Class XII, ENGLISH, Summary, "Pakistan and the Modern World"

Pakistan and the Modern World

Introduction
After the creation of Pakistan in the year 1950, Mr Liaquat Ali Khan went on an official tour of the United States of America. His mission was to introduce to the Americans the newly formed country of Pakistan, to tell the Americans all about Pakistan and to bring the two countries close together. This chapter Pakistan and the Modern World, actually is the explanation of Liaquat Ali Khan’s speech at the Kansas city, while he was thanking them for the degree bestowed on him..
Summary
While Mr.Liaquat Ali Khan was in the United States of America, on this trip the University of Kansas City awarded him an honorary degree for his services rendered to his country.
As far as the contents of the speech are concerned, these are what that makes the speech all important and interesting. Mr. Liaquat Ali begins by thanking the administration of the University of Kansas City and tells them that he will talk about Pakistan in his speech because his mission is to make the Americans familiar with the history and origin of Pakistan. Mr. Liaquat Ali then goes on to say that there are similarities between the fight for independence that the Muslims waged against the British and the fight that the Americans put up for their independence. Thus there are similarities between fight for Indians and Muslims and Americans.
After that Liaquat Ali goes on to explain as to why the Muslims wanted a separate homeland and the Muslims of Indian Sub-Continent were not willing to line with Hindus. There are religious, economic and social differences between the Hindus and the Muslims. Further more, Mr. Liaquat Ali goes on to say that many people did not agree to the partition of India. However, later on they realize that the creation of Pakistan has made the Asian Continent more stable, also Mr. Liaquat Ali goes on to explain what advantages the creation of Pakistan has brought about in the region. According to Mr. Liaquat Ali whereas in other countries there is backwardness, inner confusion, discontentment, religious difference but in Pakistan there is no internal struggle, no religions difference and there is democracy in the country. Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan then praises the Pakistani nation and declares that when Pakistan was created there was no proper government, no money and no security, but it was due to the hard work and unity of Pakistani nation that we managed not only to survive but also to progress.
Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan makes yet another point while introducing Pakistan to the Americans, he declares that even the Pakistani people have duties to fulfill towards their country, the duty of each Pakistani is to guard and protect his freedom and the freedom of his country. After that Mr. Liaquat goes on to make a very very important point. He declares that in order to progress we must have strong faith in our religion and at the same time we must accept scientific technology and progress. Then Mr. Liaquat Ali goes on to suggest that we must stay away from war and we must follow the progress of the West and take from the West what we considered to be good.
Finally, he requests to the Americans to help Pakistan on the path of progress and the United States could do that be lending its fund of knowledge and progress to backward Pakistani nation. Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan ends the speech on an optimistic and hopeful note wanting Pakistan and United States to be friends for all times to come.

Class XII, ENGLISH, Summary, "Reflections on the Re-Awakening East"

Reflections on the Re-Awakening East

Introduction
The chapter entitled Reflections on the Re-awakening East, has been written by Bertrand Russel. He is the most outstanding writer and thinker of our time. His more popular 3orkds have been notable for their introduction of scientific attitudes into the discussion of politics and sociology.
Summary
According to Russel, power has never stayed permanently in the world. Initially at the beginning the East and the Eastern nations had more power then the West but gradually the power slipped out of the hand of the Eastern nations and went into the hands of the Western countries. The West became all powerful and the East lost its power.
This chapter has been written in the year 1954 so Russel is talking about the conditions of year 1954. When Russel is talking about the conditions of year 1954. When Russel wrote this essay in 1954, he thought that power was once again passing out from the hands of the West and the East was beginning to re-awaken and to gain power, therefore, what we have learnt so far is that power changes from hand to hand. Russel is expressing his thoughts and his opinions as to what the Eastern nations should do on their re-awakening Russel is offering advice to the Eastern awakening.nations as to what should they do in order to prosper and be successful.
First and foremost Russel advises the Eastern awakening nation not to adopt communism because Russel describes communism as a poison. The next advice that he gave them is to adopt industrialization and mechanization because according to Russel any country that does not accept industrialization will lag behind. He advises the Eastern countries to stay away from war, to struggle for peace.
The next advice is not to follow the West blindly but to take from the West what is good and to leave out what is bad. After that Russel goes on to declare that Asia has some excellent and major civilizations. These civilizations should never be mixed with each other. Furthur more another excellent advice that Russel gave was that it is definitely agreed that we can’t progress without mechanization yet the fact remains that side by side with mechanization we should not forget poetry, arts, friendship, character-building, all these come side by side. We must see to it that on one hand we progress in science and on the other hand we build our moral value.
Last but not the least, Russel concludes with the optimistic thought that the Eastern and Asian nations shall contribute to the betterment and the progress of the world and will not imitate the mistakes of the West.

Class XII, ENGLISH, Reference, "The World As I See It"

The World As I See It

Reference
The passage given for contextual explanation is extracted from the lesson The World as I See It, written by Albert Einstein.
About the Author
Albert Einstein is generally regarded as the greatest mathematical physicist of the current century and one of the greatest scientists of all times. He was awarded the Noble Prize for Physics in 1921. He is bold and straightforward man and expresses his views freely and unhesitatingly. His work rests very little on laboratory work but more on theories and philosophies. His writings for the layman are few, but they include an introduction to the general theory of relativity. His writings demonstrate his admirable capability.
About the Essay
The World as I See It is an interesting essay in which Albert Einstein has expressed his personal views about the purpose and ideals of life; democracy and dictatorship; war and peace; mystery and religion.
Lines
“What an extraordinay ——————- Tie of sympathy.”

