Let actions begin…

Many people do not have much leisure but those who have ought to utilise it well the rich and the poor alike.

The rich while away their leisure time in clubs or hotels giving parties to their friends and relatives. The poor during off-time may indulge in gossiping or daydreaming. This is not a good way of spending one’s free time. Those who daydream may end up in frustration owing to disappointment. It could lead to despair and nervous breakdown. Similarly, gossip or idle talk or playing cards results in wastage of energy. One who gossips and speaks against anyone is considered an unreliable person.

Utilisation of one’s leisure time calls for imagination.While making a choice out of many ways of spending our time, we ought to ensure that it restores our lost energy and cheers us up. There are a good number of hobbies. The hobby that fits our interest, nature and our budget would be the best.

Take photography. It is an expensive hobby and more suits the rich. One can spend time taking pictures, black and white or colour, of places, scenes, people that we meet.

Stamp collecting is another interesting hobby. People collect stamps of different countries and of different times and place them in their album. If a stamp is very rare, it fetches a huge price. At times the hobby could prove to be very rewarding. Or the hobby could be coin collecting.

Those who live in single-storied bungalows or houses with land around take to gardening. When plants that you have sowed and nursed flower or fruit, you feel a sense of achievement. Gardening keeps the environment green and one’s house spic and span. The kitchen garden could provide the family with fresh vegetables and fruit. To add to this, you could have a green lawn.

If there is a river or lake closely you could do boating. Boating and Swimming are hobbies that give exercise. Music-vocal and instrumental-can provide us entertainment if it is taped. Or we could play or sing ourselves. What food is to the body, music is to the soul. Music is so soothing and soul-uplifting.

Then comes reading and writing. We could read good books. We could write everyday. Letter and diary writing leads to practices of writing. Many people have become good writers that way, Read books, novels, short stories, biographies and autobiographies, magazines, newspapers that way we become more knowledgeable. Or one could, time permitting, do honorary social service in the town.

Or you could walk or cycle around on a regular basis. Going on a picnic by the weekend is also a good idea.

Stevenson, a writer of the nineteenth century, in his essay, “An Apology for Idlers” condemned overwork and over business. He recommended we find time to go to a park and relax, enjoy tea, speak to passersby, play a musical instrument, to bask in the winter sun, to meditate in short to do anything, that is not called ‘work’. Bertrand Russel also condemned silly hurry and overwork of modern times. He believed in recreation and relaxation.

Each one of us could choose a worthwhile hobby that gives us change and joy. At times, our hobbies become our lucrative vocation. You never know.

The video revolution has taken India by storm. It has caught the imagination of the people. It carries the potential of becoming the mass entertainer of the future. Presently, the production of Video Cassette Records (VCRs) in India is rather limited. Import of this item is restricted to give boost to Indian production. The price of a video in India is still high. It is beyond the reach of the middle class. Thus, a number of video libraries have come up. These libraries hire out prerecorded film cassette for a reasonable fee per day. Mini-video theatres and cafes for entertainment are coming up.

A good friend of mine is my room-mate in the school hostel. He hails from a village in Haryana. He had been inviting me off and on to visit his village. During the summer vacation he repeated the invitation. Before the winter vacation he had to leave for his village early. I promised him that this time I will avail of his kind invitation.
On closing of school, the next morning, I packed my things. I wanted to travel light. I took a Haryana Roadways bus that goes via his village. In a couple of hours I was there. The bus stop is close to the railway station which is a few kilometers away from the village. Instead of sitting in a bullock cart, I chose to walk down. The weather was fine with cool breeze blowing all along.
It was a pleasure to walk, cross country, following the path through the fields. My friend had given me the directions. I could breathe fresh and pure air. Around were cornfields and fields with wheat and gram crops. There were mustard fields too the yellow flowers were many. There were tall trees here and there, with a lot of greenery around. Small birds were chirping. The village atmosphere was relatively quiet. People were busy with their errands. Womenfolk brought food for their men in the fields. Wells were overworked for water for domestic consumption and for the fields. Potassium permanganate powder was thrown in the wells. Not all houses were pucca but the village seemed quite prosperous.
My friend was there at the outskirts of the village to welcome me. He took me to his genial parents and his brothers and sisters. I was given a liberal dose of buttermilk. My things were placed in a long room with a charpoy. He took me round the village and introduced me to people that mattered. Men folk have a sense of humor. Womenfolk, I found, have a lot of common sense and rustic wisdom.
Things were improving in the village as was with the district. Not all houses had electricity though. Underground water was tapped only at a few points. But my friend loves his ancestral village for they have a house, a joint family and agricultural land. I stayed on for a couple of days. People sleep early, and get up by break of dawn. People have got used to living without city amenities. There is a lot of co-operation. Village people get together whenever any family needs help or in times of sorrow or joy. The medical centre is a few kilometers away so are the post office and rural bank and educational institution. I got used to the routine. I visited fields in my friend’s company and saw firsthand how the farmers toil hard bringing up the crop as if bringing up children. Villagers’ hard work is exemplary. I found the men and women tall and sturdy and fair. Some of the girls were very beautiful. Hard routine keeps them in good shape.
I was given an affectionate send-off. My friend put me in the bus bound for Delhi. The change did me good. I ate a lot of papaya drank milk and had dahi. Urud dal and hot chappatis from the firewood chullah served as food. I forgot tea. My friend is fairing well academically. His parents are supporting him steadfastly. We are sorry to Part Company. But the rural experience was very cheering. I was all praise of my friend who despite his rural background was progressing so well.