1.

Happiness
– Carl Sandburg

TITLE: Happiness
PENNED BY: Carl Sandburg
CULLED From: Chicago Songs
LAURELS: Winner of three Pulitzer Prizes

The poem “Happiness” is written by Carl Sandburg, a well known poet. . The poem is
taken from his collection of poems " Chicago Songs". He is known for his biography of Abraham
Lincoln.

This short poem gives the message that happiness is not about being rich or successful but
about having passion in life. It describes the narrator's search for the real meaning of happiness. and his
ultimate realisation.The poem Happiness conveys a beautiful message.

The narrator tries to find the real meaning of happiness from different people. He asks
many learned professors, business executives and experts. He wants to hear from them the real meaning
of happiness, They have gained a lot of knowledge related to their work but cannot explain what
happiness is.

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what happiness is.
.

The poet keeps roaming around in search of his happiness. One Sunday afternoon he
wanders along the river named Desplaines. A group of Hungarian families enjoying them
selves under the trees. They appear to have no worries. They drink and sing. Seeing them the
narrator realizes what happiness is. These people are the symbol of real happiness. They have
passion to live and feel the moment. He understands that they need not have the best of every
thing. They just have to make the best of everything we have. They share the time with people
they care for. They live and feel the moment.

GENERAL RELEVANCE: Happiness is not about being rich or successful or having a good
career. But about having a passion in life feeling the movement and living. The poem estab
lishes that experience matters more than education. He understands that happiness lies in
leading a simple life with satisfaction in the presence of Nature.

Wisdom lies in lives but not in libraries.

 2. THE BEGGAR
Dr Ammangi Venugopal

TITLE: The Beggar

PENNED BY: Ammangi Venugopal
LAURELS: He is the first recipient of the award of Kalogi Narayana Rao in 2015.

TRANSLATED BY: into English by Elanaaga (Dr.N.Surendra.

These lines are taken from-the poem, The Beggar, penned by Dr. Ammangi Venugopal,
a popular Telugu poet. The poem the beggar written by doctor Ammangi Venugopal. Dr ammangi
Venugopal is the first recipient of the kaloji Narayana Rao award instituted by the government
of Telangana.
The original Telugu poem (Bichchagadu) is translated into English by Elanaaga (Dr N Surendra).

This poem picturises the miseries of the farmers. It tells about the pathetic life of farmers in a
touching way. Their dusky eyes speak volumes of grief, sorrows and struggles.

The poem projects the pitiable physical position of the farmers. Farmers, the food providers are
now struggling to survive. They starve, yet they toil. Their backs are bent with burden. Their hands are
soiled and cut and their feet bleed. The farmers work very hard under the sun and shower very but they go
without food. The irony is that the people who have the capacity to provide food for millions have to
struggle to get one square meal and reduced to beggars

A food giver he is with ability to mitigate the sky’s hunger.

Their eyes express their sad and sorrowful stories; They are capable of feeding millions. Yet, their
stom achs get no food. They sow seeds, the sprouts of saplings resembles Farmers hands. Often, we hurry
to have hot rice meal but never thinks of the farmers hardships. His image appears standing helplessly at
our threshold with severed hands as a Beggar. The modern society is held responsible for the miserable
plight of farmers.

GENERAL RELEVANCE : The complex problems of the farmers are the central idea of his moving
Telugu poem Bichchagadu. This poem evoke empathy in readers over the problems of the farmers and
try to find a way out.

“If you eat to day, Thank a former”

 3. THE NOBLE NATURE
-Ben Jonson
TITLE: The Noble Nature
PENNED BY: Ben Jonson
LAURELS: The Second most popular Dramatist in English after Shakespeare
WELL KNOWN WORK : Everyman in His Humour

The noble nature is written by Ben jonson. He was regarded as the second most popular of English
dramatists after Shakespeare. He is very well known for his comedy of humours.
"Everyman on his humour" is a perfect example. He proved his expertise in his lyrics in the poem

The Noble Nature is one of the most popular lyrics of Ben Jonson. The poem tells us about the
usefulness of our life. How well you live is more important than how long you live.

Ben Jonson is an intellect and a philosopher. In this poem, The Noble Nature, he explains what
makes mans life noble. Finding the real meaning of life is the core meaning of the poem.The poet com
pares man to sturdy oak tree and to a delicate Lily. The oak grows big and bulky and lives long. It live for
300 years. It looks dull, and unimpressive. At last, the oak become a lifeless, dry and a piece of log. The
lily plants life span is too short but has a meaningful life. It blooms in May and looks very beautiful

It is not growing like a tree

In bulk, doth make man better be.

It spreads beauty and delight to all. Smartness, even in small measure,

impresses and impacts everyone. Size does not matter long does not matter but it is
Nobel life what it matters. Similarly, if man does good during the short period he lives,
people will continue to talk good about him even after he is gone.

