Mother Tongue A “Mother tongue” is the language that a human being learns from infancy. It is normally the native language of that person and he learns it from his parents and other members of the family and it is with this language that he first learns to relate socially with other people. Language is not just a means of communication. To a large extent it pervades our culture and life...

Leadership Someone rightly said, “Leaders are made, not born”. My friend Seanna lost her parents in an auto car accident. Her elder sister, Sharon, was severely injured in the accident. She lost her feet. Seanna was thirteen years old when this happened. Being the youngest, she had always been pampered. All of a sudden Seanna found herself in a situation that she was unfamiliar with. There was no one to guide...

My Favorite Pair of Jeans On my thirteenth birthday, Mom got me my first pair of designer jeans. Low waist, deep blue, ribbed denim. It was amazing how they hugged my legs. I went to school wearing them. Low waist jeans were in fashion and I was so glad I finally had a pair of them. I wish I had a tattoo to show off as well. I got a lot...

Our World in Years I look around at the toxic waste we generate each day, the natural resources like coal and petroleum that we plunder, and the resources that we pollute like water and air and it seems as if we are set on the path of self-destruction. We are a generation of thoughtless, selfish people who do not think past our ‘now’, our ‘present’. Hundred years from now wild animals...

Grandma’s Gramophone and My Ipod Grandma’s gramophone held the pride of place on the table and it was covered with red velvet and lace. The “arm” of the gramophone held a needle that read the grooves in the record by vibration and transmitted the information to the gramophone speaker. Grandmas gramophone was huge with a big bell shaped thing that emitted the music. I looked at my iPod which was tiny...

Friends Friendship is that beautiful bond that binds people. Friendship knows no caste, no creed, and no status. Two people are drawn to each other by things they share in common and they slowly develop a strong bond based on trust, love and understanding. Friends care for each other, love each other, and stand up for each other. They are the little angels that look out for us here on earth....

My Dream The sea was quiet and it seemed as if I was all alone. It was a beautiful day and I turned on my back to float, the sun rays kissing my face. Suddenly a group of clouds came out of nowhere and blocked the sunlight. I was happy, now I could float with my eyes open. As I watched the sky, I noticed that the clouds were so many...

My Summer Vacation Summer vacation at Goa was like a dream come true. The white sand, the swaying palm fronds, the calm waters were picture perfect. No matter where we went in Goa it felt like it was siesta time. This languidness is typical not just of Goa’s landscape, it extends to its inhabitants and it permeates everything around. Dad had rented a little bungalow by the beach and every morning...