Eshala

              Habits

           Anything that is done repeatedly becomes a habit. All of us have habits. Once we get into a particular habit, we do it without thinking about it. Habits can be good and bad. Rising early, punctuality, working hard, cleanliness are good habits. Lying, using bad language, stealing are bad habits. It is important to cultivate good habits and avoid the bad ones. Habits might be weak at first, but,

once they become strong, they are difficult to break. Thus, it's important to inculcate good habits as they stay with us through our life. Everyone respects a man who has good habits. Habits make a man; therefore a habit can make you or break you. Good habits such as time management, hard work, sincerity can make a person successful and the best in his chosen field. On the other hand, bad habits such as drinking, lying and stealing can destroy a person's life. A person with bad habits is despised and mocked at. Childhood is the right time to instill good habits. If a child grows up with bad habits, no one can make him unlearn them in the long run. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parents to see that the child develops good habits. Habits help make our personality. A man can be successful only if he has good habits.

 The Autobiography of a River 

नदीचे आत्मवृत्त

 I am a broad and mighty river. My home is in the snow-capped mountains of the north. I was born from a glacier and thus, began my flow down the mountain side. The snowy peak is my father. He cradles me in his arms where I am joined by small rivulets and together we take the form of the mighty river that I am. I start my journey over the - plains. The goal of my journey is always the same - to merge into the mighty ocean. I flow over the plains, passing through many cities and villages. I am a witness to the lives of these people. I know everything that goes on in the places through which I flow. I am a silent witness- I see but I do not speak. I make the plains fertile and provide water to the people. A dam was built across me. My stomach swelled behind this dam and my water was used for irrigating the dry land and to provide electricity: In the rainy season I am swollen and turbulent. I sometimes overflow on my banks. I am capable of causing destruction as I often cause floods during the monsoon. The crops, houses, cattle are destroyed and the farmers face great loss. Many people lose their lives. No one can deny the fact that I am very useful to man. My waters are used for irrigation, drinking, providing electricity, washing, in factories. Grass and wild flowers spring up on my banks. In the evenings people sit on my banks to enjoy the coolness. People also bathe in me and pray to their gods. Sometimes they come and worship me as well. My final destination is the sea. After crossing the plains I merge into the sea and become one with it forever.

  The Autobiography of a Tiger in a Zoo 

प्राणिसंग्रहालयातील वाघाचे आत्मवृत्त 

              I am a Royal Bengal Tiger, one of the most ferocious animals in the world. I have a long, graceful body and sharp canines and black stripes on my lush fur. But here I am in this zoo, in a cage. How unhappy I am shut up behind the bars of this cage! I have little space to move about as compared to my jungle. I do have enough to eat and I am well looked after. Yet I am not at all happy. I remember my early years in the Sunderbans in West Bengal. I roamed freely and happily in the forest with my mother. All animals were scared of us. My mother hunted at night and fed me. I was so happy to just stay in the forest. There was a small clearing in the forest where a water hole was situated. I remember many care-free days swimming in the water hole with my mother. I used to love lazing in the Sun during the day. One day a group of poachers shot down my mother and killed her. They carried me away with them. I was a cub then and terrified to see my mother killed. I was put in a zoo. At first, I missed my mother and the forest a lot. Gradually I got used to living in the zoo.

I am now a fully-grown, magnificent tiger. If I roar, my keepers run for their lives. My keepers take good care of me but it makes me sad that I have been deprived of my freedom. Every day a crowd of visitors come and stare at me. Some marvel at my beauty others just harass me. I dislike being stared at and it makes me angry when visitors start pushing stick or rods into my cage. If only I was free, I would have taught these visitors a good lesson. Alas! I am not free hence; I would not have had to put with such ill-treatment. I really miss my forest. I often dream that I am back in the forest, running around, swimming in the water hole and hunting for some game. Nothing would make me happier. But it is just a dream and dreams seldom come true.

        My Best Friend 

 माझा जिवलग मित्र/मैत्रिण

            My best friend, Gunjan, is a soft-spoken girl. We have been studying together since I. we have been best friends since then. She is also my neighbour. Even today we are classmates. Gunjan is tall and slim. She has bright eyes and is very beautiful. Gunjan has a kind nature. She is good at studies. She is also good at elocution, dramatics and she is also a nice dancer. She is very popular in the school. I admire Gunjan for her good qualities. She has taught me the importance of being punctual. She is not selfish. We are like sisters. We are very fond of each other. We like to be together all the time.

