Rome Was Not Built in a Day

Rome was not built in a day


Rome was not built in a day. It had perhaps taken centuries. To begin with Rome was only a conglomeration of a few hamlets; then it became a city state; then a state and finally a vast empire. So anything big and great need many years of hard work, undaunted by obstacles of failures.


Only a few days before the examination, most of the students begin to study seriously. The days prior to that is wasted in futile pursuits. Such students cannot hope to do well in their examinations nor can they come out with flying colors. Luckily if they get through, they pat themselves; if they don't, they blame their luck. It is no use burning midnight oil at the last minute cramming information that cannot be sustained for long. They do not realize this simple fact. Studying late into the night is very unhealthy and adversely affects the vision.


It is not only in the case of studies, but in the case of success in life too that one needs steady and continuous work. Civilizations did not develop in a country or two. Nor science or technology is the result of the efforts of one individual or a single experiment. It is because hundreds of people zealously worked for generations together that we now enjoy easy and comfortable life. Most of those people who had so toiled are not known to the history, they are the people, who never cared for fame, who were not deterred by failures, whose only aim was to go ahead steadfastly in their work.


They are the people unwept and unsung. It is certainly because of the undaunted efforts of these unknown heroes that we stand at the place we find ourselves. It is the case with every human endeavor - be it science or art; religion or civilization. Mahatma Gandhi did not coin non-violence or civil disobedience.


Ahimsa has been preached by generations of eminent souls and in fact it had become our way of life when we claim we are vegetarians; and for centuries of foreign rule the only expression of discontent has...