discipline

The first column of soldiers moved forward briskly as one man as soon as the parade commander gave the order for the march-past to begin. The massed bands had struck up a lively tune. Soon, the various contingents were swinging past the saluting dais, every man in step, columned and filed in precise straight lines. Hours of hard, discipline and work had gone into making the parade a grand success.
And it is in the same way too that life can be made successful. In fact, it is only through discipline that living becomes smooth and peaceful. Law is nothing more than community discipline. People who keep to the law accept the discipline of the state. Thus, the criminal -- the thief, murderer, gangster -- shows by his defiance of the law, that he refuses to be disciplined.

As a child is punished when it misbehaves itself -- that is , when it shows lack of discipline -- so also is a criminal shown, by punishment or some penal treatment, that he has to conform to the discipline of the state. As a child is shown kindness as well as firmness when being taught discipline, so also should a wrongdoer be treated understandingly as well as strictly, so that he may not become hardened in crime.

The image of the education of a child is specially appropriate in illustrating the need for and power of discipline. From its birth a child is taught discipline. Its feeding and sleeping are regulated, otherwise the child will grow up unhealthy. Bowel-training is important, otherwise there will be frequent stomach upsets, with their consequent ill-effects on the growing body. As the child grows, it is taught respectful and unselfish behavior, or it will turn into a young savage. Discipline features in every stage of the child's development, whether mental or physical.

The word "discipline" is associated most frequently with school life. it is, perhaps, useful at this juncture to examine the meaning of the term. The dictionary defines "discipline" as "instruction : training and mode of life in accordance with rules : subjection to control ..." It has the same origin as the word "disciple" meaning "pupil, follower". It is in school, especially, that discipline is taught with reference to all aspects of the definition given. A schoolboy is given instruction in various subjects; he is trained and shown a mode of reasonable existence which will fit him for adult life; and, to his repeated annoyance, he is subject to constant control.

"Discipline" must be distinguished from "order" with which it is frequently confused. Order is the condition which results from discipline. But order may be imposed from without. Discipline, finally, comes from within. True discipline is always self-discipline. The aim of all schooling is to teach children to discipline themselves; to guarantee that order will result from a child's recognition of the fact that order is utterly necessary. Discipline certainly cannot be based on mere fear of authority. For, as a child approaches adulthood, it is moving more and more away from the figures of authority. A person becomes more and more independent as he grows up. With this growing sense of independence must also grow a sense of discipline and respect for the rights of others.

A disciplined child, growing into a disciplined adolescent, will finally emerge into society as a disciplined adult -- one who is read to play a constructive role in his community. Life will have its trials and disappointments; it is discipline which will enable a person to remain cool and sensible amidst the stresses of life. When temptation to evil occurs, it is discipline which will help overcome it. Should a person fall, it is discipline which will set him on his feet again. All this is trite and what modern "enlightened" people would call "moral". It is a fact, however, which cannot be denied.

In recent years, there were some misguided psychologists who said that a child should be left to develop on its own, that it should be allowed to do anything it willed -- free discipline should be encouraged. the woeful effects of "free" discipline show that the child becomes neither "free" to develop healthily, nor "disciplined". And other psychologists have come up to say that a child wants discipline. In its uncertainty, a child craves guidance. And that is what discipline eventually gives him, so that, growing up, he may be able to see his way about the mazes of life.

