Current Affairs Essays

Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest pageant of athletic skill and competitive spirit. They are also displays of nationalism, commerce and politics. Well-known throughout the world, the games have been used to promote understanding and friendship among nations, but have also been a hotbed of political disputes and boycotts. The Olympic games started thousands of years ago and lasted over a millennium. The symbolic power of the Games lived on after their demise, and came to life again as the modern Olympic Games, being revived in the last century. Both the modern and Ancient Olympics have close similarities in there purpose and in their problems. The ancient Olympics had some differences from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Women where not allowed to even watch the games on penalty of death let alone play in them. Also, the games were always held at Olympia in Greece instead of being moved around to different sites every time. But also they had some similarities to our modern Olympics, winning athletes were heroes who put their hometowns on the map, and became financially sound for life. The first Olympic games at Olympia were held in 776 BC. Scholars have speculated that the games in 776 BC were not the first games, but rather the first games held after they were organized into festivals held every four years as a result of a peace agreement between the city-states Greece. Every four years, the games started on the first full moon after the summer solstice, lasting for five days. For over 1100 years, from 776 BC to 393 AD the games where played, thousands of people ceased all warfare and flocked to a small sanctuary in north-western Greece for five days in the late summer for a single reason, to witness the Olympic Games. During that time, competitors from all over the Greek world competed in a number of athletic events and worshiped the gods at the sanctuary of Olympia. The athletes competed not for money or material goods, although they received them, but only for the honour of being an Olympic victor. An Olympian that had the honour  of winning an event, was held in high esteem the rest of their lives. The Olympic Games were held every 4 years and were never interrupted. The games were even held in 480 BC during the Persian Wars. In 146 BC, the Romans gained control of Greece and, therefore, of the Olympic games. In 85 BC, the Roman general Sulla plundered the sanctuary to finance his campaign against Mithridates. Sulla also moved the 175th Olympiad to Rome. The games were held every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD. With the spread of Christianity, the games declined in popularity. They were finally abolished by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I in 393 AD. The ancient Olympic Games lasted for 1170 years. The revival of the Modern Olympic more...

The Constitution of India is one of the most rights-based constitutions in the world. Drafted around the same time as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Indian Constitution captures the essence of human rights in its Preamble, and the sections on Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy. The Constitution of India is based on the principles that guided India's struggle against a colonial regime that consistently violated the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of the people of India. The freedom struggle itself was informed by the many movements for social reform, against oppressive social practices like sati (the practice of the wife following her dead husband onto the funeral pyre), child marriage, untouchability etc. Thus, by the mid-1920s, the Indian National Congress had already adopted most of the civil and political rights in its agenda. The movement led by Dr B R Ambedkar (one of the founding fathers of the Constitution) against discrimination against the Dalits (the erstwhile outcasts or so-called untouchables who formed the lowest strata of the caste hierarchy and who currently number more than 170 million or 16.5% of the total population of India) also had an impact on the Indian Constitution. Inspite of the fact that most of the human rights found clear expression in the Constitution of India, the independent Indian State carried forward many colonial tendencies and power structures, including those embedded in the elite Indian Civil Service. Though the Indian State under Jawaharlal Nehru took many proactive steps and followed a welfare state model, the police and bureaucracy remained largely colonial in their approach and sought to exert control and power over citizens. The casteism, feudal and communal characteristics of the Indian polity, coupled with a colonial bureaucracy, weighed against and dampened the spirit of freedom, rights and affirmative action enshrined in the Constitution. In the first 15 years of the Indian republic, such inherent contradictions within the Indian polity were glossed over by the euphoria of 'nation-building', an agenda generally endorsed by political parties, the middle class and elite civil society. However, when the contradictions within the Indian polity and State came into the open in the late-'60s, the oppressive character of the State began to be challenged by student movements and ultra-left formations like the Naxalite movement. When the Indian State began to suppress such expressions of political dissent and mini- rebellions, the violation of human rights by the State began to command attention. Over a period of 30 years, the articulation and assertion of human rights within civil society has grown into a much richer, more diverse and relatively more powerful discourse at multiple levels. A brief historical sketch of the different trajectories of human rights discourse will help us locate human rights in the historical context. There are four specific trajectories of human rights discourse in the Indian context — Civil and Political Rights, Rights of the Marginalized (such as women, Dalits and adivasis), Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Right more...

