Why Do Prices Keep Rising?

INFLATION 

Have you ever wondered why a chocolate bar, a bus ticket, or a plate of your favourite snacks costs more today than it did a few years ago? This gradual increase in the prices of goods and services is called inflation. It is one of the most important concepts in economics because it affects everyone—from schoolchildren buying stationery to families planning their monthly budget.

WHAT IS INFLATION?

Inflation is the general rise in the prices of goods and services across a country over time. As prices increase, the purchasing power of money decreases. In simple words, the same amount of money buys fewer things than it did before.

For example: If a notebook cost ₹50 last year but costs ₹55 this year, inflation has increased its price.

WHY DO PRICES GO UP?

Prices can rise for many reasons. Here are the three main causes of inflation:

1. Higher Cost of Making Things

Many products become expensive because the cost of producing them increases. Companies spend more on raw materials, fuel, electricity, transport, and wages.

For example, to make a Dairy Milk chocolate, manufacturers need milk solids, sugar, and cocoa. If these ingredients become costlier, the price of chocolate also goes up. Similarly, when fuel prices rise, transporting food, clothes, and other goods becomes more expensive, and that extra cost is passed on to customers.

2. Global Problems and Shortages

India imports many goods from other countries. Natural disasters, wars, and supply chain disruptions can increase prices worldwide.

A recent example is olive oil. During 2024–2025, olive oil prices doubled because countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey faced extreme heat and drought, which damaged olive crops. The ongoing Israel–Palestine conflict also affected olive farming in the region.

3. More Demand Than Supply

Imagine everyone in your class receives ₹500 and rushes to buy pizza, but the shop has only 15 pizzas. Since many people want the same item, the shopkeeper raises the price.

This is called high demand and low supply. It is also why governments do not simply print unlimited money—too much money chasing too few goods would make everything much more expensive.

HOW IS INFLATION MEASURED?

In India, inflation is measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Experts create a “basket” of everyday items such as rice, onions, milk, petrol, toothpaste, clothes, vegetables, and transport fares. They check the prices of these items every month. The percentage increase in the basket's total cost is called the inflation rate.

Example: If the basket cost ₹100 last year and ₹106 this year, the inflation rate is 6%.

HOW DOES INFLATION AFFECT US?

Inflation has both positive and negative effects.

●Positive Effects

Encourages people to spend and invest money.

Helps businesses grow when the economy is expanding.

Can lead to better wages and more jobs in some sectors.

●Negative Effects

Everyday essentials become more expensive.

Families need to spend more on food, transport, and household items.

Savings lose some of their purchasing power over time.

HOW CAN INFLATION BE CONTROLLED?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plays a major role in controlling inflation.

If prices rise too quickly, the RBI increases the repo rate—the interest rate at which it lends money to banks. Higher interest rates make loans more expensive, so people and businesses borrow and spend less. This helps slow down inflation.

The government also takes steps to control rising prices. For example, when onion prices increased because of poor harvests, the Government of India imported onions to increase supply and reduce prices.

IS INFLATION ALWAYS BAD?

No. A little inflation is actually good. It shows that people are buying goods, businesses are earning profits, and the economy is growing.

However, too much inflation makes basic necessities unaffordable. On the other hand, deflation—when prices stop rising or start falling—can also be harmful because people spend less, businesses earn less, and jobs may be lost.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF INFLATION?

Most countries aim for an inflation rate of about 2% to 4% each year. In India, the RBI targets 4% inflation, with an acceptable range of 2% to 6%. This is called optimal inflation, as it supports healthy economic growth without making prices rise too fast.

DID YOU KNOW?

●Around 2008, Zimbabwe experienced hyperinflation, where a loaf of bread cost about 100 billion Zimbabwean dollars.

●During hyperinflation, people sometimes carried wheelbarrows full of money just to buy basic items like bread and eggs.

●A small amount of inflation is considered a sign of a healthy and growing economy.

AMAZING FACTS 

●The word inflation comes from a Latin word meaning “to blow up” or “expand.”

●Food and fuel prices have a major influence on inflation because they are used every day.

