Experience Of a Ghastly Storm

         On June 10, 1995 there was a terrible all over the Southern Districts of West Bengal. The storm blew from South-West and assumed the vehemence of a cyclone just after sundown. The sky had been cloudy since morning. The weather was gloomy and sultry. Towards the evening the wind gathered force and it became violently strong after sunset. There was a terrifying roar all around. Showers of rain and flashes and lightning accompanied the storm and added to it vehemence. Many mud-houses caused havoc to life and property. As I was walking across a meadow when the storm broke out, I escaped its fury unhurt. But I was aghast at the extent of destruction that was caused by the storm within such a short period of time. I thanked my stars for having escaped its fury!

Your Idea of an Ideal Teacher

            The character and personality of a young boy or girl is moulded not only by the influence of his or her parents or guardian at home, but also by the example set by the teachers with whom he or she comes daily into close contact at school. An ideal teacher not only imparts to his pupils knowledge for which he must have deep scholarship, he should also be a humble and unassuming person that true knowledge gives person humility. No teacher can deserve that name unless he has true love for his students. It is this love more than knowledge that forms the vital bond between the teacher and the taught. I may say without the least hesitation that our headmaster embodies all these features essential to the constitution of an ideal teacher. All the students of our school look up to him as their friend, philosopher and guide. They approach him not only for enlightenment on academic points; they also seek his wise and well-considered advice when faced with personal or domestic problems. It is sad to note that the breed of such noble teachers is fast becoming a thing of the past. Teaching is becoming just another profession, nothing more than a livelihood. Let us only hope that before it is too late, our teachers would become once more aware of their scared responsibility to the society and the society also accords to the teachers the respect and material security that they need and deserve to carry on with their task of turning out ideal citizens on whom the country would have to rely in future. 

Why should We Study Literature

             It is not easy to give any fixed definition of literature. But it may be suggested that any writing of fictional or non-fictional nature that deals with human life and has the power to engage the interest of all kinds of human beings can be called literature. Generally, books meant for specific subjects like chemistry, geography, political science or astronomy cannot be called literature because they do not have any universal appeal. But a novel by Bibhutibhusan, a poem by Tagore or an easy by Lamb is certainly a work of literature because it can arouse feelings that are universal. Literature can take many forms. It can be an epic like the Mahabharata, a novel like Pather Panchali, a poem like the ones in Rabindranath’s Geetanjali or a short story like O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi. Study of literature is both pleasurable and profitable, provided one reads selectively. Literature helps us pass time pleasurably with its good story, interesting characters and pictures of various places and cultures past and present. From great literary works we can gain profound insight into human nature as well as vital truths about different aspects of life. It is a pity that the habit of reading literature is on the decline among today’s youth. They spend more time watching TV and films than reading the classics of literature. They would rather see a film of Shakespeare’s Hamlet than read the play itself. But a film version of a literary classic, however well-made, cannot give the viewer the same depth of impression as the book itself can. But it appears that the young people today are more interested in building up a successful career than in enjoying literature or gathering wisdom from it. 

Night before The Examination

           The night before the History paper, which was an ordeal for me, stands vivid in my memory. Though I had finished my course and revised in time, yet a strange fear gripped my mind on the night of the last paper of History. I started feeling that I had lost the game. Forgetfulness started overtaking me. The vital task for recollecting all, what had been taught and learnt during the year, made me puzzled. All chronological data’s of historical events started slipping out of my mind one by one. I, however, picked up the courage and tried my best to grasp as many details as possible. It was an ordeal to revise the whole course in one night. And, by the time the dawn approached, I had everything at my tips. My face started glowing at the moment of going to take the examination.

An Accident I was Involved

         It was on the last day of the session for class VII. I was overjoyed, while returning from school, for I had topped the list of the successful students. When I came near the main bazaar, I started watching a prancing horse. Just then a scooter dashed against me. In trying to avoid the frightened horse, I was thrown head over heels in the air. I was grievously shocked and lay dazzled for ten minutes. Thanks God, The scooter was running at a low speed. When I regained consciousness and moved towards my house, the whole of my body was aching.

Aloo Dum

Ingredients:

Small potatoes - 500 gm,

Onions – 110 gm,

2 small tomatoes,

½ tea-spoon chilli powder,

1 tea-spoon turmeric powder,

¼ tea-spoon garam masala powder,

½ tea-spoon cumin seed,

2 red chilli,                               

1 tea-spoon sugar,

1 medium piece of ginger,

2 table-spoon oil,

Salt to taste,

450 ml. water

Preparation:

Cut tomato & mince onions.

Method:

Put potatoes in cooker body with water. Close lid. Place the cooker on heat. Bring it to full cooking pressure. Reduce to medium heat and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and open cooker immediately. Peel potatoes and cut into equal pieces. Heat oil in the pan. When it smokes then put 2 red chilli and ½ tea-spoon cumin seed. Add onion and fry till brown. Add turmeric, garam masala, chilli powder, sugar and potato pieces. Keep stirring for 6-8 minutes before tossing. Add tomato and 1 ½ cup water. Cook on medium heat till water is absorbed. Serve with fluffy puris.

CHICKEN CURRY

Ingredients:

Whole chicken (medium size) 225 gm,
Onions 200gm,
Tomatoes 110 gm.,
Curd 1 tablespoon
Chilly powder  ¼ teaspoon,
Turmeric Powder ½ teaspoon,
Coriander 110 gm,
Vanaspati,
Salt to taste,
2 cups of water.

Preparation: Cut chicken in to pieces, wash it. Grate onions and cut tomatoes. Grinder to a Paste ginger & garlic.

Method: Heat vanaspati in cooker body and fry onions till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste, tomatoes and curd. Fry it. Add chicken, chilly powder, turmeric, coriander cumin 7 salt. Add water. Close lid. Bring the cooker to full cooking pressure. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 7 min. allow cooker to cool gradually. Open it.