People are often known with the way they do things. They are not only admired for their way of doing things but sometimes are also hated for their unpopular way of doing it. Every individual has his own approach to handle different tasks and situations. At a given point of time you would find thousands of ways to solve a single complex problem. Those who do it in the most efficient way turned out to be the leaders in their respective businesses. People who have bulldog persistence, who can grab something and not let go, have an essential success quality. Most of the time we are consumed with the negative thoughts and influences but instead those who believe 'there is a way to solve this problem' generate numerous followers. Let us take an example. We say, 'Well, that's the way the hall bounces, 'and let it go at that'. Now the ball falls in a direction and hit the wall, the bounce of the ball is determined by three things: the ball, the way it is thrown, and the surface it strikes. The most fundamental thing that determines the way ball will be returned is how it has been thrown. Adopting 'that's the way ball bounces' prepare us better to avoid a duplication of the mistake the next time we face a similar situation. Though there are many ways to look at a single situation but our approach to them determines our success rate. A problem, a difficulty, becomes unsolvable only when a person thinks it is unsolvable. We should refuse, simple refuse, to think that a problem could not be solved. Often we stay so close to a problem for so long that we can't see new solutions or new approaches. 'Fortune favours the brave,' it is said. It helps those who help themselves. It has been rightly said. 'Little strokes fell might Oaks.' Life is a playground on which winners are those who know the right way to do things and they achieve it.

Examinations are a vital part of our education system. They help in evaluating the yearlong preparation of a student. In India, examinations are much emphasized, as their result decide the mental capability of a child. The annual academic session beings from April and ends in March with the commencement of examinations. The cycle begins when a student is 3-4 years and continues till the student is 20-21 years old and every year the children go through the same process of preparing for examinations. Whatever, they study it is essential to judge their knowledge. In this competitive world, every child in expected to perform similarly, to obtain the maximum marks which of course is not possible if students as well as teachers try to perform their best. Every child is expected to score around 90%, irrespective of their mental calibre. This pressure keeps on increasing year after year and children are forced with the expectations from parents to become either Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers or an IAS Officer. The pressure and expectations are highest in the board examinations, i.e., X and XII standards and sometimes children spend more than 18-20 hours a day studying. Though, it is a good practice to study harder, but this also is injurious to health and can lead to many physical’ defects. We all know that mental stress and burden is leading to various problems. The tension and anxiety is on height when board examination results are declared. Everyone glues their eyes on the child who has appeared for the board examinations. And if a child fails, he/she is abused in a very bad manner  Sometimes the agony increases so much that children take unnecessary steps like running away from home or even try to attempt suicide. In the recent past, many cases of attempt to suicide have been discovered after the results were not up to the mark expected. It is high time when we must discourage the youth from taking such steps and the best way is to change the age-old method of evaluating a child. Children are evaluated only a few days prior to examinations preparations. Rather they must be evaluated alt over the year. Some emergent situations can erupt that can hamper a child's study at the time of examination. May be he or she is very good in studies the whole academic year but at the date of result the student is declared failure. The criteria should be changed. A student's be judged on overall performance should annual basis. Grading is another method that has recently been introduced by the CBSE. Above all, we as a society must not expect so much from a child. No one knows that what the future holds for them. Children are the future of the nation and a sound and healthy mind can develop a sound and healing Country.

If Eknath established a close link between Sufism and Hinduism, Kabir blended both Islam and Hinduism. His rich poetry is an outpouring of his heart. One is amazed on how a simple man with no scholarly knowledge can write so wonderfully.   Maybe that can be explained by his verse 'I have stilled my restless mind, and my heart is radiant, for in Thatness I have seen beyond Thatness.   Born in Kashi in 1440 to Muslim parents, he approached Ramananda numerous times for initiation. Each time, he met with refusal. One  day, he hid near the steps leading to the Ganges river anticipating to contort Ramananda again.   Ramananda, however, by mistake stepped on Kabir and and uttered 'Ram, Ram.' Kabir took this as a sign of initiation and Ram as his mahamantra. Ramananda is said to have accepted this.   Kabir never retired from the world to become a recluse. He was married, had children and was a weaver by profession.   He saw life filled with God in the form of love and joy. However, Kashi, being an orthodox city, considered him a heretic and ordered him to leave in 1495.   Unfazed, Kabir spread his joy of divine love through various songs throughout his travels in North India. In 1518, his health broke down and he left his body, but never did he forget the love of Ram.   Several of Kabir's verses are sung to this day in India. One can find many of his poems and songs translated into English by the famous poet, Tagore.

