UNIT – 1
CHILDREN OF COURAGE
BRAVERY AWARDS
Every year the ICCW (Indian Council of Child Welfare) awards brave children. About 24 children below the age of 16 are awarded. The national awards for bravery began in 1957. Let us know how it all began.
It was 2nd October 1947, India’s First prime minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru was watching a programme at Delhi’s Ramleela ground. A fire broke out in a shamiana. Harish Chandra, a 14 year old scout, quickly cut open the burning shamiana, with his knife. This saved the lives of hundreds of people. Pt Nehru was inspired to begin the awards. Harish Chandra was the first to get the award.
The bravery awards are announced on November 14(Children’s Day). The Prime Minister presents these awards on the eve of Republic Day. The awardees get a medal, a certificate and cash as a mark of their bravery. Some of them are given scholarship to complete their higher- studies. On 26th January, those brave children participate in the Republic Day parade, in New Delhi. They are carried on the back of the elephants in the parade. Some children show great courage in difficult moments and they are awarded for their courage. The award helps them to act bravely in their real life situation.
Let us know the brave acts of some of these children.
In 2008, six year old twins, Gagan and Bhoomika of Bangalore, saved an eighteen month child. The twins were sitting in their father’s car. They saw two bulls running towards each other. There was a child lying in their path. The two at once ran and pulled the child away.
Rahul, a twelve years old balloon seller, was also awarded in 2008. He informed the police, about the men who planted bombs on one of the important roads. This helped the police to find out the criminals. Silver Kharbani of Meghalaya, saved the life of her young cousin from fire. Vishal Patil of Maharastra saved a woman and her child from drowning .
In 2009, 21children were awarded for their bravery. Among them, 13 year old Gaurav Singh Saini, from Haryana, saved 50-60 people, during a stampede at the Naina Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh.
Maibam Prity Devi of Manipura, aged 10, saved many lives. She used her bare hands to get rid of a live grenade and a metal piece of exploded grenade hit her leg and remained inside. Her aim is to join the Police Force. In 2010, Priyanshu Doshi, from Uttarakhand fought off a leopard which attacked his sister. She was saved and he was awarded for his brave act. Gurjeevan Singh from Punjab stopped a bank -robbery by throwing bricks at the robbers. Moonis Khan (15) from Madhya Pradesh got the award for saving an old man from a railway accident. We salute these brave children.
UNIT -2
LOVE FOR ANIMALS
While returning home from school, Meghana and Nithin saw a man walking with his dog. The man is trying to tell his dog something and the dog seems to be answering him by barking. Watching this, Meghana remembered a story about Ramana Maharshi. Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi was probably the most famous Indian sage fo twentieth century.
Meghana: Do you know anything about ‘Ramana Maharshi’?
Nithin : No. I don’t. Why? Was he famous?
Meghana: Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi loved animals and birds.
Nithin : Can you tell me more about Ramana Maharshi ?
Meghana: Listen. Even animals liked him. He spoke to them just as he would speak with people.
Nithin : You mean, just like this man we saw, talking to his dog?
Meghana:Yes. He called the dogs “boys” and his cow “Lakshmi”. He used to say “Are the boys eating their food?”
Nithin : Really?
Meghana: Yes, and he used to say “Give Lakshmi some rice”.
Nithin : Where did he keep all these animals?
Meghana: In his Ashram. He always ate only after giving food to animals and birds.
Nithin : Even birds?
Meghana: Yes. Ramana Maharshi called the peococks by making their sounds. Then they would come to him and eat peanuts, rice and mangoes with his hands.
Nithin : That’s interesting Meghana, will you please tell me more about him and animals?
Meghana: Yes, listen. One day, Maharshi was sitting on a hillside. A snake crawled over his legs. He did not move. Later someone asked him, what he felt like? He replied “cool and soft!”
Nithin : My God! I would have cried and run away. Did anyone kill the snakes in his Ashram?