GENERAL RELEVANCE : The poem highlights the point that quality counts
more than quantity. The Attitude is more important than the Altitude.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

“Quantity counts not much. Quality lends nobility to life”

 1. Father, Dear Father
-Raj Kinger

TITLE: Father, Dear Father

PENNED BY: Raj Kinger
WELL KNOWN AS : Raj Kinger Writes for The Press
CULLED FROM: The Hindu, English Daily

These lines are taken from Raj Kingers Father, Dear Father He writes for the press.
Father, Dear Father is an article published in the English daily, The Hindu.
Father, Dear Father” by Raj Kinger is a heart-wrenching letter addressed to a father by his son.
The letter writer Rahul is the class topper in his school who slips to the Second rank for losing a
quarter marks. This letter is his anguished plea to his father who scolds him for losing his first rank.
The anguish of a young school boy portraying the-defects in the present education system is high
lighted in this letter, He accepts his fathers advice and thinks a lot. He finds fault that people dont apply the
knowledge gained, in their daily life, like Pythagoras theorem or Newtons law of gravity etc. He admires
his grand parents way of living and experiencing.

From his talk, it seems studies were an ancillary subject; and living and expensing the major
subject.

His grandfather has a care free and beautiful childhood. Rahuls grandmother is not every much
educated yet she is a happy one. The teacher did not think Rahuls uestions relevant to her class. So, she
asks him to approach the gardener to save his Rose plant. For Rahul, practical education matters more
than theoretical. He wants his magination to fly high like a rocket. He says that the essence of life is not
taught to him.
GENERAL RELEVANCE : Finally, he requests his father to understand his mental pain and treat
him not as a machine. He has a heart, it is not arteries and muscle, and it has feelings too.

“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think”
-Albert Einstein
 2. THE GREEN CHAMPION – THIMMAKKA
Internet

TITLE: The Green Champion - Thimmakka

CULLED FROM: Internet Based
WELL KNOWN AS : The Green Champion, Saalumarada
LAURELS: Received Padma Shri award in 2019.

We come across these heart touching words in the lnternet-based inspiring write- up, The
Green Champion - Thimmakka.
This lesson tells about an ordinary woman with an extraordinary commitment to conserve nature.
And she has become the green champion for her tree planting mission

Thimmakka was born poor. She was not educated. She worked as a coolie. Her married life
wasn't happy because she couldn't become a mother till she was forty. At that time she wanted to end her
life. But very soon she realized the real purpose of life. Her husband, Bikkala Chikkayya was very coop
erative. The couple started planting trees in their village in a stretch of 4 km from Hulikal and kudur . They
planted 10 banyan saplings in the first year and increased the number year after year. Now, there are
around 400 banyan trees in the area and over 8000 other trees in over 80 years. They not only planted
them but tended them to maturity

Both Thimmakka and her husband started with 10 banyan saplings……in the first year.
She realized the true purpose of her life

Thimmakka's foster son, Sri. B.N. Umesh has been planting and tending trees along the
roads, schools, public places and on the hill tops. He is also successfully running the PRITHVI
BACHAVO movement. Thimmakka received many awards including the Padma Shri. Thus
Thirnmakka started her life and work in a humble manner, got name through her tree-
planting mission.

GENERAL RELEVANCE: Although her life Was torn between poverty and distress, she
started to plant trees in lieu of children. She found solace in planting trees. She insists on the
need to serve in preserving and protecting the environment.
THOUGH YOU ARE TEEN GO FOR GREEN
 3.THE FIRST FOUR MINUTES
Dr. Roger Bannister
TITLE: The First Four Minutes
PENNED BY: Dr. Roger Bannister
WELL KNOWN AS : Medical Professional, Athlete
LAURELS: The Fastest Runner in the world who completed One Mile running Race in 3min,
59.04 sec

The above sentence is taken from Roger Bannisters. He was an English athlete as well as a
medical professional. “The First Four Minutes. He was the first athlete to run a mile in less than four
minutes. He did this at Oxford in England on May 6th ,1954.
The speech is a revellation of the stress and strain Dr. Bannister underwent in achieving this
record. Dr Roger Bannister narrates his glorious moments and second to second experiences while
running for the goal.

Roger Bannister was the first man to run the race of one mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. He
narrated his glorious moments and second to second experiences while running for the goal. During the first
lap of the race, Bannister looked at the flag as he lined up for the start, It seemed like a false start. He got
angry. When the gun fired for the second time, Brasher went into the lead and he slipped in behind him. It
seemed his legs lost control of himself. He himself shouted Faster. His worry increased when he heard the
first lap time, 57,5 seconds. In that excitement his knowledge, of pace had deserted him.

