Why Go TO University?

                                                                                         Moti Nissani, USA (1947 - )

Summary in English

"Why Go To University?" is an essay by Moti Nissani about the significance of University education. In general, university is a place where we get higher education. Knowledge is a wealth of an individual for healthy life where one can understand about his/her freedom, rights and justice. Simply an educated man is considered as a prestigious one in a society through the achievement of knowledge or education.

Going to university creates the additional stresses in our life because knowledge is a means of happiness. Nissani says that university education provides job opportunities, income sources and opportunity for right career. Education people are less likely to be deceived because education makes people tolerant, humble, knowledgeable, critical, witty and less superstitious. They are also likely to live meaningful life because educated people can resolve their problem easily.

University education makes people to have a balance between health and wealth because it teaches them that sound mind lies on sound body. It offers a change to expand our social horizon by facilitating us meet people from the world and helps us understand the culture, religion, tradition, politics and many other things about the world. In short, university education enhances our understanding about ourselves and world we are living in.   

Then and Now: Finding My Voice

                                                                                 Elaine H. Kim. Korea (1962 - )

Summary in English

This essay is a bitter satire on the American based on racism and sexism. The essayist, Dr. Kim tries to represent how the non-western, non-whites, Jews, women and the African-Americans are suppressed, insulted and deprived of their rights, freedom and justice by the cruel and selfish whites. To support her argument, she recollects her childhood experience where she was discriminated for being Asian and a woman. She claims that she has a bitter experience of all kinds of discrimination in American society which she hates too much. Dr. Kim is an American born Korean-American writer. She loves fortune telling of all kinds-Chinese or Korean astrology, plan reading and visiting Buddhist temple. When she was young, a male fortune teller told her that her life would be full of disaster. On the other hand, a woman fortune teller told her that her life would be full of fun. She assumes that both are right. Dr. Kim attends in the party sponsored by the Korean Community Centre in Oakland where she meets ten fortune tellers. She asks one of them to tell her fortune. He says that all her goals and ideas are shaped between the ages of twelve and seventeen. Then, she disagrees because that period is the unhappiest and most difficult period in her life. She says that it is not true because in her teenage she faced many hardships and challenges. Between the ages of twelve and seventeen, she was living in America with her parents during the devastating war in Korea in the 1950s. She could not enjoy a lot in her house because her house was full of Korea refugees. It was very difficult for her mother to feed the crowd and do the washing-up. Similarly, between those ages, she was studying at American school but that was also not good. She claims that she was double discriminated for being an Asian and for being a woman. Her white friends used to insult, dominate and humiliate her. So, she takes the period 1950s, as the period of violence and outright discrimination for many people of color. Her future says that there was a mismatch between the people and culture in her house about what was going on in Korea. It was the time when millions of Korea were killed and millions of families were displaced. But in the outside world, the America used to believe that Korea is either in China or Japan. Similarly, they used to claim that most of the great discoveries and invention are made by the Americans and Europeans. She was taught suck kind of education at school. At school, the writer as a girl and being an Asian, she was called "Chink" or "Jap" as an insult. Even after being invited by white friends, their mothers would send her not to visit again. In those days, most Americans treated Asian as foreigners and she was no exception. Determined to be popular, her goal was to become a cheerleader which was impossible for non-Americans like her. She worked hard and became a cheerleader. Though she became cheerleader which made her parents very happy, she still felt regretted for being Korea. However, the selfish and cruel American white discriminated, dominated and tortured the Asians, non-Western, non-whites, Jews and Afro-Americans. Thus, by learning about history, she learnt about racism and struggle for equality and social justice, which helped her better understand the circumstance for her teenage years, the US's involvement in Korea war, the reason of her parents to come to America and why America treated her as a foreigner. So, the experience of her childhood stimulated her to work and education people against racism and sexism.  

The Sword of Damocles

                                                                                            Source: Greek Legend

Summary in English

'The Sword of Damocles' is a Greek Legend. Represents the ancient background of time when there was autocracy in Sicily. In addition, this story is a satirical that teaches us that boundless property and power does not necessarily bring true happiness and satisfaction.  Dionysius was the king of Sicily in the 4th century B.C. He was famous for his harshness towards people. Most of the people had a fear that they would suffer at the hands of the king if unfortunately they would fall in his power. Therefore, he was disliked by almost all the people because of his cruelty and autocracy. Similarly, he was equally fearful thinking that his enemies would kill him anytime if they got an opportunity because he held mighty power by inspiring terror.

In spite of his autocratic/tyrannical nature, Dionysius loved the company of intellectual people who were famous in science, letters and arts. Like other kings, King Dionysius had also a great number of flatters. Among them, the most famous was Damocles. He used to sing the false song about the glory, honor, destiny, power and wealth of the king. He used to say that kings, in general, have great happiness and comfort. He said that there could be no greater happiness in the world than to sit upon the throne of Sicily.

However, Dionysius was very careful, self-conscious of all kinds of dangers and flattery. Tired from the flattery of Damocles, Dionysius decided to teach him a good moral lesson. Then, king said that he would offer Damocles the position of the king of Sicily. He was sure that Damocles would resign from the throne very soon. Damocles sat on the throne with a heavy golden crown just over his dead. He was proud of being the king of Sicily. He was given the same honor by the people there that King Dionysius used to get.

Despite his excitement and extreme happiness, Damocles turned his head all around and found a naked sword hanging by a thin thread from the ceiling right above his head. He was nervous and frightened. He realized that the sword might fall upon him anytime and that he would be killed immediately. He wanted to give up the throne but the king did not permit. He had to stay in the throne until the feast was over. He requested the king to shift him to another place, but the king refused it. Damocles had to remain in a state of terror for hours. During that period, he felt that death was dancing in front of his eyes. He thought that he was going to be killed. Anyway, Dionysius requested Damocles to have courage to face danger. He was very coward by heart.

When the feast was over, he immediately left the throne and became glad to live the life of ordinary people. He learnt that a man can't remain happy despite having ultimate wealth. He also understood that it is easy to flatter to powerful and honorable people but it is difficult for them to maintain the position. He said that all kings and people of high positions live under the same risk of life. So, power and wealth does not necessarily bring the happiness and satisfaction.  

The Cricket

                                                                     P'u Sung-ling, China (1640 – 1715)

Summary in English

This story is based on the Chinese about cricket fighting that began from the Tang Dynasty. It also shows the cultural importance of cricket fight along with the faith on lick and coincidence. It is a bitter satire against the Chinese communism of the past based on dictatorship. In an autocratic system of government, one does not feel security and freedom without any obvious reason, people get punished and torture. They cannot go against the rulers. Therefore, this story is trying to show the importance of freedom.