●The prices of goods do not always rise equally—some items may become cheaper while others become much more expensive.

CONCLUSION 

Inflation is a natural part of every economy, but keeping it under control is essential. Understanding inflation helps us become smarter consumers, plan our spending wisely, save for the future, and appreciate how a balanced economy benefits everyone.

The Robot Cat from the Future

DORAEMON 

Doraemon is one of the most popular and lovable cartoon characters in the world. With his round blue body, cheerful personality and amazing gadgets, he has entertained generations of children. But Doraemon is more than just a funny cartoon character—he teaches us about friendship, kindness, courage and the importance of helping others.

WHO IS DORAEMON?

Doraemon is a robotic cat from the 22nd century. He travels back in time to help a young boy named Nobita Nobi. Nobita is kind-hearted but often careless, unlucky and not very confident. Doraemon tries to guide him and help him solve his everyday problems.

Doraemon carries many fascinating gadgets in his four-dimensional pocket. These gadgets come from the future and make his adventures exciting and imaginative.

Historical Background of Doraemon

The story of Doraemon began in Japan in the late 1960s. The character was created by the Japanese manga artists Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko, who worked together under the pen name Fujiko F. Fujio.

Doraemon first appeared in manga form in December 1969, when stories about the robotic cat from the future were published in several children's magazines. The character was sent from the 22nd century to help a schoolboy named Nobita Nobi, whose future descendants were worried about his family's difficult future.

The first Doraemon animated television series was produced in 1973. Although that version was relatively short-lived, Doraemon returned to television in a new series in 1979. This version became enormously popular in Japan and helped establish Doraemon as one of the country's most beloved fictional characters.

A major milestone came in 1980, when the first Doraemon feature film, Doraemon: The Record of Nobita, Spaceblazer, was released. Since then, numerous theatrical films have taken Doraemon and his friends on adventures involving time travel, space, history and imaginary worlds.

Doraemon gradually spread beyond Japan through translations, television broadcasts and films. The character became particularly popular in India, where the Hindi-dubbed television series introduced Doraemon to a huge audience of young viewers.

Over the decades, Doraemon has grown from a Japanese children's manga character into an internationally recognised cultural icon. His stories continue to combine humour, science fiction, imagination and valuable lessons about friendship and responsibility, making the robotic cat from the future popular with new generations of children.

The Amazing Gadgets

Doraemon's gadgets are perhaps the most exciting part of the series. One of his best-known gadgets is the Anywhere Door, which can take people to almost any place instantly. The Time Machine allows travel through different periods of history.

Another favourite is the Take-copter, a small propeller that lets people fly. The Small Light can make objects smaller, while the Big Light can make them bigger. Doraemon also has many other unusual gadgets that often create hilarious situations.

Although these gadgets are entertaining, the stories often show that simply having a magical solution does not solve every problem. Nobita sometimes learns that hard work, honesty and good decisions are more important.

SOME OF DORAEMON'S AMAZING GADGETS 

One of the most exciting things about Doraemon is his collection of futuristic gadgets. He carries them in his magical four-dimensional pocket, which seems to have unlimited space. Whenever Nobita faces a problem, Doraemon often pulls out a gadget that can do something extraordinary. These gadgets make the stories funny, adventurous and full of imagination.

🚪 Anywhere Door

The Anywhere Door is one of Doraemon’s most famous gadgets. It looks like an ordinary pink door, but when opened, it can take a person to a desired destination. Imagine opening your bedroom door and stepping straight onto a beach or into another city!

🚁 Take-copter

The Take-copter is a small propeller that can be attached to the head. It allows a person to fly through the air. It is one of Nobita and his friends’ favourite gadgets because it makes travelling quick and exciting.

⏰ Time Machine

The Time Machine allows Doraemon and his friends to travel through time. It is often used to visit the past or future and forms the basis of many exciting adventures. However, the stories also show that changing events in the past can sometimes lead to unexpected consequences.

🔦 Small Light

The Small Light can make objects or people smaller. It is useful when something needs to be transported or when the characters want to explore a miniature world.

