The Most Unfortunate Demand Ever Made By a Mother: Please Kill My Daughter.

Monday.It was 11.00 a.m It was the day for hearing grievances. There was a long queue in the Erode Collectorate. Jaya was standing in the queue for a few hours with a petition. She was visibly upset. At times tears rolled over her cheeks. At last at 02.00 p.m she could meet the collector and handed over her petition. When the District Collector went through her petition, he was shocked. ‘What? You want to kill your daughter by using euthanasia?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘Why?’ ‘My daughter is Madhumitha, a 14 year old girl; she is suffering from cerebral palsy. She can neither walk nor stand, but she can always sit in a wheel chair when I assist her or lie in a bed. She can neither speak nor hear, nor she can recognize me or you, but only thing she could do is crying silently. I could recognize her crying through the tears rolled down in her cheeks. I cannot see my daughter’s sufferings; I cannot see her any more in such a condition; I have already managed to keep her alive for over 14 years in the very same condition without any improvement. We have repeatedly tried to admit her in any one of the rehabilitation centers. But we failed. I cannot see her sufferings. I cannot see her crying. Please help me to kill her through Euthanasia.’ The District Collector felt sorry for her. ‘Of course, it is a most pathetic and pitiful case. But we are helpless and powerless. What we can do is consider your case most sympathetically and get your daughter admitted in any one of the cerebral palsy rehabilitation centers.’ ‘We have been unsuccessfully trying it for the past several years. Despite showing sympathy, they refused to admit her in their rehabilitation centers since my daughter could neither walk nor move .nor she could identify people. I mean she has no responses to stimuli. How long can she suffer. How long we as her parents see her sufferings? Please kill her through euthanasia…’ The District Collector again intervened, ‘Is she not getting any monetary assistance from the Government? ‘Of course, she is getting only Rs 1000/- which is hardly sufficient to meet her medical expenses alone. My hubby is a carpenter. I am only a house wife. In addition to mental torture, we cannot afford to spend more money for her. Above all we cannot see her crying without even knowing the reasons. Nor we can console her. Even if we make any attempt to stop her crying, she does not respond or recognize what we are trying to do for her. So we are helpless...Please help us.' ‘No, …law does not permit it. We can at the most try to admit her in a cerebral palsy rehabilitation center. Our hospital psychiatrist also feels so. Nor we can provide any additional monetary assistance. There is no rule. What to do? Jaya returned back to her home terribly disappointed only to see her daughter lying in a bed,tears rolling down her cheeks profusely. …… Euthanasia has always been a subject of controversy.Recently the Supreme Court of India dealt with a similar case wherein the petitioner demanded for a mercy killing of Aruna, once a famous dancer. After hearing the forceful arguments of the counsel for the petitioner, the Supreme Court finally yielded to pass a verdict suggesting passive euthanasia against such cases, besides laying down guidelines for applying passive euthanasia. By suggesting passive euthanasia, the Supreme Court of India meant to stop attending such patients and thereby allowing them a gradual and natural deterioration in their health leading to their death in the near future. Can Jaya apply passive Euthanasia to her daughter Madhumitha?Your views are most welcome.