Cricket fighting was very famous during Ming reign in Chinese Court. Each year ordinary people needed to supply cricket for rich men to test in the battle. In Floral Shade, Magistrate wanted favour from his superiors. He managed on mighty warrior, by which he got appointed a royal supplier of crickets to the court. Naturally the Magistrate handed over this responsibility to neighborhoods heads. Soon crickets became rare and valuable in the country. Many young people kept crickets secretly to sell them at high price. The local government officials searched their houses, took away valuable things and ruined several families while searching for the cricket collections.

In Floral Shade, there used to live an ordinary person named Mr. Make-good. He was appointed as a Neighborhood Head to collect outstanding specimen of cricket to fulfill the quota demanded by the Magistrate and the governor. Mr. Make-good could not fulfill the quota as a result, he was severely punished. He was given 100 strokes. Blood run down from his knees. He was badly wounded. Being entrapped in this frustrating situation, he wanted to die. However, his wife convinced him rather to look for cricket himself with the hope of luck.

Meanwhile a famous fortune teller came to that village. Her door was crowded with people. Mrs. Make-good also went there with some money to offer. When she offered the money and bowed her head, the shook and a place of paper feel in front of her feet. There was just a picture of a neglected shrine behind a small mountain. The rocks were among trees and there was a greenhead cricket sitting near a frog. Being puzzled Make-good's wife returned home to show the paper to her husband. On the paper, there was a Buddhist temple and behind it, there was a large cricket in the thicket. Mr. Make-good understood the meaning of the picture. Then, he followed the instruction and went there behind the Buddhist temple. He really found a large cricket in the bush. Being overjoyed, he captured it and returned back to home. He took good care of it.

One day, his 9 years old son uncovered cricket. Then, it jumped away. The desperate boy hunted it and trapped it under his hand. It was dead. The son frightening with his father run away and jumped away into a wall where Mr.  Make-good found him dead there. So, his anger to him turned into grief.

Mr. and Mrs. Make-good took their son to be buried. Surprisingly, there was a slight sign of breathing. They became happy at this condition and took their son back home and put on the bed. Gradually, he came back to senses.

However, Mr. Make-good was still worried about the lost cricket. But fortunately he found a small cricket next morning. Anyway, he thought the authorities might not be happy with him because of being the cricket very small. But one day small cricket defeated all other larger crickets in the battle. The winner of his cricket made Mr. Make-good very happy.

Next day, Mr. Make-good brought his small cricket to the Magistrate and governor. In the battle, the small cricket became the victorious. The emperor was so happy with Mr. Make-good that he was awarded with several prizes including university degree. He received land, building, sheep and oxen, too. After one year, his son's health and spirit got restored. Finally, Mr. Make-good leads a luxurious life like noblemen of his place.    

Smarter Kids, Brought to You by the Letter T and V

                                                                   Dimitri A. Christakis, Greece (1937 - )

Summary in English

This essay talks about the advantages of TV for the children. The writer tries to prove to be false of some of the myths or foolish ideas related to TV viewing. Modern TV culture makes the kids smart. Some TV programmes improve children's cognitive abilities. Parents and children can watch programmes which are good for them. There are many misconceptions about children watching television. In 1970s, there was a popular misconception that television was bad for eyes. But TV is a great scientific achievement; it is not a curse to mankind. Today, most people know that television viewing does not cause vision problem. The writer tries to make the false assumption of the following myths related to TV viewing: 

TV makes kids dumb.

This is a false assumption. If children are allowed to watch high quality programs, they will never be dumb. In fact, children watching educational programmes can have the higher grades, read more books and become more creative.

TV makes kids violent.

Watching TV does not make children violent. The problem is that children are watching violence and sex inappropriate for their age. Therefore, beneficial programs should be designed for the children.

Education videos make infants smarter.

No programme designed for kids younger than 2 can help them at all. In another words, the infants below three years of age should not be allowed to watch TV or videos because their cognitive ability will be badly affected by it.

Sitting around watching TV instead of playing outside make kids overweight.

TV does not make kids overweight. In fact, kids are encouraged to eat more while watching TV. Similarly, it is also habitual on the part of the children that they eat more while they are watching shows.

Television helps kids get to sleep.

It is also false statement. TV does not help the kids get to sleep rather disturbs their sleep. The more television children watch, the more likely they are to have irregular sleep and nap patterns.

Kids watch too much television.

The main problem is 'what' and 'how' kids watch TV. If they watch high quality programmes with parents, it is not harmful. 

Mr. Know-All

                                                   William Somerset Maugham, England (1874 – 1965)

Summary in English

"Mr. Know-All" is a short story by Somerset Maugham. This story represents humanity and love in the one hand, so-called racial discrimination and prejudices in the another hand. Therefore, the story portrays the conflict between reality and appearance. In addition, it reflects the human nature and character where most hated people can be humble.

The narrator of the story is going to Yokohama of Japan from San Francisco, America. He catches the ship where he meets the stranger named Mr. Max Kelada. From the very beginning, the narrator dislikes. He shows his identity of English nationality. Though Mr. Kelada is black and hated by him and other people, he is closer to him as well as with others. He is talkative and funny. Despite Mr. Kelada is the best subject of hatred from all people, he is everywhere and always knows everything. So, he is nicknamed as "Mr. Know-All".

"Mr. Know-All" is hearty and argumentative. He is the native of the Middle West. One evening there is a great debate between Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. Know-All. Mrs. Ramsay is the American Consular service posted at Kobe, Japan. Mr. Kelada claims that the price of pears of Mrs. Ramsay is very expensive, heavily costs about $ 30,000. At the same time, Mr. Ramsay informs him that Mrs. Ramsay bought those pearls in $18 only. As they discuss, both of them bet $100 for this necklace.

As Mr. Kelada observes the pearls by his magnifying glass, he knows the pearls real that makes him cheerful smile. He becomes ready to reveal the truth to Mrs. Ramsay but her eyes are different to tell the truth. He looks at Mrs. Ramsay's white face with fear. Similarly, Mr. Ramsay says that those pearls are not original but only the imitation of the original ones. Looking at such, Mr. Kelada loses the bet and pays the money to Mr. Ramsay. It is because he wants to see the happy married life of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay.

In the next morning, an envelope is slipped in with $100 inside and sent the address of Mr. Kelada. After opening letter, Mr. Kelada becomes happy. At the end Mr. Know-All says that if he has a pretty little wife, he shouldn't let her spend a years in New York, America while he stays at Kobe, Japan. Listening such wonderful statement, the narrator knows how frank, talkative and lovable "Mr. Know-All" to see the conjugal life Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. Ramsay. 