💡 Big Light

As its name suggests, the Big Light does the opposite of the Small Light. It can enlarge objects or people. Together, these two gadgets create many amusing situations.

🧳 Anywhere Travel Door and Other Gadgets

Doraemon has countless other gadgets, including devices that help characters communicate, disguise themselves, travel through different worlds and even experience unusual situations. Some gadgets are useful, while others create trouble because Nobita sometimes uses them without thinking about the consequences.

🧠 WHY ARE THE GADGETS SO SPECIAL?

Doraemon’s gadgets are not just magical objects. They represent human imagination and the possibilities of future technology. Some gadgets resemble technologies that people already use or are developing today, such as video communication, translation devices, wearable technology and advanced transportation.

The gadgets also teach an important lesson: having a powerful tool does not mean that every problem will disappear. Nobita often learns that clever gadgets cannot replace honesty, responsibility, patience and hard work.

Doraemon’s wonderful gadgets therefore make his adventures entertaining while encouraging children to dream, imagine and think about what the future might bring.

DORAEMON AND HIS FRIENDS 

Doraemon's closest friend is Nobita. Their friendship forms the heart of the series. Nobita also spends time with Shizuka, Gian and Suneo.

Shizuka is kind and intelligent. Gian is strong and sometimes bossy, while Suneo is clever and likes showing off. Despite their differences and frequent arguments, the friends share many adventures and often help one another.

WHAT DOES DORAEMON TEACH US?

Doraemon's stories contain several valuable lessons. They remind us that true friendship means standing by others in difficult times. Nobita's experiences also teach children to take responsibility for their actions.

The series encourages curiosity and imagination. It makes us wonder what the future might look like and how science and technology could change our lives. At the same time, it reminds us that technology should be used wisely.

DID YOU KNOW?

●Doraemon was created by the Japanese manga artists Fujiko F. Fujio, the pen name of the creative partnership of Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko.

●Doraemon is a robotic cat from the 22nd century.

●His famous four-dimensional pocket can hold an enormous variety of futuristic gadgets.

●Doraemon is famously afraid of mice, despite being a robotic cat.

The character's stories combine humour, friendship, science fiction and everyday school life.

AMAZING FACT 

Doraemon has become a major part of popular culture far beyond Japan. His adventures have been translated and adapted for audiences in many countries, including India, where the character has become especially popular among children.

A FRIEND FROM THE FUTURE 

Doraemon may come from the future, but the values in his stories are timeless. Through his adventures with Nobita, he shows us that friendship, kindness, courage and responsibility are far more valuable than any magical gadget. That is perhaps the real reason why Doraemon continues to remain a favourite among children—and adults—around the world.

Do you know

WHY DO BABIES HAVE MORE BONES THAN ADULTS?

Have you ever wondered how many bones are in the human body? An adult human skeleton usually has 206 bones, but a newborn baby has around 270 to 300 bones! Does this mean that babies have extra bones that disappear as they grow? Not exactly. The interesting answer lies in the way a baby’s skeleton develops.

A SKELETON MADE FOR GROWTH 

When a baby is born, many parts of its skeleton are made of separate bones or pieces of cartilage. As the child grows, some of these pieces gradually join together, or fuse, to form larger, stronger bones.

For example, the skull of a newborn contains several separate bones. These bones are connected by flexible areas called sutures. A baby's skull also has soft spots called fontanelles. These flexible areas allow the baby's head to change shape slightly during birth and provide room for the rapidly growing brain.

As the child grows, the skull bones gradually become more firmly connected.

THE SPINE ALSO CHANGES 

A baby's backbone also contains more separate pieces than an adult's skeleton. Some bones at the lower end of the spine, including those that eventually form the sacrum and coccyx, fuse as a person grows older.

Similarly, several parts of the hip bone that are separate during childhood eventually join to form one large bone.

WHY AREN'T BABIES BORN WITH 206 BONES?

A baby's skeleton is designed to be flexible as well as strong. During infancy and childhood, bones need to grow and change shape. Having separate pieces connected by cartilage or flexible joints makes this possible.