Explanation
In this particular passage Albert Einstein says that our position in this world is unusual. Man is mortal. We have come into this world for leading a very short life. What is the purpose of man’s creation? When we deliberate over this fundamental question we come to the conclusion that life is not purposeless. There is a purpose in life. As far as the practical life is concerned we live for our fellowmen. In the first place we live for those who are known to us personally and our happiness depends on their smiles and welfare. In the second place we live for those who are not known to us personally but a tie of sympathy binds us with them.
Lines
“I am strongly drawn ————– Physically and mentally.”

Explanation
In this thought-provoking passage Albert Einstein expresses his personal views on simple life. He strongly believes that one should lead a simple life as limple life is conducive to health and happiness. Plain life keeps a person fit physically and mentally. If a man leads a luxurious life, he has to run after worldly wealth and remains worried because he always thinks of earning more and more money by fair means or foul. Thus he has no peace of mind and peace of heart. His health deteriorates due to worries and cares. But if a man leads a simple life, he has no worries and cares and leads a pleasant, peaceful and contented life.
Einstein also expresses his views on class differences which, he thinks, are contrary to justice and are based on force and compulsion. Thus we can say that he is strongly opposed to class differences and perhaps he wants to say that he is strongly opposed to class differences and perhaps he wants to say that these class differences must not exist in any human society. He really believes in equality and fraternity.
Lines
“The ideals which have ——– Seemed to me contemptible.”
Explanation
In this particular passage Einstein has expressed his views on the ideals of his life. His ideals have been Truth, Goodness and beauty which have brightened up his ways of life and have given him a new courage to face the problems, difficulties and hardships of life with a smile.

Beauty is truth, truth beauty __ that is all
ye know on earth, and all ye need to know

Thus we see that the ideals which Einstein cherishes, are high ideals of life. He loves these ideals because they give him spiritual pleasure. In other words these ideals give spiritual pleasure to every person who loves these ideals.
He, then, talks about the sense of fellowship with man of like mind. He wants to say that life is colourless and meaningless if a man does not enjoy the company and fellowship of like minded people and if a person is not preoccupied with the objective, which is not attainable in the field of art and scientific research. We are really startled when Einstein says that property, outward success and luxury are the ordinary objects of human endeavor. We are at a loss to understand when he finally says than these objects have always seemed to him contemptible. But we are deliberate over the philosophical ideas; we come to the conclusion that Albert Einstein is right.
Lines
“An autocratic system ————- Succeeded by scoundrels.”
Explanation
In this passage Albert Einstein, expresses his views with reference to democracy and dictatorship. Condemning the autocratic system he says that it soon degenerates as it is always based on cruelty, oppression and force. It is an undeniable fact that people of low morality believe in force and in autocratic system cruel rulers, rule over the people with high-handedness. They do not care for the moral values and give no importance to the welfare of the people.
Einstein believes that it is an invariable rule that intelligent cruel rulers are succeeded by people of low morality.
In other words Einstein means to say that an autocratic system of government is not beneficial to the people because of the values. It is very difficult for people to breathe freely in dictatorship, as the people do not enjoy any kind of freedom.
Einstein loves democracy and hates dictatorship. He is a humanist and wants to see each and every individual happy. So he wants that the rulers must rule the country with love so that the people may breathe freely and live happily.
Lines
“War seems to me a mean——– the schools and the press.”
Explanation
In this passage Albert Einstein expresses his views on war and peace. He says that war seems to him a mean and hateful thing. He would rather die than take part in such a hateful business. He hates war because he is humanist. He is fully aware of the fact that thousands of innocent people are killed mercilessly and purposelessly in the war. No doubt he hates war but does not hate human beings. He thinks that man is not blood-thirsty and the curse of war would have disappeared long ago if the sound sense of the nations had not been corrupted by political and commercial interests. He means to say that war break out because the commercial and political interest of various nations are involved.
Einstein is a great lover of humanity. He believes that the highest purpose of a man’s life if to serve humanity and people must live in peace and tranquality. He wants to say that if nations ignore their commercial and political interests and if mankind learns a degree of mutual respect, this world will become a place of happiness and nations will not think of waging wars against each other. No doubt Einstein is a noble man and has noble ideas. He is not only a humanist but also a pacifist.
Lines
“The fairest thing ————— that engendered religion.”

Explanation
In this philosophical and thought-provoking passage Albert Einstein says that the experience of the mysterious objects given birth to art and science. Curiosity is the emotion, which is found in almost all persons but if there is a person who is devoid of curiosity and mystery, is just like a dead wood and a snuffed-out candle. It means that such a person can’t do any thing in the world. A snuffed-out candle is useless as it cannot brighten up the ways of the world and it cannot guide anyone. Similarly a person devoid of curiosity and mystery is of no help to any one. Einstein further says that it was the experience of mystery that gave birth of religion.
In this passage Albert Einstein has expressed his views on religion and mystery without any mental reservation. He is a straightforward man and whatever he has experienced he has described it unhesitatingly. He rightly says that curiosity of man has led to the birth and growth of true art and true science. He has deliberated almost on every aspect of human life and has drawn certain conclusions with which he has acquainted us. We are greatly impressed by profound and philosophical thoughts, which he has expressed in this passage and we spontaneously utter that Einstein is a learned broad-minded, sagacious and straightforward man.
“Mystery is Beautiful. It becomes more Beautiful when mixed with fear.”
- Jesica Adams