No words could be invented for such supreme happiness, eclipsing all other feelings.

He was very nearer to the rope. A combination of fear and pride filled his heart. Bannister at all
his efforts and he reached his goal. The cheers of the crowd, were echoing all around. When the announce
ment came, he grabbed Brusher and Chataway, and together they ran round the, track. They were, over
joyed. Words could not describe such supreme happiness.
GENERAL RELEVANCE : It is true that an athlete undergoes lots of mental agony before he can giv e
his maximum effort. His story is interesting and inspiring to anyone Who puts on a pair of running shoes in
the competition.
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will”
– Mahatma Gandhi
 1. PLAYING THE GAME
-Arthur Henry Mee
TITLE: Playing the Game
PENNED BY: Arthur Henry Mee
Culled From: My Magazine
Well known as : The Hamsworth Self Educator
Characters Involved : Alan, Alan parents, Old man, Harold Banks

Arthur Henry Mee was an English writer, journalist and educator. He portrays that helping, the

Old and being polite to them is a rewarding experience through his story. The story “Playing the Game “is taken

from “My Magazine”. The story is about a touching incident narrated by the writer about a school boy.

Alan was a cricket buff. He was selected for the school cricket team. His parents were so much

excited and his father, made him practice bowling. His father promised him a bicycle if his team won. Alan was

elated to play the match.

Do his best! Of course he would.

One day when he was on the way to school for playing the match he saw an old man. The old man

was walking with a lot of difficulty on that hilly road. Alan gave him a helping hand. The old man fell down on the

mad. He waited and handed over him to a police man despite his anxiety to reach the field in time. He missed to

play the game.

The minutes almost seemed like hours

His father was very proud of him and his classmates cheered at him for his kind gesture. Alan was

gifted with a bicycle by his father. Helping the old man was a rewarding experience for Alan. Thus playing in real life

is more important than playing in the ground. This touching incident is narrated in a simple, racy style, it is at once

engaging and gripping.

“Helping the old and being polite to them is a rewarding experience”

 2. THE SHORT~SIGHTED BROTHERS

TITLE: The Short - Sighted Brothers

Culled From: Chinese Folklore
Characters Involved : The three short - sighted brothers, momk

“The short-Sighted Brothers” is a beautiful folk tale, It explains the value of honesty. It establishes

the fact that selfishness and dishonesty can bring harm to oneself. This folk tale makes an interesting reading with its

gripping narration.

Three aged brothers were the central characters of the story. They were short-sighted, selfish and

greedy.Citing their eldest brother’s short-sightedness, the youngest brother proposed to manage their family fi-

nances.

They planned to test their own vision by reading the inscription above the doorway of a monastery.

That night each of them visited the, monastery stealthily to get some information about the inscription. The eldest

enquired the monk about the quotation, the second one the decoration around it and the youngest - the writing

other than the quotation. The next day each of them behaved as if they could see clearly. The eldest

It’s a quotation from Confucius It reads. Be honest At All Times

Read “Be honest at all times”. The second one said proudly that he could see the flowery border

around it. The youngest boasted that he could see the name of the donor, Wang Lee at the corner. But the

monk declared that they did not put up the inscription the previous day. The brothers realized how foolish

they were!

The short–Sighted brothers realised their follies.

The story excites the reader thoroughly. In the end it takes a sudden twist, turning surprising the

reader. Equally shocked were the brothers in the story. It explains us how the saying, “Honesty is the best

policy” is apt to the human life.

“Honesty is always one of the best key to make a good relationship”

 3. THE FIVE BOONS OF LIFE

TITLE: The Five Boons of Life

Penned By: Mark Twain
Laurels: Father of American Literature
Characters Involved : Fairy, Young man, Little child
Well known Works: “The Adventures of Toms Sawyer” and “The Adventure of Huckleberry
Finn”.

“The story “The Five Boons of Life” is written by Samuel Langhorne Clemens is popularly known

by his pen name Mark Twain.

Mark Twain was an American writer, humorist, and lecturer, he is rightly called the Father of

American Literature among his notable works, “The Adventures of Toms Sawyer” and “The Adventure of Huck-

leberry Finn”.

A fairy offers a young man one of her five gifts: Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasure and Death. The fairy

tells him that only one of these gifts is valuable, so he should choose wisely. But each time he seems to make the

wrong choice. The first four choices he makes are Pleasure, Love, Fame and Wealth. None of these is found to be

valuable. Pleasure is followed by pain, Love by grief, Fame by envy and decay, and Wealth by poverty. He seeks

for Death last of all realizing that he has nothing to live for. But the fairy gives her gift of Death to a child leaving the

man in a miserable state.

The story conveys the pessimistic message of the writer that there is nothing pure in life and every

good thing one experiences is shadowed by its reverse