Mischief-Monger

I was hardly ten years old. Only that year my father had admitted me into sixth standard in a rural school. I had to go to my school all the way by walk from my village. I had to walk three kilometers barefooted to reach my school from my village traversing agricultural fields walking through many narrow strips and then in a state highway. My family being an agricultural family had irregular income. Hence, my family could not afford to provide a pair of chappal for me. I had no other go but to bear with my family condition and so walk barefooted to my school. It was about 0430 p.m. The school was over. I was returning back from my school to home. Along with my few school mates, I was walking on the left side of the road. Some time I had sharp pain in my feet when I had to walk through small gravel stones on the road. Hence some times I had to pick and throw some of them away from my path but by not using my hands but by using my toes. I had to throw such tones at regular intervals. When I just finished throwing a small stone on the road, a passenger bus suddenly overtook us on the road. ‘Bang’ I heard a huge sound. A stone that I threw using my toes ricocheted on the road and hit the glass panel on the backside of the bus making a hole in the process. Of course, the small stone that I threw must have fell on a passenger inside the bus. After a few minutes, the bus that overtook us stopped and it was slowly coming back on the reverse gear. The bus stopped, when it reached us. ‘The bus conductor yelled: ‘’What the hell you are doing? Why did you throw a stone on the bus? You see .a passenger was hit by the stone on his shoulder. Luckily it did not hit him on his head. Many traveling passengers also climbed down from the bus and came to his rescue. ‘Who threw a stone on the bus? Tell me. Who did it?’ the conductor asked. For a while we looked at each other. It took some time for us to realize what actually happened. For fear of getting any corporal punishment I kept mum. The conductor again shouted, ‘Tell me who did this? If you don’t tell, I will get all of you and produce in the police station. Tell me .Who did this?’ For fear of getting punished for not doing anything, my friend showed his accusing finger at me. Immediately the bus conductor lifted me and threw into the bus. Then the bus proceeded. I was terribly weeping and repeatedly telling the conductor, ‘Sir, I did not do it wantonly. I just threw a stone away that pricked my palms of my feet. Please leave me. I must go back home. Otherwise, my parents will come to my school searching for me.’ Meanwhile, the bus approached the railway level crossing nearby our village. The bus stopped. A passenger got down from the bus. The bus conductor allowed me to get down from the bus with a severe warning, “If you repeat such mistakes, I will see that you are remanded in a jail.” I went to home weeping all the way. The story of my capture in the bus spread like a wild fire in the village. I was nicknamed ‘the mischief-monger’. Very soon I got a pair of chappal to go to school. But my nickname ‘the mischief-monger’ lasted longer for many years. Even today I cannot understand what mischief I committed on that day.

The Home

I was searching for my mother for the past two months. She left my home quarreling with me and my wife. I enquired about her whereabouts from my relatives but to no avail. But I knew that she was not a weakling to lose her life by committing suicide. Nor she had health or money either to travel by train or car to go to a far off place; nor did she have any close or even a distant relative to seek refuge under such circumstances. Hence, I was rather confident that she must be alive and was somewhere nearby in an unknown place.I did not have any other idea for searching her. My wife suggested that I might prefer a man-missing complaint in the police station and in a vernacular daily or any other media such as local cable TV channel or DD Pothigai channel etc.But I was afraid to make any such complaints for they might flare up the news among my relatives and friends and they might look down at me. Hence for fear of being rebuked or speaking ill of me by others I kept mum. Perhaps my ego played a crucial role in my passive attitude. But something was haunting me day by day ever since my mother was missing. After a month or so, my cousin called me over my mobile phone. ‘Mother had telephoned to my mom and dad. She is at a Home nearby Cuddalore.You can call her over phone’ and he gave me the phone number also. I heaved a big sigh of relief. I rang up the telephone number. Somebody else, perhaps a person in charge of the Home answered. I introduced myself and then enquired about my mother mentioning her name, age and complexion etc. ‘You mean Santha Ammal from Villupuram?’ ‘Exactly, How is she?’ ‘She is fine. But while joining Home she told us that she was an orphan.That’s why we admitted her.This is a Home meant for destitute, orphans and poorest among the poor. Then we cannot accommodate her. Take her back.You may have to pay for her stay here for the past two and half months.’ ‘Ok, Mam.’ ‘But your mother is hale and healthy. She is very helpful to us. In fact, she is very much interested in doing service here; she attends to the disabled people; consoles destitute; Despite her age, what is her age... you said 75, isn’t it? She is very helpful in maintaining this home. She helps in cooking too. Ok, when do you come?’ ‘Tomorrow, morning’ The next day I went to the Home in my scooter. The Home was situated at the top of a hill. My scooter refused to cooperate with me after some distance. I left it down the slope and walked about 500 meters. When I went to the Home, there was a studied silence. It was in a natural habitat.and the climate was so good. I also saw some natural fountains nearby the Home from which pure and fresh water was gushing out in plenty. I could not resist my temptation from drinking some water that was so cool and sweet. When I entered the Home it was about 11 a.m. But what I saw in the Home was simply heart breaking. Unhealthy, aged, physically challenged and destitute people, a few so thin children, but all of them were in rags. I looked for my mother. She was in the kitchen giving some instructions for the preparation of mid day meal. ‘Mom’ ‘ …’ Perhaps still her anger against me was fresh. I spoke with the person in charge of the Home. I paid the dues as demanded by her. When I tried to take back by mother, she responded as follows: ‘Ram, I am not coming with you. I do not have any grudges or ill will against you or your wife. I have already brought up my grand children and now they are grown up and well settled. They no longer need my help or support. But see these people. They always need help. So I want to stay here and spend the rest of my life meaningfully. I am really enjoying what I am doing here. I help all these hapless people and I have immense pleasure in doing this. You may even frown at me. But I don’t mind. But these people deserve our help, sympathy and support. I am going to just provide what they need in the rest of my life. I have already spoken to the management of the Home. They appreciate my gesture. You need not pay anything to the Home for my stay here. If you want to see me, you are always welcome’ Then my mother went inside the kitchen of the Home.I waited for some time. But her decision seemed to be final. I left the Home quietly with mixed feelings. I was in tears even after reaching my home at Villupuram. When I told my wife what happened at the Home, she frowned at me. I had no idea how to convince my wife but I really felt proud for my mother but I could not express it openly at my home.

