CUET English: Verbal AbilityPassage. Free, no login required.

After reading the following passage, answer the questions which follow:

I must say that, beyond occasionally exposing me to laughter, my constitutional shyness has been of no great disadvantage to me. In fact, I can see that, on the contrary, it has been all to my advantage. My hesitancy in speech, which was once an annoyance, is now a pleasure. Its greatest pleasure has been that it has taught me the economy of words. I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. And I can now, give myself the certificate that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes of my tongue or pen. I do not recollect ever having had to regret anything in my speech or writing. I have thus been spared many a mishap and waste of time. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth. Proneness to exaggerate, to suppress or modify the truth, wittingly or unwittingly, is a natural weakness of man and silence is necessary in order to surmount it. A man of few words will rarely be thoughtless in his speech; he will measure every word.

After reading the following passage, answer the questions which follow:

I must say that, beyond occasionally exposing me to laughter, my constitutional shyness has been of no great disadvantage to me. In fact, I can see that, on the contrary, it has been all to my advantage. My hesitancy in speech, which was once an annoyance, is now a pleasure. Its greatest pleasure has been that it has taught me the economy of words. I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. And I can now, give myself the certificate that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes of my tongue or pen. I do not recollect ever having had to regret anything in my speech or writing. I have thus been spared many a mishap and waste of time. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth. Proneness to exaggerate, to suppress or modify the truth, wittingly or unwittingly, is a natural weakness of man and silence is necessary in order to surmount it. A man of few words will rarely be thoughtless in his speech; he will measure every word.

After reading the following passage, answer the questions which follow:

I must say that, beyond occasionally exposing me to laughter, my constitutional shyness has been of no great disadvantage to me. In fact, I can see that, on the contrary, it has been all to my advantage. My hesitancy in speech, which was once an annoyance, is now a pleasure. Its greatest pleasure has been that it has taught me the economy of words. I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. And I can now, give myself the certificate that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes of my tongue or pen. I do not recollect ever having had to regret anything in my speech or writing. I have thus been spared many a mishap and waste of time. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth. Proneness to exaggerate, to suppress or modify the truth, wittingly or unwittingly, is a natural weakness of man and silence is necessary in order to surmount it. A man of few words will rarely be thoughtless in his speech; he will measure every word.

After reading the passage, answer the questions that follow:

Unhappiness and discontent spring not only from poverty. Man is a strange creature, fundamentally different from other animals. He has far horizons, invincible hopes, creative energies, spiritual powers. If they are left undeveloped and unsatisfied, he may have all the comforts which wealth can give, but will still feel that life is not worthwhile. The great humanist writers, Shaw and Wells, Arnold Bennett and Galsworthy, who are regarded as the prophets of the dawn, expose the foibles, inconsistencies and weaknesses of modern life, but they ignore the deeper currents and sometimes misrepresent them. At any rate, they give nothing in their place. In the void left by the removal of tradition, morality and religion, others are putting in vague sentiments of race and power. The modern mind is shaped by Rousseau's Social Contract, Marx's Capital, Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Spengler's The Decline of the West. The outward chaos and confusion of our life reflect the confusion of our hearts and minds. Constitutions, says Plato, "are but the reflections in the outside world of the values which prevail in men's minds." There must be a change in the ideals we cherish, in the values we adopt, before we can give social expression to them. We help to secure the future only to the extent to which we ourselves are changed. What is missing in our age is the soul; there is nothing wrong with the body. We suffer from sickness of spirit. We must discover our roots in the eternal and regain faith in the transcendent truth which will order life, discipline discordant elements, and bring unity and purpose into it. If not, when the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon our houses, it will fall.

