The Election Day

   It was the Election Day. We were to elect a member to the municipal corporation from our ward. The week before the election was quite busy. There were six candidates contesting from our ward. Various political parties had carried on a brisk propaganda in favors of their candidates. Meetings had been held, canvassing for their own candidates. There had been some disturbances as well.

  All the leading political parties had used all possible means, fair and foul to capture votes. There had been door to door canvassing. Volunteers of different parties rushed about here and there. The young Turks from our locality, immature as they were, supported a regional party candidate who had a questionable reputation.

  It was a holiday. That day everybody appeared quite busy. Press reporters, police officials and polling agents moved about rapidly. A middle-aged man from our locality was an independent candidate. He requested me to sit in the voting hall as his agent. I agreed and sat there. It gave me a novel experience.

  Voting began at eight O’ clock sharp. There was long queue outside. Each voter got his name ticked in the electoral- roll. He took his ballot-paper, and went into the booth. He marked the paper, folded it and dropped it and dropped it into the ballot-box.

   Some volunteers outside tried to make disturbances, but the police managed to control them. As the closing time drew near, more and more voters came in. there was rush towards the close. The booths closed down at six o’ clock. The election was over, and the fate of the six candidates was locked in the ballot-boxes.

The Cinema

  The cinema is one of the greatest marvels of the modern age. In 1889, the American scientist, Thomas Alva Edison gave demonstration of the operation of his kinetic scope. This instrument showed moving pictures. Little did Edison know that his invention would evolve into one of the world’s greatest industries. In 1928, a new discovery was made. The technique of sound reproduction was found. The silent film was thus replaced by the talkie. Today we have technically 70 mm film and the panoramic screen, on which the most realistic effects can be created.

  The modern cinema has none of the limitations of the stage-play. The stage-play is stage–bound. The actors, scenes and scenic effects on the stage can never hope to go beyond certain natural limits. The cinema enjoys boundless freedom. The movie- camera can go anywhere and can shoot anything. So there is nothing which the silver-screen cannot show. Trick photography can present the most fantastic scenes and happenings. The present, the past, and the future, the nearest and the farthest, the smallest and biggest are all within the compass of the modern camera. We are shown the structure of an item, and also the conquest of space.

   Unlike the stage-play, cinema film can reach the farthest confines of the earth. Many copies of it can be taken out. It can be stored up and seen at any time, at any place and as often as one likes. Naturally it is the most popular form of entertainment. It has universal appeal as well. Who would not like to be in darkest Africa while sitting comfortably in a push–back chair in a spacious and palatial air-conditioned theater?  The pictures such as Walt Disney’s “The African lion “, “The jungle cat “and the Laurel and Hardy fun frolics have thrilled and delighted millions throughout the world . The educational value also, of good pictures, is no less. History, Geography, science, etc. can be best taught through special instrumental reels. The cartoon and the documentary play a very important role in education, for what is seen and heard, is not easily forgotten.

    But unfortunately, there is a tendency among the younger generation to be film– fans and picture–addicts. The cinema arouses their baser passions and leads them astray they are tempted to imitate the styles and fashions and vices they see on the screen. They sometime go to the extent of re-enacting screen crimes in real life. Many illicit romances, thefts and even murders have been traced to films. Habitual cinema going is harmful and wasteful thrashing. 

   The nerve–center of world film– industry is Hollywood. There , billions of dollars are spent for screen –creations.

Television - Its Merits And Demerits

   Television is the most wonderful and useful modern communications and entertainment media. It shows us on a small screen scenes and event and people far away from us. The radio merely makes us hear the things, but television makes us actually see them. Hence it has a greater impact on us. It was invented in 1922, by a Scotsman. Today we have TV sets which put us into contact with the world, both visual and auditory. TV pictures can be black-and- white or colored. We have TV centers at every district place.

    we can see a wide variety of programmes on it informative , instructive and entertaining. Advanced countries are employing television as the most effective and profitable channel of education.                                                                                   

   No doubt, TV has done much good,but even good has a taint of some evil in it. So TV has brought in its own troubles. That is the reason why it has come to be dubbed an idiot box. The implication is that majority of TV programmes are idiotic, that only idiots can enjoy them. Constant TV watching will turn even intelligent viewers into idiots. There is much truth in this statement.   