The Four-Tusked Elephant

                                                                                            Armand Denis, Belgium (1896 – 1971)

Summary in English

"The Four-Tusked Elephant" is a research based essay that sheds light on the procedure of scientific discovery, high adventure and single minded pursuit of truth. It really starts from the educated guess. The writer describes his interesting and challenging experience in Ituri forest of Congo. He tries to resolve the mysteries about the existence of four-tusked elephant. Curiosity and determination are required for such hard work.

Denis as the narrator was making a Safari with his friends Putman and Texan. They have hard about the four tusked elephant that lived in the forest. They pygmies and other people believed that the four-tusked elephant was the king all the elephants and it was very dangerous. According to them, it used to talk in human language. The four tusked elephant could see the things the other elephants could not see. The elephant had come and spoiled their hunt many times in the forest. It had killed many people. Therefore, they kept well away from it. They could not kill with their spears an elephant with four tusked.

One day, the narrator asked his friend Putnam about it since he was talking to the pygmies about several animals they had hunted. But Putnam told the narrator that he should believe in it only after he himself had seen it. Then, Denis asked every pygmy but those they were living in Ituri Forest believed that the elephant existed and they were scared of it. Thus, the narrator collected a lot of information about the elephant, for that he also made hypothesis. Then, he decided to venture the place. He went to the place with the help of three pygmies.

After few days, they found a large elephant in the bushes. It was with a group of elephants eating tree branches. As he observed it, the writer got hopeless and thought that the king was mere a myth because it had only two tasks. After six months, the writer again heard some Belgian sellers talking about four tasked elephant in a hotel. According to them Mombeli was a man who found it. So, the writer became more curious to know about the matter. Then, he met Mombeli where he told that he really found the elephant with four tasks near a stream. The narrator promised to give Mombeli some objects like lantern like flashlight, wrist watch if he brought the head of the elephant. However, he captured tusks of elephant sold by Mombeli.

Finally, the narrator realized the truth. The narrator went to New York with the skull. In the Museum, he tired to fit all the four tusks in to the sockets of the skull one by one. The first three tusks fitted perfectly well, but the last one did fit. It was not like normally shaped tusks i.e. unlike others, it pointed inwards. He had finally solved the mystery of the elephant king of the Ituri forest.

Swan Song (Drama)

                                                                                  Anton Chekhov, Russia (1860 – 1904)

Summary in English

Nature of text: one act play

Characters:

• Vasili Svetlovidov: a 68-years –old actor
• Nikita Ivanich: an elderly promoter  

Swan Song is a 'one act play' by famous Russian dramatist, Anton Chekhov. The central character of the play is Svetlovidov, 68 years old actor. The play is tragic in nature since it shows the miserable condition of the old actor, central character that he gets nothing more than misery, emptiness, hatred, loneliness and full of pain and suffering instead of love, relationship, happiness and peaceful life in the Russian society.

Svetlovidov reflects his performance in relation to the reality of the Russian society. In fact, stage artists are taken as just playthings in that society. Even they are assumed to be dust and prostitutes. The play also shows the despair, failure and tragic story of Svetlovidov's real life, not stage life in his old age. Besides, it represents the creative power of art.

This play is the last performance or a swan song for the central character, Svetlovidov. When the curtain goes up, Svetlovidov is asleep in the dressing room. He drinks alcohol too much and finds the stage empty. Those audiences have already disappeared from there. Therefore, he finds himself alone thinking that he has nobody to help, even no family, friends, relatives and people. By the way he feels no solace looking at his life.

Svetlovidov compares his past life with the present life. He remembers his successful journey and wonderful achievement in his long acting career. He also never forgets a very beautiful and rich woman's love with him at the time when he was at the peak of success. There was a good love relationship between them but she refused him later thinking that being the actor in the society is to adopt the profession of low social prestige. The dream of marriage with his beloved got broken just because of being actor. So, he looks no happy in his life.

When Svetlovidov was young, then, he joined to army. Being attracted to the art, he again joined to the theatre. He got many successes from the art. But he did not get success in love, life and relationship. After breaking the relationship with his beloved, he becomes too old for marriage so that no gentlemen after him to get marriage with their daughter. Rather he lives alone with negligence and hatred life. At present, he is lonely, poor, old, and sick his life is empty. He finds nobody to help, love, care, encourage and sympathize him. Even he has no home, family members and relatives.

At present, he is 68 years old but unmarried, old, neglected and frustrated by himself as well as by other people in the society. He thinks that his song is sung. His race is run. It means his life gets no social respect and prestige at all.

However, in the play Svetlovidov is admired, respected and encouraged by another character, Nikita. It is he who tells another story that resembles Svetlovidov's own life. Nikita finds his as talented, genuine and great dedicated man even in his old age. Nikita even argues that where there is talent, there is no old age. Finally, it is Svetlovidov who expresses the statements from Othello, "Fare well the tranquil mind! Farewell Content!..........". It makes Nikita to know the painful, miserable and tragic life of the old man, Svetlovidov. At last, Svetlovidov consoles himself saying that art has the universal strength.

Arranging a Marriage in India

                                                                                                  Serena Nanda1, USA
Summary in English

This story based on culture and anthropological notion tries to explore the cross-cultural differences between India and the USA regarding marriage system. As an American woman, at the very beginning, writer finds the custom of arrange marriage as oppressive in India. For her romantic love is important for a happy marriage. Nanda says that marriage in India is quite different from that in the United States. In the US, a girl or a boy looks for his/her life partner. Before the marriage, they introduce each other, know and love each other. But in India, responsibility of arranging a girl or boy for marriage is given to the family, basically to their parents. Anyway the writer prefers love marriage at the very beginning but she realizes that arrange marriage is not oppressive but it is better at the end. The writer involves into different surveys, observation and research about marriage system in the cities and villagers of India. On her first visit to India, she meets many young men and women whose parents are in the process of getting them married. In many cases, bride and bridegroom do not meet each other. For the first time, she finds this custom of arranged marriage oppressive. She asks question to the young people how they feel about this practice. She also interacts with a number of India young girls. Most of the girl she meets favor arrange marriage. She is impressed by Sita's (Indian lady) remarks. Sita says that she had let her parents choose a boy for her. She even argues that meeting with a lot of different people do not sound like any fun at all. She evokes that her parents would never arrange a marriage without knowing all about the boy's family background. As Nanda comes to India second time, she finds that most of the India couples with arranged marriages seem happy. She also notices that no one would want their daughter to marry into a family that is not good. Indian girls knowing their husbands after marriages would have mystery and romance. However, she finds that the American couples with love marriages are in the process of divorce. Therefore, the writer sees the positive aspects of arranged marriage. Nanda is found of taking part in matchmaking process in Bombay. But matches would be arranged only within the same caste, or sometimes sub-castes and economic class. The family reputation and their capacity to arrange marriage are very significant factors, too. Nanda observes her friend's family. The boy is well-educated. His mother is modest, soft spoken and religious. The boy has just left Air force and joined his father's business. So, the writer thinks that it is easy to get a girl for him. However, his mother is worried for her son. First, they try to arrange his marriage from the relation with the writer's friend's social club, a family having five daughters; they offer him to get married with any one of them. But this family they would be unable to give proper wedding. Another offer also comes but it is rejected since girl is educated but too frank. The third candidate, the daughter of Client is also rejected because she is short, fat and uses glasses. Finally, the family decides to postpone his marriage. Two years later, Nanda comes to India again. The boy is still unmarried having the age of 30. But the writer meets a girl's father where his daughter is educated and home loving, who has completed graduation is fashion design. Finally, there is the marriage between her friend's son and daughter. So, Nanda is delighted when she receives an invitation for a wedding. As a result, the writer becomes success in matchmaking between her friend's son and friend's daughter.  

Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Text

                                                                         Carl G. Hempel, Germany (1905 – 1997)
Summary in English

This is a scientific essay. The process of scientific discovery often involves formulating hypotheses, testing predictions, and an interdisciplinary search in the real world. A scientific inquiry carries on several assumptions and testing to get the invention of scientific discovery. Thus, the writer tries to say that one should formulate a good hypothesis, test the possible conditions and reach the conclusion through a rigorous scientific inquiry.

Hempel talks about the research of Ignaz Semmelweis who discovers the main cause of the death of a large number of women who believed babies in the First Division. Semmelweis, a physician of Hungarian birth, did this work during the years from 1844 to 1848 at the Vienna General Hospital. As a member of the medical staff first Maternity Division in the hospital., he was distressed to find that a large proportion of the women who were delivered of their babies in that division contracted a serious and often fatal illness known as perpetual fever or childhood fever. They died from it while they delivered their babies.

Semmelweis began by considering various explanations that were current at the time. He chose some for the experiments. One of the views assumed that the cause was epidemic influences. However, he argued that such influence could not affect the First Division only. In both the First and Second Division, women delivered babies suffered from childbed fever and died of it. But the surprising thing was that the number of women who died of such fatal illness was greater in the first Division. But the crowd was more in the Second Division because the patients wanted to avoid the notorious First Division.

Semmelweis formulated his hypothesis by rejecting some meaningless or confused explanation. He adopted some logical predictions as follows:

• He knew that epidemic influence was one of the causes but did not know why it was fatal in the First Division.
• Overcrowd might be another cause but the crowd was more in the Second Division.
• Another cause might be that the trainees were doing rough experiments and causing injuries. However, the death rate in the First Division was the same even after decreasing such number of medical students.

Finally, the research of Semmelweis reached to the significant conclusion that the women in the First Division died due to blood poisoning. The doctors and medical students used to come to the First Division from the autopsy room without washing their hands properly, and they used to examine the women who delivered babies. Therefore, when the doctors and trainees washed their hands properly and examined the women, the mortality rate in the First Division got decreased. Similarly, the midwives examining patients in the Second Division required no autopsy training. Thus, the death rate among the women they examined was low in the Second Division. Similarly, infected mothers transmitted the infection to their babies as well.

Adaptive Failure: Easter's End

                                          Adaptive Failure: Easter's End
                                                                                                   Jared Diamond, USA (1937 - )

Summary in English

This is a research based essay. The writer talks about how the virgin paradise like Easter Island turned into wasteland. It explores the past culture and civilization of the Easter Island. In addition, it deals with vanished civilization of Easter Island as an example to warn the modern human beings about the potential threat to our own civilization.

Easter Island lies in the pacific ocean about 2000 miles west of South America. This Island was discovered in 1722 by Jacob Roggeveen. According to Roggeveen, the Island was a Wasteland in 1722 because there were to forest, wildlife, bird life and natural resources, rather than only dry bushes, insects, domestic chickens and barren lands. The Island was occupied by 2000 Polynesian people. The first settlers of Easter Island ate the meat of sea birds, the land birds, rate and seals. Their only source of energy for cooking was the firewood of the jungle. In the course of time, the jungle area gradually diminished because of deforestation. The destruction of the forest had a serious impact on all the creatures dwelling in that island.

The Islanders were totally isolated, unaware that other people existed. They had no knowledge that their exploitation of nature would lead them to such condition. As the forest disappeared, life became more uncomfortable and complex. Springs and streams dried up, woods were no longer available for fires. And people also found it harder to fill their stomach. When they had nothing to eat for their survival, they began killing each other. They also revolted against the government. By around 1700, the population began to crash toward between one-quarter and one-tenth of its former number. Around 1770, they probably stared to destroy the statues of their enemies' camp. Thus, Easter's civilization got declined. As a result, the lost civilization of the Easter Island is very much painful to all mankind since people today are easily affected by the global issue.

Easter Island's most famous feature is its huge stone statues. DNA extracted from 12 Eastern Island skeletons was shown to be Polynesian. According to the researchers, the first colonists that stepped on Easter Island were Polynesians. They had gone there travelling at least 1400 miles in the good canoes. They found the Island as pristine paradise. At that time, there was dense forest, rich food, good wild life, many springs and other resources. Life was really comfortable gut with the growth of the population; the Islanders began to exploit the natural resources. Then, there was the decline of Easter's civilization.

Thus, most of the serious global issues like population growth, exploitation of nature, hunger, war are the present problems. So, if we do not learn serious lesson from the histories of vanished civilization of Easter Island, our own civilization and coming generations will be surely in danger. Anyway, this is our right time to think and do in order to save our existence and civilization.

A Sound of Thunder

                                                                                          Ray Bradbury, USA (1920 - )
Summary in English

"The Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury is a scientific fiction that makes a critique on the modern society. It deals with wonderful safari on a time machine through not space but time to enjoy the thrill of hunting the monstrous beast. It can also be discovered as the "Butterfly Effect". Furthermore, the death of an animal, plant or an insect can change the view of the world because they are all part of ecosystem.

The central character of this story is a thrill-speaker, Eckels who sees an advertisement on the office wall. When Eckels enters the Time Safari Inc, he is shown photos of dinosaurs, and promised that they were really taken only yesterday. Eckels and the others in the office express their happiness that Keith has become the president of America. He gets on the Time Machine with other four people. He is strongly advised by Mr. Travis, the guide, not to do what is not allowed.

Eckels could enjoy the thrill of hunting just by paying ten thousand dollars. He pays that amount and the safari begins there are penalties for shooting without permission. Travis demands him a biographical computer card. In fact, Eckels is a hunter who claims to have shot everything in the world. He says frankly that he is bored, that is why he has come to Time Safari Inc.

