Discipline means learning to obey certain necessary rules of conduct. Discipline is important in every walk of life. It is training inward as well as outward, to act in accordance with some principles decided by common agreement by the society from time to time. There is discipline in nature. The movements of heavenly bodies, the day following the night, the charge of seasons – all of them are based on some order. If that were not so, there would be chaos in nature.

 

Let us have a look at the importance of discipline from various angles. Parents and teachers play a great part in training a child to be a useful member of the society. He is taught to obey and how to behave. He is taught what is right and what is wrong. The methods of training include patience, instruction, example and punishment. Much of his future depends upon his observation of discipline in student life.

 

“Child is a father of man”. If we have to discipline a man, he should be disciplined as a child. Discipline must be enforced rigorously in schools and colleges. The healthy tone of an institution depends upon the degree of discipline that is maintained in it. If the grip of discipline is loosened, regular teaching becomes impossible. It is due to a lack of strong discipline that the standard of our educational institutions is going down day by day.

 

In the same way domestic animals, such as a dog or a horse, have to be trained before they can be of any use to man. The horses must learn how to carry a man and drag a carriage, and dogs how to guard the house and look after the flock of sheep. Various animals are disciplined for showing excellent performance in the circus.

 

For leading a successful life we must discipline ourselves thoroughly. We must set a goal before ourselves and must work hard to achieve this aim. Mere self reproach for a wrong action is not enough. We should detect a wrong and try to avoid it in future. We should learn how to govern and rule ourselves. This is the hardest task of all and we must read the biographies of great men for this purpose. Self analysis is also very important.

 

Discipline is a must in the army. An ill-disciplined regiment may bring defeat and shame to the whole nation. A soldier has to obey the order of his superior, even if he knows that he is wrong.

 

Alfred Tennyson has beautifully depicted a true picture of army discipline in his poem, “The Charge of the Light Brigade”.

 

There is not to reason why;

There is but to do and die.

 

The object of military drills is to make their obedience to order so perfect that it should automatic.

 

Coming to home life, we find discipline playing a very important role. Homes in which family members are not disciplined present a shattered image. Only through mutual cooperation and understanding a family can prosper.

 

In the same way games are played in order to discipline the players. If a batsman refuses to go out when he is bowled out, or a player refuses to listen to the whistle of the referee, there is an end of sportsmanship.

 

But on certain occasions the breach of discipline is appreciated. Lawlessness is created in the country through strikes, boycotting and taking out processions in order to do away an undesirable law or to topple a government.

 

In the end, we can say that discipline is very important for success in all walks of life and for the stability of our social set-up.

 

                                                                   Written By: Syed Faiz Mujtaba