After reading the passage, answer the questions that follow:

Unhappiness and discontent spring not only from poverty. Man is a strange creature, fundamentally different from other animals. He has far horizons, invincible hopes, creative energies, spiritual powers. If they are left undeveloped and unsatisfied, he may have all the comforts which wealth can give, but will still feel that life is not worthwhile. The great humanist writers, Shaw and Wells, Arnold Bennett and Galsworthy, who are regarded as the prophets of the dawn, expose the foibles, inconsistencies and weaknesses of modern life, but they ignore the deeper currents and sometimes misrepresent them. At any rate, they give nothing in their place. In the void left by the removal of tradition, morality and religion, others are putting in vague sentiments of race and power. The modern mind is shaped by Rousseau's Social Contract, Marx's Capital, Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Spengler's The Decline of the West. The outward chaos and confusion of our life reflect the confusion of our hearts and minds. Constitutions, says Plato, "are but the reflections in the outside world of the values which prevail in men's minds." There must be a change in the ideals we cherish, in the values we adopt, before we can give social expression to them. We help to secure the future only to the extent to which we ourselves are changed. What is missing in our age is the soul; there is nothing wrong with the body. We suffer from sickness of spirit. We must discover our roots in the eternal and regain faith in the transcendent truth which will order life, discipline discordant elements, and bring unity and purpose into it. If not, when the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon our houses, it will fall.

After reading the passage, answer the questions that follow:

Unhappiness and discontent spring not only from poverty. Man is a strange creature, fundamentally different from other animals. He has far horizons, invincible hopes, creative energies, spiritual powers. If they are left undeveloped and unsatisfied, he may have all the comforts which wealth can give, but will still feel that life is not worthwhile. The great humanist writers, Shaw and Wells, Arnold Bennett and Galsworthy, who are regarded as the prophets of the dawn, expose the foibles, inconsistencies and weaknesses of modern life, but they ignore the deeper currents and sometimes misrepresent them. At any rate, they give nothing in their place. In the void left by the removal of tradition, morality and religion, others are putting in vague sentiments of race and power. The modern mind is shaped by Rousseau's Social Contract, Marx's Capital, Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Spengler's The Decline of the West. The outward chaos and confusion of our life reflect the confusion of our hearts and minds. Constitutions, says Plato, "are but the reflections in the outside world of the values which prevail in men's minds." There must be a change in the ideals we cherish, in the values we adopt, before we can give social expression to them. We help to secure the future only to the extent to which we ourselves are changed. What is missing in our age is the soul; there is nothing wrong with the body. We suffer from sickness of spirit. We must discover our roots in the eternal and regain faith in the transcendent truth which will order life, discipline discordant elements, and bring unity and purpose into it. If not, when the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon our houses, it will fall.

After reading the passage, answer the questions that follow:

Unhappiness and discontent spring not only from poverty. Man is a strange creature, fundamentally different from other animals. He has far horizons, invincible hopes, creative energies, spiritual powers. If they are left undeveloped and unsatisfied, he may have all the comforts which wealth can give, but will still feel that life is not worthwhile. The great humanist writers, Shaw and Wells, Arnold Bennett and Galsworthy, who are regarded as the prophets of the dawn, expose the foibles, inconsistencies and weaknesses of modern life, but they ignore the deeper currents and sometimes misrepresent them. At any rate, they give nothing in their place. In the void left by the removal of tradition, morality and religion, others are putting in vague sentiments of race and power. The modern mind is shaped by Rousseau's Social Contract, Marx's Capital, Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Spengler's The Decline of the West. The outward chaos and confusion of our life reflect the confusion of our hearts and minds. Constitutions, says Plato, "are but the reflections in the outside world of the values which prevail in men's minds." There must be a change in the ideals we cherish, in the values we adopt, before we can give social expression to them. We help to secure the future only to the extent to which we ourselves are changed. What is missing in our age is the soul; there is nothing wrong with the body. We suffer from sickness of spirit. We must discover our roots in the eternal and regain faith in the transcendent truth which will order life, discipline discordant elements, and bring unity and purpose into it. If not, when the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon our houses, it will fall.