The guide, Travis makes Eckels choose a weapon. Then, Eckels picks up the biggest. And both of them with other two hunters move towards the time machine landed in the forest of sixty millions two thousand fifty five years back. They arrive in the jungle. Travis explains that they must not leave the path at any time. Eckels is very excited to enjoy the severest thrill of hunting the monstrous lizard like animal called dinosaurs, a giant animal with 30 feet height and huge weight appears in front of the machine. They shoot the giant animal turn by turn. But they become failure to kill it.

Suddenly, a giant tree feel upon the Dinosaurs and it fall on the ground with loud roar. There is the full of blood and huge heap of flesh. The time machine is also full of blood. At the same time, Eckels steps out of the metal path and kicks some dirt of earth. That is the serious mistake committed by Eckels.

The time machine returns to the present. Nothing is same that they have left in the morning. Everything is upset. Keith is not the president of the USA. The biosphere, the politics, the human history, civilization, eco-cycle, i.e. everything is upset.

Mr. Eckels finds out a butterfly dead embedded with mud in his shoes. He regrets and wants to pay millions of dollars as compensation. But he could not mistake the butterfly alive. Similarly, he could not maintain balance in the biosphere. Finally, Eckels is shot and dead by Mr. Travis for his fatal error. So, there is a sound of thunder.

Where the Mind Is Without Fear

                                                                                 Rabindranath Tagore, India (1861 – 1941)
Summary in English

"Where the Mind is Without Fear" is one of the influential and persuasive poems by the Nobel Prize winner poet, Rabindranath Tagore. The poem focuses on true patriotism of the world so that human beings live, work and help with light in the absence of darkness, discrimination, fear and violence. It also represents that peaceful and happy life remains as if there is peaceful mind.

The poet makes a satire looking at full of violence, fear, discrimination, hatred throughout the modern world. Therefore, by poem he wishes all people and world to be without any kind of darkness, fear, war and discrimination. So, he wishes and wants to go to or to be in such world where there is love, wisdom, light, peace and freedom. Anyway, he wishes to change the face of present world.

The poet reflects that the present world is full of darkness, evils, fear and injustice. So, this world is like hell. Fear has ruled over people's mind. The knowledge possessed by human beings is not free from such fear and violence. Inequality, conflict, war, selfishness, jealousy, violence and corruption have dominated in the human society as well as all over the world. In such world, self-respect, dignity, love, help, peace, equality and justice have been made shadow. The poet further says that human beings have broken the world into different parts and they take other people as their enemies. Therefore, there is no existence of harmious relation among the people of the world as well as peaceful world itself. The concept of humanity, spiritualism and brotherhood feeling has been disappeared in this world.

On the other hand, the poet wishes to see and be the world with lightness, peace and freedom. In such world, people start loving each other, help and united each other. They take all people equal and behave with justice. There is no fear, war and discrimination rather knowledge is free and constructive. He wants to see the world of freedom, peace, humanity, justice, unity and co-operation. For that, the poet prays to God to reform his society, country and the world as the heaven of freedom.

What is Intelligence, Anyway?

                                                                                           Isaac Asimov, USA (1920 – 1992)

Summary in English

Asimov argues that intelligence is not absolute but is a function of the society we live in and of the fact that a small subsection of that society has managed to impose itself on the rest as an arbiter of such matters. Asimov explains that there is more than one kind of intelligence. He realizes that if an intelligence test required to him to use his hand to repair something, he would get a low score. First, being intelligence can have many ways. Academic education is one way of it. Second, the universe and knowledge in the world are limitless while a human being's intelligence is limited.

According to the writer, intelligence can never be determined by only one dimensional IQ test. Human minds are the unique mixture of intelligence and stupidity. In fact, our intelligence and skills are the products of the small subsection of the society where we live in.

When Asimov was in the Army, he received the kind of aptitude test and scored 160, against a normal of 100. In the one hand, he is pleased to have such intelligence. At the same time, he is not more intelligence because he can't fix a car by himself. So, he must go take help of an autorepair man. Therefore, he assumes that he is inferior to farmer, carpenter or autorepair man in terms of intelligence they have in the particular field. He says that even the great scholars as academicians can be proved to be foolish in the fields where their academic training does not work. The writer criticizes western tradition of measuring intelligence which is based on prejudices and discrimination, too.

TV Can be a Good Parent

                                                                                               Ariel Gore, USA (1970 - )
Summary in English

This essay defends on the modern TV culture. TV is a good parent and good friend. It socializes children at home when the single mothers go to work. In other words, TV is a boon for the poor and single mothers who can't afford staying at home and caring the children. In a TV environment, a child can use cognitive skills in a fun setting. The writer argues creative thinking of children can be developed by asking them questions about the shows they are watching on television.
The writer compares her past childhood life with her daughter who is child at present and shows the great role of TV. In the past, TV was not necessary. Child care was communal. The poor mothers helped to care each other's children. For example; when the writer was a small child, there was no TV at home. Her mother could afford to stay at home and look after her daughter. So, TV was not necessary. Life was cheap and easy. In the contrast, life has become very complex and expensive at present. So, she as mother could not afford staying at home and socializing her daughter. In fact, mothers have been facing great problems. When she comes home, she sees her daughter spoiling her uniform. TV takes care of her daughter better programme takes care of her daughter. The government does not provide welfare programmes and child care assistance for the poor and single mothers.
AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) presents the guidelines and claims that TV hampers the growth of healthy brain and development of appropriate social, emotional and cognitive skills. The writer believes on this assumption. But she rejects the assumption that they do not think that TV can mot more is interactive. Thus, she argues that TV in integral part for the children when the poor single mothers go to work leaving the house. So, TV functions as the second mother for those children.