An Uncanny Act of Peeping into the Privacy of the Celebrities

An Uncanny Act of Peeping into the Privacy of the Celebrities

Impact of the Information Technology on the Judiciary of India

Impact of the Information Technology on the Judiciary of India

Nuances of Drafting a Plaint

Nuances of Drafting a Plaint

Should the Indian Premiere League be Banned?

Should the Indian Premiere League be Banned?

Charity begets Charity.

It does not happen just like that. Charity begins at home. Then it spreads to the outer world. It has a common and social purpose. It has an object. It manifests itself through the collective actions of the human beings. But it needs persuasion, transformation of the mind, resolution and then action. But unmindful of the consequences of the action for which contributions are made through Charity, it goes on and on. Therefore the classic characteristic quality of Charity is that it is permanent as a quality and its abode is the human minds. What is required to bring out the quality of Charity is an indispensable situation, of course persuasion, a large heartedness and above all the resources for a person who wants to contribute to the cause of Charity. But sometimes the classic quality of Charity even emanates from a person who has no resources, but one cannot blame a human being in such a situation but to appreciate and applaud the efforts of the concerned person, who supports the cause of Charity in his own and known way. A recent manifestation of Charity from a rickshaw puller and his wife in Villivakkam, Chennai, is the classic example to show that Charity begets Charity. The rickshaw puller Daniel Thomas and his wife Selvi, living at the meager resources of Daniel Thomas. Having made Rs 1,000/- per month, he could not afford the cost of Rs 1.65 lakhs for his son’s heart surgery, who was suffering from a congenital heart disease. It was only Charity from the public that helped them in arranging for the surgery. Little Emmanuel was diagnosed with an anomaly in his heart when he was six months old. He never showed the growth that normal children of his age did. Even at the age of two, Emmanuel did not walk or talk and he was sick most of the time and had a severe wheezing problem since he was just a few months old. When most of the doctors consulted by Emmanuel’s parents had given up hope on him and discouraged Daniel and his wife Selvi from trying the complicated surgery on the kid. Finally, they found a doctor at the MIOT hospital, Chennai, who agreed to perform the surgery on Daniel, but told them that it would cost them Rs 1.65 lakhs.But the couple did not give up hope and approached several NGOs and Charity organizations for help.Soon the required amount was collected. Emmanuel underwent the surgery on April 1, 2008, at the MIOT hospitals. He passed away around 11.30 a.m on Monday, due to cardiac failure. As soon as the news of Emmanuel’s death spread, it was Mr.C.M.Munna,Chennai District organizer of the blood donor wing of the NGO Huiman Rights Organisation who had co-ordinated the eye donation with the C.U.Shah Eye Bank of the Shankara Nethralaya. When he approached Emmanuel’s parents seeking the donation of his eyes, they agreed immediately without any hesitation They wanted their son Emmanuel to be use of to society after his death and this would be the only way in which Emmanuel could thank all his sponsors.Thus Charity begets Charity.