           My Birthday 

          माझा वाढदिवस 

         My birthday falls on the 6th of November. This year we had a grand party. I distributed chocolates amongst my classmates in the school, who thanked and wished me. My teachers and principal blessed me. In the evening, I helped my parents in decorating the house with lots of balloons. They were orange, red, pink, blue and yellow. I had invited my friends and relatives. At the party, I cut the cake and received many gifts. We all had great food and then we danced and enjoyed a lot. My mother had planned many games and activities for all the kids. There was a magic show as well. All my friends enjoyed the party.

 Christmas नाताळ 

             The next day on Christmas, people wear new clothes. They receive and give gifts to one another. Special delicacies like cakes, puddings are eaten. Everyone visit each other with gifts and cakes. 

           A common sight seen during Christmas is the scene of nativity. A scene of the birth of Jesus is recreated with the help of props. Christmas trees are decorated and people dressed up as Santa Claus distribute sweets and gifts to children. Christmas is the time for rejoicing and togetherness.

     My Grandparents 

      माझे आजी-आजोबा 

 I live in a joint family. My grandparents stay with us. They are my father's parents. Grandparents are family's pillars. They support and guide us and love us fully. My grandfather is a tall and dignified man. He is 70 years old. He has an erect posture and is active in his movements. He was a colonel in the army. Now he has retired and lives with us. He wakes up early in the mornings and we both go for a walk.

He likes to read newspapers, magazines and books a lot. My grandmother is 65 years old. She has dark hair with some grey hair in it. Her face hardly has any wrinkles in it. She was a teacher. She has simple and regular habits. She wakes up early in the mornings. She has her bath and performs her worship. Later, she spends her time in meditation and prayer. She also helps my mother in household work My grandparents help me with my studies and tell me interesting stories. We gather around them every evening and listen attentively to their stories. Sometimes we hear stories about what my father did when he was a little boy. I love spending time with my grandparents. I never know how time passes when I am with them. My grandparents always help anyone who comes to them with some difficulty. They never hesitate to give. They are very generous. They are always willing to learn new things and nowadays I teach them how to operate a computer. My grandparents are kind, gentle and loving. All of us love and respect them.

  Visit to a Flood- Affected Area 

पूरग्रस्त भागास भेट 

        During the last rainy season, it pouned cats and dogs in our distict. The worst affected area was Mulgaon village which is situated on the bank of the Nira. The river overflowed causing heavy floods in and around Mulgaon. We have a Social Service Club in our town and we decided to visit the flood affected area. We went there as volunteers to help in the relief and rehabilitation work. It was a pitiful sight when we reached the flood affected area. Had receded but it was all muck around. Small huts and cattle had been washed away. Some people who had climbed up on the

roofs of their houses was were not willing to get down. We rescued many such people and took them to a safe place. The fields were still under water. The standing crop had been destroyed and the farmers had lost their homes, cattle and crop due to the flood. Water had entered shops and houses as well. Grain, provisions and other goods had been destroyed. Thousands of citizens were affected by flood. Government had already started relief operations. Food and other necessities were provided and the people were given some help to start life once again. The students of our school decided to help in terms of money and clothes. We helped the victims in every way we could.

  Computers in Today's World 

आजच्या काळातील संगणक 

        The computer industry is the fastest growing industry in the world today. The software and the hardware of the computer is constantly being developed and the technology is advancing at such a rapid pace that it is becoming difficult to keep up with it. A computer is an advanced machine which can perform a number of functions. It can do the work of many people in a short span of time. However, it needs an operator to enter the commands for it to function. Hence, it is dependent on man to perform its functions.

In the present times, most of our procedures have become computerized to such an extent that everyone has to use a computer. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we can see a lot of computerized automation done. From ordering food to talking to a person in another part of the world all is done through computers. The computer, along with the internet, has made the world a small place. Due to computers and the internet, one can sit at home and pay bills, shop, communicate, read, fill forms and do almost everything without getting out of the house. Computers do make our life easier and comfortable but with use of less man power. Computerization has led to a lot of premature retirements and unemployment. It has led to a lot of health problems as well. Today people spend maximum amount of time working or doing other kinds of things on the computers. It has made people lazy as well. Therefore, there is a need to balance the use of computers.

