IN JUDGING A MAN.