Colors in nature

The world of nature is colorful and bright and human ingenuity cannot hope to match it. Right from the sky above to the sea below, nature abounds in the richness of color. The human eye and the human mind respond to this world of color and identify themselves with it. When a person is cheerful and bright we refer to him as a 'colorful personality', similarly the different colors are used to indicate human moods and attitudes: blue is associated with depression, white is likened with serenity, green with jealousy and red with rage. Color is also used to relieve tension. Psychologists have investigated the effect of colour on the working ability of workers and have come to the conclusion that certain colors are more conducive to Positive thinking than others. Nature fulfils man's longing for color: there is variety in everything. The sky can be clear and blue, it can be dark with clouds, it reflects the glory of the rising sun and the variegated hues of the setting sun. The sea which is normally associated with blue is not really so all the time. The sea water can he blue, green, grey and many more subtle shades and even the rivers and streams reflect the surrounding area and acquire that colour. Coleridge's poem 'The Ancient Mariner' is rich in its description of the world of nature. People who do not observe are not able to notice the finer shades and are consequently not able to enjoy this valuable side of life. In the west, seasonal changes bring in changes in the landscape. While spring is rich with colour, autumn provides a restful view to the eye with its soft browns and ripe greens and winter brings in the whiteness of snow along with its stillness conveying the effect of sleepiness and hibernation. And if on the one hand there is joy and vivacity in spring, there is coolness in the abundance of the green forests, and a challenge in the dark rocks of the mountains and an immensity in the vast, barren stretches of sand. On the question of birds, I have discovered that in their world there are endless color combinations. If green and grey birds mate, the new born chick has a lovely soft green color; if yellow and blue mate the chicks may be either a heightened blue or a softened yellow. No painter's effort can successfully capture the elusive world of nature. Nature's world of color, especially among the animals, has a deeper purpose than there variety. The colour of animals helps them to successfully camouflage themselves. If the toad is brown and mingles with the color of the earth, the frog merges with the green colour of the scum. The polar bear is white but not so the tropical bear. Fishes also have the ability to change colour in order to mingle with their surroundings as do some birds like the willow ptarmigan. Lizards also have different colors according to their surroundings - a desert lizard will be sand-colored while a lizard in a heavy monsoon area will be of greenish hue. Butterflies and insects also share this characteristic. This is not to say that animals and birds do not have bright colors which contrast with their surroundings. This also has a purpose. The bright colors of the peacock are not only a pleasure to the human eye but they also push the peahen into obscurity and offer her greater protection. A male bird may display some brilliant coloration to scare a rival. The Chinese ring-necked pheasant does exactly this, he puffs out his red pouches on the side of his neck when confronted by another male. Thus color does not only give pleasure, it also has a purpose. Imagine life without the color of nature! It would indeed be dull and monotonous: the sparkle of life will not he there. Color also has brought up problems. The whole problem of racial discrimination is connected with the color of the human skin. Men are hidebound in their narrow beliefs and have not yet learnt to value the variety of color and have not understood nature's purpose behind this.

man and freedom

Every animal including man is born free. All animals in their natural state, except man who is precluded by civilization to be in his natural state, are free. Some animals lose their freedom only because of man's needs and deeds. The world is 'open' and not 'closed' in its natural state; every animal - man is not exempted - desires novelty, spontaneity and genuine creativity, which are the hallmarks of freedom.
Man, though born free like other animals, is in chain everywhere. This is because of the restrictions and restraints which he imposes on himself and which are imposed on him by others. For example, no one is expected to appear naked in public in the name of freedom. There are social norms to be followed. Different occasions demand different customs. Man, living in a society, has to follow certain customs, conventions and traditions in the interest of harmonious existence; he cannot take the stand that he is absolutely free and that he can do things in his own way.

Man, in the process of his change from primitive tribalism to civilized existence, has chained himself more and more to rules and regulations. Unlike other living creatures, he is capable of thinking and is intelligent to devise ways and means of exploiting his fellowmen. This exploitation leads to his keeping them subdued and enslaved. Imperialism in the past and neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism today have only been instruments of suppressing the aspirations for freedom of the exploited. A classic example of suppression in the modern world is witnessed in the policy of apartheid and racial discrimination practised in South Africa.

The craving for freedom in any living creature is instinctive. In man it is not only instinctive but also cerebral. The fight for freedom with which one is born has been age-old. It continues unabated, and it can be traced back until it is obscured in the dim past. The Magna Carta, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, the American Bill of Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Supreme Court decisions on civil liberties in the United States, India, etc. point to man's craving for freedom. He has always said:

Off with the fetters

That chafe and restrain!

Off with the chain!

Emerson almost deifies Freedom; he sings:

My angel - his name is Freedom -

Choose him to be your King;

He shall cut pathways east and west,

And fend you with his wing.

Today man in his civilised existence attaches importance to freedom in the sense of the protection of the civil liberties, of which the rights to think, speak, and write are especially important. These and related freedoms are not granted by the state or any group in society, even though the state may need to exercise some control where conflicts of rights occur. If the state grants these rights, then the state can take them away, and that is what freedom-loving men in the past have not been willing to admit. Those rights are human, social, natural or god-given, based on the nature of man and the conditions necessary for his development and the common good.

