Secondary School Level

The present conflict and consequent tense relations between India and Pakistan over Kashmir started in 1947 when the British left. The partition of India is not only a turning point in the history of the Indian subcontinent, but a signal event in world history as well. Preceding partition, India was directly under Crown rule. The British in order to perpetuate their rule, had divided the Indian society on religious grounds. They put Muslims against Hindus and instilled in them the demand for a separate land for themselves, and thus Pakistan was created. With passing of Indian Independence Act 1947 by the British Parliament, all princely states including Kashmir were released from their obligations to the Crown; the Instrument of Accession was an integral part of that mechanism. Kashmir was thus free to accede to India or Pakistan. To complicate the matters, the Maharaja of Kashmir, at first, refused to handover more...

Delhi is a place where exhibitions are held on a regular basis. The India International Trade Fair is held every year during November. I visited this exhibition for the first time recently. My first impression was that, the whole set-up looked like a fairy land. The exhibition ground with bright colours, fountains and lighting created a carnival atmosphere. People streamed in with their children and were busy looking at exhibits, watching open air shows, eating and purchasing. The attractive display of fancy items could entice any onlooker. The children of all age groups seemed to be flocking towards the amusement section, computer and electronic stalls, toy section and the shating rink. There were also a puppet show, street theatre, films and live fashion shows. One of the most interesting feature of the exhibition was the handicrafts pavilion, where craftsmen from various parts of the country were displaying their skills. Here more...

God has given us a cycle of seasons. There is the freezing winter and then the gradually warming spring. After spring comes the scorching summer and then come the cooling rains, followed by the pleasant autumn and then winter once again. Each one of these seasons has something to recommend it. You will find the lovers of each as well as the critics. I love the rainy season. After two long months of scorching heat, when the clouds start gathering in the sky, my heart starts dancing. When the first showers fall, the wonderful smell of the earth has an intoxicating quality. The tired faces of the people brighten up with hope and happiness. To see the eagerness in a peasant's face is a heartening experience. When the rain comes down in torrents, I love to get drenched in it. All the dryness and heat of the summer is wiped more...

Just before the winter when the leaves begin to wither we experience fall. This is the autumn season. The colour of the leaves changes to yellow, brown and auburn. Trees begin to shed leaves. Maple leaves are symbolic to autumn. The landscape is amazing. The earth gets a different hue. The weather is chilly but not severe. The sun is bright but mild. People enjoy picnicking and outing. Lazing in the parks and making barbecue is much enjoyed.      Autumn is not experienced in all parts of the world. Most part of India does not have autumn. But North India is heavenly with the chinar trees changing their colour. If you want to experience the real autumn you should visit Kashmir.

Maya Angelou's autobiography 'I know why the caged bird sings', won her a lot of acclaim. Angelou was hailed as a new kind of memoirist as she was the first African American woman who was able to publicly discuss her personal life. Angelou's autobiography set a precedent for the genre of autobiographies as a whole. Before “I know why the caged bird sings” black women writers had been marginalized to the extent that they were unable to present themselves as the central characters of their own books. With this autobiography, Angelou became not just famous as a writer but as a spokeswoman for the African American Movement and women as well. In this poem, Angelou effectively contrasts the characteristics of a caged bird and a free bird. The free bird has the courage to claim the sky because his faith has not been broken and his pride has not been more...

Outline: Defining pollution. Pollution as a universal problem and factors contributing to air pollution. Water pollution and diseases caused by it. Factors contributing to sound pollution. Steps taken by India to control pollution. Pollution is the abstract cause for the shortcoming of life on the earth. Pollution can be defined as an undesirable and excessive addition of some toxic substances in air, water and soil. Pollution has adversely affected and changed the natural and original quality of environment. This in turn has gradually become unfavorable for living organisms on the earth. Pollutions are residues and leftovers of various things that we produce, use and throw away. The things that unfavorably disturb our natural surroundings are known as pollutants. Today the problem of pollution is universal as it is experienced by various nations. People are compelled to breathe contaminated air as there is no another alternative unless the sources of air more...

Integration is 'unification into a whole- of all the diverse elements in a community’. National integration thus implies unification of the diverse populace of the country. India is a secular country of rich cultural heritage with diverse races, religions, languages, castes, customs and traditions. Despite this diversity, India has always had a basic unity and distinctive identity. A major challenge was faced soon after independence viz. to bring together several princely states (over 500) under the Indian Union. This stupendous task was achieved and will be remembered as the first step towards national integration. One sprint of unity got India it's freedom from British rule. This unity found its manifestation during Chinese aggression (1962) and Pakistani attacks (1965 and 1971). It is strange, but true, that India displays its mettle in crisis when its destiny is threatened, but exhibits conflicting attitudes otherwise. We, as a country, are still learning that more...

In this day and age, traffic jams in any and every city is a common sight. To escape the congestion and pollution of Mumbai we were on our way to Uran in a hired car for a picnic last Sunday. We had gone way past the suburban towns when straight ahead of us I saw a massive traffic jam, something I least expected so far out of the city. Soon our car stood bumper to bumper with a long river of vehicles that extended as far as eye could see. I was wondering what happened? Was it a big accident? But everyone was looking quite impatiently to the right. What was it? got curious, I got permission from Dad, got out of the car and walked ahead. Soon I discovered that we were held up owing to a railway crossing ahead. A train was expected which was obviously late in more...

After the colourful, scented, flowery spring season comes the burning summer season. In India people are generally afraid of this season. They fear the heat, the 'loo' the dusty dryness and the glare of May and June. They find the parched and cracked earth, the empty fields, the dust-storms, very frightening and repulsive. I love this season. I always look forward to these months. They bring me holidays — I am free from the dull routine of college studies. I can do whatever I like. There is no dearth of absorbing activities in this season. The river Ganga flows by our city. Our group of friends goes there every morning for swimming. We swim, we dive, we play and have fan in the cool, refreshing water of the Ganga. When I came back home I am hungry enough to eat the whole world. After the breakfast we friends go to more...

Although the rainy season brings with it a relief from summer, it also brings several problems. The daily difficulties in a big city are; traffic jams, water flooding on streets due to poor drainage, electricity cuts, damage to trees, spread of diseases in mosquitoes, etc. Not only we human beings, but animals and birds also deprived of food and shelter at times.   The farmers face damage to their crops due to unprecedented rainfall. Some low lying regions could also get floods. Thus the problems of heavy rain could be quite devastating. Fisher folks also need to be careful while venturing out in the sea. Necessary precautions need to be taken to keep a check on the damage due to the rains. The infrastructure of the country should be geared to safe guard all from the monsoon menace.