Sushravya School of Music conducts Carnatic music vocal classes Exclusively for women, and girls from above 10 years of age, both online and in person. Students can appear for exams if they wish after the successful completion of the prescribed vocal lessons. Sanskrit shlokas and Daasarapadagalu are also taught to those interested.
For more details kindly contact
Landline: 080-26390096
Cell: 95387 90106
___
All Glories to God.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
A STORY OF APPRECIATION
One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview, the director did the last
interview, made
the last decision.
The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate
research, never had a year when he did not score.
The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "none".
The director asked, " Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my
mother who paid for my school fees.
The director asked, " Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as clothes cleaner.
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
The director asked, " Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read
more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.*
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt
strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and
there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises
in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.
After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: " Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
The Director asked, " please tell me your feelings."
The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and
helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value
of family relationship.
The director said, " This is what I am looking for to be my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows
the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.
Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's
performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would
be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never
know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while,
but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents,
are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?*
You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience
it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid,
but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow
gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and
learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
interview, made
the last decision.
The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate
research, never had a year when he did not score.
The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "none".
The director asked, " Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my
mother who paid for my school fees.
The director asked, " Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as clothes cleaner.
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
The director asked, " Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read
more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.*
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt
strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and
there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises
in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.
After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: " Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
The Director asked, " please tell me your feelings."
The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and
helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value
of family relationship.
The director said, " This is what I am looking for to be my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows
the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.
Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's
performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would
be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never
know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while,
but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents,
are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?*
You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience
it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid,
but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow
gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and
learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
THE REAL PEACE
There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures.
But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peacefully towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white
clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down
the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall
a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother
bird on the nest - in perfect peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?
"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of
all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (5.10):
One who is engaged in Krishna consciousness is then beyond contamination by sinful reactions, exactly as the lotus leaf, though remaining in the water,
is not wet.
___
All Glories to God.
But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peacefully towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white
clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down
the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall
a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother
bird on the nest - in perfect peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?
"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of
all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (5.10):
One who is engaged in Krishna consciousness is then beyond contamination by sinful reactions, exactly as the lotus leaf, though remaining in the water,
is not wet.
___
All Glories to God.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Mercy of Lord
Story of Arjunacharya
Arjunacharya was writing a commentary on Bhagvad Gita, and it came to the Shloka where Lord Krishna says, "He carries what we have and provides what we lack.
" How is that Lord will come Himself and deliver the goods? Oh, it is not possible. He might be sending through some agents.
Let me change His words from "I bear the burden and deliver."and instead write "I send some agent who delivers."
After some time, "I shall go and take bath now".
In the meantime, two very beautiful boys came with a cart full of highly valuable items like fruits, grains, ghee and vegetables. Arjunacharya's wife was
there at home.
My dear mother, Arjunacharya has sent these goods to you. Please take delivery.
Arjuncharya's wife :-Oh, You are so beautiful boys, and he has given these items to you to get it there? Arjunacharya is not so cruel. How is that he has
given so much burden to you????
Boys: He asked us to carry on our heads, How can we carry so much? I refused to carry on my head, so he has beaten me.
Arjunacharya's wife:- Arjunacharya is not so cruel. How he has become so cruel? Ok, take some food stuffs now.
Boys : We have to go now, if he will come then he will chastise us.
Arjunacharya's wife:- No, no. You sit down, I will prepare foodstuffs for you.
Arjunacharya returns after taking bath.....
Arjunacharya's wife:- Acharya, you have become so much cruel nowadays ?
Arjunacharya , Oh, what is that ???
Arjunacharya's wife :- Two boys, very nice boys, they have brought so many foodstuffs. You loaded on their head and they denied to take it and you have
beaten them chastised?
Arjunacharya No. I have never done this. Why shall i do it????
Then Arjunacharya understood that
Oh My Lord is so great !! He has shown that He actually personally bears the burden and delivers the goods ! Because I cut his alphabets, He has shown that
beating mark.
MORAL : Krishna's property is unlimited. We cannot understand his power by our infinitesimal intelligence. He expands himself to interact with each & every
spirit soul personally.
___
All Glories to God!
Arjunacharya was writing a commentary on Bhagvad Gita, and it came to the Shloka where Lord Krishna says, "He carries what we have and provides what we lack.
" How is that Lord will come Himself and deliver the goods? Oh, it is not possible. He might be sending through some agents.
Let me change His words from "I bear the burden and deliver."and instead write "I send some agent who delivers."
After some time, "I shall go and take bath now".
In the meantime, two very beautiful boys came with a cart full of highly valuable items like fruits, grains, ghee and vegetables. Arjunacharya's wife was
there at home.
My dear mother, Arjunacharya has sent these goods to you. Please take delivery.
Arjuncharya's wife :-Oh, You are so beautiful boys, and he has given these items to you to get it there? Arjunacharya is not so cruel. How is that he has
given so much burden to you????
Boys: He asked us to carry on our heads, How can we carry so much? I refused to carry on my head, so he has beaten me.
Arjunacharya's wife:- Arjunacharya is not so cruel. How he has become so cruel? Ok, take some food stuffs now.
Boys : We have to go now, if he will come then he will chastise us.
Arjunacharya's wife:- No, no. You sit down, I will prepare foodstuffs for you.
Arjunacharya returns after taking bath.....
Arjunacharya's wife:- Acharya, you have become so much cruel nowadays ?
Arjunacharya , Oh, what is that ???
Arjunacharya's wife :- Two boys, very nice boys, they have brought so many foodstuffs. You loaded on their head and they denied to take it and you have
beaten them chastised?
Arjunacharya No. I have never done this. Why shall i do it????
Then Arjunacharya understood that
Oh My Lord is so great !! He has shown that He actually personally bears the burden and delivers the goods ! Because I cut his alphabets, He has shown that
beating mark.
MORAL : Krishna's property is unlimited. We cannot understand his power by our infinitesimal intelligence. He expands himself to interact with each & every
spirit soul personally.
___
All Glories to God!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
LETS CHANGE OUR VISION
There was a millionaire who was bothered by severe eye pain. He consulted so many physicians and was getting his treatment done. He did not stop consulting
galaxy of medical experts; he consumed heavy loads of drugs and underwent hundreds of injections.
But the ache persisted with great vigour than before. At last a monk who has supposed to be an expert in treating such patients was called for by the millionaire.
The monk understood his problem and said that for sometime he should concentrate only on green colours and not to fall his eyes on any other colours.
The millionaire got together a group of painters and purchased barrels of green color and directed that every object his eye was likely to fall to be painted
in green colour just as the monk had directed.
When the monk came to visit him after few days, the millionaire's servants ran with buckets of green paints and poured on him since he was in red dress,
lest their master not see any other colour and his eye ache would come back.
Hearing this monk laughed said "If only you had purchased a pair of green spectacles, worth just a few rupees, you could have saved these walls and trees
and pots and all other articles and also could have saved a large share of his fortune.
You cannot paint the world green." Let us change our vision and the world will appear accordingly. It is foolish to shape the world, let us shape ourselves
first.
Lets change our vision..!!
---
All Glories to God!
galaxy of medical experts; he consumed heavy loads of drugs and underwent hundreds of injections.
But the ache persisted with great vigour than before. At last a monk who has supposed to be an expert in treating such patients was called for by the millionaire.
The monk understood his problem and said that for sometime he should concentrate only on green colours and not to fall his eyes on any other colours.
The millionaire got together a group of painters and purchased barrels of green color and directed that every object his eye was likely to fall to be painted
in green colour just as the monk had directed.
When the monk came to visit him after few days, the millionaire's servants ran with buckets of green paints and poured on him since he was in red dress,
lest their master not see any other colour and his eye ache would come back.
Hearing this monk laughed said "If only you had purchased a pair of green spectacles, worth just a few rupees, you could have saved these walls and trees
and pots and all other articles and also could have saved a large share of his fortune.
You cannot paint the world green." Let us change our vision and the world will appear accordingly. It is foolish to shape the world, let us shape ourselves
first.
Lets change our vision..!!
---
All Glories to God!
Monday, May 03, 2010
THE ROLE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS
This is the title of the paper I submited in the National Conference on "Contextualizing the Present Kannada Theatre" held in the campus of Bangalore University on 27th March 2010, Saturday.
Here is the abstract:
"ROLE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS"
Performing arts are those arts or skills that involve performance before audience in the form of Music, dance & drama.
Music
MUSIC is an art of arranging the sounds of voice or instruments or both in a pleasing sequence or combination.
It is said that, music is born much before any language could come into existence & is an integral part of human life from birth to death. It is a unique language by itself; the language of the sole.
Since the time of Samaveda, Music, as we all know, has developed itself into a complete art form with many of its genres or styles, the most prominent of them being the Classical music forms like Carnatic & Hindustani in India & Western classical in the rest of the world.
Carnatic music – the classical music of Southern India, is considered as one of the oldest & most scientific system of music in the World with its complex, perfectly systematized raga, tala & gamaka techniques, giving greater importance to creativity & enormous scope for solo performances.
Dance
Dance is an artistic form of nonverbal communication. In simple words, to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps to the accompaniment of music.
Dance can embody or express ideas, emotions or tell a story. Dancing has evolved many styles. Every dance, no matter what style, has something in common. It not only involves flexibility and body movement, but also proper physics.
Dance has certainly been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and Entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations.