Four kinds of freedom need to be distinguished. There is first, freedom of choice, or moral freedom. There is, second, freedom from external restraint, or physical freedom. This is a particularly important issue where totalitarian governments are in power. Freedom from external compulsion is very important. Even a dog lies contentedly all day long in the shade of a tree, but whines miserably if tied to the same tree for five minutes. Tom Sawyer's pals were willing to give up their most cherished possessions for a turn at white-washing his fence, but "would wail like fettered injuns", if told they must do the same thing at home. Everyone is against compulsion and restriction of his freedom to choose.

The third freedom is political freedom which includes equality before the law, trial before an impartial tribunal, and the right to vote or be elected. Under political freedom come freedom of speech, thought, and conscience, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly or organisation and a share in the control of the conditions of life.

There is social and economic freedom. Here, the question arises whether there should be control or legislative regulation of a man's business, professional, or other activities, or whether these should be free from all interference. In the interest of the harmonious functioning of society, there must needs be checks and balances. These checks and balances are bound to encroach upon the natural freedom of which Rousseau speaks.

It is true that man is born free. A civilized existence demands certain curbs on his natural freedom. Today man has surrendered part of his freedom for the sake of his civilized existence. This, however, does not mean that he is everywhere in chain. Here and there man exploits man. But in a civilized society man cherishes his moral freedom, his intellectual freedom, his political freedom and his economic freedom.

man and freedom

Every animal including man is born free. All animals in their natural state, except man who is precluded by civilization to be in his natural state, are free. Some animals lose their freedom only because of man's needs and deeds. The world is 'open' and not 'closed' in its natural state; every animal - man is not exempted - desires novelty, spontaneity and genuine creativity, which are the hallmarks of freedom.
Man, though born free like other animals, is in chain everywhere. This is because of the restrictions and restraints which he imposes on himself and which are imposed on him by others. For example, no one is expected to appear naked in public in the name of freedom. There are social norms to be followed. Different occasions demand different customs. Man, living in a society, has to follow certain customs, conventions and traditions in the interest of harmonious existence; he cannot take the stand that he is absolutely free and that he can do things in his own way.

Man, in the process of his change from primitive tribalism to civilized existence, has chained himself more and more to rules and regulations. Unlike other living creatures, he is capable of thinking and is intelligent to devise ways and means of exploiting his fellowmen. This exploitation leads to his keeping them subdued and enslaved. Imperialism in the past and neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism today have only been instruments of suppressing the aspirations for freedom of the exploited. A classic example of suppression in the modern world is witnessed in the policy of apartheid and racial discrimination practised in South Africa.

The craving for freedom in any living creature is instinctive. In man it is not only instinctive but also cerebral. The fight for freedom with which one is born has been age-old. It continues unabated, and it can be traced back until it is obscured in the dim past. The Magna Carta, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, the American Bill of Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Supreme Court decisions on civil liberties in the United States, India, etc. point to man's craving for freedom. He has always said:

Off with the fetters

That chafe and restrain!

Off with the chain!

Emerson almost deifies Freedom; he sings:

My angel - his name is Freedom -

Choose him to be your King;

He shall cut pathways east and west,

And fend you with his wing.

Today man in his civilised existence attaches importance to freedom in the sense of the protection of the civil liberties, of which the rights to think, speak, and write are especially important. These and related freedoms are not granted by the state or any group in society, even though the state may need to exercise some control where conflicts of rights occur. If the state grants these rights, then the state can take them away, and that is what freedom-loving men in the past have not been willing to admit. Those rights are human, social, natural or god-given, based on the nature of man and the conditions necessary for his development and the common good.

Four kinds of freedom need to be distinguished. There is first, freedom of choice, or moral freedom. There is, second, freedom from external restraint, or physical freedom. This is a particularly important issue where totalitarian governments are in power. Freedom from external compulsion is very important. Even a dog lies contentedly all day long in the shade of a tree, but whines miserably if tied to the same tree for five minutes. Tom Sawyer's pals were willing to give up their most cherished possessions for a turn at white-washing his fence, but "would wail like fettered injuns", if told they must do the same thing at home. Everyone is against compulsion and restriction of his freedom to choose.

