The Second Crucifixion - Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre

The director of A.I.R anticipated that terrible violence would erupt if Gandhi’s assassin turned out to be a Moslem. So he took the responsible decision of ordering the programmes to continue as normal. He announced the death of Gandhi by a Hindu assassin only at six o’clock, nearly 40 minutes after the event, when sufficient security arrangements had been made in all places.

On hearing the news of Gandhiji’s death, Louis Mountbatten rushed to Birla house where his body was kept. Mountbatten could not recognize Gandhi, with his spectacles removed. Gandhi’s look was full of repose and his features were as peaceful and composed as in life. He thought that Mahatma Gandhiji will be remembered in history on par with Buddha and Christ because he had sacrificed his life like them for the sake of mankind.

Mountbatten went up to Nehru and Patel and told them about Gandhiji’s dying wish. Gandhiji had been greatly worried that two of his supporter’s Patel and Nehru were drifting apart. Mountbatten informed Patel and Nehru that Gandhiji had asked him to prevail upon them to forget their differences and work together. Moved by this message, the two leaders embraced each other.

On hearing the news of Gandhiji’s death, the whole nation was filled with sorrow and silence. To mourn the Mahatma, the hearths in villages were cold. The streets of the cities of Bombay and Calcutta wore a deserted look. In Pakistan millions of women shattered their baubles and trinkets to show their grief. In some places mobs tried to attack the buildings of Hindu mahasabha and R.S.S villagers started marching towards Delhi to mourn the leader.

Mountbatten planned to carry Gandhiji’s embalmed body in a special funeral train throughout the country. So that millions of people could have a last darshan of their leader. But pyarelal Nayar ended the idea by pointing out that Gandhiji had clearly wanted his body to be cremated within twenty four hours of his death in accordance with Hindu tradition.

Mountbatten suggested engaging the military for organizing and conducting the funeral procession, as there would be a very huge crowd. Nehru and patel were shocked at thus suggestion as Gandhiji was always against war and violence which was the profession of the military. Mountbatten convinced them by saying that Gandhiji admired the military’s discipline and they finally selented .

Filled with tears Nehru announced the death of Gandhiji on the radio. He said that “THE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT OF OUR LIVES” as the Bapu is dead. But he corrected himself and said that the light will be always seen as it represented the eternal truths of life guiding us in the right path.

The most memorable tribute to Gandhiji was paid by the Hindustan herald .Its editorial page was left bank ringed by a black border. At its centre in bold letters there was a single paragraph which described the killing of Gandhiji as” A SECOND CRUCIFIXON” in the history the world enacted on the same day-Friday-on which Jesus was killed.

The India of My Dreams - Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) was the first woman prime minister of India. She was drawn into the freedom movement at an early age. She became the prime minister in 1966 and continued in that position until her death in 1984, except for the period (1977-1980). According to Indira Gandhi the environment issues like population explosion, poverty, ignorance, disease, environmental pollution and proliferation of nuclear weapons are independent systems forming vicious circle. Hence they cannot be tackled by isolation .the human environment is also a part of this system.

Women keep themselves isolated, unmindful of the vast changes taking place in the modern world shackled by pre-conceived nations; she is unaware of her political abilities. A lower status for women is a handicap for the growth of mankind. So she should strive for equality in all spheres. Conditioned by the male dominated society women judge themselves by the norms made by men and compare themselves with men. But Indira Gandhi does not want women to imitate men. But she wants both men and women get liberated from outdated thoughts and habits and strive to create a better society.

Women of lower economic levels and tribals enjoy more freedom and less inequality. It is the middle class women who are bound by rigid custom and social attitude. Indira Gandhi was surprised when she saw women of Manipur dealing with marketing and occupying themselves in civic duties. Our national movement vastly accelerated the emancipation of women. Thanks to leaders like Gandhiji and Nehru, a large number of women were drawn into the freedom struggle and they went to prison and actively participated in the organisational work. This induced men to join the movement in great numbers.

Right from boyhood discrimination is made between boys and girls, in the choice of colours, toys and in manners. This creates certain prejudges in the child’s mind, blocking his freewill. All girls did not go to school. Certain things were considered unsuitable for girls. Hence women in public life suffer from a feeling of inferiority. What is remarkable about India is that women of character who have been able to break through the barriers and prejudices have been accepted by the public without questions. Beside the visible subordinate role allotted to women, they were looked upon as a symbol of energy, the active principle.