Archeology delivers traces of dance from prehistoric times such as the 9,000 year old Rock Shelters of
Bhimbetka paintings in India.
Many early forms of music and dance were created and performed together. This paired development has continued through the ages with dance & music forms all over the world.
In India, Bharata Muni's Natyashastra (literally "the text of dramaturgy") is one of the earlier texts. The text elaborates various hand-gestures or mudras and classifies movements of various limbs of the body, gait, and so on. Beginning from here, raised the various classical styles which are recognized today. Therefore, all Indian classical dances are to varying degrees rooted in the Natyashastra and share common features in the mudras, some body positions, and abhinaya.
The Indian classical music provides the accompaniment for the dance, and as percussion is such an integral part of the tradition, the dancers of nearly all the styles wear bells around their ankles to counterpoint and complement the percussion.
Drama
The genre of literature represented by works intended for the stage. It is an expressive process which is best understood through the idea of symbolization and its role in the discovery and communication of Meaning.
Both music & dance are an intimate & integral part of drama. Though the main theme of Natyashastra deals with drama, dance is also widely featured, and indeed the two concepts have ever since been linked in Indian culture.
There are particular ragas associated with a particular rasa. For instance, the ragas Kambhoji & Kalyani are related to Shrungara rasa & the ragas Mohana & Naata for Veera rasa.
The contribution of mass media like Newspaper, radio & T.V as well as print media in the development of performing arts is very well known. Some of the recordings of legendary musicians of yester years that are otherwise out of reach have been well preserved & propagated by radio. T.V, is able to create a cultural consciousness among the younger generation by telecasting various classical, semi-classical & folk dance & theater forms.
But apart from these there are other modes like electronic media, which can effectively be put to use for this purpose for spreading our performing arts globally.
“Electronic media are that utilize electronics or electromechanical energy for the end
User (audience) to access the content.
The primary electronic media sources familiar to the general public are better known as Video recordings, audio recordings, multimedia presentations, slide presentations, CD – ROM and Online Content.
Many hours of Music, dance & drama performances can be recorded & stored in Cds & DVDs. Portable devices like CD players, recorders. & ipods are also aiding in this regard.
Multimedia presentations, slide presentations etc are effective especially during lecture demonstrations to explain the theoretical concepts
The gadgets like microphones, amplifiers, speakers etc used in enhancing the quality of the performing arts are all the great contribution of electronics to the world of fine arts.
Today, through the developments in the field of electronics, people’s knowledge on the subjects like Acoustics & sound engineering are so great that the well developed theaters like Ranga Shankara in Bangalore make the best use of it.
The world of internet has enumerable wonderful things to offer to the development of performing arts-
There are several websites & search engines offering enormous inputs on the subject.
Discussions & exchange of ideas are possible on the net through blogs, discussion forums, e-mails, mailing lists etc where people from any where in the world can participate. Sharing of materials have become possible through streaming audio & video content & uploads & downloads of files on the net.
The above developments have created awareness towards many western theatrical forms such as Absurdist Theatre, Symbolist Drama etc & these forms have been well adapted to fit into Indian context
Many play in foreign languages like Shakespeare’s work have been translated into Indian languages & vice versa... This indicates cultural exchange between different nations happening through these technological advancements & provides good scope for novelty & innovative ideas in the field.
Some latest Advancements
Today, with a computer with internet, we can listen to thousands of radio stations broadcasting 1000 genres of music, from classical to religious & from rock to folk.
Unllike standard broadcast radio, internet radio stations can be heard virtually anywhere.
We are able to watch 3,500 of most popular television channels Without any hardware installations like dish, receivers, cable, other equipment or monthly subscription fees. This digital innovation provides DVD-like picture quality, high definition transmission, and crystal clear audio output
The points enumerated above are just a few samples of what electronic media is currently offering to the development of performing arts & folk forms.
But the actual scope is much more and amazing looking at the inventions in store and its day-to-day growth. Effective utilization of these would greatly enhance the quality of our Performing Arts and, would no doubt take us to international standards.
___
All Glories to God.
Here is the abstract:
"ROLE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS"
Performing arts are those arts or skills that involve performance before audience in the form of Music, dance & drama.
Music
MUSIC is an art of arranging the sounds of voice or instruments or both in a pleasing sequence or combination.
It is said that, music is born much before any language could come into existence & is an integral part of human life from birth to death. It is a unique language by itself; the language of the sole.
Since the time of Samaveda, Music, as we all know, has developed itself into a complete art form with many of its genres or styles, the most prominent of them being the Classical music forms like Carnatic & Hindustani in India & Western classical in the rest of the world.
Carnatic music – the classical music of Southern India, is considered as one of the oldest & most scientific system of music in the World with its complex, perfectly systematized raga, tala & gamaka techniques, giving greater importance to creativity & enormous scope for solo performances.
Dance
Dance is an artistic form of nonverbal communication. In simple words, to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps to the accompaniment of music.
Dance can embody or express ideas, emotions or tell a story. Dancing has evolved many styles. Every dance, no matter what style, has something in common. It not only involves flexibility and body movement, but also proper physics.
Dance has certainly been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and Entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations.
Archeology delivers traces of dance from prehistoric times such as the 9,000 year old Rock Shelters of
Bhimbetka paintings in India.
Many early forms of music and dance were created and performed together. This paired development has continued through the ages with dance & music forms all over the world.
In India, Bharata Muni's Natyashastra (literally "the text of dramaturgy") is one of the earlier texts. The text elaborates various hand-gestures or mudras and classifies movements of various limbs of the body, gait, and so on. Beginning from here, raised the various classical styles which are recognized today. Therefore, all Indian classical dances are to varying degrees rooted in the Natyashastra and share common features in the mudras, some body positions, and abhinaya.
The Indian classical music provides the accompaniment for the dance, and as percussion is such an integral part of the tradition, the dancers of nearly all the styles wear bells around their ankles to counterpoint and complement the percussion.
Drama
The genre of literature represented by works intended for the stage. It is an expressive process which is best understood through the idea of symbolization and its role in the discovery and communication of Meaning.
Both music & dance are an intimate & integral part of drama. Though the main theme of Natyashastra deals with drama, dance is also widely featured, and indeed the two concepts have ever since been linked in Indian culture.
There are particular ragas associated with a particular rasa. For instance, the ragas Kambhoji & Kalyani are related to Shrungara rasa & the ragas Mohana & Naata for Veera rasa.
The contribution of mass media like Newspaper, radio & T.V as well as print media in the development of performing arts is very well known. Some of the recordings of legendary musicians of yester years that are otherwise out of reach have been well preserved & propagated by radio. T.V, is able to create a cultural consciousness among the younger generation by telecasting various classical, semi-classical & folk dance & theater forms.
But apart from these there are other modes like electronic media, which can effectively be put to use for this purpose for spreading our performing arts globally.
“Electronic media are that utilize electronics or electromechanical energy for the end
User (audience) to access the content.
The primary electronic media sources familiar to the general public are better known as Video recordings, audio recordings, multimedia presentations, slide presentations, CD – ROM and Online Content.
Many hours of Music, dance & drama performances can be recorded & stored in Cds & DVDs. Portable devices like CD players, recorders. & ipods are also aiding in this regard.
Multimedia presentations, slide presentations etc are effective especially during lecture demonstrations to explain the theoretical concepts
The gadgets like microphones, amplifiers, speakers etc used in enhancing the quality of the performing arts are all the great contribution of electronics to the world of fine arts.
Today, through the developments in the field of electronics, people’s knowledge on the subjects like Acoustics & sound engineering are so great that the well developed theaters like Ranga Shankara in Bangalore make the best use of it.
The world of internet has enumerable wonderful things to offer to the development of performing arts-
There are several websites & search engines offering enormous inputs on the subject.
Discussions & exchange of ideas are possible on the net through blogs, discussion forums, e-mails, mailing lists etc where people from any where in the world can participate. Sharing of materials have become possible through streaming audio & video content & uploads & downloads of files on the net.
The above developments have created awareness towards many western theatrical forms such as Absurdist Theatre, Symbolist Drama etc & these forms have been well adapted to fit into Indian context
Many play in foreign languages like Shakespeare’s work have been translated into Indian languages & vice versa... This indicates cultural exchange between different nations happening through these technological advancements & provides good scope for novelty & innovative ideas in the field.
Some latest Advancements
Today, with a computer with internet, we can listen to thousands of radio stations broadcasting 1000 genres of music, from classical to religious & from rock to folk.
Unllike standard broadcast radio, internet radio stations can be heard virtually anywhere.
We are able to watch 3,500 of most popular television channels Without any hardware installations like dish, receivers, cable, other equipment or monthly subscription fees. This digital innovation provides DVD-like picture quality, high definition transmission, and crystal clear audio output
The points enumerated above are just a few samples of what electronic media is currently offering to the development of performing arts & folk forms.
But the actual scope is much more and amazing looking at the inventions in store and its day-to-day growth. Effective utilization of these would greatly enhance the quality of our Performing Arts and, would no doubt take us to international standards.
___
All Glories to God.
THE REFLECTION
There was a king who was a great admirer of art. He encouraged artists
from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts.
One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank
wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more
beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall
not be disappointed. "
Now, the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end
of the palace. So he said, "All right you may work on one of the walls
in the new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very
pleased indeed.
Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work
on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What would
you like to make?"
The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make
on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so, without looking at his
work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between
the two walls so that either of us cannot see the other."
Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court,
including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the King
loved surprises and he decided to give the young fellow a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the
artists got to work.
The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc.
The second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every
day.
After a month the first artist told the king that his work was
complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king sent for
the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be
ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man said,
"My Lord, my wall is ready too!"
The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very
impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the
artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up. The same
painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true!
Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the first wall.
But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side
of the curtain. So how had he done it?
The king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the
fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your
work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"
The man said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every
day! It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till
it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the
room, showed up in it! "
That is what it means to polish yourself. For when we polish our
hearts and souls, we see God's reflection within.It is said that the
world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to
be that too. If you are sad, jealous, dejected, angry, restless ...
That is what the world will seem to be! If you are happy, the world
will seem to be paradise.
You decide how you want your world to look.
All Glories to God.
from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts.
One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank
wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more
beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall
not be disappointed. "
Now, the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end
of the palace. So he said, "All right you may work on one of the walls
in the new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very
pleased indeed.
Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work
on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What would
you like to make?"
The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make
on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so, without looking at his
work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between
the two walls so that either of us cannot see the other."
Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court,
including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the King
loved surprises and he decided to give the young fellow a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the
artists got to work.
The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc.
The second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every
day.
After a month the first artist told the king that his work was
complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king sent for
the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be
ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man said,
"My Lord, my wall is ready too!"
The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very
impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the
artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up. The same
painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true!
Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the first wall.
But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side
of the curtain. So how had he done it?
The king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the
fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your
work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"
The man said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every
day! It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till
it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the
room, showed up in it! "
That is what it means to polish yourself. For when we polish our
hearts and souls, we see God's reflection within.It is said that the
world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to
be that too. If you are sad, jealous, dejected, angry, restless ...
That is what the world will seem to be! If you are happy, the world
will seem to be paradise.
You decide how you want your world to look.
All Glories to God.
FAITH
An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem
Science has
with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand
and . . .* *
Professor :* *You are Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student :* *Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student :* *Absolutely, sir.
Professor :* *Is GOD Good ?
Student :* *Sure.
Professor :* *Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal
him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?* *
(Student was silent )* *
Professor :* *You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student :* *No.
Professor :* *Where does Satan come from ?
Student :* *From . . . GOD . . .
Professor :* *That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?* *
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything.
Correct?
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor :* *So who created evil ?* *
(Student did not answer)* *
Professor :* *Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, who Created them ?
(Student had no answer)* *
Professor :* *Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe
the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student :* *No, sir.
Professor :* *Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student :* *No , sir.
Professor :* *Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor :* *Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student :* *Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor :* *Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student :* *Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor :* *Yes.* *
Student :* *And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor :* *Yes.
Student :* *No, sir. There isn't.* *
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )* *
Student :* *Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega
Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any
further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.* *
(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )* *
Student :* *What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as
Darkness?* *
Professor :* *Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student :* *You're wrong again, sir. *
*Darkness is the Absence of Something*
*You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . *
*But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it's called
Darkness, isn't it? *
*In reality, Darkness isn't. *
*If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor :* *So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student :* *Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor :* *Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student :* *Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. *
*You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
*
*You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can
measure. *
*Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.*
*It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. *
*To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a
Monkey?
Professor :* *If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes,
of course, I do.
Student :* *Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?* *
(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the
Argument was going )* *
Student :* *Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work
and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavour,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?* *
(The Class was in Uproar )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's
Brain?
(The Class broke out into Laughter )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain,
Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .* *
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable
Protocol,
Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?* *
(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face
unfathomable)* *
Professor :* *I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student :* *That is it sir . . . Exactly !* *
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
Some says that the student was Albert Einstein & for someone else its Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
But this is an intresting & informative conversation no matter who said it.
May God bless you with lots of Faith.
All Glories to God.
Science has
with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand
and . . .* *
Professor :* *You are Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student :* *Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student :* *Absolutely, sir.
Professor :* *Is GOD Good ?
Student :* *Sure.
Professor :* *Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal
him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?* *
(Student was silent )* *
Professor :* *You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student :* *No.
Professor :* *Where does Satan come from ?
Student :* *From . . . GOD . . .
Professor :* *That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?* *
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything.
Correct?
Student :* *Yes.* *
Professor :* *So who created evil ?* *
(Student did not answer)* *
Professor :* *Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor :* *So, who Created them ?
(Student had no answer)* *
Professor :* *Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe
the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student :* *No, sir.
Professor :* *Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student :* *No , sir.
Professor :* *Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor :* *Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student :* *Yes.
Professor :* *According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student :* *Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor :* *Yes, Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student :* *Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor :* *Yes.* *
Student :* *And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor :* *Yes.
Student :* *No, sir. There isn't.* *
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )* *
Student :* *Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega
Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any
further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.* *
(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )* *
Student :* *What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as
Darkness?* *
Professor :* *Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student :* *You're wrong again, sir. *
*Darkness is the Absence of Something*
*You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . *
*But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it's called
Darkness, isn't it? *
*In reality, Darkness isn't. *
*If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor :* *So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student :* *Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor :* *Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student :* *Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. *
*You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
*
*You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can
measure. *
*Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.*
*It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. *
*To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a
Monkey?
Professor :* *If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes,
of course, I do.
Student :* *Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?* *
(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the
Argument was going )* *
Student :* *Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work
and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavour,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?* *
(The Class was in Uproar )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's
Brain?
(The Class broke out into Laughter )* *
Student :* *Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain,
Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .* *
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable
Protocol,
Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?* *
(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face
unfathomable)* *
Professor :* *I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student :* *That is it sir . . . Exactly !* *
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
Some says that the student was Albert Einstein & for someone else its Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
But this is an intresting & informative conversation no matter who said it.
May God bless you with lots of Faith.
All Glories to God.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
AN INSPIRING FAITH
Faith - the Dog
Meet Faith the Dog
This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2 legs -
He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.
His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow,
met him and wanted to take care of him. She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.
She named him 'Faith'..
In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for
standing up and jumping around.
Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk.
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.
After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.
Faith loves to walk around now.
No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV
shows.
There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him.
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.
His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body,
one can have a perfect soul'.
In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day.
Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life .
Meet Faith the Dog
This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2 legs -
He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.
His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow,
met him and wanted to take care of him. She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.
She named him 'Faith'..
In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for
standing up and jumping around.
Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk.
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.
After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.
Faith loves to walk around now.
No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV
shows.
There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him.
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.
His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body,
one can have a perfect soul'.
In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day.
Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life .
Sunday, April 04, 2010
My Voice on Vividhbharathi & F.M Rainbow
My voice was aired on 42 stations of Vividh Bharati at 9 p.m. and 10 stations of FM Rainbow at 9:30 p.m in a program named Eyeway Yeh Hai Roshni Ka Karawan on 31 March 2010, Wednesday.
The show can be listened online at
http://www.inclusiveplanet.com/en/group/454327
___
All glories to God!
The show can be listened online at
http://www.inclusiveplanet.com/en/group/454327
___
All glories to God!
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
ANTI CHAIN MAILS MOVEMENT
A Hilarious Mail from a frustrated victim of chain mails:
I wanted to thank all my friends and family who have forwarded chain letters to me in 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006,
2007 and 2008 and continuing it in 2009 also.......
Because of your kindness:
* I stopped drinking Coca Cola after I found out that it's
good for removing toilet stains.
* I stopped going to the movies for fear of sitting on a needle infected with AIDS.
* Forwarded hundreds of mails but still waiting for FREE DESKTOP, LAPTOP, CAMERA, CELLPHONE etc…..
* I smell like a wet dog since I stopped using deodorants because they cause cancer...
* I don't leave my car in the parking lot or any other place and sometimes I even have to walk about 7 blocks for fear that someone will drug me with a perfume sample and try to rob me.
* I also stopped answering the phone for fear that they may ask me to dial a stupid number and then I get a phone
bill with calls to Uganda, Pakistan, Singapore and Tokyo...
* I also stopped drinking anything out of a Can for fear that I will get sick from the rat faeces and urine.
* I also donated all my savings to the Amy Bruce account. A sick girl that was about to die in the hospital about 7,000 times....
(Poor girl! she's been 7 since 1993...)
* Still open to help somebody from Nigeria who wants to use my account to transfer his uncle's property of $
100 million. So much trustworthy.
* I have forwarded 35 emails to 400 people hoping that Ericsson or Nokia will send me latest mobile phones but those
models are also obsolete now.
* Made some Hundred wishes before forwarding those Ganesh , Tirupathi Balaji pics etc. Now most of those 'Wishes' are already
married (to someone else)
NOW IMPORTANT NOTE : If you do not send this e-mail to at least 11,246 people in the next 10 seconds, a bird will Pee on
your head today at 6:30pm. Nothing has happened till now......... ......... ..... but who knows. So please forward.
FRIENDS: Please don’t send such chain mails any more plz....! & plz support this Anti Chain Mails Movement.
Thank you.
May God bless you all with a cyber space free from these unscrupulous Chain Mails in future.
Sincerely yours,
Viji- Another Victim of such brutal Chain Mails.
I wanted to thank all my friends and family who have forwarded chain letters to me in 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006,
2007 and 2008 and continuing it in 2009 also.......
Because of your kindness:
* I stopped drinking Coca Cola after I found out that it's
good for removing toilet stains.
* I stopped going to the movies for fear of sitting on a needle infected with AIDS.
* Forwarded hundreds of mails but still waiting for FREE DESKTOP, LAPTOP, CAMERA, CELLPHONE etc…..