Chellan, the Coir Worker.

Chellan, the Coir worker!

Chellan lives in our street, with no residence and no family. You would be interested in knowing how he will look like. He is short in stature, of course a dwarf, short, bulky but with strong hands; twisted legs, roughly aged about 35.The payola of his friend's house, is his permanent residence. He has his bath at the street tap, drinks his water at the street pipe and at times at his friend's house. What is he doing and what is his daily routine? He wakes up early at 0430 A.M He goes to a nearby tea stall and Order for a tea and sips it casually almost for quarter of an hour. Then exactly at 0500 A.M, Chellan starts his work at the coir making spot. His duty is to sit on a stone, nearby an iron wheel that helps in coir making and rotates the iron wheel as long as his employer wants it. Around 0800 A.M, it is time for break fast and Chellan finishes his iddly-sambar offered by his employer. Then he relaxes for a while with one or two beedis. Again goes for his work and goes on rotating the wheel never caring for its unpleasant sound, braving the scorching summer up to 0100 P.M Then he is disbursed from his work.That's all for the day. Chellan then goes to a nearby hotel; he has his lunch, either sambar rice or curd rice or a biriyani at an affordable price and pays for it out of his own pocket. Then heaves a big'eppam' indicating that he is stomachful. Then Chellan's destination is his payola. He lays there stretching out his legs and hands and falls asleep deeply, never caring for the grumblings of his friend's wife or he may not even hear them, because he is wont to hear the noisy sound of the iron wheel alone. Then around 0600 P.M he is forced to wake up with a number of abusive words heaped on him. Then in the twilight he wades through the street to a nearby slum to have one or two glasses of illicit liquor. Now he is not steady. One can now see him either quarreling with a person in a babble of tongue or crying in a coarse and loud voice beaten by somebody. At times he even lies on the roadside never caring for decency or knowing nothing about it. Somebody says that Chellan is a good for nothing fellow. But I sympathize with him. After all he ekes out his livelihood by doing a work and earning his income. One may not like his style of living. But he does not beg from others, despite of being handicapped, oh, I am sorry, being physically challenged. He works as he is capable of and earns his livelihood. He has got every right to live in this world. Why not?

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine’

‘A Stitch in Time Saves Nine’ is a very relevant and useful proverb in the present day context.

The world is smarting under the heavy oil price hike and an unprecedented food crisis. Even people of super powers like US have turned to frugal ways to bail out themselves from the present day crisis. Hence, the proverb is currently very relevant. The proverb connotes a very simple meaning, ‘we have to take immediate attention to solve a problem and thereby stave of many subsequent problems’. To put it in simple words, when a cloth, say a sari or a shirt or a pant or a dhoti is accidentally torn away, immediately it can be stitched and used and thereby avoid further damage to the cloth But most of us simply throw it away, stop wearing it subsequently. The people who are affluent may not like the idea of wearing the stitched cloth and even consider it with askance. But it is not the case with the majority of the people, who are considered middle class, living in the countries like India and China. Similarly if a costly shoe or a chappal is damaged slightly, people may not like to throw it away and be willing to mend them. However, they will try to get it mended rather in a polished way without causing any embarrassment to them. Thus we can see stitching a torn cloth or mending a damaged shoe or chappal will not only result in their durability get elongated but also result in the postponement of purchasing a new cloth or shoe or chappal. Thereby an additional spending of money in purchasing a new cloth or shoe or chappal is avoided or postponed. Thus the amount saved, may be used for some other newer projects or even for the purpose of charity. Thus the ‘have-nots’ are benefited from the amount saved. Viewed from another angle, the proverb has far reaching manifestations. We have got to be vigilant in our personal as well as in our public life and in our day to day activities. Take the case of rearing one’s children. We have to constantly watch their progress in their growth as well as their studies. If they reveal any significant symptom of change in their health or difficulty in studies, it is the duty of the parents immediately to attend them, by providing proper medical care and attention, thereby avoiding any major illness or set back in their studies. Similarly, the proverb has much to offer in the case of day to day administration of a government. Whether it be inflation or price rise, it is up to the government to take immediate remedial steps once it gets a feedback to that effect. The army has got to be ever vigilant in averting any threat from the enemy, even in the form a single incident of incursion or infiltration in the border. If the government or the army fails to react immediately, it may lead to far reaching consequences in the economy or in the defense of a country that may lead to a holocaust. Thus the proverb, ‘a Stitch in Time, Saves Nine’ is an eye-opener in the modern day context, prompting us to be more vigilant in our private as well as public life.In the case of a Government, the proverb is a stimulant, keeping the authorities concerned, who are at the helm of affairs, to be ever vigilant and resourceful.