After reading the passage, answer the questions that follow:

Unhappiness and discontent spring not only from poverty. Man is a strange creature, fundamentally different from other animals. He has far horizons, invincible hopes, creative energies, spiritual powers. If they are left undeveloped and unsatisfied, he may have all the comforts which wealth can give, but will still feel that life is not worthwhile. The great humanist writers, Shaw and Wells, Arnold Bennett and Galsworthy, who are regarded as the prophets of the dawn, expose the foibles, inconsistencies and weaknesses of modern life, but they ignore the deeper currents and sometimes misrepresent them. At any rate, they give nothing in their place. In the void left by the removal of tradition, morality and religion, others are putting in vague sentiments of race and power. The modern mind is shaped by Rousseau's Social Contract, Marx's Capital, Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Spengler's The Decline of the West. The outward chaos and confusion of our life reflect the confusion of our hearts and minds. Constitutions, says Plato, "are but the reflections in the outside world of the values which prevail in men's minds." There must be a change in the ideals we cherish, in the values we adopt, before we can give social expression to them. We help to secure the future only to the extent to which we ourselves are changed. What is missing in our age is the soul; there is nothing wrong with the body. We suffer from sickness of spirit. We must discover our roots in the eternal and regain faith in the transcendent truth which will order life, discipline discordant elements, and bring unity and purpose into it. If not, when the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon our houses, it will fall.

After reading the passage, answer the questions that follow:

Unhappiness and discontent spring not only from poverty. Man is a strange creature, fundamentally different from other animals. He has far horizons, invincible hopes, creative energies, spiritual powers. If they are left undeveloped and unsatisfied, he may have all the comforts which wealth can give, but will still feel that life is not worthwhile. The great humanist writers, Shaw and Wells, Arnold Bennett and Galsworthy, who are regarded as the prophets of the dawn, expose the foibles, inconsistencies and weaknesses of modern life, but they ignore the deeper currents and sometimes misrepresent them. At any rate, they give nothing in their place. In the void left by the removal of tradition, morality and religion, others are putting in vague sentiments of race and power. The modern mind is shaped by Rousseau's Social Contract, Marx's Capital, Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Spengler's The Decline of the West. The outward chaos and confusion of our life reflect the confusion of our hearts and minds. Constitutions, says Plato, "are but the reflections in the outside world of the values which prevail in men's minds." There must be a change in the ideals we cherish, in the values we adopt, before we can give social expression to them. We help to secure the future only to the extent to which we ourselves are changed. What is missing in our age is the soul; there is nothing wrong with the body. We suffer from sickness of spirit. We must discover our roots in the eternal and regain faith in the transcendent truth which will order life, discipline discordant elements, and bring unity and purpose into it. If not, when the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon our houses, it will fall.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

He was an old, man. So old that the skin of his hands looked like wrinkled parchment and he smelt peculiar. I could not see much more of him than his hands, because even in the high summer heat, he was completely covered in the folds of what looked like an ancient robe. My mother would have told me to stay clear of him. 'One never knows', she would have said 'one hears so many strange things'. My mother always hears vague, strange things that other people never seem to. But she was three thousand miles away, looking after my youngest aunt, who was about to have a baby, while I was spending my summer holidays here, at my grandmother's place. And I was angry and bored. What sort of holiday was this? My cousins were all busy with exams, or had some reason or the other for not coming. There was nobody to play with, no school tales to tell, no jokes to exchange. Instead, my grandmother was trying to teach me to cook and to stick to her rules because, according to her, I was no longer a child. I was now a regular young lady. How I hated it! I hated learning to cook, I hated the rules. Most of all, I hated the waste of a whole summer holiday in that dismal dusty town with no friends and nowhere to go, not even a library.

The old man was sitting under a huge tree whose branches spread out like the spokes of an umbrella. He was staring ahead, as if he was looking out at sea, at sparkling white sailboats which were tracing disappearing patterns in the water, dipping and skimming, like dancers on ice skates. All I saw was a deserted roadside with the heat shimmering like broken bits of glass.

'Sit!' his voice rang out suddenly. My skin jumped. How had he seen me when I had come up from behind? 'Sit', he said again. 'Sit on the stone.' What stone? I looked around and saw a grey, flat stone, under the tree. I touched it. It was dry, and curiously enough, it felt cool. I sat on it. 'Close your eyes and listen,' he said I closed my eyes. I waited. What was I supposed to hear?