As the body matures, these separate pieces gradually fuse. Therefore, the number of bones decreases—not because bones vanish, but because several smaller bones become one larger bone.

BONES ARE STILL GROWING!

Bones don't simply become bigger like balloons. They grow through special areas called growth plates, which are made of cartilage. These plates help the long bones of the arms and legs increase in length during childhood.

When growth is complete, the growth plates gradually close and become solid bone.

DID YOU KNOW?

👶 A newborn baby has about 270 to 300 bones, although the exact number can vary depending on how individual skeletal structures are counted.

🦴 An adult usually has 206 bones.

💀 The bones of a baby's skull are not completely fused at birth. This helps make childbirth possible and gives the brain room to grow.

🧒 Some bones continue to develop and fuse well into the teenage years and early adulthood.

AMAZING FACT!

The human skeleton is not a fixed structure from birth. It is a living, changing framework that grows along with us. So, when a baby has more bones than an adult, it is actually showing us something fascinating about human growth: many bones begin life as separate pieces and gradually join together as the body matures.

In a Nutshell

Baby → more separate bone pieces → growth and development → bones fuse → adult skeleton with about 206 bones.

Our skeleton may look like a rigid framework, but during childhood it is constantly growing, changing and adapting!

Do you know

HOW DO ANTS WALK ON WALLS?

Have you ever watched an ant confidently walking up a wall or even across a ceiling and wondered, “Why doesn't it fall?” It may look like the ant is defying gravity, but there is some fascinating science behind this tiny creature's remarkable ability.

Ants have specially adapted feet that help them grip smooth and rough surfaces. Their tiny feet, claws and sticky structures work together to keep them attached to walls and other surfaces.

TINY FEET WITH SPECIAL CLAWS 

An ant's leg ends in a tiny foot called a tarsus. At the end of the tarsus are small, curved claws known as pretarsal claws.

These claws are useful when ants walk on rough surfaces. The claws can catch onto tiny bumps, cracks and irregularities that are almost invisible to us.

But what happens when an ant walks on a smooth wall or glass surface where there are hardly any bumps to grab?

That's where another clever adaptation comes in.

A STICKY PAD HELPS THE ANT GRIP 

Between the claws of many ants is a soft, flexible structure called the arolium. When the ant puts its foot down, this pad can spread out and make close contact with the surface.

Ants can also produce a tiny amount of fluid that helps their feet maintain contact with smooth surfaces. The combination of close contact and this secretion creates forces that help keep the ant attached.

So, an ant does not simply “stick” to a wall like glue. Its feet use several mechanisms to maintain a grip.

WHAT ABOUT WALKING ON THE CEILING?

Walking vertically is already impressive, but ants can sometimes walk upside down on ceilings too!

When an ant is on a ceiling, gravity is trying to pull it away from the surface. The tiny forces generated by its feet must therefore be strong enough to keep it attached.

The ant carefully places several feet on the surface at the same time. If one foot loses its grip, the others can continue supporting it.

WHY DON'T ANTS FALL?

There isn't just one reason. Several features work together:

1. Claws

The tiny claws catch onto microscopic irregularities on rough surfaces.

2. Adhesive pads

Soft pads on the feet help the ant make close contact with smooth surfaces.

3. Foot secretions

A minute amount of liquid can help create adhesion between the foot and the surface.

4. Multiple legs

Ants have six legs. They can distribute their body weight among several points of contact while walking.

5. Tiny body size

An ant is extremely small and light. Because its weight is so low, the forces generated by its tiny feet can be sufficient to hold it against a wall.

DO ALL ANTS WALK ON SMOOTH WALLS?

Not necessarily. Different ant species have different foot structures and abilities. Some are particularly good climbers, while others are better adapted to walking on soil, plants or rough surfaces.

The surface also matters. An ant may find a rough wall easier to climb than a perfectly smooth one, depending on the structure of its feet.

A MARVEL OF NATURE 

An ant's ability to walk on walls is a wonderful example of how small adaptations can solve big problems. What looks like a simple walk to us involves claws, flexible foot pads, tiny amounts of fluid and carefully coordinated movements.