How to Avoid an Argument – Sam Horn

The author in this essay gives three situations to avoid an argument. Once he went to an ice cream shop with his child and demanded for 3 liters of ice cream for which the girl in the shop said ‘Do you know how hard it is to scoop three liters?’ She wanted to question that girl but instead she understood the situation that it was too rush and she was the only girl to serve everybody. The girl felt comfort and relaxed by her words. So the author avoided the situation of an argument. The author gives three techniques in which we can avoid an argument and she calls them as ‘Tongue Fu’.
Handle hassles with humour:
The author once happens to see a tall young man walking in San Francisco Airport. People around him were laughing because his T-Shirt says ‘No I am not a Basket ball player’ and at the back it was ‘Are you a Jockey?’ The author chased him and asked for which the tall man said that he has a whole drawer full at home. The author was surprised to hear this. But the tall man said that one should not bother what others say about him and if he finds that they are making fun of him then to sometimes few catchy quotations or cartoons are put on to change the attitude of the people.
When people complain, don’t explain:
The author says there are situation where we come across complaints in that situation we should not start explaining otherwise it will lead to argument. Like when somebody is ringing to the office and complaining about the catalogue, instead of explaining about the delay its better say sorry and till them that you will get to them back soon. Another example is a man was waiting an appointment with the doctor at 3 o’clock. But when it was time he got angry and started shouting. But the receptionist replied him in a polite voice and convinced him.
Exit gracefully:
In a dinner table there was an argument about the highways. The father-in-law does not like and the son-in-law said it is good to have highways. The father-in-law does not like and he existed from the dinner table.
Another example, there was a talk going on between the author and his friends regarding the election and each one was favouring his own favourite party. When they asked the opinion of the author, the author didn’t say anything and came out of that place. Thus the author says one can avoid argument if he remembers these three steps in life because ‘A spoken word flies; you won’t catch it’. It is waste of time only. So we have to avoid fruitless arguments.

To Know When to Say, ‘It’s None of Your Business’ – Mark McCormack

The author in this essay gives few situation when can say ‘it’s none of your business’. One of his executive in the company has the habit of looking into others matters. One of his favorite plans was to ask a senior executive’s secretary about her boss’s whereabouts. He always wanted to pry into anyone’s affaires-subordinates colleagues, senior executives, even assistants on his staff but nobody dare to say him ‘it’s none of your business’. Only few people used to tell him.
The author says this executive collects all information about everyone. But still people hesitate to tell him ‘It’s none of your business’. According to author there are two topics for which ‘None of Your Business’ should always be one the top of one’s tongue:- someone else’s money and someone’s personal life.
In the matter of money paid for their house, or jewellery we cannot pry into their salary. One of the example is a literary clients called up his agent in New York office and told that they have negotiated the fee for this writer to write the text of an illustrated book. The writer also agreed for the fee given to him by the publisher but later he had a second thought and called up the office and started enquiring about the publisher’s salary. In one sense the writer wanted to know whether he is given fair salary or not but in other sense it look awkward that he is trying to pry into publishers salary.
One’s personal life another area which is nobody’s business but lot of people allow their professional and personal affairs to get blurred. In an office where the boss and subordinate work, they develop a healthy friendship and try to pry on personal things.
The author describes one incident related to personal life. Once he met the CEO of another company and his senior staffers. One day the boss snapped at his staff telling him that ‘May be you would have known more if you didn’t spend your evening on the phone to your girlfriend in Chicago’. The author says the CEO would have not used personal life in front of everybody and made the staff to feel insecure.

History of Chess – Barbara Mack

The Game of Chess talks about the way of life lived by the medieval period. The six different chess pieces represent a cross-section of medieval grandeur and wars. In the eighth century the Moors invaded Spain and brought the game of chess with them and Spanish started playing the chess. The Europeans gave the names to chess pieces and reflect the way of living.
The Pawns on the Chessboard represent serfs or laborers. They were considered as property of land owners. They worked hard and suffered and died young. They sacrificed to escape from harm the castle piece is the home, or the refuge, on Chessboard each side has two castles. The knight represents the professional soldier of medieval times. They have to protect persons of rank. They are of most importance than Pawns, but less important than Bishops etc. They have to protect important pieces.
The role of Bishop is represents the church. The church played a large part in every person’s life. There are two Bishop for each side and they rise to a powerful position. The Queen is the only woman in the Chessboard and most powerful piece. In the medieval times they were most powerful and even she guides the King also. The King is the tallest piece on the board and is defended on chessboard from every angle. If the King is surrendered then the game is over from the lowest to the highest rank officials tries to protect the King.
Thus a Chessboard not only represents the life of the people but also the rank of the people and how they are used by the higher officials.