To Know a Fly

                                                                       Vincent Gaston Dethier, USA (1915 – 1993)
Summary in English

to know fly

The essay "To Know a Fly" is about the beauty of scientific discoveries and investigations. According to essayist, a property conducted experiment is a beautiful thing. It is a victory of conquest or inquiry. An experiment is a scientific way of asking nature a question. Experiment depends on the act of faith and proper observation. However, some scientists commit scientific crimes. They involve into foolish and wrong investigation so that they would bring the hasty conclusion. This is due to the lack of proper experimental control and confusion of correlation with cause and effect in the name of scientific experiment.
Scientific experiment is not a game for a disorderly mind. It is based on the cause and effect where one can get meaning by reason. Writer talks about commonly committed scientific sin that is the lack of proper experimental control. He gives some example of such scientific sin/crime.
A man makes an experiment on a Flea to justify whether it listens through its ears. When flea jumps up, the man begins to amputate different organs of flea. At last, he amputates the hind legs of the flea so that it couldn't jump. The foolish man does not think of the amputation of all legs rather he becomes happy and assumes that it only listens through the legs.
The next scientific crime is confusing with cause and effect. For example; an apartment house saves the gentle immediately after an earthquake. He says that the building got collapsed because he pulled down the window shade.
There are many types of sugarcane: beet sugar, milk sugar grape sugar, each is chemically different and fly tastes sweet differently. The fly goes there because of the sweetness of sugar but does not go to other artificial sweetness. In this sense, flies accept materials that taste sweet to us. Similarly, when the flies see the food, they fly around it. Then, they stretch their feet and land on the food. It is said that when they know the food, they fly around it and lower down their feet. When the food is tasty, they land on it. They know the tastiness from their feet. This proves that a fly is more sensitive than man. A starving fly is ten million times more sensitive than man. Even a fly reacts differently in case of different things and tastes.
Therefore, the writer talks about an experiment about flies. He says that the experiments about flies began few decades ago. In short, this essay shows that scientists should arrive at conclusion through scientific processes, experiments and observation.

To His Coy Mistress

                                                                             Andrew Marvell, England (1621 – 1678)
Summary in English

  "To His Coy Mistress" is divided into three stanza or poetic paragraphs. It is spoken by a nameless man, who does not reveal any physical or biographical details about himself to a nameless woman, who is also biographiless.
During the first stanza, the speaker tells the mistress that if they had more time and space, her coyness wouldn't be a crime. He extends this discussion by describing how much he would compliment her and admire her. He would focus on "each part" of her body until he got the heart (and 'heart' here is both a metaphor for sex and a metaphor for love).
In the second stanza he says, "We don't have the time, we are about to die!" He tells her that life is short, but death is forever. In a shocking moment, he warns her that when she's in the coffin, warms will try to take her "virginity" if she doesn't have sex with him before they die. If she refuses to have sex with him, there will be repercussion for him, too. All his sexual desire will born up to "ashes" for all the time.
In the third stanza he says, "I have told you what will happen when you die, so let's have sex while we're still young". Then, he wants to play a game. He suggests furthermore that they release all their pain and frustrations having the sex act and be free. In the final couplet, he calms down a little. He says that having sex can't make the "sun" stop moving. Whenever we have sex, we pursue time instead of time pursues us.
This poem is a metaphysical one since it combines the physical and spiritual love. The speaker (lover) tries his best to involve his beloved into sexual game. He even says that beauty, charm, virginity, power, youth can't be fresh forever because when we enter into the grave or die, all these things will be meaningless. Therefore, one has to have the experience of all these desires on time.

Third Thoughts

                                                                                     E. V. Lucas, England (1868 – 1938)
Summary in English

This story 'Third Thoughts' is by E. V. Lucas about how the human mind is changing so as the thoughts keep on changing in the present business world. People have become more materialist, selfish, mechanical, and money-minded. These all are caused by the practice and result of business world. Furthermore, this story tries to represent that there is bargaining, buying and selling, profit and loss and nothing else without considering sympathy, love, liberalism and kinds, etc. in business. In fact, feelings and emotions or sentiments have nothing to do with business. No doubt, the dealer (seller) tries to get much more benefit from the customer and the customer (buyer) tries to make bargaining to get the thing at low price. At a certain point, both parties agree. The thing is sold thereafter; there is no any relation between the customer and the dealer.
This story is told to the writer by his friend. One day writer's friend goes to London and on the way he sees a beautiful shop with colorful painting. He loves that painting very much and thinks its price very expensive. Then, he wants to know the actual price so that he directly goes to the shop and asks to dealer. The shopkeeper says that the price of that pointing is only ten shillings. Then, he becomes happy and buys the painting and returns back.
He sells the painting for fifty pound. It is the largest profit he has never made earlier. Then, he also thinks to share half of the profit with the dealer. But that night he again thinks and in the early morning he himself thinks not to share since it is his luck and skill to get such profit. But at night he again thinks that he is ready to give ten pound, but at last he decides to five, then, one pound to his dealer.
Deciding to give only one pound to his dealer, he writes a letter and makes checque according. Then, he goes to club to play card thinking that he has enough money. He loses all money except one pound that he has decided to send to his dealer. At last, he feels hungry and takes breakfast paying even that one pound. Therefore, neither he sends the profit to his dealer nor he saves but all is lost. At last, he gets relief saying that there is no love, kindness, feelings and sentiments nut only loss and profit in business.

The Wretched Stone

                                                                                           Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949 - )
Summary in English

'The Wretched Stone' is a metaphorical story that critiques on modern TV Culture. It presents the disadvantages of modern TV Culture. The writer says that modern TV set is like the Wretched stone. TV is a curse. In short, this story is a criticism on TV that has caused a great disturbance in working activities.
The voyage starts on May 8 that the captain Randall Ethan Hope is sailing the Rita Anne. The weather is pleasant with clear sky, fair winds and fresh breeze. The crew members are singers, story tellers, musicians, dancers and readers. So, they are fine and interesting people. There is no boredom. The voyage goes on smoothly for few days.
On 5th of June, the captain and his crew members see a strange Island which is not recorded on the map. They hope to get some fresh fruit there. They go there but they could not find any fruit or life in the Island. There are only flavors but not fruits, plants but no life. Water is there but bitter to drink.
On the Island they find an extra ordinary rock: two feet across, grey in color, flat and smooth like glass. It has glowing light and is pleasing to look at. It requires six men to lift it. They take it abroad. The crew members are fascinated to it. They gaze it in silence missing music, storytelling and reading. They seem perfectly happy. They rarely speak. They believe that the captain can sail the boat alone. So, they show some abnormal behavior thereafter.
On 15th June, they encounter a great sea storm. The captain is unable to sail the ship alone. He sees a horrible scene inside. They are not men anymore, but apes, hairy beasts sitting and grinning at the terrible rock. They do not understand the words captain says. They are sitting around the wretched stone. Because of the positive effect of the treatment, the apes come back to human life.
They are sad without the stone. However, the writer is hopeful for a rescue. Gradually, all men return to Hormel condition. Then, they start reading as well. They are saved. A ship appears to resume them and decide to leave the Rita Anne, their ship. Before they leave the ship, they also decided to set fire on the wretched stone. Finally, Rita Anne is burnt along with the wretched stone. They also agree not to tell anybody about the strange events.

The Telegram on the Table

                                                                                        Parashu Pradhan, Nepal (1943 - )

Summary in English

"The Telegram on the Table" is a most popular story written by Parashu Pradhan. The major character of the story is Krishna. This story makes a satire to those Nepalese youths who dream of the foreign land but forget and ignore their own motherland. In addition, this story centers on complex.