'A story,' his voice said. A story that will serve you.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

He was an old, man. So old that the skin of his hands looked like wrinkled parchment and he smelt peculiar. I could not see much more of him than his hands, because even in the high summer heat, he was completely covered in the folds of what looked like an ancient robe. My mother would have told me to stay clear of him. 'One never knows', she would have said 'one hears so many strange things'. My mother always hears vague, strange things that other people never seem to. But she was three thousand miles away, looking after my youngest aunt, who was about to have a baby, while I was spending my summer holidays here, at my grandmother's place. And I was angry and bored. What sort of holiday was this? My cousins were all busy with exams, or had some reason or the other for not coming. There was nobody to play with, no school tales to tell, no jokes to exchange. Instead, my grandmother was trying to teach me to cook and to stick to her rules because, according to her, I was no longer a child. I was now a regular young lady. How I hated it! I hated learning to cook, I hated the rules. Most of all, I hated the waste of a whole summer holiday in that dismal dusty town with no friends and nowhere to go, not even a library.

The old man was sitting under a huge tree whose branches spread out like the spokes of an umbrella. He was staring ahead, as if he was looking out at sea, at sparkling white sailboats which were tracing disappearing patterns in the water, dipping and skimming, like dancers on ice skates. All I saw was a deserted roadside with the heat shimmering like broken bits of glass.

'Sit!' his voice rang out suddenly. My skin jumped. How had he seen me when I had come up from behind? 'Sit', he said again. 'Sit on the stone.' What stone? I looked around and saw a grey, flat stone, under the tree. I touched it. It was dry, and curiously enough, it felt cool. I sat on it. 'Close your eyes and listen,' he said I closed my eyes. I waited. What was I supposed to hear?

'A story,' his voice said. A story that will serve you.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

He was an old, man. So old that the skin of his hands looked like wrinkled parchment and he smelt peculiar. I could not see much more of him than his hands, because even in the high summer heat, he was completely covered in the folds of what looked like an ancient robe. My mother would have told me to stay clear of him. 'One never knows', she would have said 'one hears so many strange things'. My mother always hears vague, strange things that other people never seem to. But she was three thousand miles away, looking after my youngest aunt, who was about to have a baby, while I was spending my summer holidays here, at my grandmother's place. And I was angry and bored. What sort of holiday was this? My cousins were all busy with exams, or had some reason or the other for not coming. There was nobody to play with, no school tales to tell, no jokes to exchange. Instead, my grandmother was trying to teach me to cook and to stick to her rules because, according to her, I was no longer a child. I was now a regular young lady. How I hated it! I hated learning to cook, I hated the rules. Most of all, I hated the waste of a whole summer holiday in that dismal dusty town with no friends and nowhere to go, not even a library.

The old man was sitting under a huge tree whose branches spread out like the spokes of an umbrella. He was staring ahead, as if he was looking out at sea, at sparkling white sailboats which were tracing disappearing patterns in the water, dipping and skimming, like dancers on ice skates. All I saw was a deserted roadside with the heat shimmering like broken bits of glass.

'Sit!' his voice rang out suddenly. My skin jumped. How had he seen me when I had come up from behind? 'Sit', he said again. 'Sit on the stone.' What stone? I looked around and saw a grey, flat stone, under the tree. I touched it. It was dry, and curiously enough, it felt cool. I sat on it. 'Close your eyes and listen,' he said I closed my eyes. I waited. What was I supposed to hear?

'A story,' his voice said. A story that will serve you.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

He was an old, man. So old that the skin of his hands looked like wrinkled parchment and he smelt peculiar. I could not see much more of him than his hands, because even in the high summer heat, he was completely covered in the folds of what looked like an ancient robe. My mother would have told me to stay clear of him. 'One never knows', she would have said 'one hears so many strange things'. My mother always hears vague, strange things that other people never seem to. But she was three thousand miles away, looking after my youngest aunt, who was about to have a baby, while I was spending my summer holidays here, at my grandmother's place. And I was angry and bored. What sort of holiday was this? My cousins were all busy with exams, or had some reason or the other for not coming. There was nobody to play with, no school tales to tell, no jokes to exchange. Instead, my grandmother was trying to teach me to cook and to stick to her rules because, according to her, I was no longer a child. I was now a regular young lady. How I hated it! I hated learning to cook, I hated the rules. Most of all, I hated the waste of a whole summer holiday in that dismal dusty town with no friends and nowhere to go, not even a library.

