I.B.Tech I-Sem Prose Essays

IN LONDON

- Mohandas Karamchnd Gandhi  

Mohandas Karamchnd Gandhi, architect of India’s freedom through a non-violent revolution. He opted against racial discrimination in South Africa. He was actively involved in many Movements, Satyagrahas as a form of Civil Disobedience against Colonial rule. A champion of truth and non-violence, he has been hailed as the ‘Father of Nation’ and as the ‘Mahatma’. ‘In London’ is an extract from Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography “My Experiments with Truth”. It gives an insight into the mind of young Gandhi who by constant introspection gained maturity within a short time as student in London.
Gandhiji decided to cultivate the accomplishments which fitted one for polite society. For the purpose, he wanted to become an English gentleman. He thought that the Bombay clothes were unsuitable for the English society. He bought a chimney-hat and suit and learnt the art of tying to make himself comfortable in polished society. He tried his best physically to look better, but his efforts were not enough to look him English gentleman.
Gandhiji directed his attention towards the other necessary details for the making of an English gentleman. He decided to take lessons in dancing, French and elocution. As it was beyond his ability to achieve comfort in these activities, he had withdrawn from it. He was simply convinced that he would not spend a life time in England. As it could fetch no profit he realized what he could do as a student qualifies himself to join the Inns of Court.
Gandhiji became more vigilant on his part. He kept account of every farthing he spent and his expenses were carefully calculated so that he had succeeded having a surplus balance at the end. That habit has stayed with him ever since, and he was sure to be a gainer in the end. In this process, he identified necessities, comforts and luxuries. He rented a modest room. He cultivated the habit of long walks that kept him healthy throughout his stay in England.
Gandhiji undertook a great deal of labour to get through London Matriculation Examination. He failed in his first attempt as it was quite difficult for him to digest Latin and Modern Languages. He opted simple living and intensive study, which saved him much time and he passed the examination. That kind of living was not a dreary affair to him. It harmonized his inward and outward life. He was very happy that his life was certainly more truthful.
Q. Summarize Gandhi’s experiences as a student in London.
Q. Describe in your own word the efforts made by Gandhi to transform himself into an English gentleman.

PECUNIARY INDEPENDENCE

-          P.T. Barnum

P.T. Barnum was an American showman. He is best known as the founder and proprietor of the famous circus “The Greatest Show on Earth”. The present essay, ‘Pecuniary Independence’, is an extract from his autobiography in which Barnum draws attention to the major preoccupations and problems that worries modern men and women. He also provides an excellent advice to mitigate the stress and strain of day to day living.

According to Barnum, pecuniary independence can be achieved through ‘rational saving’ than ‘irrational spending’. True economy means, a man’s income has to be more than his expenditure. There are many ways to make the income exceed the out go. He suggests that one has to wear old clothes a little longer, adjust with old pair of gloves and repair the old dress and wear it. He must live on plain food. He must also invest a penny here and a dollar there which he could make use of it in difficult times. It requires some training.

Barnum makes the most important point that if the expenditure is less than the income of any individual, he/she would have no financial worries at all. He recommends an excellent cure for heavy spending money. If a person has no surplus money at the end of the year, and yet has a good income, has to account every item of expenditure. He has to mark it down in two columns, ‘necessaries’ and ‘comforts’. Then, he realizes the real comforts of life cost him less. According to Dr. Franklin, it is the eyes of others but not our own eyes that ruin our life.

In America many persons say that they are all free and equal, but this is not true. They are not all born equally rich and they can never be. One must not take trouble to prove that he is as rich as the others. He should never deceive anybody to keep up ‘appearances’. People who are after false-standard of perfection will become poor. The greatest secret to real happiness is that one should realize that they are all ‘born-equal’ but their ‘bank-balance’ are not equal.

People ought to be sensible in money matters. Women, in particular, should stay away from vanity and envy which will provoke them into spending lavishly to keep up ‘appearances’. Therefore, one must regulate one’s expenditure in accordance with his means and deeds. 