   TV programmes are intended to make the widest possible appeal; and hence most of the programmes shown on TV are below the level even of ordinary intelligence. The effect of such telecasts cannot be salutary in an intellectual way. Children sacrifice their priceless play-time to see the TV pictures. They strain their eyes, ears and necks. Their health suffers. Recent experiments have shown that TV watching can cause brain troubles. Young viewers cannot concentrate on their studies. Very often examination preparation is ignored in favors of the live telecast of a test match or an instant cricket.                             

     TV comes in the way of reading. Many TV addicts in the USA do not know how to read and write. Crime and horror scenes are frequent on TV. They are dangerous to young minds. Boys are often driven to act out what they have seen on TV. There are cases where looting, arson and stabbing have been perpetrated by youngsters after the fashion of TV transmission. Scientists have traced many physical, Mental and moral ills to. The variety entertainment shown everyday dulls our sense of wonder and beauty.                                                                         

    This idiot box will cease to be an idiot box if its programmes undergo an intellectual revolution. There should be few and intelligent programmes at certain fixed times. Then it will prove much profitable only.

Blood Donation - A Social Need

   The words ‘blood donation’ almost send shivers through spines. They make us think twice. This is because of the wrong notions. Many among us have two opinions about donating blood whenever needed. First, it makes the donor weaker in health, and secondly it brings in the HIV factor.

   But, the fact remains far from these rumors and misconceptions. Blood donation is worthy cause. It saves human lives. One also gets the proud opportunity of saving a precious life. It gives one an immense sense of pleasure from within. Blood is one of the most important things that keep a human being alive.

   The misconceptions and notations about blood donation are absolutely baseless. Neither does one lose his strength nor is it harmful. The fact is that one recovers the equal quantity of blood donated within just a couple of days. And above all, blood donation is useful to health.

   After donating blood, the donor is given a card mentioning his details. He is entitled to receive blood whenever he needs it. In big cities, this is a usual practice and it is necessary also. Blood donation provides one an opportunity to show fellow-feelings towards other human-beings. It also shows your awareness towards social obligation.

   We live in society. Therefore we must do our best to serve the people among whom we move. We must help people who are needy. Of all the donations, that of blood is the most important. One who donates blood is more helpful than one who donates money. Life is more important than money.

On Entering The 21st Century

    The 20th century is expired. As if to coincide approximately. We have just now completed the sixty six  year of our freedom. It is, therefore, meet and proper to indulge in, what they say, mental stock taking.

It was around the middle of this century that we earned our much coveted freedom. We owe it to the sacrifice of many known and unknown patriots. We can not afford to forget mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, who was an ardent advocate of truth and nonviolence.

   While we have achieved self government, our dream of converting it in good government has not yet materialized. As we stand on the brink of the transition period, it is worthwhile to go into the cause of our failures on many fronts. Unemployment and illiteracy, overpopulation and pollution, crime and corruption are rampant in every walk of life. Despite efforts, nothing has been done to thwart their rapid growth.

   As if these obstacles were not enough, communal clashes and political rivalries have created doubts about the stability of our democracy. Time has come when we must pause, ponder and procrastinate. In a democratic set up, all are equally responsible for what happens in the nation. As Dr.c. rajgopalachari rightly remarked, "The quality of ladoo depends on quality of atta". In other words, he reiterated the oft-quoted maxim" people get the government they deserve."

   Considering the vastness and gravity of the prevailing problems it is necessary for our leaders to rise to the occasion. They must set an imitable ideal for others. They must be honest and sincere, free from corruption and full of patriotism. Ad Chaucer said- "if gold rusts, what can iron do".

  Corruption and dishonesty must disappear from the higher level. It is then that the common people will be encourage to be honest.Let us resolve as the century is coming to a close, to uproot all that is evil.

   Let us resolve to be loyal to the people and the country.As Tennyson has said "Ring out the old, and ring in the new."