The old man was sitting under a huge tree whose branches spread out like the spokes of an umbrella. He was staring ahead, as if he was looking out at sea, at sparkling white sailboats which were tracing disappearing patterns in the water, dipping and skimming, like dancers on ice skates. All I saw was a deserted roadside with the heat shimmering like broken bits of glass.

'Sit!' his voice rang out suddenly. My skin jumped. How had he seen me when I had come up from behind? 'Sit', he said again. 'Sit on the stone.' What stone? I looked around and saw a grey, flat stone, under the tree. I touched it. It was dry, and curiously enough, it felt cool. I sat on it. 'Close your eyes and listen,' he said I closed my eyes. I waited. What was I supposed to hear?

'A story,' his voice said. A story that will serve you.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

He was an old, man. So old that the skin of his hands looked like wrinkled parchment and he smelt peculiar. I could not see much more of him than his hands, because even in the high summer heat, he was completely covered in the folds of what looked like an ancient robe. My mother would have told me to stay clear of him. 'One never knows', she would have said 'one hears so many strange things'. My mother always hears vague, strange things that other people never seem to. But she was three thousand miles away, looking after my youngest aunt, who was about to have a baby, while I was spending my summer holidays here, at my grandmother's place. And I was angry and bored. What sort of holiday was this? My cousins were all busy with exams, or had some reason or the other for not coming. There was nobody to play with, no school tales to tell, no jokes to exchange. Instead, my grandmother was trying to teach me to cook and to stick to her rules because, according to her, I was no longer a child. I was now a regular young lady. How I hated it! I hated learning to cook, I hated the rules. Most of all, I hated the waste of a whole summer holiday in that dismal dusty town with no friends and nowhere to go, not even a library.

The old man was sitting under a huge tree whose branches spread out like the spokes of an umbrella. He was staring ahead, as if he was looking out at sea, at sparkling white sailboats which were tracing disappearing patterns in the water, dipping and skimming, like dancers on ice skates. All I saw was a deserted roadside with the heat shimmering like broken bits of glass.

'Sit!' his voice rang out suddenly. My skin jumped. How had he seen me when I had come up from behind? 'Sit', he said again. 'Sit on the stone.' What stone? I looked around and saw a grey, flat stone, under the tree. I touched it. It was dry, and curiously enough, it felt cool. I sat on it. 'Close your eyes and listen,' he said I closed my eyes. I waited. What was I supposed to hear?

'A story,' his voice said. A story that will serve you.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

He was an old, man. So old that the skin of his hands looked like wrinkled parchment and he smelt peculiar. I could not see much more of him than his hands, because even in the high summer heat, he was completely covered in the folds of what looked like an ancient robe. My mother would have told me to stay clear of him. 'One never knows', she would have said 'one hears so many strange things'. My mother always hears vague, strange things that other people never seem to. But she was three thousand miles away, looking after my youngest aunt, who was about to have a baby, while I was spending my summer holidays here, at my grandmother's place. And I was angry and bored. What sort of holiday was this? My cousins were all busy with exams, or had some reason or the other for not coming. There was nobody to play with, no school tales to tell, no jokes to exchange. Instead, my grandmother was trying to teach me to cook and to stick to her rules because, according to her, I was no longer a child. I was now a regular young lady. How I hated it! I hated learning to cook, I hated the rules. Most of all, I hated the waste of a whole summer holiday in that dismal dusty town with no friends and nowhere to go, not even a library.

The old man was sitting under a huge tree whose branches spread out like the spokes of an umbrella. He was staring ahead, as if he was looking out at sea, at sparkling white sailboats which were tracing disappearing patterns in the water, dipping and skimming, like dancers on ice skates. All I saw was a deserted roadside with the heat shimmering like broken bits of glass.

