House or Home
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 5 Aug 2024
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
Many people would believe that a House or a Home are the same thing — the dwelling where people are living. However there is a significant difference between these two words despite the fact that it is a dwelling where a family or one or two (or more) people living together. Yet there is a marked difference between the two words.
For most people a House is a building of two or four (or more) rooms ; it is a building with high walls which have some windows to allow light and fresh air from outside. The House earlier had people or a family living in it with their furniture and other belongings like a refrigerator with food items, or books on a table or a bicycle or a car although currently there may not be any person in the place and usually no longer any books or fridge or food, or any vehicle or what not.
A Home is like a House with some essential items — food items in a refrigerator, some furniture like tables or chairs, beds , washrooms, vehicles like a car or a bicycle etc in the House building . The House would have other houses nearby in the vicinity with people living in them and forming a good neighbourhood and having a few shops selling essential items — food or milk or some basic medicines. There would also be a person bringing in newspapers informing current news — political , social, sports news etc.
A Home or a group of homes with people living in them share a vibrant neighbourhood. A common facility today is the internet which allows people to know what is happening in the world outside. It also allows people to share information about what they are doing and communicating with others on various issues.
A market and a school or educational institute are essential features of a good neighbourhood. Children living in different homes become friends; many children may be going to a common school and many children may be playing together. Occasionally boys and girls living in nearby homes become friends and some of them may become close friends and share intimacy while living nearby to each other. This feature can also result in marriages between such couples at a later date.
I have only indicated good and friendly features of a neighbourhood. There would also be some unpleasant features of today’s neighbourhood which may result in some bitterness or jealousy between neighbours. Such a situation calls for a good dialogue and mutual understanding between people so that people live comfortably with one another as good neighbours.
Of course one cannot predict the various types of interactions between neighbours — friendly or occasionally bitter. However, people are mature and so would avoid unfriendly interactions. Despite this, one has to be alert that relations between people remain friendly and suave.
Fortunately people today are conscious of what a good neighbourhood entails — friendship, mutual understanding and a feeling that other people also want friendly relationships that can be built with minimum effort.
The hope is that people know how to build good relationships and friendships. Such hope is generally satisfied and so one can live with harmony and happiness.
______________________________________________
Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 5 Aug 2024.
Anticopyright: Editorials and articles originated on TMS may be freely reprinted, disseminated, translated and used as background material, provided an acknowledgement and link to the source, TMS: House or Home, is included. Thank you.
If you enjoyed this article, please donate to TMS to join the growing list of TMS Supporters.
This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.
Join the discussion!
We welcome debate and dissent, but personal — ad hominem — attacks (on authors, other users or any individual), abuse and defamatory language will not be tolerated. Nor will we tolerate attempts to deliberately disrupt discussions. We aim to maintain an inviting space to focus on intelligent interactions and debates.