Honesty and Truth

Honesty is the quality of being fair and upright, the practice of adhering to the truth in thought, word and deed. it is thus a quality of character, a virtue, a matter of practice, a habit. When we are fair in our dealings, true to our words, truthful in our expression and just in our actions, we are described as honest. Honesty has always been recognized as one of the basic virtues - one of the pillars on which the structure of human society must rest for without it mutual trust is impossible.

When we think rightly, follow moral commands, obey the voice of conscience, rive at correct judgments and reflect impartially, we are honest in our thought. What we say and what we do depends on what we think. If our thinking is crooked and premises are false, they will, inevitably, lead to faulty and distorted views. If modern civilization finds itself on the brink of a precipice, the causes are not far to seek. We refuse to reveal or acknowledgment our true intentions. Selfish motives and calculated greed shape our ideas and become the main cause of our discontentment. If we are honest in our thinking in all walks of life the world would be a much happier place to live in.

Indisipline in our educational institutions

Discipline implies maintenance of order a group through mental and moral training in obedience and self-control. It is the key to the orderly life of an individual, a group, a community and a nation. No society can survive and no nation can protect its independence, i fit fails to instill the values of discipline among its members.

The causes of indiscipline in our educational institutions are various and varied. They have a background. After the partition of India there was a universal reversal of values.They were challenged and scoffed at. The independence brought with it new opportunities - evacuee properties, import licences, sanctions for establishing new factories, etc - for grabbing and earning, by fair means or foul, money and accumulating wealth. This new scenario transformed the society and its values overnight. Contentment gave place to greed and avarice. Men lost all sense of grace, finesse and decorum. Te spirit of fellow-felling, accomodation and self-sacrifice was forgotten. Selfishness and self-interest became the order of hte day.

The United Nations

During the last two hundred years or so the world has seen a rapid increase in the spirit of internationalism. Though the national outlook has not wanted much, but it is gradually being qualified by international outlook. The fast means of transport and communication, radio, television, books, magazines and newspapers, have all helped in creating and sustaining this outlook.

Also, the large-scale devastation caused by the continental and World Wars has made man yearn for peace and helped him to grow out of narrow national grooves. This international outlook and desire for peace expressed themselves in the formation of international peace sustaining organizations. The Congress of Vienna grew out of the Napoleonic wars,the league of nations from the havoc of the World War 1 and the United Nations out of ruins of World War 2.

The United Nations has its headquarters in New York City. It is the direct descendant of the league of Nations and resulted from the deliberations between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at Dumbarton Oaks, an estate near Washington D.C. It was formally set up in a Conference of fifty countries at San Francesco in 1945 and it began to operate in January, 1946.

Narcotics

One of the most dangerous things which has already the lives of millions of young men all over the world is narcotics. The word narcotics is used for a number of drugs, which it is presumed, make people feel better, albeit temporarily, whereas the reality is quite the reverse. The naked fact is that these drugs, unless, of course, they are taken under a qualified doctor's advice and care, are extremely harmful. That is why almost all governments have declared them illegal. Narcotics are habit forming and one who uses them is known as an addict. He becomes so much dependent on the drug that he will not desist from committing a crime , even a felony, if he cannot get it otherwise.

Narcotics have been given different names in different countries indeed a whole new vocabulary has sprung up, especially in America. The more popular names, which are used for them are "dope" and "drugs". Strictly speaking a narcotics is a drug that produces narcotics a state of numbness, "in which a person loses most or all of his power of feeling and may lose consciousness." He falls into such a deep sleep that he cannot be awakened unless the effects of the drug have evaporated. But there are certain other drugs, they produce quite the contrary effect. A person who uses them cannot sleep, he becomes "more wide awake than ever." These drugs are also called narcotics.

The narcotics pose a big problem for the society. They are now considered an illness. Almost like every other illness, they are curable Arrangements for their treatment have been made in many hospitals of the world. Their victims can be cured in four to six months and they can again lead a normal life provided they keep themselves away from these dangerous drugs.

Science and Technologies

The fruits of science in the shape of technology, inventions and discoveries have fast transformed our way of life. One of the foremost symbols of the march of science is the machine. The twentieth century is indeed a world of machines. More machines have perhaps been invented in the last fifty years than in the entire course of recorded history. They are all around us and help us in a thousand different ways. There is hardly an area which is free from their presence.

  Science has placed at our disposal hundreds of time and labor savings devices. In these days when servants are scare, it has really proved a boon for the working women in particular and the housewife in general. Science cleans the room, washes the clothes, bakes the bread, preserves the eatables, kneads the flour and even washes the dishes. In the office, the work of a hundred men is disposed do by a handful of machines thus saving both time and money. The electric typewriters, the Dictaphone, the intercom, the calculator and the computer perform their tasks with speed, accuracy and neatness.