Meghana: NO, Maharshi did not allow anybody to kill snakes. He said “It is their home. We have no right to kill them. They do not harm us. Oh! We are nearing our homes. I will continue tomorrow.
Nitin : Yes, thanks a lot. Who told you all these stories?
Meghana: My grand -mother. She tells us stories everyday. Bye.
Nitin : Tell me more tomorrow. See you, bye.
Unit -3
FAIR PLAY
It was the sports day of the school. Mukul Sharma was one of the good students of the school. He was reading the oath. His mother entered and sat in a vacant chair beside my mother. In his speech, Mukul Sharma spoke about fairness, honesty, and friendship as the true spirit of sports. He might be proud of his mother as she was dressed in her fashionable chudidar set and high-heeled shoes. But my mother was in her traditional saree and looked very different.
During the sports events, Mukul won many prizes, but I was unable to win a single prize. When students’ events were over, the principal encouraged the parents to participate in their item. Mukul’s mother rose to take part; then a few others. Surprisingly my mother too followed the other ladies.
The game was –‘musical chair’. All the participants began to walk around the chairs, when the music started. Mallika, one of the audience cheered my mother. My mother was playing carefully. Finally my mother and Mukul’s mother were circling around a single chair in the centre. When music stopped, my mother was almost about to sit in the chair but suddenly Mukul’s mother gave a powerful push and my mother stumbled. Mukul’s mother sat in the chair and clapped in delight. “This is cheating” Mallika shouted once again. I helped my mother to control herself.
The principal congratulated Mukul’s mother and called Mukul to hand over the prize. Mukul carried the bunch of red roses, walked towards the stage. Instead of going to his mother, he went to my mother, and congratulated her on her victory. Everybody including my mother and me was greatly surprised. My mother muttered “No,no, I didn’t win the game. It’s your mother.” But Mukul said in a firm voice, “No, Actually you are the winner. Your opponent cheated you to win the game. It’s fair to give the prize to its actual winner, who played fairly without cheating anybody”. Everybody appreciated Mukul Sharma, for his sportiveness.
Unit-5
TANSEN
Tansen was one of the greatest musicians of our country. He was the only son of the poet and skilled musician Mukandan Mishra. He was born in 1506 in Satna, near Gwalior.
As a child, Tansen could copy the sounds of animals perfectly. Once a famous singer, Swami Haridas was travelling in the forest with his students. The young Tansen roared like a lion, to frighten them. They were all frightened and they hid behind the trees. After finding out that this was a play-ful trick, Swami Haridas was very impressed by Tansen’s ability. Swami Haridas kept Tansen with him and trained him. Tansen was just ten years old at that time. Within eleven years, he became a famous singrer. He could ferform extra ordinary feats (deeds of adventures). For example, if he sang the evening raaga, during day time, it would look as if it were evening already.
Tansen won the heart of the famous mughal king, Akbar and soon became his court musician. He was called one of the nine jewels in Akbar’s court (Navaratna). However some courtiers felt angry with Tansen. One of them Shaukat Mian thought of plot to put Tansen into trouble. He told Akbar, that Tansen could make diyas (lamps), light up with his singing. The courtiers thought that if Tansen failed in duing this, clearly his music skills would be considered just ordinary. But if he succeeded, he could die singing the raaga because it would produce so much heat that his body would be burnt.
The next day, Akbar asked Tansen, to sing Raag Deepak. Tansen understood that his enemies were behind this. He had taught ‘Raag Megh Malhaar(a raag that brings rain)to his daughter Saraswati and her friend Rupmati.He asked them to sing it soon after the lampswere lit by his singing.
On the fixed day, the court was filled with people. When he started singing, the temperature began to rise. People began to sweat andtrees dried up. Water began to boil and people cried. Flames shot up to light the lamps.
Now Tansen’s daughter and Rupmati began to sing Raag Megh Malhaar. It started raining and Tansen the gifted musician was saved. Akbar felt sorry for putting Tansen into trouble and punished his enemies.
The most famous singer composed many new Raagas.
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