Starvation
1. All of us do some kind of work to ward off starvation or to gain sufficient material wealth with a view to maintaining that standard of living which our physical and intellectual powers have helped us to reach. But there is another kind of work which is completely divorced from the burdensome process of our livelihood and which is undertaken for the sake of amusement or interest or the direction of our surplus stores of energy in some new and useful channels of refined tastes. This delightful occupation, combining work with pleasure or hobby, as it is properly termed, calls for the application of our highest faculties and gives proper form to our healthy instincts, purposeful habits and disciplined behaviour. In our carefree and vacant hours, it allows these faculties to perform their natural functions and to display their instinctive greatness. We devote our leisure to the pursuit of this pleasant task and derive advantages which compare favourably with those we obtain from the bread-earning routine of our daily life. Hobbies widen the sphere of our cultural activities, give refinement to our tastes and show us the path that leads to our systematic mental and moral development. Our tendencies and inclinations also find in them an outlet for a healthy and progressive expression.
2. A hobby is a favourite subject or occupation that is not one’s main business. In this age of machinery which has taken upon itself most of the laborious duties of physical exertion formerly performed by man, thus creating for him pleasant intervals of rest and leisure, it should not be difficult for him to devote some time to the pursuit of a new interest that can add some charm, colour or zest to his life. The spare time must not be frittered away in idleness or spent on such work as overtaxes his mind and body after they have performed their normal functions for the day. The new interest will be worthwhile only if it provides relaxation and change from ordinary occupation, banishes the drabness of routine work and produces a feeling that life is both charming and meaningful.
3. The choice of hobbies like the choice of books for purposes of reading is not an easy task. Some hobbies demand a little guidance from experienced persons. Our sudden attachment to them without the backing of this preliminary knowledge may result in wasting our resources of time and money, and in the end, compel us to abandon them. Some hobbies are rather expensive, and therefore beyond the means of ordinary people who can ill afford to spend large sums of money on them. Not a few are incompatible with our temperament and taste. We must not, therefore, allow the glamour of certain hobbies to blind us to their reality, howsoever tempting they may appear to us, nor should we begin to cherish them thoughtlessly because we find other people so devotedly attached to them. In the first flush of enthusiasm, many have rushed into unsuitable hobbies only to find themselves turning away from them in a state of great disillusionment. In a few rare and exceptional cases a sudden and instinctive choice of some hobby sometimes proves to be the right one. We must not, however, forget that tinkering with the hobby is a joyless and wasteful process, unattended by any appreciable gains. Scattered interests in half a dozen or more odd hobbies is also not a desirable end.
scurrying—running with short quick steps. Ingenuity—cleverness and originality in solving problems. ward off—keep away something that is dangerous or unpleasant divorced—separated. application—use. tendencies-ways of behaviour ‘ Inclinations—feelings that make us behave in a particular way. frittered away—I, tendencies ways wasted foolishly, drabness–dullness preliminary—preparatory, abandon—give up, ill afford—hardly afford, not a few—many, incompatible–no consistent. not in agreement
Questions
1. Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) What is a hobby?
(b) What are the advantages of hobbies?
(c) Why one has to be very careful in selecting a hobby?
(d) Under what circumstances do we have to discard a hobby?
(e) In what way does a hobby refine our tastes?
2. Find words in the above passage which convey a similar meaning to the following:
(a) activity to which one gives time or effort
(b) enthusiasm
(c) not able to adjust.
Answers
(a)A hobby is a favourite subject or occupation that is not one’s main business.
(b)A hobby directs our surplus stores of energy into useful channels. Besides giving us entertainment, it shows us the path that leads to systematic mental and moral development.
(c) If the choice of a hobby proves to be wrong. we will have to abandon it after some time. It will result in the wasting of much time and money. So we must be very careful in selecting a hobby.
(d) We have to discard a hobby if it is very expensive or if it is incompatible with our temperament and taste.
(e) A hobby refines our tastes by giving proper form to our health instincts and by showing us the path that leads to mental and moral development.
2. (a) occupation—an activity to which one gives time or effort.
(b) zeal—enthusiasm.
(c) incompatible—not able to adjust.
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