'Sit!' his voice rang out suddenly. My skin jumped. How had he seen me when I had come up from behind? 'Sit', he said again. 'Sit on the stone.' What stone? I looked around and saw a grey, flat stone, under the tree. I touched it. It was dry, and curiously enough, it felt cool. I sat on it. 'Close your eyes and listen,' he said I closed my eyes. I waited. What was I supposed to hear?

'A story,' his voice said. A story that will serve you.

During his frequent visits to Thumba, Prof. Sarabhai would openly review the progress of the work with the entire team. He never gave directions. Rather, through a free exchange of views, he led us forward into new terrain which often revealed an unforeseen solution. Perhaps he was aware that though a particular goal might be clear to himself, and he could give adequate directions for its accomplishment, his team members might have resisted working towards a goal that made no sense to them. He considered the collective understanding of the problem the main attribute of effective leadership. He once told me, 'Look, my job is to make decisions; but it is equally important to see to it that these decisions are accepted by my team members.'

In fact, Prof. Sarabhai took a series of decision that were to become the life-mission of many. We would make our own rockets, our own Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and our own satellites. And this would not be done one-by-one but concurrently, in a multi-dimensional fashion.

During his frequent visits to Thumba, Prof. Sarabhai would openly review the progress of the work with the entire team. He never gave directions. Rather, through a free exchange of views, he led us forward into new terrain which often revealed an unforeseen solution. Perhaps he was aware that though a particular goal might be clear to himself, and he could give adequate directions for its accomplishment, his team members might have resisted working towards a goal that made no sense to them. He considered the collective understanding of the problem the main attribute of effective leadership. He once told me, 'Look, my job is to make decisions; but it is equally important to see to it that these decisions are accepted by my team members.'

In fact, Prof. Sarabhai took a series of decision that were to become the life-mission of many. We would make our own rockets, our own Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and our own satellites. And this would not be done one-by-one but concurrently, in a multi-dimensional fashion.

During his frequent visits to Thumba, Prof. Sarabhai would openly review the progress of the work with the entire team. He never gave directions. Rather, through a free exchange of views, he led us forward into new terrain which often revealed an unforeseen solution. Perhaps he was aware that though a particular goal might be clear to himself, and he could give adequate directions for its accomplishment, his team members might have resisted working towards a goal that made no sense to them. He considered the collective understanding of the problem the main attribute of effective leadership. He once told me, 'Look, my job is to make decisions; but it is equally important to see to it that these decisions are accepted by my team members.'

In fact, Prof. Sarabhai took a series of decision that were to become the life-mission of many. We would make our own rockets, our own Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and our own satellites. And this would not be done one-by-one but concurrently, in a multi-dimensional fashion.

During his frequent visits to Thumba, Prof. Sarabhai would openly review the progress of the work with the entire team. He never gave directions. Rather, through a free exchange of views, he led us forward into new terrain which often revealed an unforeseen solution. Perhaps he was aware that though a particular goal might be clear to himself, and he could give adequate directions for its accomplishment, his team members might have resisted working towards a goal that made no sense to them. He considered the collective understanding of the problem the main attribute of effective leadership. He once told me, 'Look, my job is to make decisions; but it is equally important to see to it that these decisions are accepted by my team members.'

In fact, Prof. Sarabhai took a series of decision that were to become the life-mission of many. We would make our own rockets, our own Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and our own satellites. And this would not be done one-by-one but concurrently, in a multi-dimensional fashion.

During his frequent visits to Thumba, Prof. Sarabhai would openly review the progress of the work with the entire team. He never gave directions. Rather, through a free exchange of views, he led us forward into new terrain which often revealed an unforeseen solution. Perhaps he was aware that though a particular goal might be clear to himself, and he could give adequate directions for its accomplishment, his team members might have resisted working towards a goal that made no sense to them. He considered the collective understanding of the problem the main attribute of effective leadership. He once told me, 'Look, my job is to make decisions; but it is equally important to see to it that these decisions are accepted by my team members.'

In fact, Prof. Sarabhai took a series of decision that were to become the life-mission of many. We would make our own rockets, our own Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and our own satellites. And this would not be done one-by-one but concurrently, in a multi-dimensional fashion.