"A penny saved is a penny earned." - Benjamin Franklin

THE DRUNKARD

-          William H. Smith

William H. Smith was an English writer. He was an actor at the Boston Museum. He acted in several Shakespearean dramas. He became popular for the role, ‘Edward Middleton’, he played in the play “The Drunkard”.

“The Drunkard” is an excerpt from the play ‘The Drunkard’. It is a moral drama. It is a conversation between a successful lawyer Cribbs and Edward Middleton. Edward Middleton is an irresponsible and wayward drunkard rejected by the family as well as society. One day he happens to meet the lawyer Cribbs. The lawyer makes an offer to Edward Middleton. His offer would make him a rich and socially acceptable person. But Edward Middleton refuses the tempting offer because he does not want to compromise on his moral principles.

Mary is the wife of Edward Middleton. They have one beautiful daughter. Mary is as merry as cricket and her little girl is blooming like a rose since Edward Middleton has left the house. She pities him. She occasionally thinks of him. She will be glad to see him again as a respectable member of the society. Lawyer Cribbs refers to her words with Edward Middleton to lure him to do the painful job. Lawyer Cribbs is not truthful when he seems to hide the truth about Edward Middleton’s wife that she is very glad to see him as a respectable gentleman in the society.

Lawyer Cribbs advises that Edward Middleton can revenge the world which has looked down upon him. Edward Middleton is an irresponsible drunkard. He is very angry when the lawyer makes him an offer to forgery the signature of Arden Rencelaw. Arden Rencelaw is a princely merchant, the noble philanthropist, the poor man’s friend, the orphan’s benefactor. Hence, Edward Middleton has a great respect for him. He feels that it is a sin to accept the offer. Though, Edward Middleton is a drunkard, he has nobility. It would be better for him to die by drinking than to accept his base bribe and miscalled charity. He is against the notion of “buying” respectability by selling his “soul”.

Though the selection is a short conversation, it leaves a strong impression on the reader about the value of morality. One must have ethics in life in this greedy world. Good always wins over bad. The play is an eye-opener to all those Shylocks in the society.

THREE DAYS TO SEE

 - Helen Keller

  Helen Keller was a pioneering advocate for the rights of the handicapped. She was deaf, dumb and blind. Mrs. Anne Sullivan Macy became her teacher and helped Keller emerge from darkness and isolation into the world around her. In “Three Days to See”, Helen Keller made a list of fascination things that she could really see, perceive and assimilate from the wonderful world around her, if she were gifted with the eye-sight for just three days. She said that it would be excellent if each day of our life were the last day. People would take life for granted and they seldom make the fullest use of their blessed faculties and senses.

             On the first day of her sight Keller wanted to see her dear teacher Mrs. Anne Sullivan Macy. Later, she would call her dear friends and look into their pretty faces. She would let her eyes to rest on the face of a newly born baby. She would also view the small simple things of her home, the pictures on the wall, the books she had read. She would like to take a long walk in the woods. She would feast her eyes with nature’s beauty. She would see the glory of a colorful sunset. At night, she would not retire to bed as her mind would be full of the memories of the day.

             On the second day she would like to visit New York Museum of Natural History. She would see the history of the earth. She would see the pictures of men and animals and the implements which man has used to fashion for himself a secure home on this planet. She would also visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the myriad facets of human spirit. She would try to probe into the soul of man through his art. In the evening, she would go to a theatre to see the figures of Hamlet, Falstaff and others. She wanted to see many plays, but she could see only one play one evening. At night, she would cherish the great figures o f dramatic literature.

             The third day was the last day of sight for Keller. She would start from her house in the morning watching the beauties of the green pastures. Later, she would go to the river and the beautiful things of a man there. She would see the big towers of New York. She would stand at the busy cross corner looking at the people. She was happy seeing the smiling faces and she was very compassionate seeing the suffering.

             The essay is powerful and thought-provoking. It is the author’s tribute to man and nature. It makes one realize how insensitive human beings are to their senses and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.