The next time you see an ant marching up a wall, remember that it isn't breaking the laws of gravity. It is using the remarkable design of its tiny feet to overcome gravity!

DID YOU KNOW?

🐜 Ants have six legs, and each leg ends in a highly specialised foot.

🔬 Scientists study the feet of ants and other insects to understand adhesion and climbing.

🦎 The climbing abilities of small animals have even inspired scientists and engineers to develop new adhesive materials and climbing robots.

Are we alone in the universe?

EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered whether someone—or something—might be looking back at us? The universe is so enormous that Earth is only a tiny part of it. This raises one of the most fascinating questions in science: Are we the only living beings in the universe?

The term extraterrestrial life refers to any form of life that exists beyond Earth. Scientists have not yet found confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial life, but they continue to search for it.

A UNIVERSE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES 

The universe contains billions of galaxies, and each galaxy contains billions of stars. Many of these stars have planets orbiting them. Scientists have discovered thousands of planets outside our Solar System, known as exoplanets.

Some exoplanets orbit at a distance from their stars where temperatures could potentially allow liquid water to exist. This region is called the habitable zone or the “Goldilocks zone”—not too hot and not too cold.

Water is considered extremely important because every form of life we know on Earth needs it.

WHAT KIND OF LIFE ARE SCIENTISTS LOOKING FOR?

When scientists search for extraterrestrial life, they are not necessarily looking for intelligent aliens or creatures like those shown in science-fiction movies.

They first look for the simplest possibilities, such as microorganisms. Even finding tiny, simple life forms outside Earth would be one of the greatest discoveries in human history.

Scientists also look for signs called biosignatures—chemical substances or patterns that could indicate the presence of life.

MARS: A MAJOR TARGET 

Our neighbouring planet Mars has long been one of the most important places in the search for extraterrestrial life. Mars is cold and dry today, but scientists have found strong evidence that liquid water existed on its surface billions of years ago.

NASA's rovers, including Curiosity and Perseverance, have been studying Martian rocks and soil. Perseverance is also collecting rock samples that may help scientists understand whether Mars once had conditions suitable for ancient microbial life.

COULD LIFE EXIST ELSEWHERE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM?

Mars is not the only interesting place. Some moons of the outer planets are especially exciting.

Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, has an icy surface and is believed to have a vast ocean of liquid water beneath its ice.

Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, also has a subsurface ocean. Spacecraft have detected jets of water-rich material shooting from cracks near its south pole. These discoveries make such icy moons important targets in the search for possible life.

WHAT ABOUT INTELLIGENT ALIENS?

Finding intelligent extraterrestrial life would be even more extraordinary. Scientists have searched the skies for unusual radio signals that could have been produced by advanced civilisations.

Projects such as SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) listen for possible signals from distant worlds. So far, no signal has been confirmed as a message from an extraterrestrial civilisation.

This does not prove that intelligent life does not exist. Space is enormous, and distant civilisations may be extremely difficult to detect.

THE FAMOUS DRAKE EQUATION 

In 1961, astronomer Frank Drake proposed an equation to estimate the possible number of communicating civilisations in our galaxy.

The equation considers factors such as the number of stars, the number of planets around those stars, and the possibility of life developing on suitable planets.

However, many of the values are still uncertain. Therefore, the Drake Equation is best viewed as a framework for thinking about the question rather than a precise calculator of alien populations.

HAVE WE FOUND ALIENS YET?

No. As of today, there is no scientifically confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Scientists have discovered intriguing clues—such as ancient evidence of water on Mars, organic molecules in space, and potentially habitable environments on distant worlds—but none of these discoveries proves that life exists beyond Earth.

This distinction is important. Scientists carefully test extraordinary claims before accepting them as evidence.

WHY DOES THE SEARCH MATTER?

The search for extraterrestrial life is not simply about finding aliens. It could help us answer some of the biggest questions about our own existence.

If life were discovered elsewhere, scientists could compare it with life on Earth. We might learn whether life develops easily when the right conditions exist or whether Earth is an extremely rare exception.