Nuances of Short Story Writing: General considerations.

Nuances of Short Story Writing: General considerations.

Short stories are also written in a conversational style and tone to sustain the readers’ interest. Consider this example: Short story written in a conversational style:- The small boy was very late to the school. The teacher asked him, ‘why are you late?’ The small boy did not give any reply.The teacher became furious. She gave him a punishment. He was standing over an hour outside the class.Out of interest, he even peeped into the class room now and then.The teacher took pity on him. ‘Come inside the class. Now tell me why were you late ?’ The boy hesitated for a while. ‘I have only one shirt.That was so dirty.So I washed it for myself; It took sometime to get dried. Hence,I was late.’ The teacher was moved at the poverty of the boy. She felt sorry for him. ‘I am sorry my boy. I am sorry for punishing you.’ Hectic debate going on between the writers that short story should confine itself with the following characteristics:- 1)There is a specific format and style or no specific format or style for writing a short story. 2)There should be a word limit between 750 to 2500 in an ideal short story. 3) A short story should contain only a few characters. 4) A short story should contain a message in it and it should sustain the readers’ interest throughout. 5) A short story should contain a befitting or an unexpected end. 6) The usage of words in a short story should be very opt and economical. 7) No word written in a short story should be superfluous or redundant. However, there are classic short stories which do not fit in with any of the characteristics mentioned above; sometimes they contain a few and omit others. World famous writers like Chekav, Mapazan, Ernest Heming Way, Oscar Wilde and scores of Indian writers like Prem Chand,Tagore and R.K.Narayan who had written classic short stories did not follow any of the above mentioned characteristics and no one can deny the indelible impact created by their short stories. Chekav believed in the brevity of a short story. All other classical authors created mixed feelings in the minds of the readers. Many western magazines which call for submission of short stories prescribe a word limit of between 750 and 2500. In the Asian countries like India short stories have undergone a sea of change.Particularly in Tamil magazines, short stories are published mostly on a single page with the nomenclature ‘one page short stories’. However, some magazines giving due credit to the writers publish the entire short stories running into few pages.Tamil writers like, Jayakanthan, Akilon, Puthumaipithan,T.Janakiraman, Sujatha and others influenced by the western writers like Chekav, Hemingway and others have in fact produced master pieces in short stories. Short stories still have a good response from the magazines and they also enjoy a very good readership. Particularly in the western countries, short story writers are well paid over $ 500 for each published story, some times even more than $ 1,000.Even online, short story writers have got a very good scope. At Fan Story.com, they even conduct short story writing competitions with a novel idea of writing a short story with the beginning of a given line or idea. Daily Writing Prompt.com is another useful site When a writer enjoys a fairly good chance of earning a few thousand dollars per month by writing short stories, it is always good to concentrate on short story writing However, to be a successful short story writer, a writer has to necessarily follow these steps:- 1)You should be a voracious reader of classical short stories so as to evolve your own style in short story writing; 2) You should not confine yourself with your computer and the internet always.In order to have a wide knowledge and experience you should involve and participate in various social activities. 3)You should closely observe anything from a different angle and in your own perspective. 4) You should always keep your eyes and ears wide open whenever and wherever you go out. 5)Whenever you get any new idea or whenever you observe any new and different episode or phenomena that catch your attention, it is your duty to jot down them in your personal diary. Once you decided to become a short story writer, you have to equip yourself with the nuances of short story writing. Always believe in your ability as a short story writer. Then your goal is at a striking distance.