 A Visit to The Museum                     

           Our class was taken last week to visit a museum. We went there with our history teacher. It took us about three hours to see all the artifacts exhibited in the museum. The museum has rare collection of painting, pottery, weapons, artifacts and manuscripts. We first visited the weapons section. The weapons displayed ranged from those of the early Stone Age period to the ones in the British rule. There were different kinds of swords, knives and guns on display used by kings, British officers and soldiers. There were stone tools, bows, arrows, shields, suits of armour and even cannons. We realized the progress man has made in inventing deadly weapons.

In another section of the museum there were various stuffed animals. They had been stuffed so skillfully that they almost looked life-like. Many of these animals are extinct and some are now endangered species. The art section of the museum was the most beautiful of all the sections. On display were several paintings of famous artists on display. Pottery and metal artifacts from different eras of Indian history could be seen. The skills and craftsmanship of could be seen in the brass and metal work, pottery and woodwork. There were ancient and rare manuscripts of old Sanskrit texts. We were so fascinated by the artifacts displayed in the museum that we never realized how time advanced. All exhibits were very interesting. The visit to the museum truly proved useful to us in many ways. It added to our knowledge of history, art, literature and science.

     Mother Teresa 

              मदर टेरेसा 

        Mother Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxihu in Yugoslavia on 26th August 1910. Her father was a farmer. At the tender age of 12. she decided that she wanted to spend her life helping the poor. At the age of 19 Agnes came to India and joined the Loreto Sisters as a teacher in one of the convent schools in Kolkata. She took her vows and became a nun at the age of 28. The extreme poverty around her influenced her. Now on the nun's life changed completely. Her thoughts to serve the poor, sick and the helpless came to be true. Moved by her example, many came forward and joined her. In 1950, Mother Teresa started the famous order of the Missionaries of Charity'. Soon many homes, schools and hospitals for the homeless were opened all over India and abroad. Today the Missionaries of Charity have more than 150 centres in India alone and have centres in most countries of the world. Mother Teresa was received many awards both in India and abroad for her selfless work and service to society. She was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna. Mother Teresa worked tirelessly till the day she passed away. She died on 5th September 1997 in Kolkata. Mother Teresa was a real saint and was highly respected not only in India but throughout the world. In her death, the world lost an angel of mercy and peace. She lives on in her legacy. The work Mother Teresa started carries on without any lack of love by her followers all over the world.

     An Indian Farmer 

        भारतीय शेतकरी 
            India is a land of villages. The main occupation of the people in the villages is farming and agriculture. The farmer is a very important person. He helps to grow food for us. Yet, he leads a hard and simple life. The farmer's day begins before sunrise. He set out for his field with his plough and bullocks. He ploughs his field, sows the seed and waters it. Later he collects the harvest. The farmer does different work in different seasons.
The farmer guards the crops against stray cattle and thieves. Bullocks are an important asset for the Indian farmer. Sometimes his wife and children help him in the farm. The farmer is poor. Sometimes he cannot even have two square meals in a day. He cannot give proper education to his children. The farmer's wife helps in the field. The farmer lives in a thatched hut. The Indian farmer celebrates festivals in a simple manner. He celebrates Diwali, Pola, Holi and births and marriages of his children. Nowadays modern machinery and technology in farming to a great extent. It has made the famer's life easier. Now he is able to grow more and a variety of crops in a short time. The government also comes up with different schemes and facilities for the farmers. Therefore, the condition of the farmer, though still poor, is improving gradually.

     The Life of a Soldier

       सैनिकाचे जीवन 

       A soldier protects our country from any external attack. He is responsible for the security of the country. It is because of his bravery and vigilance that we can live safely in our country. A soldier is always smartly dressed. He wears a uniform and a helmet. He wears heavy leather boots and carries a rifle or a gun.

During peaces he lives in the soldier's quarters. He wakes up early parade. The parade goes on for an hour or two. He in the morning and attends the returns and has his breakfast. He is assigned particular duties. He works hard the entire day. In the evening he plays games with his fellow soldiers. He leads a disciplined life. During war, the soldier's life is full of risks. He lives on the battlefield. He does not rest and has to go without food, water and sleep for some days. The soldier leads an adventurous life at such times. He is brave and courageous. He faces many hardships to protect his country. He makes many sacrifices for the country and its citizens. He stays away from his home and family and gives up comforts. Very few appreciate the sacrifices he makes. The soldier defends the freedom and honour of his country in both peace and war. The soldier is a true hero.