Either discovery would be remarkable. Finding life elsewhere would show that Earth is not the only place where life has appeared. Not finding it, even after extensive searches, would tell us something equally important about how rare life might be.

A QUESTION THAT INSPIRES US 

The universe remains full of mysteries. Every new telescope, spacecraft and scientific discovery gives us a better opportunity to understand our cosmic neighbourhood.

Perhaps somewhere, many light-years away, life exists beneath the ice of a distant moon or on a planet orbiting another star. Perhaps intelligent beings are looking towards their own skies and asking exactly the same question:

“Are we alone?”

For now, the answer remains unknown—and that mystery is one of the greatest adventures in modern science.

DID YOU KNOW?

●Extraterrestrial simply means “from outside Earth.”

●Planets outside our Solar System are called exoplanets.

●Mars once had rivers, lakes and other environments associated with liquid water.

●Europa and Enceladus are considered promising places to investigate for environments that could potentially support life.

●Scientists search for both biosignatures of life and possible technosignatures produced by advanced technology.

Compassion and courage

SACRIFICE FOR THE MOTHERLAND 

The history of India's freedom struggle is filled with stories of courage, sacrifice and unwavering love for the motherland. Some heroes fought with weapons, while others fought with nothing but their faith, courage and self-respect. Their sacrifices remind us that patriotism is not merely about words—it is about standing firm for what we believe is right, even when the cost is our own life.

The following story, set against the backdrop of the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, tells us about an elderly temple priest who faced a remarkable moral dilemma. When a wounded British officer and his wife came to him seeking refuge, he chose humanity over hatred and protected them. But when the same officer later demanded that he insult the blood of Indian revolutionaries to save his own life, the priest refused.

His final act teaches us a powerful lesson: compassion makes us human, but the courage to protect the honour of our motherland makes us truly patriotic.

In the year 1857, the flames of the First War of Indian Independence were raging throughout Uttar Pradesh. Angered by the atrocities committed by the British forces, freedom fighters in village after village were driving the British out of their regions.

Amidst this turmoil, an elderly priest lived in an ancient Shiva temple built on a hill, far away from the village. His life was based on devotion to God and the principles of truth and compassion.

A Cry for Shelter

One stormy night, there was a loud knocking at the main door of the temple. The priest lit a lamp and opened the door. Standing before him were a British officer and his wife, both covered in blood and badly injured. Behind them could be heard the angry cries of the revolutionaries.

The British officer pleaded, “Maharaj! Please save us. The people will kill us.”

The priest faced a difficult moral dilemma. These were the very British people who had enslaved his country. Yet the people standing before him were helpless refugees seeking protection.

The priest followed the principle of Sanatan Dharma that protecting someone who seeks refuge is the highest duty and hid the couple in a secret chamber inside the temple.

The Revolutionaries Enter the Temple

Within moments, a group of brave village soldiers arrived at the temple, carrying torches and weapons. They asked,

“Priest! Has any British person taken shelter here?”

The priest replied calmly but firmly,

“This is the sacred abode of God. Here, there is neither enemy nor friend; there is only a person who has sought refuge. It is my duty to protect anyone who comes to this threshold seeking shelter.”

The crowd was deeply moved by the priest's dignified personality and devotion to truth. They bowed before him and left.

At dawn, the priest helped the British couple leave safely through a secure route.

As he departed, the British officer said gratefully,

“Today, I have witnessed true religion.”

A Cruel Test of Loyalty

A few months later, a large contingent of the British army arrived in the village to suppress the revolution. Acting on information provided by an informer, British soldiers raided the temple and arrested the priest. They took him to their military camp.

The same British officer whose life the priest had once saved was now in charge of the camp.

The priest thought that the officer would recognise him and release him with respect. But intoxicated by power and colonial arrogance, the British officer had forgotten his humanity.

In the camp courtyard, several Indian revolutionaries had been shot dead. The sacred blood of the brave sons of India was flowing on the ground.

The British officer cruelly said,

“Priest! You helped the rebels. If you want to save your life, lick the blood of these rebels lying on the ground and prove your loyalty to the British government.”

