The new set of alphabets

While youngsters learnt A for Apple and B for ball as kids, here is a new set of alphabets that they need to learn as responsible citizens of the country Prema Jayakumar, an auto driver's daughter from Bombay, secured all India first rank in CA exams, in her very first attempt. The family's happiness was doubled as her brother Dhanraj also passed the same course.A Shah Faesel is a young Kashmiri who topped this year's IAS examination, in spite of local disturbances and tensions. Recently, a police constable's son topped IIT entrance examination. RTC Driver's son Satish, a polio victim, secured ninth rank in IIT. A fisherman's son was the IAS topper last year. There are thousands of instances where children of poor and under privileged have achieved success in the competitive examinations and have thus motivated the less privileged people to perform better. They proved that success is not a chance, but a choice. At the same time, it is painful to hear news of youngsters of well-established families, top officials, film personalities, politicians and the rich are involved in various scandals and anti-social activities.

LEARN NEW ABCDs There was a time when teachers and parents taught A for Apple, B for Ball, C for Cat, D for Dog. But now, they need to teach different meaning of ABCD... A for Attitude "The person who sends out positive thoughts activates the world around him positively and draws back to himself positive results," said Norman Vincent Peale. Attitude is what makes our future.

B for Behaviour Human behaviour flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge, said Plato. Youngsters should be mindful of behaviour and set an example. C for Character Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man, and character is the test of that manifestation. D for Discipline Discipline is learning what to do, when to do it and in what manner it should be done. It is the culture, courtesy, ethical conduct and appearance.

E for Empathy The great gift to human beings is the power of empathy. It is an act of stepping into the shoes of others. F for Faithfulness Mark Twain said "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your Government, when it deserves it." So, students should learn to be faithful. G for Good habits Your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, and your values become your destiny. Practice good habits that are taught to you.

H for Honesty Honesty is the best policy. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of success. It is time that the media reiterates the success stories of honest persons. I for Integrity Whoever doesn't follow integrity cannot be trusted with important matters as cheating is not a crime according to them. They cannot be the leaders. J for Justice There is a higher court than the courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts," said Mahatma Gandhi. K for Kindness Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader said, "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible when you have willingness". L for Loyalty "We are all in the same boat, in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty," said GK Chesterton.

M for Moral education Develop spiritual qualities such as love, generosity, unity, truthfulness, kindness and justice; Morals have a greater social element to values. N for Non-violence Mahatma Gandhi said, "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction." O for Optimism Helen Keller said, "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." P for Patriotism "Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong," said a British politician James Bryce

Q for Quest for Knowledge "Knowledge is power. We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire," said Maria Mitchell. R for Righteousness: Martin Luther once said, "People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions."

S for Service Sri Sathya Saibaba said, "Service is a deed rendered to a person who is poor and cannot return, refund or reimburse. Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." T for Truth Gautama Buddha said, "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." We have to teach to the youth to be truthful always.

U for Unity Unity is strength, when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful results can be achieved. V for Values Values are the rules by which we make decisions about right and wrong, should and shouldn't, good and bad. W for Wisdom John C. Maxwell said, "A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them."

X for Xray observation There is no better proof of a man's being truly good than his desiring to be constantly under the observation of good men. Y for Yeoman Service Do yeoman service to the country like a soldier, to save your nation from the anti-social elements. Z for Zeal Zeal is like fire, it needs both feeding and watching.