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BHARAT IS MY HOME, Zakir Husain, , iii, , DR ZAKIR HUSAIN (1897- 1969), born in Hyderabad, was one of our greatest freedom, fighters as well as an eminent educationist. Dr. Husain became the, President of India in 1967. Earlier he had served as the Governor, of Bihar. ‘Bharat is My Home’ is an extract from the speech he, gave in 1967 after taking the oath as President. In his first speech, as the President of India, Dr Zakir Husain pledges himself “to the, service of the totality of India’s culture”., , , , , , A. Work in small groups and discuss the following:, 4 Charity begins at home., , 2 The entire world is a family., , 3 Individuals and family are interdependent., , , , , , , , BHARAT IS MY HOME, , 1. Imustconfess that I am overwhelmed by the trust my people have placed in me by, electing me to the highest office in the land....., , 2. Dr Radhakrishnan brought to the Presidency a mental equipment, a degree of, erudition and wealth of experience rarely to be found anywhere. During a lifetime, devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and truth, he has done more than probably any, other man to bring out and explain Indian philosophical thought and the oneness ofall, true spiritual values. He has never lost his faith in the essential humanity of man and he, himself has never ceased to champion the right of all men to live in dignity and with, justice., , 3. Ican only assure you that I enter this office in a spirit of prayerful humility and total, dedication. I have just taken the oath of loyalty to the Constitution of India. It is the
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RAINBOW, 16, , Constitution of a comparatively new State which its free citizens have, forthe first time, in history, given to themselves. It is the young State of an ancient people who, through, the long millennia and through cooperation of diverse ethnic elements, have striven to, realise timeless, absolute values in their own peculiar way. I pledge myself to the, service of those values. For, though some concrete realisation of a value may become, inadequate with the change of circumstance, the value remains etemally valid and presses, for newer and fresher realisation. The past is not dead and static, itis alive and dynamic, and is involved in determining the quality of our Present and the prospects of our, future., , The process of its constant renewal is, indeed, the process of growth of national, culture and national character. Itis the business of education, as I see it, to minister this, Constant renewal; and I may be forgiven the Presumption that my choice to this high, office has mainly, if not entirely, been made on account of my long association with the, education of my people. I maintain that education is a prime instrument of national, purpose and that quality of education is inescapably involved in the quality of the, nation., , I, therefore, pledge myself to the loyalty of our past culture from wheresoever it, may have come and by whomsoever it may have been contributed. I pledge myself to, the service of the totality to my country’s culture. I pledge my loyalty to my country,, irrespective of religion or language: Ipledge myself to work for its strength and progress, and for the welfare of its people without distinctions of caste, colour or creed. The, whole of Bharat is my home and its people are my family. The people have chosen to, make me the head of this family fora certain time. Itshall be my earnest endeavour to, seek to make this home strong and beautiful, aworthy home fora great people engaged, in the fascinating task of building up a just and prosperous and graceful life., , . _ The family is big and is constantly growing ata rather inconveniently fast pace. We, shall, each one of us, have to participate unsparingly in building its new life, each in, his own way. For sheer size the tasks ahead of us are so demanding that no one can, afford to sit back and just watch or let frustration become endemic in our country, The, situation demands of us work, work and more work, silent and sincere work, solid, and steady reconstruction of the whole material and cultural life of our People., - _ This work, as I see it, has two aspects: work on one’s self and work for the society, around. They are mutually fruitful aspects of work. The work on one’s self is to follow, the urge towards moral development as a free person and under self-imposed discipline,, which alone can render that development possible. Its end-product is a free moral, personality. We can neglect the end- product only at our peril. This end-product, cannot sustain itself without Seeking and exercising itself to bring about the
