AECC Second Semester (+3 Arts/Science/Commerce)

Alternative English 

A Call to Youth

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

 

Main points:

·       The essay is Radhakrishnan’s convocation address at Karnataka University on 26^th October 1953.

·       Radhakrishnan was the second president of our country. He was a great scholar, philosopher, educationist, and a visionary leader.

·       Convocations are held in universities to award students their degrees.

·       At the outset, the writer congratulates the students who by hard work and disciplined effort had completed their education and were going to be awarded their degrees.

·       He urges them to continue working hard in future too.

·       He warns them that they shouldn’t dream of glittering prizes or comfortable positions.

·       The times ahead of the country were not going to be easy.

·       The challenges that the country faced after independence.

·       The country had attained political freedom from the British but there were many more things to be achieved.

·       Education had not spread. Literacy level was only 12 percent.

·       Female literacy rate was close to 8 percent while male literacy rate was close to 20 percent.

·       Healthcare facilities were almost non-existent.

·       Infrastructure facilities were in a very poor state.

·       Although Indian economy was predominantly agricultural, no improved methods of agriculture were practiced.

·       Problems like casteism, untouchability, poverty, unemployment still existed.

·       The country has been affected by movements that have affected European countries.

·       Prominent among them the Renaissance (14^th to 17^th century), the Reformation (16^th century), the Industrial revolution (18^th century) and the Political Revolution.

·       We have won political independence but we have not attained social and economic freedom.

·       If this is to happen, the universities must send out batches of scientists, technicians, engineers, agriculturists.

·       Science and technological progress can’t solve all our problems

·       The writer believes that science and technology alone can’t guarantee all-round progress.

·       He talks about countries which have made tremendous scientific and technological progress but they are troubled by conflicts.

·       They have not been able to guarantee peace, safety and security to their own people.

·       It is clear that in addition to science and technology something else is required.

·       The function of the universities is not only to prepare technically skilled and professionally competent men but also to produce in them the quality of compassion.

·       Compassion or kindness is a quality that helps human beings to treat each other democratically (fairly or legitimately).

·       What have our scriptures taught  us?

·       Our religions have said that each human individual is a spark of the divine.

·       The Upanishads say Tat tvam asi meaning that art thou.

·       The Buddhists say each individual has sparks of the divine and could become a Bodhisattva.

·       How can democratic change be brought about?

·       The writer says that the minds and hearts of people should be altered.

·       We must be democratic not only in the political sense but also in the social and economic sense.

·       This democratic change, democratic temper and outlook  can be brought about by the study of humanities including philosophy and religion.

·       Two fruits of great value in the samsara

·       In this poisonous tree of the samsara, there are two fruits of great value.

·       They are enjoyment of great books and the company of good souls.

·       We can absorb the fruits of great literature by reading those with concentration.

·       The present generation has lost the habit of reading great books and being influenced by the great classics of our literature.

·       The character of the individual and the nature of the society can change by the study of great literature, philosophy and religion.

·       The country needs great scientists, technologists and engineers no doubt but they should become great humanists.

·       Without compassion man becomes demoniac.

·       The function of a university

·       The function of the true university is to produce young men and women who are literate no doubt, but they should be full of compassion for the suffering humanity.

·       Otherwise, university education will be regarded as incomplete.

·       In a university, teachers and students form a family.

·       Instead of having the spirit of trade union, there should be cooperation between teachers and students.

·       The writers advise students not to resort to activities which are anti-social in character.

·       Importance of character

·       The writer says that character is destiny.

·       Character is that thing on which the destiny of a nation is built.

·       No nation with men of small characters can be a great nation.

·       Whether in public life or student life, no one can reach great heights if he does not have a remarkable character.

·       How can one climb the mountain when the ground beneath his feet is shaky?

·       When the basis of the structure is shaky, how can we reach great heights?

·       We must all cultivate humility (modesty and humbleness).

·       Whatever service we take up, we shouldn’t be concerned about what we receive from it but rather what we can give it.

·       Our country is so great that the entire East reflects our culture.

·       In domestic affairs as well as in international affairs, we must try to uphold certain standards.

·       The writer advises the students to try to make their lives clean, noble and dedicated to selfless work.

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