To reach the highest point of glory is not difficult for one who is born with a silver spoon in one's mouth. But when you are born to a poor and down trodden parents and still attain the great heights of name and fame, then all is not a child's Play-   Doctor Bhim Rao Ambedkar was an exception. He rose to the highest position virtually rising from the slums.   He got the best education by dint of his courage" and fortitude. He spent his entire life for the upliftment of the poor and the down-trodden. He was really a noble soul.   Bharat Rattan Dr. Ambedkar was born on 18th April, 1891 in Madhya Pradesh. His parents belonged to the down trodden class. The young Ambedkar spent his childhood in utter want and poverty.   He had to face many struggles. His mother died when he was barely six years old. But he was a promising lad. He was deeply interested in reading and writing. He had to face caste stigma everywhere. But He felt little disheartened. He was determined. to get the top education at any cost. He was fully a genius.   The ruler of Baroda was highly impressed with this is young erudite (Scholar). He sent him to America for higher studies. He studied very hard and got countless degrees including his Ph.D.   On his return to India he held highest posts in many top institutions. But his low caste always stood in his way. He had to resign every time. All this made him more resolute to fight for the fights of his fellow-untouchables.   He did not rest till he succeeded to get the maximum for the oppressed and the persecuted. He, strained every nerve to procure justice for the lowest rung of the society. All the Harijans and Girijans of the country are indebted to this great son of India.   Dr. Ambedkar was well versed in law. His knowledge of all the constitutions of the world was peerless. This great scholar was the founding father of Indian Constitution. There he did a yeoman’s service to his countrymen, especially the untouchables.   His services to the nation are great. They cannot be described in words. They are written in the annals of the country. This great son of India died on 6th December, 1956. Now he belongs to the ages.

Bhagat Singh was born in a Sikh family of farmers in the village of Banga of Layalpur district of Punjab (now in Pakistan) on September 27th of 1907. His family stood for patriotism, reform, and freedom of the country.   His grandfather Arjun Singh was drawn to Arya Samaj, a reformist movement of Hinduism, and took keen interest in proceedings of the Indian National Congress. Bhagat Singh's father Kishen Singh and uncle Ajit Singh were members of Ghadr Party founded in the U.S. in early years of this century to route British rule in India.   Both were jailed for alleged anti-British activities. Ajit Singh had 22 cases against him and was forced to flee to Iran. Thereafter he went to Turkey, Austria, Germany and finally to Brazil to escape Black Water (Kalapani) punishment for his revolutionary activities in India.   Young Bhagat Singh was brought up in a politically charged state of Punjab which was left with a seething memory of the Jalianwala massacre of more than 400 innocent lives and thousands injured (1919).   As a lad of fourteen he went to this spot to collect soil from the park of Jalianwala (bagh) in his lunch box, sanctified by the blood of the innocent and kept it as a memento for life.   Bhagat Singh was studying at the National College founded by Lala Lajpatrai, a great revolutionary leader and reformist. To avoid early marriage, he ran away from home and, became a member of the youth organization Noujawan Bharat Sabha which had memberships of all sects and religions.   He met Chandrashekhar Azad, B.K. Dutt and other revolutionaries. They used to print handouts and newspapers in secret and spread political awareness in India through Urdu, Punjabi and English. These were all banned activities in India at the time, punishable with imprisonment.   The Simon Commission, Murder of Lala Lajpatrai and the Revenge Anti-British feelings were spreading; Indians wanted some proper representation in running the administration of their country to which British reciprocated only on paper.   Noticing restlessness was spreading, the British Government appointed a commission under the leadership of Sir John Simon in 1928, to report on political happenings. There was no single Indian member in this commission, and all the political parties decided to boycott the commission when it planned to visit major cities of India.   In Lahore, Lala Lajpatrai and Pandit Madan Mohan Malavia decided to protest to the commission in open about their displeasure. It was a silent protest march, yet the police chief Scott had banned meetings or processions.   Thousands joined, without giving room for any untoward incident. Even then, Scott beat Lala Lajpatrai severely with a lathi on the head several times. Finally the leader succumbed to the injuries.   Bhagat Singh who was an eye witness to the morbid scene vowed to take revenge and with the help of Azad, Rajguru and Sukhadev plotted to kill Scott. Unfortunately he killed Mr. Sanders, a junior officer, in a case more...