* I smell like a wet dog since I stopped using deodorants because they cause cancer...
* I don't leave my car in the parking lot or any other place and sometimes I even have to walk about 7 blocks for fear that someone will drug me with a perfume sample and try to rob me.
* I also stopped answering the phone for fear that they may ask me to dial a stupid number and then I get a phone
bill with calls to Uganda, Pakistan, Singapore and Tokyo...
* I also stopped drinking anything out of a Can for fear that I will get sick from the rat faeces and urine.
* I also donated all my savings to the Amy Bruce account. A sick girl that was about to die in the hospital about 7,000 times....
(Poor girl! she's been 7 since 1993...)
* Still open to help somebody from Nigeria who wants to use my account to transfer his uncle's property of $
100 million. So much trustworthy.
* I have forwarded 35 emails to 400 people hoping that Ericsson or Nokia will send me latest mobile phones but those
models are also obsolete now.
* Made some Hundred wishes before forwarding those Ganesh , Tirupathi Balaji pics etc. Now most of those 'Wishes' are already
married (to someone else)
NOW IMPORTANT NOTE : If you do not send this e-mail to at least 11,246 people in the next 10 seconds, a bird will Pee on
your head today at 6:30pm. Nothing has happened till now......... ......... ..... but who knows. So please forward.
FRIENDS: Please don’t send such chain mails any more plz....! & plz support this Anti Chain Mails Movement.
Thank you.
May God bless you all with a cyber space free from these unscrupulous Chain Mails in future.
Sincerely yours,
Viji- Another Victim of such brutal Chain Mails.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The Power of Positive Talk by Dr. Abdul Kalam
I remember my dad teaching me the power of language at a very young age. Not
only did my dad understand that specific words affect our mental pictures,
but he understood words are a powerful programming factor in lifelong
success.
One particularly interesting event occurred when I was eight. As a kid, I
was always climbing trees, poles, and literally hanging around upside down
from the rafters of our lake house. So, it came to no surprise for my dad to
find me at the top of a 30-foot tree swinging back and forth. My little
eight-year-old brain didn't realize the tree could break or I could get
hurt. I just thought it was fun to be up so high.
My older cousin, Tammy, was also in the same tree. She was hanging on the
first big limb, about ten feet below me. Tammy's mother also noticed us at
the exact time my dad did. About that time a huge gust of wind came over the
tree. I could hear the leaves start to rattle and the tree begin to sway. I
remember my dad's voice over the wind yell, "Bart, Hold on tightly." So I
did. The next thing I know, I heard Tammy screaming at the top of her lungs,
laying flat on the ground. She had fallen out of the tree.
I scampered down the tree to safety. My dad later told me why she fell and I
did not. Apparently, when Tammy's mother felt the gust of wind, she yelled
out, "Tammy, don't fall!" And Tammy did. fall.
My dad then explained to me that the mind has a very difficult time
processing a negative image. In fact, people who rely on internal pictures
cannot see a negative at all. In order for Tammy to process the command of
not falling, her nine-year-old brain had to first imagine falling, then try
to tell the brain not to do what it just imagined. Whereas, my
eight-year-old brain instantly had an internal image of me hanging on
tightly. This concept is especially useful when you are attempting to break
a habit or set a goal . You can't visualize not doing something. The only
way to properly visualize not doing something is to actually find a word for
what you want to do and visualize that. For example, when I was thirteen
years old, I played for my junior high school football team. I tried so hard
to be good, but I just couldn't get it together at that age. I remember
hearing the words run through my head as I was running out for a pass,
"Don't drop it!" Naturally, I dropped the ball.
My coaches were not skilled enough to teach us proper "self-talk."
They just thought some kids could catch and others couldn't. I'll never make
it pro, but I'm now a pretty good Sunday afternoon football player, because
all my internal dialogue is positive and encourages me to win. I wish my dad
had coached me playing football instead of just climbing trees. I might have
had a longer football career.
Here is a very easy demonstration to teach your kids and your friends the
power of a toxic vocabulary. Ask them to hold a pen or pencil.
Hand it to them. Now, follow my instructions carefully. Say to them, "Okay,
try to drop the pencil." Observe what they do.
Most people release their hands and watch the pencil hit the floor.
You respond, "You weren't paying attention. I said TRY to drop the pencil.
Now please do it again." Most people then pick up the pencil and pretend to
be in excruciating pain while their hand tries but fails to drop the pencil.
The point is made.
If you tell your brain you will "give it a try," you are actually telling
your brain to fail. I have a "no try" rule in my house and with everyone I
interact with. Either people will do it or they won't.
Either they will be at the party or they won't. I'm brutal when people
attempt to lie to me by using the word try. Do they think I don't know they
are really telegraphing to the world they have no intention of doing it but
they want me to give them brownie points for pretended effort? You will
never hear the words "I'll try" come out of my mouth unless I'm teaching
this concept in a seminar.
If you "try" and do something, your unconscious mind has permission not to
succeed. If I truly can't make a decision I will tell the truth. "Sorry
John. I'm not sure if I will be at your party or not.
I've got an outstanding commitment. If that falls through, I will be here.
Otherwise, I will not. Thanks for the invite."
People respect honesty. So remove the word "try" from your vocabulary.
My dad also told me that psychologists claim it takes seventeen positive
statements to offset one negative statement. I have no idea if it is true,
but the logic holds true. It might take up to seventeen compliments to
offset the emotional damage of one harsh criticism.
These are concepts that are especially useful when raising children.
Ask yourself how many compliments you give yourself daily versus how many
criticisms. Heck, I know you are talking to yourself all day long. We all
have internal voices that give us direction.
So, are you giving yourself the 17:1 ratio or are you shortchanging yourself
with toxic self-talk like, " I'm fat. Nobody will like me.
I'll try this diet. I'm not good enough. I'm so stupid. I'm broke, etc.
etc."
If our parents can set a lifetime of programming with one wrong statement,
imagine the kind of programming you are doing on a daily basis with your own
internal dialogue.
Here is a list of Toxic Vocabulary words.
Notice when you or other people use them.
But: Negates any words that are stated before it.
Try: Presupposes failure.
If: Presupposes that you may not.
Might: It does nothing definite. It leaves options for your listener..
Would Have: Past tense that draws attention to things that didn't actually
happen.
Should Have: Past tense that draws attention to things that didn't actually
happen (and implies guilt.) Could Have: Past tense that draws attention to
things that didn't actually happen but the person tries to take credit as if
it did happen.
Can't/Don't: These words force the listener to focus on exactly the opposite
of what you want. This is a classic mistake that parents and coaches make
without knowing the damage of this linguistic error.
Examples:
Toxic phrase: "Don't drop the ball!"
Likely result: Drops the ball
Better language: "Catch the ball!"
Toxic phrase: "You shouldn't watch so much television."
Likely result: Watches more television.
Better language: "I read too much television makes people stupid. You might
find yourself turning that TV off and picking up one of those books more
often!"
Exercise:
Take a moment to write down all the phrases you use on a daily basis or any
Toxic self-talk that you have noticed yourself using. Write these phrases
down so you will begin to catch yourself as they occur and change them.
My Dear friends. Don't get so nervous be positive, confidant, realistic and
energetic in your plan and action. You remember you are going to be top
among all others and most capable to handle all odds.
So you must have patience and trust on you. Don't ask silly questions on
Age, Qualification etc. and Don't get so tense about Revised Pattern of
Preliminary. No need to show so much curiosity in this.
Just take it easy, leave it to times in his nature and One day it will come.
So in this context the advice putted by our popular and peoples president
A.P.J Abdul Kalam must work out up to some extent.
Source:
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/Article/The-Power-of-Positive-Talk-by-Dr
-Abdul-Kalam?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ups
c
only did my dad understand that specific words affect our mental pictures,
but he understood words are a powerful programming factor in lifelong
success.
One particularly interesting event occurred when I was eight. As a kid, I
was always climbing trees, poles, and literally hanging around upside down
from the rafters of our lake house. So, it came to no surprise for my dad to
find me at the top of a 30-foot tree swinging back and forth. My little
eight-year-old brain didn't realize the tree could break or I could get
hurt. I just thought it was fun to be up so high.
My older cousin, Tammy, was also in the same tree. She was hanging on the
first big limb, about ten feet below me. Tammy's mother also noticed us at
the exact time my dad did. About that time a huge gust of wind came over the
tree. I could hear the leaves start to rattle and the tree begin to sway. I
remember my dad's voice over the wind yell, "Bart, Hold on tightly." So I
did. The next thing I know, I heard Tammy screaming at the top of her lungs,
laying flat on the ground. She had fallen out of the tree.
I scampered down the tree to safety. My dad later told me why she fell and I
did not. Apparently, when Tammy's mother felt the gust of wind, she yelled
out, "Tammy, don't fall!" And Tammy did. fall.
My dad then explained to me that the mind has a very difficult time
processing a negative image. In fact, people who rely on internal pictures
cannot see a negative at all. In order for Tammy to process the command of
not falling, her nine-year-old brain had to first imagine falling, then try
to tell the brain not to do what it just imagined. Whereas, my
eight-year-old brain instantly had an internal image of me hanging on
tightly. This concept is especially useful when you are attempting to break
a habit or set a goal . You can't visualize not doing something. The only
way to properly visualize not doing something is to actually find a word for
what you want to do and visualize that. For example, when I was thirteen
years old, I played for my junior high school football team. I tried so hard
to be good, but I just couldn't get it together at that age. I remember
hearing the words run through my head as I was running out for a pass,
"Don't drop it!" Naturally, I dropped the ball.
