Argumentative Essay ICSE 2006

This Argumentative Essay was asked in ICSE 2006 board exam. You can find Previous Year Argumentative Essay Topics asked in ICSE board exams.

Argumentative Essay ICSE 2006

India has always believed in the value of the family. Discuss the changes, both good and bad, that have resulted from the break-up of the traditional Indian joint family system. (ICSE 2006)

Introduction:
The value of the family has been deeply ingrained in the Indian society.

  • Break-up of the joint family due to economic factors, and the corrupting influence of the western society.
  • Positive impact
  • The kindling of the spirit of enterprise in the people.
  • End of the internal squabbles inherent in a joint family.
  • Negative impact
  • The loss of security and protection offered in a joint family.

Conclusion:
The break-up of the joint family system may be due to economic and social compulsions. But we must preserve the rich family values, and strengthen the kinship bonds.

The value of family has been deeply ingrained in the Indian society over the ages. This is because we have been fed with mythological stories from great epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, very early in life. While the Ramayana vividly portrays the duties of a son towards his father, mother, brothers, sisters and wife, the Mahabharata exhorts us to fight for justice and rights. This rich legacy of family values and culture found reflection in the Indian joint family system.

However like everything, this too has been corrupted by the evil influence of western society. The present generation aping the west has become highly materialistic which has led to the break-up of the joint family system. Further with the exponential growth in population, people living in rural areas have been compelled to migrate to towns and cities in search of employment. This is because the meagre land holdings can no longer support their livelihood.

The positive impact of this break-up has been the kindling of the spirit of enterprise in people, who till now were conditioned to conform to the decisions of the family head or Karta, the sole decision maker. There are numerous rags to riches stories of people leaving the safety of their hearth and home in the villages, carving a niche for themselves in the cities and towns. This emergence of nuclear family system has made the society more broad based and open. The transformation has also led to the crumbling of the age-old boundaries of caste and creed, making the society more human and hospitable.

Another positive fallout has been the end of the internal squabbles and unpleasantness, that are inherent in a joint family. The clash of individual personalities, because of ego or different aspirations have often led to tension and ill-will in the family.

However, this break-up has taken away the umbrella of security and protection from the individual. One can no longer seek protection, advice, or support from elders, in times of crisis. Further the emotional bonds of the family have also been weakened by distance and time, so much so that near cousins often meet as strangers. This lack of emotional bonding has given rise to psychological problems for the youth, causing more cases of suicide, and socially unacceptable behaviour.

The break-up of the traditional Indian joint family system may be due to economic and social compulsions. However, there is need to preserve the rich family values, and also strengthen the kinship bonds, through greater interaction within the family, and by showing respect to elders. This is what differentiates us from others in the universe.

Assignments

  • Impact of western culture on our culture.
  • ‘Smaller families are better than large ones.’ Express your views either for or against this statement.

The computer will soon replace the book. Express your views either for or against this statement. (ICSE 2006)

Introduction:
The computer can never replace a book.

  • A book is the most cost effective way of spreading literacy. It is portable and handy.
  • Reading a book does not cause any physical discomfort or eye strain.
  • There is a high degree of respectability in the written word.
  • Books develop our power of expression and personality.
  • The book is the source of a wealth of knowledge on a particular subject. It is important for serious learning.

Conclusion:
The computer can never replace a book, either now or in the near future for the convenience and conviction offered by a book, can never be possible through a computer.

A good book in the words of John Milton “is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up to a purpose to a life beyond life”. The thoughts and ideas contained in a book are immortal like Tulsidas’s Ram Charitra Manas, Ved Vyas’s Mahabharata, the Bible and other religious books. Similarly literary classics of Shakespeare, Munshi Premchand and others are treasured legacy passed on from one generation to another. On the other hand a computer is but a machine, that at best can visually display the contents of a specific book for a limited period of time. To think that a computer would one day replace a book, is indeed unthinkable and far fetched.

A book is the most cost effective way of spreading education and literacy for it is available at a fraction of the cost of a computer. Moreover, being extremely portable and handy, it is not dependent on any external factor like availability of power supply, software and space, which are an essential prerequisite for a computer. A book basically requires two basic ingredients – time and inclination. It can be read at any time of the day or night, and anywhere, while travelling or dozing off to sleep.

Moreover, reading a book does not cause any physical discomfort like back pain or eye strain. The same however cannot be said on reading from a computer screen, which causes serious back pain and eye strain. Another factor in favour of the book, is the general high degree of respectability and faith in the written word. Thus while one may see or hear something on the computer terminal, he would like to confirm the same from a newspaper or a book. Besides spreading education to the masses, a book plays an important role in developing our power of expression. It helps in the generation of new ideas and thoughts which mould one’s personality.

Reading a book is a serious matter requiring total concentration, as it offers no diversion or distraction. A computer because of its very nature offers entertainment, games, news and other features, which hamper serious reading and consequently the acquisition of knowledge. Indeed the convenience and conviction offered by a book can never be possible through a computer. Moreover, being a machine, it is liable to breakdown and error, factors that are non-existent while reading a book.

Books are indeed irreplaceable now or in the near future, for they are immortal. In the words of Francis Bacon “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested.” This can never be said for a computer.

Assignments

  • “A book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up to a purpose to a life beyond life” Discuss.
  • Pleasure of reading a book.