The third freedom is political freedom which includes equality before the law, trial before an impartial tribunal, and the right to vote or be elected. Under political freedom come freedom of speech, thought, and conscience, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly or organisation and a share in the control of the conditions of life.

There is social and economic freedom. Here, the question arises whether there should be control or legislative regulation of a man's business, professional, or other activities, or whether these should be free from all interference. In the interest of the harmonious functioning of society, there must needs be checks and balances. These checks and balances are bound to encroach upon the natural freedom of which Rousseau speaks.

It is true that man is born free. A civilized existence demands certain curbs on his natural freedom. Today man has surrendered part of his freedom for the sake of his civilized existence. This, however, does not mean that he is everywhere in chain. Here and there man exploits man. But in a civilized society man cherishes his moral freedom, his intellectual freedom, his political freedom and his economic freedom.

nationality

The first two considerations apply to members of non-Western nations wearing their national dress. An Indian is at once indicated by a turban or sari, an African by a 'mammy-cloth', a Polynesian by his head-dress. Very often, subtle distinctions in national costume, will give to fellow-nationals a precise indication of caste, social standing or origin, facts of which an outsider would not be aware. It is a curious fact that as a result of Westernization, some non-Europeans nationals have become ashamed of their own costume. The European, who is tired of his own dull, standardized dress. would generally prefer to see them as they used to be, but both sides agree that a mixture of the two styles is deplorable. Bare feet, a cloth and bracelets do not show at their best when surmounted by a cloth cap battered terribly. In deed, styles of dress have become so mixed in places like West Africa or Egypt that dress no longer serves as a sure guide to nationality even though, it will generally give the spectator a good idea.
Non-European dress can often, however, indicate religion. Nobody could fail to recognize the dress of a Muslim, or the special robe of those Muslims who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Turbans have many fine shades of meaning.

All this is true of members of "non-Western" countries, but to the Western world, clothes have no significance whatever, in respect of religion. In regard to nationality, differences of style may offer clue. A Briton would recognize British shoes, the Italian cut of a suit, the Parisian style of a lady's dress, or an American 'tee-shirt'.

There are, however, various other deductions open to the shrewd observer of European dress. Firstly, that of income-level. Good clothes cost money, and the poor man would sooner economize on clothes rather than food or fuel. A noticeable factor, however, is the great increase in the number of well-dressed people, due to the leveling up of incomes in the West.

We can, of course, differentiate the 'good taste' (or its absence) between individuals of even the same income level, and we are, therefore, given a clue as to whether the individual concerned is educated and 'guided' in his or her choice or not; such guidance goes with a home of high standards.

Clothes may be expensive and in a good taste, but they may either be fashionable or not, and they may be old or new. Again, the shrewd observer will instantly make a mental note that the person wearing them is either 'conservative' or 'progressive' in outlook, or, if the clothes are good but old, had recently come on hard times.

Clothes which are clean, tidy and well-pressed, always give a favorable impression of the wearer's character. They indicate a tidy mind in the wearer, as well as respect for the company, a fact which candidates going up for an interview remember. the fact that a polished pair of shoes is an old pair, or that an old shirt is well-darned, is not criticism; it may well be a commendation. Poverty is no disgrace; dirt is.

Bad manners can, of course, be attributed to those who deliberately wear the wrong dress on a social occasion. Those who, in doubt, tend to 'over-dress' show more consideration tot heir host or hostess, than those who assume informality on the least pretext.

To the Easterner, Western dress, in its monotony, gives very little indication of status or character, unless the dress in question happens to be uniform of some kind of a special dress proper to a certain occupation or trade. Tot he Westerner himself, it is full of deceptions and pitfalls; there is so much that can be detected by observation, that the wisest observer will reflect that he can really detect nothing. this is especially true in Britain, where the bank clerk dresses like a Prime Minister, and a duke like a gardener.