My coaches were not skilled enough to teach us proper "self-talk."
They just thought some kids could catch and others couldn't. I'll never make
it pro, but I'm now a pretty good Sunday afternoon football player, because
all my internal dialogue is positive and encourages me to win. I wish my dad
had coached me playing football instead of just climbing trees. I might have
had a longer football career.
Here is a very easy demonstration to teach your kids and your friends the
power of a toxic vocabulary. Ask them to hold a pen or pencil.
Hand it to them. Now, follow my instructions carefully. Say to them, "Okay,
try to drop the pencil." Observe what they do.
Most people release their hands and watch the pencil hit the floor.
You respond, "You weren't paying attention. I said TRY to drop the pencil.
Now please do it again." Most people then pick up the pencil and pretend to
be in excruciating pain while their hand tries but fails to drop the pencil.
The point is made.
If you tell your brain you will "give it a try," you are actually telling
your brain to fail. I have a "no try" rule in my house and with everyone I
interact with. Either people will do it or they won't.
Either they will be at the party or they won't. I'm brutal when people
attempt to lie to me by using the word try. Do they think I don't know they
are really telegraphing to the world they have no intention of doing it but
they want me to give them brownie points for pretended effort? You will
never hear the words "I'll try" come out of my mouth unless I'm teaching
this concept in a seminar.
If you "try" and do something, your unconscious mind has permission not to
succeed. If I truly can't make a decision I will tell the truth. "Sorry
John. I'm not sure if I will be at your party or not.
I've got an outstanding commitment. If that falls through, I will be here.
Otherwise, I will not. Thanks for the invite."
People respect honesty. So remove the word "try" from your vocabulary.
My dad also told me that psychologists claim it takes seventeen positive
statements to offset one negative statement. I have no idea if it is true,
but the logic holds true. It might take up to seventeen compliments to
offset the emotional damage of one harsh criticism.
These are concepts that are especially useful when raising children.
Ask yourself how many compliments you give yourself daily versus how many
criticisms. Heck, I know you are talking to yourself all day long. We all
have internal voices that give us direction.
So, are you giving yourself the 17:1 ratio or are you shortchanging yourself
with toxic self-talk like, " I'm fat. Nobody will like me.
I'll try this diet. I'm not good enough. I'm so stupid. I'm broke, etc.
etc."
If our parents can set a lifetime of programming with one wrong statement,
imagine the kind of programming you are doing on a daily basis with your own
internal dialogue.
Here is a list of Toxic Vocabulary words.
Notice when you or other people use them.
But: Negates any words that are stated before it.
Try: Presupposes failure.
If: Presupposes that you may not.
Might: It does nothing definite. It leaves options for your listener..
Would Have: Past tense that draws attention to things that didn't actually
happen.
Should Have: Past tense that draws attention to things that didn't actually
happen (and implies guilt.) Could Have: Past tense that draws attention to
things that didn't actually happen but the person tries to take credit as if
it did happen.
Can't/Don't: These words force the listener to focus on exactly the opposite
of what you want. This is a classic mistake that parents and coaches make
without knowing the damage of this linguistic error.
Examples:
Toxic phrase: "Don't drop the ball!"
Likely result: Drops the ball
Better language: "Catch the ball!"
Toxic phrase: "You shouldn't watch so much television."
Likely result: Watches more television.
Better language: "I read too much television makes people stupid. You might
find yourself turning that TV off and picking up one of those books more
often!"
Exercise:
Take a moment to write down all the phrases you use on a daily basis or any
Toxic self-talk that you have noticed yourself using. Write these phrases
down so you will begin to catch yourself as they occur and change them.
My Dear friends. Don't get so nervous be positive, confidant, realistic and
energetic in your plan and action. You remember you are going to be top
among all others and most capable to handle all odds.
So you must have patience and trust on you. Don't ask silly questions on
Age, Qualification etc. and Don't get so tense about Revised Pattern of
Preliminary. No need to show so much curiosity in this.
Just take it easy, leave it to times in his nature and One day it will come.
So in this context the advice putted by our popular and peoples president
A.P.J Abdul Kalam must work out up to some extent.
Source:
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/Article/The-Power-of-Positive-Talk-by-Dr
-Abdul-Kalam?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ups
c
My Favorit Speech of DR. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Letter of some facts about India - APJ
The President of India DR. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 's Speech in Hyderabad .
bWhy is the media here so negative?
Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our
achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing
success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a
self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such
achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and
failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was
the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken
place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had
the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed
his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture
that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments,
deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.
In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.. Why
are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so
obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign T.Vs, we want foreign
shirts. We want foreign technology.
Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that
self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this
lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked
her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a
developed India . For her, you and I will have to build this developed
India You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is
a highly developed nation.
Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance.
Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The
airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their
destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.
YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore . Give him a name - 'YOURS'.
Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at
your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts
on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their
Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive
through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road)
between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your
parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping
mall irrespective of your status identity. In Singapore you don't say
anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan,
in Dubai YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in
Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in
London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and
ISD calls are billed to someone else.'YOU would not dare to speed
beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop,
'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's
son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty
coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in
Australia and New Zealand.
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ? Why don't YOU use
examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ??? We are
still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a
foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will
throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian
ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien
country, why cannot you be the same here in India ?
Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay ,
Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on
the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he
said. 'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the
authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect
the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels
the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean
up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan .
Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls
to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do
everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We
expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop
chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a
up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the
railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the
proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and
toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least
opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass
on the service to the public.
When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women,
dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations
and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole
system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my
sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of
our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and
the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us
actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock
ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the
distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along &
work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the
country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in
their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we
run to England When England experiences unemployment, we take the next
flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be
rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to
abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our
conscience is mortgaged to money.
Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a
great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.. I am
echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to
Indians...
'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'
Lets do what India needs from us.
Forward this mail to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes
or junk mails.
Thank you,
Dr. Abdul Kalam
The President of India DR. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 's Speech in Hyderabad .
bWhy is the media here so negative?
Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our
achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing
success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a
self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such
achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and
failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was
the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken
place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had
the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed
his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture
that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments,
deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.
In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.. Why
are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so
obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign T.Vs, we want foreign
shirts. We want foreign technology.
Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that
self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this
lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked
her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a
developed India . For her, you and I will have to build this developed
India You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is
a highly developed nation.
Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a vengeance.
Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The
airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their
destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.
YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore . Give him a name - 'YOURS'.
Give him a face - 'YOURS'. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at
your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts
on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their
Underground links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive
through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road)
between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your
parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping
mall irrespective of your status identity. In Singapore you don't say
anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan,
in Dubai YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in
Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in
London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and
ISD calls are billed to someone else.'YOU would not dare to speed
beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop,
'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's
son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty
coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in
Australia and New Zealand.
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ? Why don't YOU use
examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ??? We are
still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a
foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will
throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian
ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien
country, why cannot you be the same here in India ?
Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay ,
Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on
the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he
said. 'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the
authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect
the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels
the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean
up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan .
Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls
to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do
everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We
expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop
chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a
up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the
railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the
proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and
toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least
opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass
on the service to the public.
When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women,
dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room protestations
and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole
system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my
sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of
our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and
the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us
actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock
ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the
distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along &
work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the
country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in
their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we
run to England When England experiences unemployment, we take the next
flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be
rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to
abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our
conscience is mortgaged to money.
Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a
great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.. I am
echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to
Indians...
'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'
Lets do what India needs from us.
Forward this mail to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes
or junk mails.
Thank you,
Dr. Abdul Kalam
An Amazing Story of A Wonder Lady
THE COURAGE OF HELEN KELLER
By Francene Sabin.
The sweet cent of honeysuckle floated through the air. The sun was warm. A chickadee hopped along a tree branch, singing. A golden-haired girl, just one
year old, sat on a blanket in the grass and looked up at the bird. She laughed at its merry, piping song. Then she looked down at the doll in her lap.
She liked its orange woolen hair and button eyes.
(Helen, come to Mama, darling.)
The little girl turned around. She saw her mother standing nearby, arms outstretched.
(Ma-ma.Ma-ma,) said the child. A smile shining on her face, little Helen stood and toddled to her mother’s arms.
(Happy birthday!) Said Mrs. Keller. (One year old today! Come in and see the presents everyone had brought for you.)
The presents looked pretty in their shiny wrappings, but Helen had eyes for just one thing: the birthday cake. It had white icing and pink sugar roses
with mint-green leaves. Best of all, it had one tiny candle glowing on top. The flame danced and fluttered. The little girl giggled with delight.
Helen Keller would never see another birthday candle or ever again hear her family sing (Happy Birthday) to her. For when she was one-and-a-half years
old, she suffered a terrible sickness. Her fever raged for days. Doctors could do nothing to help her. It was the winter of 1882, and Doctors didn’t know
a lot of things they know now. They also did not have the special medicines called antibiotics, which are used today to treat many illnesses. The only
thing they could do for Helen was to make her comfortable and pray for her recovery.
Helen did recover, but the illness left her totally blind and deaf. At first, Mr. And Mrs. Keller hoped this nightmare would pass. Mr. Keller would stand
near his daughter and clap p his hands together sharply. But Helen did not turn toward the sound. Mrs. Keller would hold up an oil lamp. But Helen did
not turn toward the light.