Nuances of Short Story Writing: Format

Nuances of Short Story Writing: Format

Telling or writing a short story is comparatively an easy task, involving less hard work, less imagination or creative talent than learning a novel.Learning the nuances of short story writing is also comparatively an easy task than learning the other genres of writing. Though short story writing belongs essentially to the fiction category, the theme or plot or knot for a short story need not necessarily be out and out from the imagination of a writer. Normally, the plots for the short stories are drawn from the real life experience of other people; sometimes, the writer may write a short story based on his own experience However, some short story writers also write beautiful short stories out of their imagination. Short Story may be defined as a narration made by the writer on the basis of a plot in his own style and language; it may be based on a single incident or incidents. The beauty and success of the short story actually lies in its novel approach, free flowing and attractive style; A short story which is based a plot and written skillfully, will sustain the interest of the reader, evoke his natural response and appreciation. Short stories are generally written on the social and economic background. However, short story writers write their short stories that cater to the needs of the children, women and the aged people. When the short stories are meant for children, they may be sometime on the world of fantasy or sometimes based on moral studies that teach them morals; Short stories written exclusively for women may deal with their marital problems, their relationship with their spouses, domestic violence, problems of dowry, their relationship with their children etc. Short stories also concentrate on the problems of aged people, especially when they are forsaken by their wards. In the modern world, short stories also reflect the different cultures that prevail in different parts of the world with particular reference to dating, love, adultery etc. Therefore, before writing a short story in an international magazine, the writer has to take into account the above mentioned social and economic aspects, apart from taking into account the targeted readers. Again, before writing and submitting a short story to a magazine, the writer has to strictly adhere to the editorial demands and guidelines. There is no any specific or prescribed format for writing a short story. However, generally there are a few accepted and widely followed formats for writing short stories. Short story can be narrated in the following formats:- 1.Short story written in the first person:- Short stories may be written in the first person. When the short story is written from the author’s point of view, it is usually in the first person account. Consider this example:- “I was terribly frightened at what I saw in the bath room and quickly made an exit. I could not stop trembling for at least 15 minutes. When my daughter asked me why I got frightened, I replied in a low voice, “I saw a snake hanging from the shower.” But my daughter was not afraid. She boldly and quickly entered into the bath room and locked herself inside the bathroom. I was wondering why she did not scream at all. After a few minutes, having finished her bath she came out of the bathroom so casually. She also had a snake in her hand but laughing heartily. “Dad, you take at least half an hour to have your bath; but I am in a hurry ; I have to attend a special class. Therefore I had to finish my bath first. Have you got scarred too much?” she kept smiling. Now I understood that the snake was a rubber piece, a ploy employed by my daughter to prevent me from taking my bath first. 2.Short story written in the third person:- When the writer writes a short story in the second person or third person account, it is called narrative style.The writer actually narrates the story of a third party. Consider this example:- “Ram checked his pocket. There was a Rs 20 note peeping out of his pocket. He managed to steal it from his father’s pocket. He had been standing in front of a cinema theatre in a long queue since 0500 a.m, to witness the movie of his favorite star. It was 1000 a.m..The bell rang up indicating the sale of tickets in the counter. A tension developed in the queue. He was jam packed and perspiring; he was moving ahead in the queue inch by inch. The ticket counter was only some ten feet away. There were only two persons ahead of him. Now his turn came up. When he saw the ticket counter at a striking distance, he heaved a sigh of relief and hoped to witness the movie of his favorite star in a few minutes. But to his utter shock the ticket counter was closed with the ‘house full’ board. His disappointment knew no bounds.”

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed.

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed.