Lord Buddha was born at Lumbini in the norti  hills of India. His father was the ruler of tribe known as Sakayas. He was named 'Siddhartha'.  At the time of his birth, the pandits predicted that either he would be a brave king or a saint,   So his father was very careful to look after him. All kinds of luxuries and comforts of life were provided to him.   He was very kind to the animals and birds from his childhood as he had very soft heart. He married a pretty princess named 'Yashodhra'. They had a lovely son named 'Rahul'. In spite of all comforts, he was not happy at heart. He visited city many times to see the life of a common man.   The sight of sick man, an old man and a dead body shocked him. Once he saw a sanyasin who had given everything and was in search of God. The thought about the sufferings of human beings snatched away his peace of mind.   One night he left his palace silently and decided to find the cause of sorrow and unhappiness and also ways of liberation from them.   He wandered here and there in search of truth but failed. At last at 'Gaya' in Bihar under a Bodhi tree he meditated and found a way for 'Salvation' and peace.   He preached that our desire and wishes are the cause of sufferings and unhappiness. The less desire one has, more happy he is. He laid down eight principles. If we follow these principles, there can be an end to our sorrows and unhappiness.   He preached the message of love, truth and Ahinsa. Very soon he became popular among the common men because of his simple philosophy and simple language. Thousands became his followers. His wife and son also became his followers.   His teachings brought much change in Indian history. The great king Ashoka adopted Buddhism and spread it in India and in Sri Lanka, China, Japan and many other countries. Mahatma Gandhi got inspiration from Lord Buddha and adopted peaceful methods for freedom of India. He was a great son of India who showed the path of peace to the suffering world.  

Kalpana Chawla is our country pride. She famous her and his county name all over the world due to his work in the field of aeronautics. Forty one years old Kalpana Chawla was born in district Karnal, Haryana.   She was got her early education from Tagore Bal Niketan Public School, Karnal. In school, she was a brilliant student and a good dynamic personality in every field of school activities. After school education, she got degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Punjab.   There she was taught aircraft propulsion, theoretical aerodynamics and aircraft materials by Prof. Y.S. Chauhan and Mr. V.S. Malhotra taught her high speed aerodynamics, thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. Kalpana was a dynamic student and used to do his own things.   After this, she got her advance education in United States of America. There she married to a Frenchman, Jean Pierre Harrison, a flying instructor and aviation writer.   She joined Nasa in the year of 1980 and was selected there on 9th, December, 1994. She formally joined it in the year 1995. She took to her first mission on i9th January, 1997. She had made many research work in the field of aeronautics.   In 2003, she was selected by NASA along with six other astronauts for US space shuttle Columbia. Columbia was returning to earth after a 16 days mission and was commanded by Texman Rick Husband.   But unfortunately, Columbia disintegrated shortly before landing on Sunday, the February 2nd 2003 and we lost our forty one years old Kalpana Chawla.   The crew had carried out nearly 80 experiments during the mission. NASA mission control said the flight was at 20,00,00 feet altitude and travelling at 12,500 miles an hour when they lost contact after a last garbled message.   After Katpana death, all Indian felt in deep sorrow and feel they lost their pathfinder. Now, Kalpana is no more with us but she had raised a light for others which will incourage other young generation to achieve their targets like Kalpana. So, now Kalpana Chawla lives in our heart.  

Indira Gandhi was one of the greatest women of India. Her childhood name was Priyadarshini. She was born at Allababad on i9th November, 1917. She was the illustrious daughter of an illustrious father, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.   She was born with patriotic feelings, her grandfather, Motilal Nehru and father Jawaharlal Nehru both being great patriots. She was greatly impressed by Gandhiji when she visited the Sabarmati Ashram.   She got her early education at home. She did her matriculation from Pune and later joined the Shantiniketan started by Rabindra Nath Tagore. Later she studied in Switzerland and England.   Her mother, Kamala Nehru died in 1937. It was a big shock to her. Now, she undertook looking after her father. Later, she married Feroze Gandhi, a Parsi in 1941, in the teeth of opposition from conservative Hindus. After Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime  Minister of India as India gained Independence in 1947, her responsibility regarding taking care of his health and well-being increased.   After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 when Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister, she joined his Cabinet as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. After Shastri's death in 1966, she became the first (and so far the last) woman Prime Minister of India.   She was known for her superb leadership and firm determination and became instrumental in inflicting a crushing defeat to Pakistan in 1971 and liberating East Pakistan later renamed as Bangladesh. She, however, became unpopular after she had declared internal Emergency on ! 26th June, 1975.   As a result of it, she was defeated in the 1977 elections. She, however, was reelected in December, 1979 but assumed office in January, 1980.   On 31st October, 1984 she was assassinated by one of her bodyguards. She will always be remembered as one of the greatest leaders of India and one of the greatest women of the world.