Helen’s parents finally accepted the sad truth of their daughter’s blindness and deafness. But when friends told them that their child was feeble-minded,
they could not accept that. They knew that Helen had a bright mind. And they never gave up hope that, one day, she would show the world just how smart
she was.
The Keller’s did their best to make Helen’s life full and happy. They gave her lots of love and attention. They let her roam freely around their home in
Tuscumbia, Alabama. She ran through the fields with Belle, the family setter. She rode the small pony that lived in the barn behind the house.
The little girl loved the smell of flowers in the garden, fresh bread baking in the kitchen, and her mother’s perfume. She loved the taste of cold ice
cream and hot biscuits. And she loved the rough feel of tree bark under her fingertips, and the silkiness of Belle’s fur.
There were moments of happiness, like tiny islands in a vast ocean. But mostly, Helen’s life was like being alone in a silent, dark room. Whatever she
felt was locked inside. Her love had nowhere to go.
When Helen was five, Mrs. Keller read about a woman named Laura Bridgman, who was also deaf and blind. She had been taught to read and write, and to (talk)
to people by using a finger alphabet. Her teacher was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, of the Perkins institute for the Blind, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Laura Bridgman’s story gave the Kellers hope that something could be done for Helen. So, as soon as they could, they took her to Baltimore, Maryland, to
see an eye specialist. The doctor examined Helen, and said, (I’m sorry, her condition will never change. But she can learn a lot of things. There is nothing
wrong with her mind. I have a suggestion to make.)
(What is that?) Mrs. Keller asked.
(We’ll do anything that might help Helen.)
(I think you should take her to Washington D.C., to see Dr. Bell. He has had great success teaching deaf people.)
The Kellers took a train to the nations capital. There, they went to see Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. Today, Dr. Bell is remembered mainly as the inventor
of the telephone. In these days, however, he was best known for the school he had founded, where teachers were trained to instruct deaf students.
Long train rides, strange hotels, meeting many new people—it all confused and frightened Helen. But Dr. Bell was very gentle. He sat her on his knees and
guided her hands to his face. She felt his droopy mustache and heavy beard. Then he held his gold pocket watch against her cheek. She could feel the steady
ticktock, and she nodded her head in rhythm within.
Helen was not afraid of this kind man. She sat still while she examined her. Then he told the Kellers, (I am certain that this clever little girl can be
taught to communicate with others.)
Dr. Bell suggested that Mr. Keller write to the Perkins Institute, where Laura Bridgman had learned the finger language. Perhaps the director, Michael
Anagnos, find the right teacher for Helen.
Mr. Keller did right the letter and soon received an answer. Mr. Anagnos knew of a young woman who would make a perfect teacher and companion for Helen.
Her name was Annie Sullivan.
Arrangements were made quickly, and Annie Sullivan arrived in Tuscumbia on March 3, 1887. Mrs. Keller met her at the train, and they rode back to the house
in a horse-drawn carriage.
Helen did not know why there was so much excitement in the house. But something told her that today was very special. When she could not find her mother
anywhere, Helen went to the front door. She stood there and waited.
The carriage drew up in front of the house, and Annie Sullivan got her first look at Helen. The young girl’s dress was dirty. Her light-brown curls were
tangled and uncombed. She stood tense and frightened, like a startled fawn in the forest.
Mr. Keller helped Annie down from the carriage. She began to walk up the wooden steps to the front porch. Helen felt the vibrations made by the footsteps,
and rushed at the stranger. Annie caught her before the wild charge knocked both of them down the steps.
Annie knelt and put her arms around Helen. She smiled as the child’s fingers felt her eyes, her nose, her hair, and her hat. When Helen was finished (meeting)
the stranger, Annie took her hand and they walked in to the house, side by side.
Their first days together were not easy. Annie was unhappy about Helen’s wild behavior. The child was allowed to walk around the dining table, sticking
her fingers into everybody’s food and taking whatever she wanted. She was very rough with Mildred, her baby sister, and with the dog, Belle. Helen would
not let anybody comb her hair or wash her face and hands. And she would fly into a fierce rage when anyone tried to make her do something she didn’t want
to do.
Annie understood why Helen acted this way. Her parents felt so sorry for their unfortunate little girl that they could not bear to punish her, no matter
what she did. They never made her obey rules.
Annie knew she had to tame this wild young girl. Helen had to learn to get along with other people. Until she did, she could not be taught anything.
First, Annie tried to win Helen’s trust. She gave the little girl a doll that had been sent to Helen by the children at the Perkins Institute.
Helen ran her hands over the doll. She smiled and hugged it tightly. A moment later, Helen felt Annie take hold of her right hand. She felt fingers fluttering
and tapping on her palm. The tapping stopped. Then again she felt the same tap-flutters on her palm. And again. Helen was puzzled.
Annie was using a special finger language to spell d-o-l-l in Helen’ hands. She spelled it over and over. But Helen did not understand what was happening.
Fear bubbled inside her. She threw the doll to the floor and rushed from the room.
Later that day, Annie took a peace of cake and touched Helen’s hand to it. Helen loved cake and started to grab it. Annie stopped her. With one hand, she
held Helen’s left hand so that it just touched the cake. At the same time, she spelled c-a-k-e into Helen’s right hand. She spelled it again and again.
Helen scowled. She started to pull away. Then, suddenly, she stopped. Putting her fingers in Annie’s hand, she very slowly spelled c-a-k-e. Annie was thrilled
with Helen’s quick response. She gave Helen the cake. The young girl ate it happily.
As soon as Helen finished the last crumb, she felt Annie guide her left and over the doll. Helen wanted it; it felt so soft and cuddly. She tugged at it.
But Annie didn’t let her have it. Then Helen put her fingers in Annie’s hand and spelled d-o-l-l. Annie guided Helen’s fingers through second L, then placed
the doll in Helen’s arms. A smile spread across Helen’s face.
This first success filled Annie with joy. Helen could learn! Now there was much to do. They began the next morning. Annie gave Helen milk and spelled m-I-l-k
at the same time. She spelled c-a-t, while Helen petted the purring pet. And in this way, one new word followed another as the day flew by.
Although Annie’s pupil’s showed great promise, there was still the problem of trying to discipline her. Sometimes Helen was very friendly. But at other
times she had tantrums. She would kick and punch, shove people or throw things, until she got her way. Annie had to stop that. She knew that Mr. and Mrs.
Keller never would. So she asked them to let her have complete control over Helen. They agreed.
At breakfast the next morning, Annie made Helen sit in her own chair at the table. She would not let the child take food from anyone else. The first time
Helen tried to, Annie slapped her hand. Helen pinched Annie. Annie slapped her hand again. Helen stamped her feet in fury.
Annie dragged Helen to her own chair and made her sit in it. Then she put a spoon in the child’s hand and guide it to her food-filled plate. Helen threw
the spoon on the floor. Annie made her pick it up.
Mrs. Keller was crying, and Mr. Keller’s face was a mask of pain. They hated to see their Helen suffer so. (She can’t help herself,) Mrs. Keller said.
(She doesn’t know better.)
(We can help her to know better,) Annie said in a gentle voice.
The Kellers left the dining room. Annie locked the door behind them. Then the battle really began. Annie was determined—Helen would learn to sit in her
chair, eat properly, and fold her napkin when she was finished.
Helen walked around, touching every chair. When she found that her parents were gone, she crawled under the table. Annie pulled her out and sat her in
her chair. Helen picked up the food with her fingers. Annie wiped them clean and gave her a spoon. Helen tried to drop it, but Annie wouldn’t let her.
Helen struggled. Annie was stronger.
Helen finally gave in and ate with the spoon. Even so, the battle was not over. When she finished eating, Helen tossed her napkin on the table. Annie made
her pick it up, fold it, and place it beside her plate. A moment later, Helen flung the napkin to the floor. Annie made her get out of the chair, pick
it up, and fold it again. Helen was sobbing, but she would not give in. Neither would Annie. At last, the napkin remained on the table, folded neatly.
Only then did Annie unlock the door and le Helen out.
That night, Annie cried herself to sleep. She hated being harsh with Helen. She really loved the child, and wanted to be her friend. But first, she knew,
Helen would have to depend on her. Only then could the real learning begin.
The battle of wills went on. But each day was a bit easier than the day before. One morning, Helen brought her comb to Annie for the first time. The next
day, she let Annie get her ready for bed, then tuck her in for the night. And she was learning, too, to sew an apron for her doll, to crochet, to string
beads, to (say) new words in finger talk.
Annie was delighted. At last, Helen liked her and trusted her. Yet there was something missing. Helen learned to make the words in finger talk, but she
didn’t know that they were words. She didn’t know how to use them the way other people did.
Then, one day, Helen and Annie found the key that opened the door to the world for Helen Keller! It was April 5, 1887.
Annie described the moment of discovery in a letter to a friend. She wrote: (We went out to the pump house, and I made Helen hold her hands under the spout
while I pumped. I spelled w-a-t-e-r in to her free hand. ‘’’ The word coming so close upon the sensation of cold water rushing over her hand seemed to
startle her. She dropped the mug and stood transfixed. A new light came in to her face. She spelled water several times.)
Then Helen reached down and touched the ground. Annie spelled g-r-o-u-n-d in her hand. Helen looked excited and pointed at Annie. Annie spelled t-e-a-c-h-e-r.