A friend is a person who is very close to your heart; your close friend is even referred to as your bosom friend. Initially, he or she, having hailed from a family other than yours, is a third party and a total stranger to you. Your familiarity with him or her gradually develops into a friendship. The familiarity might have developed from your childhood days, just because he or she was your school mate; from your adulthood, when he or she was your college mate, he or she might have been a co-worker or a colleague, when you joined a company or an office for your employment. Thus familiarity is the key that plays a vital role in the origin and development of friendship. Sometimes, a friendship may develop out of a casual introduction when you go to a temple or church or when you attend a social gathering or function; sometimes, you may come across unknown people who offer to help you and admit you in a hospital when you meet with an accident; such people linger in your memory;you continue your relationship with them that develops into a friendship. You may be having a number of friends, who may accompany you to witness a movie, to drink with you in a popular bar or even dance with you in a night club. They all simply enjoy the life with you. Hence, it is not a parameter or yardstick to find out the true friendship. Here comes this proverb in handy. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The Tamil classic Thirukkural written by Thiruvalluvar aptly describes the true friendship in a chapter titled ‘friendship’ as follows: If you get undressed suddenly, your hands will come to your rescue instantaneously to prevent you from getting humiliated or embarrassed; likewise, a friend should come to your rescue when you are in extreme hardship or adverse circumstances. That is the essence of friendship. That is true friendship. Similarly you may be suffering from any one of the adverse circumstances as follows:- You may be in need of funds to admit your ward in a college or you may have to undergo an emergent heart surgery or you may have to redeem your house that was attached in the court proceedings for your debts, failing which you and your family will be literally in the street. After making your own efforts to mobilize the required funds, if you feel that you are still short of funds, you have no other go but to necessarily approach your friends for mobilizing funds; now it is the acid test for your friends and their friendship. If they are true friends and cherish and value your friendship, they will come to your rescue or else they will simply forsake you on the one pretext or other. Thus, if your friend comes forward to help you in case of your need and exigency, he is a true friend; Therefore, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Oscar Wilde’s ‘Selfish Giant’

Oscar Wilde’s ‘Selfish Giant’

‘Selfish Giant’ is one of the short stories beautifully written by Oscar Wilde.By reading this short story you will instantly enter into a beautiful garden and live their during winter and spring seasons. You cannot but admire and applaud when he describes the winter season as ‘spring asleep’ insinuatingly. This short review is only to drive you towards the original. The moment you enter the garden you are astonished with the scenic beauty of it.There are oak trees blossom with beautiful and colorful flowers in the spring season and birds sing merrily. Children play in the garden by climbing on the trees and enjoying the birds singing. The garden belongs to ‘The Selfish Giant’. He has been away for some time.When the Giant returns to his garden the trouble brews. On entering his garden, the ‘Selfish Giant’ sees that the children are playing and enjoying in his garden. He asks the Children in a high commanding tone, ‘what are you doing here?’ Feeling terrific and frightened at his voice, the children run away from the garden.. ‘Selfish Giant’ also sets up a sign board with the words: ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’. Hence, thereafter, the children do not come to play in the garden for fear of facing‘Selfish Giant’. Thereafter, winter (described by Oscar Wilde as ‘spring fast asleep’) comes to the garden and the season lasts longer. Beyond the compound of the garden, the season changes into spring, but in the ‘Giant’s garden’ it is winter. The ‘Selfish Giant’ is even worried to see that the winter season lasts longer in his garden alone with frost lingering on. Suddenly, he is pleased to see a small boy standing inside his garden under a tree.He is too small to climb up a tree.The Giant runs towards the boy lifts him up on a tree.Pleased with the Giant’s act, the small boy even kisses him.Giant is also pleased very much to see that the tree in which the boy stands is abound with blossoming flowers.Spring has returned to this tree alone.The Giant also notes that when some other small boys trickle into his garden through a hole in the compound wall, spring season returns to the garden and birds begin to sing. Now the ‘Selfish Giant’ realizes that where the real happiness lies. He dismantles the compound wall and allows the children freely into his garden.Once again the feeling of joy and spring season is restored to his garden. But to his dismay and shock, he finds that the tiny tot from whom he received a kiss is not seen and whose whereabouts are also not known. In fact the ‘Selfish Giant ‘ is longing for the arrival of the small boy. Years roll by. The ‘Selfish Giant’ becomes old and fragile and is leaning in a chair. One day, all of a sudden, he sees that the small boy is standing under a tree in a corner of his garden.The Giant runs towards him.He sees that the small boy has nail marks in his hands and legs. He tells the Giant that he has come to his garden just because he allowed a small boy into his garden.The ‘Selfish Giant’ is struck with awe and wonder ; unknowingly he kneels down before him. The next day, the children who have come to play in the garden see that the ‘Selfish Giant’ lay dead in the garden under a tree and is covered with full of white flowers. In the above story, you can see the mastery of Oscar Wilde’s story narrating skills and turn your mood according to the season.When you are inside the Giant’s garden you can feel the spring season when the children are playing and when they are driven away, you will enter into the winter season and you can even feel the shivering with cold.When the “Selfish Giant’ meets the small boy and kneels down before Him, you are filled with a sense of reverence and mysticism. And above all you feel that young children are really children of God and you should be liberal with them.When the ‘Selfish Giant’ lays dead in his garden, you have a feeling of sympathy for him.Hence, by all means, the story is really a classic in the real sense of the word. As a true lover of a classic short story by Oscar Wilde, you may even feel sorry for him for all the sufferings that he underwent in his personal life, though they might be of his own making. But no one can deny that his short story ‘Selfish Giant’ has all the elements of a classicism in it.

