Class 11 English Lesson 15: What I Require from Life by JBS Haldane

 

 Essay: What I Require From Life by JBS Haldane (page 268)

About the Essayist

John Burdon Sanderson Haldane (1892-1964) was a British-Indian scientist known for his work in the study of physiology, genetics, evolutionary biology, and mathematics. He obtained his M.A. in 1914. Soon after, Haldane enlisted in the British Army and served during World War I.

After returning from the war, Haldane began his teaching career at the University. The essay 'What I Require from Life' (1940), first published in The Daily Worker, reflects socialist convictions demanding democratic activities in workplaces. This essay is written in simple and lucid language.

Gist of the Essay

In the essay "What I Require from Life", J.B.S. Haldane expresses his desires and vision for a meaningful life. He values freedom of thought, scientific exploration, and the opportunity to contribute to society. Haldane believes that life should be lived with curiosity, courage, and a sense of social responsibility. He emphasizes the need for intellectual liberty, basic physical comforts, good health, and time for leisure and research. Rather than wealth or luxury, he seeks a life where he can think independently, work for human progress, and enjoy nature and companionship.

Summary of the Essay

The essay ‘What I require from my life’ explains the needs of human beings that help them to survive easily. In this essay, the writer explains the needs by indicating that such needs are essential for all human beings. The author also says that he was born at a peaceful time. In his youth, he looked forward to a life of peace. But in 1914, he was living in a heroic age that brought a great change in his life. He says that he accepts the world as it is. Because he believes that if we imagine the perfect world, then we shall harm others instead of doing good for them.

He prefers to do difficult work to get better fruits (outcome or reward) from it. He suggests to involved in difficult work because fruit is obtained from it. Someone said that the fruit of hard work is the sweetest fruit of all others ones. The essay writer discusses his four basic needs, which are also required for all humans to live happily. Those four basic needs are: –

·         Work: Work is the source of income that helps to fulfil our basic needs. With its help, human beings make their survival easy and comfortable. He also said that remuneration must be under their hard work. In other words, employees should have an appropriate salary for their job. Besides, employees also have the freedom to select the area of their work.

·         Good health: Healthy people can easily work and earn to fulfil their needs. We know, “Health is Wealth”. If people are healthy, then they don`t need to spend on the health sector, which helps them to live happily by spending that income in other fields. Healthy people obtain all the things they think. Good health means not only the absence of diseases, but it also refers to complete physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.

·         Freedom: Another thing a writer wants is freedom. The writer says that all citizens have the right to speak and freedom on their job. He mainly focuses on the right to speak. In the past, he wanted to speak against falsehood and poisonous aspects, but the law disallowed him to do it. He says that people must get the right to speak because it helps to know the needs and demands of human beings or the public.

·         Friendship: Friendship is also an important need that all people require to live happily. This need helps people to inspire and support each other in different difficult situations. He also says that friendship should be done with people of an equal standard of people. His friendship must be away from or free from the concept of obeying and ordering without any questions.

The writer also says that besides basic needs like food, clothes, and shelter, the above needs are also very important in today’s world to live happily. And also he wants an adventurous life, whether there is a risk. According to him, adventure is something much more strong than a thrill. According to the writer, demand is something that we desire or must have. So, desire is not the requirement, but demand is more essential. Although he was fulfilled with all his desires, but still unhappy with the lack of essential things. He desires to have his room with some books, a motor car, a daily bath, a beach, or a river within easy reach. He desires these things, but does not demand. Peace and security are also part of his requirements, which are not present in this modern life. World War has destroyed peace, harmony, and security. Everything was destroyed by fascism under Hitler and Mussolini. There is no fraternity, equality, or development without peace and security.

The writer says that he is a socialist and he wants to see his fellow men and women enjoying the advantages as him. It shows that his feelings do not indicate selfishness in the present world, which helps to establish equality. The writer wants to see the end of class subjection and sex subjection, which helps to stop discrimination. In simple words, we can say that the writer wants to see the welfare of human beings. The writer is against capitalism because, at the time of the depression, the situation of unemployment was created. So, in his opinion, workers/employees have control over the conditions of work and the workplace. At last, the author prefers to die happily after seeing that capitalism is overthrown and workers take control of most of Europe. He also wishes for the end of autocratic rule/fascism so the next world war does not begin like the First World War. And finally, he wishes to break down the peace to all levels of life.

After reading this essay, we concluded that we should live happily by respecting others' rights. We shouldn’t be selfish; rather, think of everyone. We must maintain equality to live in a peaceful environment. We must be socialists. People should fulfil all their needs by working hard. Someone said that the fruit of hard work is the sweetest fruit of all others ones. This type of behaviour makes us happy after our death, too.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FRX3vChroE

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a.      How does the writer distinguish between a peaceful age and a heroic age?

The writer distinguishes between a peaceful age and a heroic age by making a comparison between them. He recalls his birth time as a peaceful age and the time of 1914, when the First World War took place, as a heroic age.

b.     Why does the writer want more freedom of speech than most people?

The writer wants more freedom of speech than most people to express and explain what he feels about society. He wants freedom of speech to tell the public about the issues like medicines, newspapers, and drinks that do not maintain quality.

c.      According to the writer, what are the four general human needs?

According to the writer, the four general human needs are work, freedom of speech, health, and friendship.

d.     What is the difference between desire and demand, according to the writer?

According to the writer, the difference between desire and demand is that demand is related to the basic needs of life, like food, clothes, and shelter, but desire includes things that improve living standards. The writer talks about cars, gardens, bathing pools, and nearby beaches as desires.

e.      Why does the writer demand security?

The writer demands security because it is an important need for a person to live a happy life. He lived in the age of war and chaos, due to which the lives of many people were at risk. So he demands security.

 

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