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For her brave act of heroism, Riley received the Girl Please give me your bow.’
Scouts Lifesaving Award. In addition, she was also So saying, he took the bow and arrow from Parasurama.
given an eight-inch golden key to the city in a special He strung the bow and setting the arrow to it, drew the
ceremony. It instantly became her most prized string.
possession. ‘She slept with it for two days – and she Addressing Parasurama, he said with a smile: ‘This
wouldn’t let anybody touch it for weeks,’ Jaime says. mighty arrow placed on the string cannot be put back

Now a first-grader, Riley already knows what she wants idly. It must destroy something. Tell me, shall it destroy
to be when she grows up: ‘A lifeguard!’ your powers of locomotion, or would you rather that it

consumes the fruits of your tapas?’
6. My Financial Career
Steps to fill in a cheque: 10. To the Memory of a Lion
1. Write the date at the top right-hand corner of the Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi imparted the lesson
cheque. of truth, non-violence and peace. His philosophy
2. Next to Pay, write the name of the person or and ideology are relevant even in today’s times. His
organisation to whom you want to transfer the philosophy was based on truth, sacrifice, non-violence,
amount. selfless service and cooperation. In modern times,
3. In front of rupees, write the amount in words. The too, non-violent methods of action have become a
powerful tool for registering social protests. According
amount should end with the word ‘only’. to Gandhiji, one must be brave and not a coward. One
4. Write the same amount in numerals in the box must be able to present one’s views, suggestions and
provided on the right side of the cheque having the thoughts without getting violent. One must fight a war
rupee symbol. with the weapons of truth and non-violence. According
5. Put your signature above your name written at the to him, nonviolence is the ultimate solution for every
bottom of the cheque. kind of problem in the world. Gandhiji was the person
who fought against the British with the weapons of truth
8. Ramayana—The Beginning and non-violence. By the courage of his conviction, he
King Dasaratha was returning to Ayodhya, accompanied persuaded the people of the country to walk on the
by his retinue. On the way, there broke out a great storm. path of non-violence. He led decades long struggle
Trees were uprooted; the earth quaked and clouds of against the British rule in India. Under his leadership
th
dust went up and hid the sun and there was an all- and guidance, we gained our freedom on 15 August
enveloping darkness. Everyone was terror-struck. Soon 1947. He initiated resistance movements, such as the
they knew the reason for the strange phenomenon. Quit India and Non-Cooperation movements against
There stood before them the awe-inspiring figure of the British. But he could not have done what he did all
Parasurama, the sworn enemy of Kshatriyas, with a by himself. He understood that it was not enough to be
bow on one shoulder and a battle-axe on the other, and a leader but to create leaders. Gandhiji lived his life on
with an arrow shining like lightning in his hand. simple beliefs and all his life he promoted those beliefs.
Clearly, Gandhism is a mixture of Gandhiji’s concepts
Parasurama addressed himself to Rama: ‘Son of and practices. The practice of non-violence is the most
Dasaratha, I have heard of your prowess. I was ancient value, according to our scriptures. It is the
somewhat surprised to learn that you strung the bow in foundation of most of the civilisations and cultures of
King Janaka’s court and that you drew the string till the India. He once said, ‘I have nothing new to teach you...
bow broke. Here is my bow, equal in all respects to the Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills.’ Truth
one that you broke. This is the bow of Vishnu which and non-violence are the two sides of the same coin.
was entrusted to my father. If you are able to string this Gandhiji’s importance in the political world scenario is
bow, you will be worthy of my battle.’ two-fold. First, he retrieved non-violence as a powerful
To him Rama replied in courteous manner, yet in firm political tool, and secondly, he spoke of a higher
tones: ‘You have been vengeful because your father spiritual goal, one that culminated in world peace. For
was killed by a king. I do not blame you for that. But him, the means were as important as the end and there
you cannot put me down as you have humbled others. could be only one means—that of non-violence.

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