AKHAND-JYOTI

What is a good topic? Beginners often find themselves engaged in trying to answer this question correctly and exactly, discussing it in a group of fellow writers and experts. This of course is an important question to answer, for an exact answer will help them create the good piece of writing and subsequently, it will create immense value for the readers. It is always wise to take a step towards the answer, i.e., to explore the solution of the problem you are dealing with. Hence, it is always good to define the basic features of the problem, i.e., the features of the good topic, so that it breaks up into several pieces. Then it is easy to deal with each of these pieces and make a surge in tilting the struggle towards ourselves. Hence, it is good to jot down a couple of basic features, which can be possibly applied to every kind of writing, and see the question ‘what is a good topic?’ through them, and witness that the identification of the good topic becomes easier. Some of t...

Since these days I am under the immense influence of my inner voice, here is another gift from it for all the writers, beginners, stragglers, accomplished ones. I consider my inner voice having a source that is much wiser than me, much better thinker than me and much better advocate of these good thoughts than me. It sends me messages that are more convincing than what I think about a matter.  While I was contemplating over the topic of this article, I was suddenly guided, by my inner voice, to write about writing. But I did not get enough time to write on a particular topic I had thought about to write. Then there was an idea put silently on my table by my inner voice. "Why not I write about time that a reasonably good (self-satisfying) article requires to complete," was what this idea said to me.  I thought that such a satisfaction depends on the stage at which the write is; beginning, middle, accomplished, etc. and, if for that matter, we think that the writer is ...

Initially I started writing about political topics. Then I also included the economic and foreign affair topics. Then my attention shifted to the individuals who had mass following, such as Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev. Gradually I realized that these themes don’t go well with me. This was the first increase in my understanding about what I wanted to write about. In addition, I also witnessed that I needed to follow daily news to actually write about such themes. That meant, I needed to be judgmental in my writing. The force was outside me, not within me. It is the force on which my writing nurtures, sustains, grows. Writing on such themes was not coming naturally to me and for every write up I had to look a newspaper. This of course was, and still is, a challenge for me. This clarity about theme guided me to easily drop the theme itself. Now the question was what to write about. I came up with an idea of writing about writing. Thus I started to write about essay writing...

When in my high school, I was formally introduced to academic writing such as letter and essay writing. After I passed all my academic exams, my marriage with such formal writing was over. No more worries for writing and thinking for writing. But this love affair took its own course and separation was converted into a remarriage when I started preparing for the civil services.  The pattern of the examination required every successful aspirant to pass an exam of essay writing. It was, and still is, a critical exam in deciding the merit of an individual. Therefore, when I prepared for it, I was serious in my preparation and attended formal coaching classes for essay writing. Although, once again my need to learn writing skills was motivated by the aim of passing an exam, I was conscious in my attempt and looked up several reference books for the same.  In this way I was once again reintroduced to formal writing. Although I could not qualify my civil services exam,...

There are two stages of life. Before we discuss these two stages, we have to have a right understanding about the “life.” Here we are discussing and talking about the “life,” which is meaningful; a life that has a purpose; a life that adds value and happiness to the lives of fellow humans. For example, the life of Mother Teresa or the Buddha. These are the lives that can be looked to as the role models. These great individuals added immense value to the lives of fellow humans. The Mother took care of poor and downtrodden and showered her unconditional love to whosoever went to her with an open heart. The Buddha was the master of maters; he handed us over the philosophy of life and made us aware of basic principles to live a meaningful life. Millions of people across the world are inspired by these two individuals; many try to follow their path. However, it is not at all mandatory that you should orient your life only according to their lives. There are modern-day examples as wel...

Yes folks! Essay writing is not rocket science. It is much more difficult than that. Really! Scientists spend months in calculating as to when to launch a rocket, what should be its weight, what should be its inclination, what should be its speed, what should be its distance, etc. They make several teams of scientists and experts for calculating these essential facts. They seek weather reports for the day of rocket launch, and almost a month before and after it. They collate all these facts, and much more of the information, and then decide about the time and place of the rocket launch. They seek support from the government. They take defense measures, they seek help from various departments such as foreign affairs, environment and forest, home ministry, etc. They prepare the best possible safety measures so that in case of an accident, they are able to save the human lives that could be affected by the accident. They use the most advanced instruments in the scientific calculati...