“Examinations”—This is a word that causes sleepless nights, a word can change a cheerful person into a nervous wreck. So, what are examinations, and how can they be any good?An examination can be defined as a detailed inspection or analysis of an object or person. For example, an engineer will examine a structure, like a […]
There was a huge three-acre pond just a few kilometers from where we stayed. Since moving into our new home in the countryside, my brother, Jim and I used to often sneak out to the pond where we would meet another friend. Dad had warned us not to venture anywhere near the pond area, especially
The rise in criminal activities has always been a matter of grave concern among Asians. Gone are the good old days when we could roam the streets freely and safely without fear of being robbed, assaulted, kidnapped, raped or even murdered. There have been comments that the authorities have not done enough to fight crime.
I have always been interested in various cultures especially those completely alien to us. Thus, imagine my delight when my father told me that he was taking us on a holiday to Bangkok and from there to visit a remote tribe that lives about 200 kilometers north of the capital city. My father explained the
It is a popular belief that it is great to be young. My parents keep reminding me that this is the best time of my life. They urge me to enjoy what they describe as my ‘carefree’ days. I can think of several reasons why people think this is the best time of our lives.To
We learnt that our class teacher, Mr. Singh, was about to be transferred to another school in a week. All the pupils adored Mr. Singh as he was a very good and dedicated teacher. He never shouted at us and was very patient with the slower pupils.Our class decided to hold a farewell party for
Father is in the army. He had been away for months in Bosnia-Herzegovina on a mission. All of us missed him terribly. Finally, we heard that he was coming home. We planned a special welcome for him.The special day was a Saturday. We got up early to help with the preparations. Each of us was
Before townships and cities developed, people lived in villages in the countryside. Facilities are, no doubt, better in cities, but city life has become associated with stress, crime and pollution.Life in the city is very hectic. Traffic congestion is a perpetual problem. At work, fierce competition, deadlines and meetings await the city dweller. Always in
My cousin Manish , the only child, is a healthy, good-natured teenager who works at a supermarket in our neighbourhood. He gets along well with the other employees and his boss calls him his star’ worker. When Manish was one and a half years old, he was diagnosed with a mental disability. His parents, shocked
There are people who believe in ghosts and there are people who don’t. I myself was a skeptic a few years ago. All that changed when I had a paranormal experience one fateful Sunday just a year ago.I had gone to Chennai with my three friends, Ali, Alex and Abhishek, during the school holidays. We
Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to be an actor. No, I do not want to go to Hollywood and act in films. My desire is to act on the stage. I think that one must have real talent to act on the stage. Being a stage actor is also more rewarding
Pests and insects like houseflies, ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches and lizards are a nuisance to health and comfort in the home. Though many people use generous amounts of insecticides in its many forms—sprays, coils, nets, etc—it seems that it has little or no effect on these creatures. The only way to ensure that our homes are
One evening, Father came home after work, walked to the TV set and switched it off. As we started to protest, he said angrily, `We hardly talk to one another these days. Everyone is glued to the TV! What is happening to our family?’We did not dare argue with Father. He announced that watching TV
The environment is the surroundings and conditions one is brought up in. Does nurturing an individual in the “correct” surroundings produce a “superior” human being?Let us examine the evidence. I am going to use myself as the “guinea pig”, the subject of the “test”.The first evidence to my advantage is my home environment. I was
During the school holidays, my friend’s sister asked me to baby-sit her four-year-old son one Saturday night. I agreed, thinking it would be an easy way to earn some extra pocket money. When I arrived at the house, I was introduced to the child, Kris.After the parents had left, I asked Kris what he would