            Cleanliness 

           ( स्वच्छता)

         Cleanliness is the habit of keeping one's surroundings and one self clean. Cleanliness is necessary for a healthy existence. Dirt and unsanitary environment invite diseases. Hence, it is not only important to keep our body clean but also our clothes, our homes and surroundings clean. There is a saying that says: "Cleanliness is next to Godliness'. Here cleanliness refers to that of both the body and the mind. The mind and body need to be clean and healthy in order to lead a good and healthy life. Cleanliness of the mind requires more effort than that of the body. One has to be good, honest and truthful to keep one's mind clean. The more goodness, honesty and truthfulness we have inside us, the more clean we are from inside. A right and just man always has a clear conscience. Therefore, we should work hard to be clean in our mind and body.

        Good Manners 

           शिष्टाचार 

            Just as salt adds taste to the food we eat, good manners add value to life. There is a good-mannered way of doing what we do. Ill-mannered acts make people around us feel bad. A good mannered person often uses 'please' and 'thank you'. He will not only respect his elders but also show affection and respect towards those who are younger than him. A good-mannered person always helps those in need and is always polite and gentle. A good mannered person is polite and humble. He shows concern about the people around him. He is liked by everyone. Good manners help a person to lead a good and successful life. It is not difficult to inculcate good manners. We must always be considerate towards one others. It simply means the following of the golden rule: 'Do to others; what you would like them to do to you'.

 MY FAVOURITE GAME CRICKET 

Cricket

                   My favourite game is cricket. My friends and I play it on the playground near our school. We play on holidays. We also play for a few time every day in the evening. Two teams play a cricket match. Eleven players make one team. There is a toss. The match begins. One team bats. The other fields. The captain of each is the leader. The decision ,of the umpires is final. I like batting and bowling. I like fielding too. The game of cricket gives me best exercise. I learn to obey my captain. I learn to accept the umpires decision. The game of cricket keeps me fit and alert. I watch great matches. I learn from the great cricketers. I want to be a famous cricketer. That is my ambition in life.

        MY FAVOURITE FESTIVAL- DIWALI 

               My favourite festival is Diwali. Diwali is the Hindus' greatest festival. It is celebrated in the month of Ashwin. The festival lasts for five days. It is the festival of lights. People clean and decorate their houses for this festival. They get up early and take holy baths with scented oil. At night every house looks beautiful with rows of lights. Women draw rangoli designs before their doors. They make sweets. Children are the happiest. They get new clothes and sweets. They let off crackers at night. They have a long holiday. On the New Years Day people send greeting cards to friends and relatives. They wish one another a Happy Diwali and Happy New Year. The rich and the poor, the old and the young and men and women are all very happy. They forget their woes and worries. The whole atmosphere is full of joy and merriment.

           A VISIT TO A HOSPITAL 

                   My friend Kedar had an accident. He was taken to a hospital. So I visited him in the hospital last week. He was in the casualty ward. I went there and saw him. He was injured. But the doctor told me that his injury was not serious. I sat with him for some time. I comforted him. Then I went round the hospital. I saw many wards. There were many patients. Their beds were neatly arranged along the walls. Nurses were attending to them promptly. They were giving medicines, injections and blood bottles to the patients. And they were talking kindly to them. The doctors were in their neat lab-coats. They were examining the patients. The wards were clean. I admired the spirit of service shown by the nurses and the doctors. I was greatly impressed by the working of the hospital.

                    THE POLICEMAN 

              The policeman is a government servant. He wears a Khaki uniform. He wears a leather belt with a metal badge bearing his number. He always carries a baton in his hand. His main duty is to keep law and order. He keeps a watchful eye on the bad characters. At night, he takes his rounds in the area. He has to be alert all the time. Some policemen are given traffic control duties. The policeman protects our life and property. His life is full of risks and dangers. He controls mobs and puts down riots. He lives a very hard and risky life. But he gets a poor salary. Indeed, the policeman is a friend of the people

                   THE POSTMAN 

                  We all know the postman. He is a familiar figure. He is a government servant. He wears a khaki uniform. He carries a bag. It is full of letters, parcels and money orders. He goes from door to door. He delivers letters and parcels. People wait for the postman eagerly . He is a poor man. He is very useful to us. He is our friend.