Helen understood. And from that day on, she always called Annie Sullivan by the name, Teacher.
Now Helen pointed to herself. Annie spelled h-e-l-e-n K-e-l-l-e-r. Helen trembled with joy. She had a name, too!
Helen grabbed Annie’s hand, and they flew into the house together. They found Mrs. Keller. Helen burrowed into her mother’s arms, while Annie spelled m-o-t-h-e-r
on her hand. Helen understood, and she nodded her head. Tears of thankfulness spilled from Mrs. Keller’s eyes.
Helen couldn’t learn enough to satisfy her thirst for words that day. She moved quickly around the house, touching things, learning the word for each one.
Years later, Helen wrote, (It was as if I had come back to life after being dead. ‘’’ Delicious sensations rippled through me, and strange sweet things
that were locked up in my heart began to sing.)
Helen was up with the sun the next morning, ready to learn more. She woke Annie with a hug and a kiss—and a tug of hands that said, (Hurry! Get up!)
It took a while for Helen to get dressed, but not because she made it a battle. As she put on each piece of clothing, she wanted to know all about it.
Now she knew she wore a dress, and that it had sleeves, a skirt, buttons, buttonholes, a collar, a belt.
That was just the beginning. Words poured into Helen. She touched trees and grass and stones, and learned their names. She held an egg in her hand and
felt a baby chicken break through the shell and hatch. Then Annie’s finger told her all about the miracle of life she had felt.
Her teacher taught Helen to hop and skip and jump, telling her the word for each action. They did the same thing with foods, people’s names, animals, flowers,
furniture—everything in the world around them.
Annie wanted Helen to feel free and happy. So they spent most of their days outside, doing their lessons under a big tree in the garden. Helen learned
geography by making maps with wet dirt. She shaped mountains and valleys, islands and rivers, even whole continents. She learned the shape of the Earth
by holding an orange. Annie could hardly keep pace with Helen’s endless desire for (more words.)
If Helen could read, Annie decided, she would learn much faster. So Annie taught her to read Braille. This is a way of printing words by using raised dots
on paper. It was invented by Louis Braille in 1829, so that blind people could read by touch.
Annie had Helen feel the Braille letter A with the fingers of one hand, while A was finger-spelled in to her other hand. Then B ‘’’ and C. Helen mastered
the Braille alphabet right away. Annie brought her books written in Braille. Helen loved them so much that she always slept with one in her bed.
Next, Annie taught Helen how to write in Braille. Before long, Helen was writing stories, notes to Teacher, and letters to the blind children at the Perkins
Institute.
Mr. and Mrs. Keller were thrilled at Helen’s progress. (You have worked a miracle,) Mr. Keller told Annie.
(The miracle is Helen,) Annie insisted. (She can learn anything. Why, right now, we are working on ordinary writing. You will soon be reading her letters
yourself.)
Helen wanted to learn, learn, learn. Annie did her best, but she could see that Helen needed more than she could give her. So, in the spring of 1888, they
took a train to Boston. There, at the Perkins Institute, Helen went to a real school for the first time.
Annie sat next to her in every class, spelling out the teacher’s words in Helen’s hand. Helen learned geography, zoology, Latin, German, Arithmetic, English,
Greek, and French. She didn’t have to study all these subjects, she wanted to!
From eight o.c in the morning until six o’c at night, Helen went to classes. She stopped only for lunch and for an hour of play with other children in
the gym. It was very tiring for Annie, who never left her side, but Helen thrived on it.
When Helen was ten, she read about a blind, deaf girl in Norway. That girl had learned to speak words out loud. Helen wanted to do the same thing. Annie
took her to the Horace Mann School for the deaf in Boston. There, a teacher named Sarah Fuller began working with Helen. First, Helen placed her hand on
Miss Fuller’s mouth. She felt the way words are formed. Then Helen tried to copy this with her mouth.
Helen could not hear her own voice, so she could not know if her words sounded the way they should. Annie worked with her, day and night. Their reward
came when Helen said, (It is warm,) in a clear voice. And when they went to Tuscumbia for summer vacation, Helen’s family received a beautiful surprise.
The Keller’s were waiting at the train station. Helen, prettier than ever, stepped down to the platform. Very proudly, she said, (Mother, I am not dumb
now. Mildred, I love you. Father, I am glad to be home.)
This was a moment the Kellers would never forget. It was a wonderful summer vacation. Then Helen and Annie returned to school in Boston. And this is how
they spent each year as Helen grew into her teens.
One day, Helen told Annie of a new goal she had her heart set on. She wanted to go to College. Some of her friends felt College would be too hard for Helen,
and that she would be crushed by failure. But Helen refused to give up her dream.
She studied tirelessly for the entrance examinations. Her hand printing was slow, so Helen learned to use a typewriter. And she typed her answers through
a nine-hour preliminary exam, plus a full-day final exam.
Helen did brilliantly. She won honors in English and German and was given credit in advanced Latin. Now her friends had to believe in her dream!
Helen attended Raddcliffe College in the fall of 1900. During her four years there, she found her life’s work: to help others. She would tell the world
her story. She would show every one that the deaf and the blind can learn. Helen wanted to bring hope to the handicapped. Her life was proof that everyone
deserved a chance to learn.
In the years that followed, Helen wrote many books and magazine articles. She traveled around the world, speaking to people of all nations. Until Annie
died, in 1936, she was with Helen every step of the way. Polly Thompson, a young Scottish woman, took Annie’s place at Helen’s side. And together they
carried on Helen’s work.
During World War II, Helen visited soldiers who had been blinded in battle. She gave them courage and faith in the future. After the war, she worked with
blind and deaf children. (I cannot stop to grow old while there is so much work to do,) she said, (and so many children to help.)
Until her death, on June 1, 1968, this most remarkable woman continued to give love, hope, and inspiration to thousands of human beings.
By Francene Sabin.
The sweet cent of honeysuckle floated through the air. The sun was warm. A chickadee hopped along a tree branch, singing. A golden-haired girl, just one
year old, sat on a blanket in the grass and looked up at the bird. She laughed at its merry, piping song. Then she looked down at the doll in her lap.
She liked its orange woolen hair and button eyes.
(Helen, come to Mama, darling.)
The little girl turned around. She saw her mother standing nearby, arms outstretched.
(Ma-ma.Ma-ma,) said the child. A smile shining on her face, little Helen stood and toddled to her mother’s arms.
(Happy birthday!) Said Mrs. Keller. (One year old today! Come in and see the presents everyone had brought for you.)
The presents looked pretty in their shiny wrappings, but Helen had eyes for just one thing: the birthday cake. It had white icing and pink sugar roses
with mint-green leaves. Best of all, it had one tiny candle glowing on top. The flame danced and fluttered. The little girl giggled with delight.
Helen Keller would never see another birthday candle or ever again hear her family sing (Happy Birthday) to her. For when she was one-and-a-half years
old, she suffered a terrible sickness. Her fever raged for days. Doctors could do nothing to help her. It was the winter of 1882, and Doctors didn’t know
a lot of things they know now. They also did not have the special medicines called antibiotics, which are used today to treat many illnesses. The only
thing they could do for Helen was to make her comfortable and pray for her recovery.
Helen did recover, but the illness left her totally blind and deaf. At first, Mr. And Mrs. Keller hoped this nightmare would pass. Mr. Keller would stand
near his daughter and clap p his hands together sharply. But Helen did not turn toward the sound. Mrs. Keller would hold up an oil lamp. But Helen did
not turn toward the light.
Helen’s parents finally accepted the sad truth of their daughter’s blindness and deafness. But when friends told them that their child was feeble-minded,
they could not accept that. They knew that Helen had a bright mind. And they never gave up hope that, one day, she would show the world just how smart
she was.
The Keller’s did their best to make Helen’s life full and happy. They gave her lots of love and attention. They let her roam freely around their home in
Tuscumbia, Alabama. She ran through the fields with Belle, the family setter. She rode the small pony that lived in the barn behind the house.
The little girl loved the smell of flowers in the garden, fresh bread baking in the kitchen, and her mother’s perfume. She loved the taste of cold ice
cream and hot biscuits. And she loved the rough feel of tree bark under her fingertips, and the silkiness of Belle’s fur.
There were moments of happiness, like tiny islands in a vast ocean. But mostly, Helen’s life was like being alone in a silent, dark room. Whatever she
felt was locked inside. Her love had nowhere to go.
When Helen was five, Mrs. Keller read about a woman named Laura Bridgman, who was also deaf and blind. She had been taught to read and write, and to (talk)
to people by using a finger alphabet. Her teacher was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, of the Perkins institute for the Blind, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Laura Bridgman’s story gave the Kellers hope that something could be done for Helen. So, as soon as they could, they took her to Baltimore, Maryland, to
see an eye specialist. The doctor examined Helen, and said, (I’m sorry, her condition will never change. But she can learn a lot of things. There is nothing
wrong with her mind. I have a suggestion to make.)
(What is that?) Mrs. Keller asked.
(We’ll do anything that might help Helen.)
(I think you should take her to Washington D.C., to see Dr. Bell. He has had great success teaching deaf people.)
The Kellers took a train to the nations capital. There, they went to see Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. Today, Dr. Bell is remembered mainly as the inventor
of the telephone. In these days, however, he was best known for the school he had founded, where teachers were trained to instruct deaf students.