During his frequent visits to Thumba, Prof. Sarabhai would openly review the progress of the work with the entire team. He never gave directions. Rather, through a free exchange of views, he led us forward into new terrain which often revealed an unforeseen solution. Perhaps he was aware that though a particular goal might be clear to himself, and he could give adequate directions for its accomplishment, his team members might have resisted working towards a goal that made no sense to them. He considered the collective understanding of the problem the main attribute of effective leadership. He once told me, 'Look, my job is to make decisions; but it is equally important to see to it that these decisions are accepted by my team members.'

In fact, Prof. Sarabhai took a series of decision that were to become the life-mission of many. We would make our own rockets, our own Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and our own satellites. And this would not be done one-by-one but concurrently, in a multi-dimensional fashion.

The environment comprises all the physical, social and cultural factors and conditions influencing the existence or the development of an organism. Due to indiscriminate industrialization, man has created a state of decadence. He has continuously tempered with nature which has resulted in the treat to the sustenance of mankind. Although, attempts have been made to restore nature to its previous state of purity and serenity, the efforts have not been whole-hearted.

Earth is the home we all share and would pass on to our future generation as their legacy. But if they inherit the present state of the world, they would be unable to sustain themselves. Man has steadily improved the technologies and other means necessary for higher production of wealth and for the availability of devices that could give more physical and mental pleasures. The industrial revolution led to drastic escalation of earth's surface temperature. Man exploited nature for his benefits, without any foresight as to what the implications of his actions would be. Indiscriminate industrialization resulted in urban migration as the rural poor settled in cities in search of opportunities. Cities, already facing a population crisis could not accommodate the migrates and this led to the development of slums. This has resulted in increased pressure on the available resources and further degradation of the environment.

The environment comprises all the physical, social and cultural factors and conditions influencing the existence or the development of an organism. Due to indiscriminate industrialization, man has created a state of decadence. He has continuously tempered with nature which has resulted in the treat to the sustenance of mankind. Although, attempts have been made to restore nature to its previous state of purity and serenity, the efforts have not been whole-hearted.

Earth is the home we all share and would pass on to our future generation as their legacy. But if they inherit the present state of the world, they would be unable to sustain themselves. Man has steadily improved the technologies and other means necessary for higher production of wealth and for the availability of devices that could give more physical and mental pleasures. The industrial revolution led to drastic escalation of earth's surface temperature. Man exploited nature for his benefits, without any foresight as to what the implications of his actions would be. Indiscriminate industrialization resulted in urban migration as the rural poor settled in cities in search of opportunities. Cities, already facing a population crisis could not accommodate the migrates and this led to the development of slums. This has resulted in increased pressure on the available resources and further degradation of the environment.

The environment comprises all the physical, social and cultural factors and conditions influencing the existence or the development of an organism. Due to indiscriminate industrialization, man has created a state of decadence. He has continuously tempered with nature which has resulted in the treat to the sustenance of mankind. Although, attempts have been made to restore nature to its previous state of purity and serenity, the efforts have not been whole-hearted.

Earth is the home we all share and would pass on to our future generation as their legacy. But if they inherit the present state of the world, they would be unable to sustain themselves. Man has steadily improved the technologies and other means necessary for higher production of wealth and for the availability of devices that could give more physical and mental pleasures. The industrial revolution led to drastic escalation of earth's surface temperature. Man exploited nature for his benefits, without any foresight as to what the implications of his actions would be. Indiscriminate industrialization resulted in urban migration as the rural poor settled in cities in search of opportunities. Cities, already facing a population crisis could not accommodate the migrates and this led to the development of slums. This has resulted in increased pressure on the available resources and further degradation of the environment.

The environment comprises all the physical, social and cultural factors and conditions influencing the existence or the development of an organism. Due to indiscriminate industrialization, man has created a state of decadence. He has continuously tempered with nature which has resulted in the treat to the sustenance of mankind. Although, attempts have been made to restore nature to its previous state of purity and serenity, the efforts have not been whole-hearted.