Krishna was born in the remote village of Nepal. After completing his school education, he comes to Kathmandu to fulfill his colorful desire leaving his parents and the society. From the very childhood, he has a golden dream to go to America. In Kathmandu, he learns English and works as a tourist guide. After being a tourist guide, he is influenced by the western music and culture.

Krishna passes several years to take tourists to different places describing them about the culture, customs, history, religion and archaeology of Nepal. He then forgets all about his birth place, beautiful village, parents and his wife. As a hardworking man, he forgets himself with the golden dreams of foreign land, America.

Krishna runs after money in the material individual city life in Kathmandu. Neither he visits his birth place and parents nor writes or informs anything about him. One night when he is ready to go to bed, he sees a telegram on the table.

Krishna reads the message "your wife died yesterday." After reading, he throws the telegram on the table and takes rest since it is late night. He forgets it for a week. It means as he gets the information of his death wife, he does not regret nor plans to go to his house.

However, after few weeks, he remembers about his death wife. He could not sleep at night. As he thinks his present profession, he gets no relief rather his death wife always comes as a memory in his mind. He compares his present life (being alone in the city) with past life (being together with his parents, wife and society). He starts hating himself because of being cruel, individual and selfish forgetting and missing his parents, wife and birth place. He even regrets on his dream of America as the main cause to forget and ignore his family and society. At the end, being alone with full of tears in his eyes he cries a lot realizing the realistic life in the city as the full of suffering, pain, alienation and regret.

The Stub Book

                                                                      Pedro Antonio de Alarcon, Spain (1833 – 1891)
Summary in English

This is a short Spanish story by Alarcon. The major event of the story beings in Rota, the smallest town in the bay of Cadiz. Rota is the smallest of those pretty towns that forms the great semisecret of the bay of Cadiz. The major character of the story is Uncle Buscabeatas who solves the mystery of lost pumpkins by using his creative and critical mind. Therefore, this story tries to represent the dedicated hardworking farmers of the town, Rota.
The land is fertile where hardworking farmers can grow crops three or four times per year. As uncle Buscabeatas a hardworking farmer, he seeks fertilizer for the groups. For that, he attends daily and takes care of the plants. He loves them too much and gives different names, too. In other words, he loves his vegetables and fruits like his own children.
Uncle Buscabeatas had grown forty good pumpkins. He worked very hard to love and take care of them. He was very conscious of size, number and names of all pumpkins. He decided to see those pumpkins in the market so that he could get the money as the successful achievements of his work or profession. He made a golden dream for that. However, his plan and dream got failed when all his pumpkins were lost next morning.
After losing all pumpkins, he became so sad and guessed that the thief his pumpkins to the market and sold them for money. Thinking such, he directly went to the market. He reported a policemen and he went to vegetable market along with him (Policemen). Several people gathering along with Inspector about this case. As inspector asked who stole his pumpkins, Uncle Buscabeatas recognized that his pumpkins were stolen by Uncle Fulano. He already came to know that Uncle Fulano did not have good crops in his farm. Then, people started laughed at him when he told different names of his lost pumpkins.
There was a great debate between Uncle Buscabeatas and Uncle Fulano about the lost pumpkins. Uncle Fulano challenged him to show the proof. Uncle Buscabeatas started matching the steams with the pumpkins to show proof among the people. At the end, all people supported Uncle Buscabeatas. He got victory over Uncle Fulano. In short, Uncle Buscabeatas got praised in his truth proof and Uncle Fulano got punished/arrested in his crime.

The Making of a Scientist

                                                                                             V. S. Ramachandra, India (1951 - )
Summary in English 

This essay talks the qualities or characteristic for being a successful scientist. Curiosity is one of the most important qualities to suit oneself for career in science. He/she needs good family background as well as high motivation. In addition, Science flourishes well in an atmosphere of complete freedom and financial independence.
The writer was highly influenced by his science teachers and his science mined uncle. His parents equally encouraged him by collecting and providing necessary materials and equipments. The writer was fascinated by science from the age of eleven. Nature was his friend and society. He loved history, particularly the study of ancient Indian history, archaeology, art, anthropology and ethnology. Botany was also his passion. He conducted experiments on plants and bugs. He also believed that many subjects he studied have many things in common. He was very much interested in neurology. There are two reasons why the writer was attracted to neurology. First, it was new-based research to carry out. Second, he chose neurology is obviously the curiosity to know about himself.
Ramachandran says that where there is atmosphere of complete freedom and financial independence, science and scientists flourish. He regards science as a great fun. Technology drives science as surely as ideas do. So, he believes that ideas and technology are equally important for science. How we use the tools of science are of great importance. His claims are of great importance. He claims that a scientific discovery receives more significance if it is made without delay. He says that science was a greatly existing subject during the Victorian era. Finally, he criticizes the modern methodology and science for just becoming a boring enterprise. Rather he praises the science of ancient Greece as well as science of Victorian age.

The Lunatic

      
                                                                        Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Nepal (1909 – 1959)
Summary in English

"The Lunatic" by Devkota is an autobiographical poem. The poet appears at the center of modern society wearing the mask of a Lunatic speaker and attack the modern corrupted world. This is the translated version of the Nepali poem "Pagal" by the poet himself. Each stanza brings out a different aspect of the speaker's character: confidence, abnormality, imagination, sensitivity, anger and awful majesty. The poet exposes the evils, corruptions, ugliness, injustices, prejudices and discrimination that are prevalent in the modern Nepalese society.
In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker is mad. It means he is a Lunatic person and attacks so-called sane world and its evils. Sane people are overconfident, oversensitive and extremely proud hollowly intellectual achievements. They always feel but do not think. In fact, emotional aspect of human soul is focused by the poet. In the second stanza, the speaker has pointed out the facts that prove a man insane. The world of the so-called insane people is the world of average understanding.
The speaker as a lunatic claims that he sees the sound and hears the sights. He tastes the fragrance and smells the taste. Similarly, he sees the flowers and beauty in the stones. He also touches the things thinner than air and believes the things of existence of which the sane world denies. He also communicates with the birds and animals. However, in the lunatic's world, everything is seen positively, but in the world of sane people, everything is viewed negatively. The lunatic speaker argues that he has even the sixth sense. He dances in the nature with the songs of cuckoo. Therefore, he says that he is mad at this condition.
The speaker compares and contrasts the world of sane with the world of insane. In the world of ordinary beings, the interpretation made with the sixth senses is not only illegible and incomplete but also nonsense, the corrupted person enjoys the time with wine and prostitutes, has no sense of humanity and judges everything from monetary point of view. If the person who dares to speak of their irrationality is to be mad, the speaker accepts that he is mad. The lunatic speaker says that he is emotional and works with heart. He melts and flows. He is like poetry. On the other hand, sane people are like prose (essay). They work with mind. The heaven of the sane is his hell. Their religion is his sin, and king is a beggar for him, their gold and diamond are valueless for him. Sane people think that they have five senses, they like progression, nature is unremarkable, they believe things is unremarkable, they believe things have limited meaning. In contrast, insane people are in miserable condition and say that they have six senses. They claim that their heart works over mind and the things have limitless meaning. For them, heaven is hell and progression as regression but nature is remarkable and enlightened one.