Ruminations of a Cow

The Ruminations of a Cow!

It is early morning. I have been ruminating what I had eaten yesterday. A combination of a haystock, rice cake, green grass and the fodder provided by my master.Don’t frown at me. I am destined to eat as quickly as possible and ruminate so leisurely hours together thereafter.Whether you like it or not, my digestive system has been designed and created in such a way that I have to necessarily ruminate lest my digestion will not be complete. What to do? Now I ruminate about the ill treatment meted out to me and my three months old calf ever since we came here two months ago. My master purchased me and my one month old calf at Pollachi two months ago for a hefty sum from my previous master. My life had not been a rosy picture with my previous master nor it has been with my present master. Before purchasing me, my present master examined me in so many ways; checked my teeth for my age; milked me on the spot in the cattle market to ascertain my utility; talked with my previous master through a third party what they called as a middleman. It was he who fixed a price on my head as well as for my calf. You believe it or not, having purchased us from my former master, we had to walk all the way for hours together from Pollachi to my present shelter. Ever since, I came here, my master’s wife and her daughter are so happy and they even adore me just like God. In fact she has a soft corner for me and my calf, helping us to have a bath at least once in a week; treating and respecting us with reverence. But, my master has no such reverence for us. He is rather hell bent in extracting as much milk as possible from me and encashing it. Despite gifting away all my milk leaving only very little to my three months old calf, still I am not given a befitting treatment to what we are due; not provided with a shelter that is free from harmful insects and mosquitoes. I and my calf could not sleep properly during night. While a bulk portion of my blood is converted and milked by my master, a small portion of my blood and that of my calf is sucked by these cruel mosquitoes.We feel terribly painful as these mosquitoes bite and suck our blood. Who cares for us and mitigate our sufferings? Though I have a shelter, it is only thatched and open. Since we are thick skinned we somewhat manage ourselves from the cold or hot wind and unhealthy climate.We have to be in the midst of an unsanitary condition, like the stench of our own urine and cow dung and they are cleaned only once in the early morning by our master’s wife.We are really greatful to her. Ever since I gave birth to my calf, a question has been constantly haunting me.If human beings, I mean mothers are very particular in mother-feeding their children, say for a period of 6 months or one year, am I not entitled to the same privilege and right? You human beings crave for human rights, talk of human rights violation when somebody else violate your rights.Am I not entitled to the legitimate rights of an animal? I should be permitted to mother feed my cow, say, at least for a period of six months without any disturbance from you. I wish to see that my calf properly nourished and grow in a healthy way. Therefore, I wish that a moratorium should be imposed against the human beings at least for a period of six months from milking us immediately after giving birth to a calf and allow us to mother feed our calves without any disturbance whatsoever. In fact I am not asking for any favor from you, but I want only to safeguard my legitimate wish and right that I already have. I hope that my wish will be fulfilled at least when my calf grows into a full-fledged cow. Until then I will continue to ruminate. Who can prevent me?