Earth is the home we all share and would pass on to our future generation as their legacy. But if they inherit the present state of the world, they would be unable to sustain themselves. Man has steadily improved the technologies and other means necessary for higher production of wealth and for the availability of devices that could give more physical and mental pleasures. The industrial revolution led to drastic escalation of earth's surface temperature. Man exploited nature for his benefits, without any foresight as to what the implications of his actions would be. Indiscriminate industrialization resulted in urban migration as the rural poor settled in cities in search of opportunities. Cities, already facing a population crisis could not accommodate the migrates and this led to the development of slums. This has resulted in increased pressure on the available resources and further degradation of the environment.

The environment comprises all the physical, social and cultural factors and conditions influencing the existence or the development of an organism. Due to indiscriminate industrialization, man has created a state of decadence. He has continuously tempered with nature which has resulted in the treat to the sustenance of mankind. Although, attempts have been made to restore nature to its previous state of purity and serenity, the efforts have not been whole-hearted.

Earth is the home we all share and would pass on to our future generation as their legacy. But if they inherit the present state of the world, they would be unable to sustain themselves. Man has steadily improved the technologies and other means necessary for higher production of wealth and for the availability of devices that could give more physical and mental pleasures. The industrial revolution led to drastic escalation of earth's surface temperature. Man exploited nature for his benefits, without any foresight as to what the implications of his actions would be. Indiscriminate industrialization resulted in urban migration as the rural poor settled in cities in search of opportunities. Cities, already facing a population crisis could not accommodate the migrates and this led to the development of slums. This has resulted in increased pressure on the available resources and further degradation of the environment.

The environment comprises all the physical, social and cultural factors and conditions influencing the existence or the development of an organism. Due to indiscriminate industrialization, man has created a state of decadence. He has continuously tempered with nature which has resulted in the treat to the sustenance of mankind. Although, attempts have been made to restore nature to its previous state of purity and serenity, the efforts have not been whole-hearted.

Earth is the home we all share and would pass on to our future generation as their legacy. But if they inherit the present state of the world, they would be unable to sustain themselves. Man has steadily improved the technologies and other means necessary for higher production of wealth and for the availability of devices that could give more physical and mental pleasures. The industrial revolution led to drastic escalation of earth's surface temperature. Man exploited nature for his benefits, without any foresight as to what the implications of his actions would be. Indiscriminate industrialization resulted in urban migration as the rural poor settled in cities in search of opportunities. Cities, already facing a population crisis could not accommodate the migrates and this led to the development of slums. This has resulted in increased pressure on the available resources and further degradation of the environment.

When I was growing up, my father said something to me I will never forget, "Son when you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries while you rejoice". We live in an age when we have forgotten what life is all about. We can easily put a person on the Moon, but we have trouble walking across the street to meet a new neighbour. We can fire a missile across the world with pinpoint accuracy, but we have trouble keeping a date with our children to go to the library. We have e-mail, fax machines and digital phones so that we can stay connected and yet we live in a time where human beings have never been less connected. We have lost touch with our humanity. We have lost touch with our purpose. We have lost sight of the things that matter the most.

When I was growing up, my father said something to me I will never forget, "Son when you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries while you rejoice". We live in an age when we have forgotten what life is all about. We can easily put a person on the Moon, but we have trouble walking across the street to meet a new neighbour. We can fire a missile across the world with pinpoint accuracy, but we have trouble keeping a date with our children to go to the library. We have e-mail, fax machines and digital phones so that we can stay connected and yet we live in a time where human beings have never been less connected. We have lost touch with our humanity. We have lost touch with our purpose. We have lost sight of the things that matter the most.

When I was growing up, my father said something to me I will never forget, "Son when you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries while you rejoice". We live in an age when we have forgotten what life is all about. We can easily put a person on the Moon, but we have trouble walking across the street to meet a new neighbour. We can fire a missile across the world with pinpoint accuracy, but we have trouble keeping a date with our children to go to the library. We have e-mail, fax machines and digital phones so that we can stay connected and yet we live in a time where human beings have never been less connected. We have lost touch with our humanity. We have lost touch with our purpose. We have lost sight of the things that matter the most.