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=~ BHARAT IS MY HOME, , aie 17, approximation of the society to which it is privileged to serve to a better, a juster and, amore graceful way of life. The individual cannot grow in full perfection without a, corresponding advance of the collective social existence. Let us resolve to get wholeheartedly engaged in these two aspects of work — individual and social., , 8. This dual effort will give to the life of our State a special flavour. For the State to us, will not be just an organisation of power but a moral organisation. Itis a part of national, temperament and inheritance from the great leader of our liberation movement,, Mahatma Gandhi, that power should be used only for moral purposes. The peace of, the strong is what we shall dedicate ourselves to work for., , 9. Thave full faith in my people that they will bring forth the energy requisite for the, satisfactory performance of this dual task. It shall be my privilege to contribute my, share to this enchanting enterprise., , , , , , , , B.1. 1.Complete the following sentences on the basis of the, lesson:, a) Dr Radhakrishnan never lost his faith in, b) Dr Radhakrishnan always championed, c) Or Zakir Husain entered the office of the President in a, spirit of.............., d) According to Dr Zakir Husain, the value remaii, e) According to Dr Zakir Husain, education is, , , , , , , , , , , , , B.1. 2. Answer the following questions briefly:, , 4) What did Dr Radhakrishnan bring to the Presidency?, , 2) What oath did Dr Zakir Husain take of?, , 3) What is the business of education?, , 4) What did Or Zakir Husain pledge himself to?, , 5) What does ‘work on one’s self? mean? What is its end-product?, , 6) What shall we dedicate ourselves to?, , 7) When was Dr Zakir Husain born?, , 8) How long did Dr Zakir Husain live?, , 9) On what occasion did Dr Zakir Husain deliver this speech?, , 10) Why does Dr Zakir Husain call India “the young State of an, ancient people”?, , , , , , , , GLOSSARY AND NOTES, , erudition (n): great knowledge or learning, ceased (v): stopped, , champion (v): stand up for , support
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= RAINBOW ZF,, 18 5, , ethnic (adj): racial, cultural, , humility (n): humbleness, modesty, , pledge (v): swear, on oath, , presumption (n): an idea that is taken to be true, endeavour (n): earnest attempt, , unsparingly (adv): without having mercy, , peril (n): serious and immediate danger, approximation (n): coming near but not exactly, juster (adj): comparative degree of ‘just’ (more just), requisite (adj): required, necessary, , , , C. 1. Long Answer Questions, 1. ‘This work, as | see it, has two aspects.’ What are the ‘two aspects of works’? Explain, in your own words. :, 2. What did Dr Zakir Husain say about material and cultural life, individual and social, development, giving’a special flavour to India?, 3. ‘Power should be used only for moral purposes.’ Explain., 4. ‘The past is not dead and static.’ How does Zakir Husain emphasise the significance, ofipast? 5, 5. What does Zakir Husain exhort us to do to build the new life of the nation?, 6. Inwhat-context does Dr Zakir Husain say “Bharat is my home”?, C. 2. GROUP. DISCUSSION, Discuss the following in groups or pairs:, 1. Living in a big family has more merits than demerits., 2. Quality of education shapes the quality of nation., 3. It is neither scientific progress nor material prosperity but its people with strong, character that make a nation great and strong, , C. 3. COMPOSITION, Write a paragraph in about 100 words on each of the following:, a) Write a summary of Dr Zakir Husain’s speech in about 150 words., b) Write a short essay in about 150 words on ‘Unity in diversity’., c) Write a speech to be delivered on Teachers’ Day justifying the celebration of Dr, Radhakrishnan’s birthday as Teachers’ Day., d) You have been elected as the President of your school’s Student Council. Make a, , diary entry about changes you propose to introduce for the betterment of your, school.
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== BHARAT IS MY HOME, , SS Se, 19 =, , , , , D. WORD STUDY, D.1. Dictionary Use, Ex. 1. Correct the spelling of the following words:, , confes overwelmed errudition, prayfull prejumption inascapably, , Ex.2. Look up a dictionary and write two meanings of the following words — the one in, which it is used in the lesson and the other which is more common., , brought degree enter dead renewal, D. 2. Word-formation, Read carefully the following sentence taken from the lesson:, The process of its constant renewal is indeed, the process of growth of national culture, and national character., , In the above sentence the word ‘renewal’ is derived from the adjective ‘new’ by adding, a suffix ‘-al’ and a prefix ‘re-' to it., Point out which words the following are derived from:, renewal myself totality constantly ° building, D. 3. Word-meaning, Ex. 1. Match the words given in Column A with their meanings given in Column B:, , Column A Column B, requisite promise, peril racial, presumption necessary, ethnic threat, pledge opinion, , Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with suitable adjectives:, , new special dual long prayerful, a) Dr Zakir Husain entered the office in a spirit ofp —————huniility., b) Itis a constitution of a —————— State., c) The choice of this office has been made due to —--————— association., , d) This—————— effort will give to the life of our state a flavour.