At least, dress can indicate only so much, and what it does indicate may be doubtful; one thing is certain -- as far as the real essentials of character are concerned, dress reveals absolutely nothing.

science

Pure science is the investigation of natural phenomena for the purpose of understanding. Observation leads to the formation of theories, which are tested experimentally. If the theory seems to explain to all the phenomena it is classified as a principle and added to the store of existing scientific knowledge. Applied science is known today as technology, which is concerned with techniques. As pure scientific knowledge advances, so does technology or method. Since method depends on knowledge, no improvements in method can increase knowledge, though they can facilitate the increase of knowledge.
The historian of pure science can trace its advance from the records of the earliest recorded cultures to the 20th century, during which pure science has made greater advances than ever before.

6th to 7th Centuries B.C. Thales and his school. Pythaggoeras and his successors provided the first systematic method of understanding the natural world, especially in the field of Mathematics and geometry. Figures were constructed to provide proofs. The Egyptians, though less interested in strict accuracy, made their contribution, as did the Arabians and Indians in the field of arithmetical notation.

17th Century. The second upsurge of pure science began with Galileo and his predecessor, Copernicus, who gave the world its first true understanding of the universe. Astronomy and Mathematics were brought together for the purposes of navigation. Francis Bacon sought to produce a system to replace that of Aristotle. The logical approach of Renee Descartes was of great importance, though the greatest advances were made by Sir Isaac Newton, who synthesized many theories into an intelligible whole.

Later advances took place in the field of biology, bacteriology, surgery, anthropology. The names of Pasteur, Lister, Darwin and Harvey come to mind.

In the present century, atomic theory with all its consequences, was developed (Dalton), and the new theories of light, relativity and quantum mathematics. (Einstein).
Although applied science will always remain the handmaid of pure science, it is also true that the advanced machines made possible by higher technology, enable the advance of pure science. Thus, although theory produced the telescope and the microscope as optical research instruments, electronics transformed both. The fact that we can now see into the far universe and into the construction of matter has had a profound effect on the theories concerning both.
Another example of many is the modern computer. While this remains the servant of the brain which invented it, one of its uses is to make a multitude of instantaneous calculations. This in turn eliminates the laborious mechanical aspects of investigation and gives the researcher the tools for making rapid new discoveries.

science

Pure science is the investigation of natural phenomena for the purpose of understanding. Observation leads to the formation of theories, which are tested experimentally. If the theory seems to explain to all the phenomena it is classified as a principle and added to the store of existing scientific knowledge. Applied science is known today as technology, which is concerned with techniques. As pure scientific knowledge advances, so does technology or method. Since method depends on knowledge, no improvements in method can increase knowledge, though they can facilitate the increase of knowledge.
The historian of pure science can trace its advance from the records of the earliest recorded cultures to the 20th century, during which pure science has made greater advances than ever before.

6th to 7th Centuries B.C. Thales and his school. Pythaggoeras and his successors provided the first systematic method of understanding the natural world, especially in the field of Mathematics and geometry. Figures were constructed to provide proofs. The Egyptians, though less interested in strict accuracy, made their contribution, as did the Arabians and Indians in the field of arithmetical notation.

17th Century. The second upsurge of pure science began with Galileo and his predecessor, Copernicus, who gave the world its first true understanding of the universe. Astronomy and Mathematics were brought together for the purposes of navigation. Francis Bacon sought to produce a system to replace that of Aristotle. The logical approach of Renee Descartes was of great importance, though the greatest advances were made by Sir Isaac Newton, who synthesized many theories into an intelligible whole.

Later advances took place in the field of biology, bacteriology, surgery, anthropology. The names of Pasteur, Lister, Darwin and Harvey come to mind.

In the present century, atomic theory with all its consequences, was developed (Dalton), and the new theories of light, relativity and quantum mathematics. (Einstein).
Although applied science will always remain the handmaid of pure science, it is also true that the advanced machines made possible by higher technology, enable the advance of pure science. Thus, although theory produced the telescope and the microscope as optical research instruments, electronics transformed both. The fact that we can now see into the far universe and into the construction of matter has had a profound effect on the theories concerning both.
Another example of many is the modern computer. While this remains the servant of the brain which invented it, one of its uses is to make a multitude of instantaneous calculations. This in turn eliminates the laborious mechanical aspects of investigation and gives the researcher the tools for making rapid new discoveries.