The Monsoon / A Rainy Day

                    In the first week of July, sky was heavily overcast and rain clouds swept across the sky. Strong south westerly winds that blew over the Indian Ocean, brought the monsoon clouds which caused a lot of rain. South westerly monsoon is refeshingly cool and it brings relief to the gasping, heat-stricken people. So it did in July when the temperature rose alarmingly high. Newspapers carried reports of deaths by heat-stroke or exhaustion and the death-toll was mounting every day. A night before it had been oppressively hot and humind. It was dazzling sunrise and the moist dew on the grass glittered in the sunshine. Surprisingly the wind rustled through the swaying tops of trees. That was just splendid. The humid heat was gone in no time. We saw the rolling mass of black clouds across the sky. There was a flash of lightning, quickly followed by a clap of thunder. Large rain drops began to fall. The moment they fell, the dry earth sucked them. It was followed by a heavy shower. In the soothing shadows of dark clouds the streets were turned into streams. The high walls were drenched, the tree-leaves sparkled in glee. Low-lying areas were flooded.The young and the old alike ran up and down the flooded streets. There were scenes of jubilation all around. It rained for about one hour. Light vehicles broke down on the flooded roads. Motor-cyclists slipped and fell in pools of water.  

Libraries

                     With the spread of literacy, libraries have become essential tool for learning. Public instruction is making rapid progress everywhere in Pakistan. It is no more the privilege of the well-to-do only to acquire knowledge as it was not so very long ago. There are schools and colleges in almost every part of the cuntary. Twenty first century dawns with a sure promise to be a century of peace and educational explosion. Naturally when there is thirst for knowledge, there is also an ever-increasing demand for books and magazines. Everybody does not have the means to buy books of all sorts. Mass education programme is bound to suffer adversely if there are no free libraries for students. Our school libraries are not functioning properly. There are practically no reading or borrowing facilities. There is no whole-time staff for libraries. Above all, there is no incentive to read general books or fiction. The few books that may be there in the dusty old almirahs stink awfully. This is mainly so for want of fresh air in the stuffy, locked cupboards. More often the books are just old titles, moth-eaten and worn out. Libraries obviously play an important role in creating a genuine love of books and interest in current affairs. Their reading rooms promote a spirit of discipline, research, enquiry and fellowship. Libraries with a variety of attractive titles have a healthy, beneficial effect on the eager mind of students.

Health

                         "Health is Wealth" is a well khown proverb often quoted by our parents and teachers. When people meet, they usually ask one another "How are you?" "How are you getting on?" Health is precious and certainly a greate blessing of Allah Almighty. Hygienic environment, personel cleanliness, wholesome food and a regular way of life are conducive to health. Early to bed and early to rise, meals at regular times, recreation and rest are sure to make a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Young people, Who have plenty of energy, need to take vigorous athletic exercises in the fresh open air. In case we are run down, overworked, or dreadfully sick we consult a good doctor. He gives us a tonic, or prescribes a special diet. "You are working too hard" ,  he may say, "that's what the trouble is. You cannot go on burning the candle at both ends." Sometime staying at one place, year in and year out, tends to make us weary and stale. It is a signal that what we need is a complete change in our environment. If we go to some other place at the hills or in the countryside, it does us a world of good. Change and fresh air are better than all the tonics in the world. Eatingout is generally avoided by health-conscious men and women. Home-made cookies are the safest and the best in the world.

An Industrial Exhibition

                An industrial exhibition was in Islamabad  in March last year. The intention of the organizers was to exhibit industrial products at one place. The trading community and the general public showed keen interest in the products. Accompanied by my elder brother and sisters, I went round the elegant and brightly litstalls. Exhibits included textiles and garments, electrical goods, household items, handicrafts, glass wares, furniture, sewing machines and stainless steel. The Pakistan Railway and wapda had put up very informatory stalls. Heavy industrial goods, rollers, water pumps, tube-well equipment, motors, fertilizers and machinery were also on display. prices of consumer goods were quite reasonable. Manufacturers were selling their products at reduced rates. Besides, there were food and entertainment stalls which attracted the cheerful crowds. 

Haste Makes Waste

                         A hunter had a beautiful hound who always went hunting with him. The end of the hunters's only son who loved to play with the dog. The master also loved the hound for its friendship with his young son who was only ten years old. The master of the house had no one else in the house. One day, the hunter went out hunting but forgot to take the hound with him. His son was still asleep in his bed. As he reached the edge of the forest he found that he had forgotten to bring the hound with him. He decided to go back and bring the hound. He came home but was afraid to see his hound all bloodstained standing at the gate. The hunter thought that the hound had killed his son. He whipped out his sword and killed the dog. He quickly walked into the house and saw blood pools here and there. Just then he saw his son coming out of his room. The boy told his father how a wolf had come into the house and was about to kill him when the hound pounced upon it and tore it into pieces. The hunter began to cry at his haste in killing the faithful creature.

A Visit to a Museum

                  The Lahore Museume is an important place where works of art, and other objects of historical value are kept and displayed. It is an old imposing building with a high ceiling. The Incharge of the museum is called the curator. Our well-informed teacher took us round different sections of the beautiful museum. There were neatly arranged glass-cases which displayed ancient sword, daggers, garments, ornaments,coins, bows and arrows, There were tags with brief descriptions on most of the items on  display. There were paintings, pictures and clay models of ancient craftsmanship. The huge statue of Queen Victoria lay in one room of the museum. There were old manuscripts of the Holy Quran in another room. Full-size doors and frames with primitive fittings were specimens of rare woodwork craftsmanship. The impressive display in the museum gave us a wealth of information and insight into our past. It was a rewarding visit indeed.