The Library Card

                                                                                    Richard Wright, USA (1908 – 1960)
Summary in English

This is an autobiographical story which focuses on the importance of education that helps us understand ourselves, others, the mysteries of the world and the essence of life. In addition, it shows the racial discrimination between the white and the black people in America.
The writer as a Negro boy reads a newspaper editorial in the lobby of a bank. He finds the article about H.L. Mencken, popular white writer. Mencken was badly denounced (hated) by the white race. The writer has never read such a sharp criticism to the white writer by the white races. It is because the boy has had bitter experience of the social and color discrimination. White people have never sympathy for the black rather they are taken as out-caste or animals. Therefore, Richard Wright is curious to know the reason of hatred and is highly inspired to real his books. Therefore, he wants to go to library to obtain the books by Mencken.
However, blacks are deprived of their rights, freedom, education, equality, justice and other opportunities. They are not allowed to use the library. Being black, the writer does not have a library card of his own. But he starts serving many white men on collecting books from the library thinking that he can get chance to use library card.
One day, his boss Mr. Falk, an Irish Catholic, gives him his two library cards. He warns the boy (writer) to use the card properly so that he would not get in trouble. However, the white librarian refuses to lend the books without the permission letter of the owner of the cards. Anyway, the boy uses his creative mind and forges a note i.e. the white man's name in the card, and collects books from the library.
The writer firstly reads "Prefaces" and "Prejudice" by Mencken. In the initial phase, because of his limited knowledge and poor English, he could not understand the books. However, he soon realizes that words could be more powerful than any weapons. He returns those books and borrows the other ones. His reading helps him to understand more about life and people. He becomes quite intelligent. He realizes the sufferings of slaves, suppression and oppression of cruel law by the white against the black. The hatred of the white men arises bitter feeling in his conscious mind and heart. Finally, he becomes the successful writer and scholar to fight against racial discrimination and prejudices of the whites over blacks in America.

The Great Answer

                                                                                        Fulton Ourseler, USA (1893 – 1852)
Summary in English 

"The Great Answer" is a persuasive short story by Fulton Ourseler. This story represents that life is full of challenges, troubles and problems that we can solves if we have the courage, self-confidence and socialized positive thinking. In our every step of life, these things play the vital role make our work and life meaningful.
The story takes place at a small town near the Spanish border. Many people (refugees, men, and women) are lodged in the Boarding house of the village who are feeling fear from the German police and by the Nazi armies. They are at the danger of being arrested by the Gestapo police of Nazi and being put into the concentration camp. If they were found by the Nazi police, they would be bitterly killed. They try to enter into Spain; however, the security guards don't allow them to enter. So, they remain no hope of survival rather feel deathing in life.
However, one night a stranger comes to Boarding School and says that he is volunteer from the underworld. He further says that he is sent by God for their rescue. He clearly tells them that he wants to guide them to Spain despite challenges in the darkness of the night. But he is confident that God would help in such difficult situation.
The refugees feel relief after listening the stranger's speech. They think have no alternative way than to take help from him. However, those people belong to different ages, for example; mother with her 4 years old child, three old people and others young ones. Anyway, all of them follow guide. They climb up the difficult mountain in the moonlight.
During their journey, the oldest man loses his courage and tells that it is better to die than to face such difficulties. But the leader (guide) encourages him that they would help in their problem each other. Then, old people get encouraged and short walking carrying the little daughter on their shoulders turn by turn. Finally, they become success to cross the border line and enter into safe country.
When they cross the border line and arrive at peaceful place, all people (refugees, old men, mother, and young men) feel new life. They are encouraged to face a new world of freedom. In fact, this is the great answer for the thoughtful journey of human life.

The Cabuliwallah

                                                                                          Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941)
Summary in English

"The Cabuliwallah" by Rabindranath Tagore is a psychological story that deals with the nature of the children, parents and vendor. It also talks about domestic matter in which the parents should understand the nature (psychology) of the children. In addition, it tries to shows the class and caste discrimination, too. This story also reflects that we do have friendly relationship with stronger in the assumptions that helping to mankind is helping to ourselves.
Tagore has 5 years old daughter named Mini who is very talkative. She often comes to ask questions while he is busy in his work of writing. She also asks nonsensical questions to her father, Tagore. One day she sees a Cabuliwallah walking slowly along the street. Really, there is a Cabuliwallah, (fruit seller from Cabul) in dirty clothes carrying a bag on his back and box of grapes in his hand. As Cabuliwallah looks up, she runs to her mother.
The real name of Cabuliwallah is Abdur Rahman. He comes to the house of the writer in Calcutta. The writer buys some dry fruits for Mini. The Cabuliwallah gives Mini some nuts and raisins. Then, every time he comes to the writer's house and gives her something as a gift. Gradually, they become close friends. They talk and laugh for a long time. The writer is happy but his wife doubts. In her view, vendors are bad people because they may also steal the children. So, she does not like Mini's friendship with the Cabuliwallah.
One morning Tagore sees the Cabuliwallah walking blood stained. Two policemen are following him. The reason is that Cabuliwallah has punished a man to death when that man refuses to pay the money of the fruits. Mini arrives in the scene and asks whatever he is going to his father-in-law's house. He laughs and replies that he is going there. Then, he spends many years in the prison.
Mini grows up and forgets Cabuliwallah. After few years, Cabuliwallah is released from the jail. He comes to meet Mini. He observes there is the marriage ceremony in the house of writer. He could not believe that it is little Mini in the beautiful weeding aspiration. Unfortunately, he looks Mini in beautiful bride's dress. He finds everyone busy in the house. He gives a token of gift to the writer but the writer tries to pay. Rahman refuses to take money saying that he has also daughter like Mini names Parbati. When Rahman shows the letter to the writer, the writer is touched by his grief and tears. Rahman is surprised to see Mini. He imagines he could not bring back their past friendship. However, he asks her whether she is going to her father-in-law house and she feels ashamed because she now knows the meaning of the father-in-law. At the end of the story, Tagore gives him 100 rupees and tells him to go back to his house and join a company with his daughter.