The Priest's Sacrifice

Hearing this inhuman condition, the elderly priest's self-respect and love for his motherland awakened. His eyes became red with anger. He stood upright and looked directly into the officer's eyes.

He said,

“Once, I saved your life by following the duty of humanity. But this blood belongs to the brave martyrs of my motherland. To insult the blood of my country's sons merely to beg for my life would be worse than death for me.”

The priest rejected the cruel demand with contempt. He refused to bow before the officer or compromise his principles.

On the officer's orders, the sound of gunshots echoed through the camp. The elderly priest attained martyrdom while raising the cry:

“Victory to Mother India!”

Message of the Lesson

Balancing Humanity and Self-Respect

Giving shelter to a helpless enemy is an act of compassion and humanity. However, refusing to compromise the honour of one's motherland and its martyrs represents self-respect and patriotism.

National Duty Comes First

Compassion has an important place in our personal lives. But when the honour and dignity of one's country are at stake, being willing to sacrifice one's life rather than surrender one's principles represents the true duty of a citizen.

A troll tale

THE CLEVER YOUNGEST SON 

Once upon a time, there lived a poor farmer with three sons. The farmer was growing old, and the family had a large debt to repay. One day, he called his sons and said, “We must work hard and repay our debt. Go to the forest and bring back some wood to sell.”

The eldest son went first. He walked deep into the forest and began chopping a fir tree. Suddenly, a huge troll appeared from behind the trees. It was so frightening that the boy dropped his axe.

“Get out of my forest!” the troll roared. “If I ever see you here again, I will eat you!”

The terrified boy ran all the way home. When he told his father what had happened, the farmer shook his head.

“Why are you so frightened?” he asked. “No troll ever scared me when I was young!”

The next morning, the second son went into the forest. But the moment he began chopping a tree, the same enormous troll appeared.

“Leave my forest at once!” it thundered.

The second son was even more frightened than his brother and ran home without taking a single piece of wood.

Finally, it was the youngest son’s turn. Unlike his brothers, he was not easily frightened. Before leaving, he put a large piece of cheese into his knapsack.

When he reached the forest, he calmly began chopping wood.

Soon, the troll appeared.

“What are you doing in my forest?” it roared. “Leave immediately!”

The young man looked at the troll and smiled.

“Why should I be afraid of you?” he asked.

The troll stepped closer threateningly. But the young man took the cheese from his knapsack and squeezed it tightly. The soft cheese oozed through his fingers.

“See this white stone?” he said boldly. “If you make me angry, I will squeeze you just as easily!”

The troll stared at the “stone” and became terrified.

“Please don't!” it cried. “Spare me, and I will help you chop the wood.”

The young man agreed. Together, they worked quickly and gathered a huge pile of wood.

As evening approached, the troll invited the young man to its home for dinner. There, the troll cooked a giant pot of delicious porridge.

“Let us have an eating contest!” suggested the young man.

The troll eagerly agreed, certain that it could out-eat the boy.

But the young man had a clever plan. Before sitting down, he secretly tied his empty knapsack in front of himself. As he pretended to eat, he quietly dropped spoonful after spoonful of porridge into the knapsack.

Soon, the knapsack was completely full.

The young man secretly made a small cut in it with his knife. Then he pretended to cut his own stomach.

“Look!” he exclaimed. “I have made more room in my belly. Now I can eat even more!”

The foolish troll believed him.

“If you can do that, so can I!” it cried.

Without thinking, the troll followed the young man's advice. That was the end of the foolish troll.

The young man then searched the troll's home. Hidden inside were piles of gold and silver that the troll had collected over many years.

He gathered the treasure and returned home.

His father and brothers were amazed when they heard the whole story. The gold and silver were enough to pay off their debt, and the family could finally live without worry.

The farmer proudly hugged his youngest son.

“You proved that courage is not always about being strong,” he said. “Sometimes, a calm mind and a clever idea are more powerful than great strength.”

And from that day onwards, the family lived happily and peacefully.

Moral: Courage, intelligence and presence of mind can help us overcome even the greatest challenges.