Long train rides, strange hotels, meeting many new people—it all confused and frightened Helen. But Dr. Bell was very gentle. He sat her on his knees and
guided her hands to his face. She felt his droopy mustache and heavy beard. Then he held his gold pocket watch against her cheek. She could feel the steady
ticktock, and she nodded her head in rhythm within.
Helen was not afraid of this kind man. She sat still while she examined her. Then he told the Kellers, (I am certain that this clever little girl can be
taught to communicate with others.)
Dr. Bell suggested that Mr. Keller write to the Perkins Institute, where Laura Bridgman had learned the finger language. Perhaps the director, Michael
Anagnos, find the right teacher for Helen.
Mr. Keller did right the letter and soon received an answer. Mr. Anagnos knew of a young woman who would make a perfect teacher and companion for Helen.
Her name was Annie Sullivan.
Arrangements were made quickly, and Annie Sullivan arrived in Tuscumbia on March 3, 1887. Mrs. Keller met her at the train, and they rode back to the house
in a horse-drawn carriage.
Helen did not know why there was so much excitement in the house. But something told her that today was very special. When she could not find her mother
anywhere, Helen went to the front door. She stood there and waited.
The carriage drew up in front of the house, and Annie Sullivan got her first look at Helen. The young girl’s dress was dirty. Her light-brown curls were
tangled and uncombed. She stood tense and frightened, like a startled fawn in the forest.
Mr. Keller helped Annie down from the carriage. She began to walk up the wooden steps to the front porch. Helen felt the vibrations made by the footsteps,
and rushed at the stranger. Annie caught her before the wild charge knocked both of them down the steps.
Annie knelt and put her arms around Helen. She smiled as the child’s fingers felt her eyes, her nose, her hair, and her hat. When Helen was finished (meeting)
the stranger, Annie took her hand and they walked in to the house, side by side.
Their first days together were not easy. Annie was unhappy about Helen’s wild behavior. The child was allowed to walk around the dining table, sticking
her fingers into everybody’s food and taking whatever she wanted. She was very rough with Mildred, her baby sister, and with the dog, Belle. Helen would
not let anybody comb her hair or wash her face and hands. And she would fly into a fierce rage when anyone tried to make her do something she didn’t want
to do.
Annie understood why Helen acted this way. Her parents felt so sorry for their unfortunate little girl that they could not bear to punish her, no matter
what she did. They never made her obey rules.
Annie knew she had to tame this wild young girl. Helen had to learn to get along with other people. Until she did, she could not be taught anything.
First, Annie tried to win Helen’s trust. She gave the little girl a doll that had been sent to Helen by the children at the Perkins Institute.
Helen ran her hands over the doll. She smiled and hugged it tightly. A moment later, Helen felt Annie take hold of her right hand. She felt fingers fluttering
and tapping on her palm. The tapping stopped. Then again she felt the same tap-flutters on her palm. And again. Helen was puzzled.
Annie was using a special finger language to spell d-o-l-l in Helen’ hands. She spelled it over and over. But Helen did not understand what was happening.
Fear bubbled inside her. She threw the doll to the floor and rushed from the room.
Later that day, Annie took a peace of cake and touched Helen’s hand to it. Helen loved cake and started to grab it. Annie stopped her. With one hand, she
held Helen’s left hand so that it just touched the cake. At the same time, she spelled c-a-k-e into Helen’s right hand. She spelled it again and again.
Helen scowled. She started to pull away. Then, suddenly, she stopped. Putting her fingers in Annie’s hand, she very slowly spelled c-a-k-e. Annie was thrilled
with Helen’s quick response. She gave Helen the cake. The young girl ate it happily.
As soon as Helen finished the last crumb, she felt Annie guide her left and over the doll. Helen wanted it; it felt so soft and cuddly. She tugged at it.
But Annie didn’t let her have it. Then Helen put her fingers in Annie’s hand and spelled d-o-l-l. Annie guided Helen’s fingers through second L, then placed
the doll in Helen’s arms. A smile spread across Helen’s face.
This first success filled Annie with joy. Helen could learn! Now there was much to do. They began the next morning. Annie gave Helen milk and spelled m-I-l-k
at the same time. She spelled c-a-t, while Helen petted the purring pet. And in this way, one new word followed another as the day flew by.
Although Annie’s pupil’s showed great promise, there was still the problem of trying to discipline her. Sometimes Helen was very friendly. But at other
times she had tantrums. She would kick and punch, shove people or throw things, until she got her way. Annie had to stop that. She knew that Mr. and Mrs.
Keller never would. So she asked them to let her have complete control over Helen. They agreed.
At breakfast the next morning, Annie made Helen sit in her own chair at the table. She would not let the child take food from anyone else. The first time
Helen tried to, Annie slapped her hand. Helen pinched Annie. Annie slapped her hand again. Helen stamped her feet in fury.
Annie dragged Helen to her own chair and made her sit in it. Then she put a spoon in the child’s hand and guide it to her food-filled plate. Helen threw
the spoon on the floor. Annie made her pick it up.
Mrs. Keller was crying, and Mr. Keller’s face was a mask of pain. They hated to see their Helen suffer so. (She can’t help herself,) Mrs. Keller said.
(She doesn’t know better.)
(We can help her to know better,) Annie said in a gentle voice.
The Kellers left the dining room. Annie locked the door behind them. Then the battle really began. Annie was determined—Helen would learn to sit in her
chair, eat properly, and fold her napkin when she was finished.
Helen walked around, touching every chair. When she found that her parents were gone, she crawled under the table. Annie pulled her out and sat her in
her chair. Helen picked up the food with her fingers. Annie wiped them clean and gave her a spoon. Helen tried to drop it, but Annie wouldn’t let her.
Helen struggled. Annie was stronger.
Helen finally gave in and ate with the spoon. Even so, the battle was not over. When she finished eating, Helen tossed her napkin on the table. Annie made
her pick it up, fold it, and place it beside her plate. A moment later, Helen flung the napkin to the floor. Annie made her get out of the chair, pick
it up, and fold it again. Helen was sobbing, but she would not give in. Neither would Annie. At last, the napkin remained on the table, folded neatly.
Only then did Annie unlock the door and le Helen out.
That night, Annie cried herself to sleep. She hated being harsh with Helen. She really loved the child, and wanted to be her friend. But first, she knew,
Helen would have to depend on her. Only then could the real learning begin.
The battle of wills went on. But each day was a bit easier than the day before. One morning, Helen brought her comb to Annie for the first time. The next
day, she let Annie get her ready for bed, then tuck her in for the night. And she was learning, too, to sew an apron for her doll, to crochet, to string
beads, to (say) new words in finger talk.
Annie was delighted. At last, Helen liked her and trusted her. Yet there was something missing. Helen learned to make the words in finger talk, but she
didn’t know that they were words. She didn’t know how to use them the way other people did.
Then, one day, Helen and Annie found the key that opened the door to the world for Helen Keller! It was April 5, 1887.
Annie described the moment of discovery in a letter to a friend. She wrote: (We went out to the pump house, and I made Helen hold her hands under the spout
while I pumped. I spelled w-a-t-e-r in to her free hand. ‘’’ The word coming so close upon the sensation of cold water rushing over her hand seemed to
startle her. She dropped the mug and stood transfixed. A new light came in to her face. She spelled water several times.)
Then Helen reached down and touched the ground. Annie spelled g-r-o-u-n-d in her hand. Helen looked excited and pointed at Annie. Annie spelled t-e-a-c-h-e-r.
Helen understood. And from that day on, she always called Annie Sullivan by the name, Teacher.
Now Helen pointed to herself. Annie spelled h-e-l-e-n K-e-l-l-e-r. Helen trembled with joy. She had a name, too!
Helen grabbed Annie’s hand, and they flew into the house together. They found Mrs. Keller. Helen burrowed into her mother’s arms, while Annie spelled m-o-t-h-e-r
on her hand. Helen understood, and she nodded her head. Tears of thankfulness spilled from Mrs. Keller’s eyes.
Helen couldn’t learn enough to satisfy her thirst for words that day. She moved quickly around the house, touching things, learning the word for each one.
Years later, Helen wrote, (It was as if I had come back to life after being dead. ‘’’ Delicious sensations rippled through me, and strange sweet things
that were locked up in my heart began to sing.)
Helen was up with the sun the next morning, ready to learn more. She woke Annie with a hug and a kiss—and a tug of hands that said, (Hurry! Get up!)
It took a while for Helen to get dressed, but not because she made it a battle. As she put on each piece of clothing, she wanted to know all about it.
Now she knew she wore a dress, and that it had sleeves, a skirt, buttons, buttonholes, a collar, a belt.
That was just the beginning. Words poured into Helen. She touched trees and grass and stones, and learned their names. She held an egg in her hand and
felt a baby chicken break through the shell and hatch. Then Annie’s finger told her all about the miracle of life she had felt.
Her teacher taught Helen to hop and skip and jump, telling her the word for each action. They did the same thing with foods, people’s names, animals, flowers,
furniture—everything in the world around them.
Annie wanted Helen to feel free and happy. So they spent most of their days outside, doing their lessons under a big tree in the garden. Helen learned
geography by making maps with wet dirt. She shaped mountains and valleys, islands and rivers, even whole continents. She learned the shape of the Earth
by holding an orange. Annie could hardly keep pace with Helen’s endless desire for (more words.)
If Helen could read, Annie decided, she would learn much faster. So Annie taught her to read Braille. This is a way of printing words by using raised dots
on paper. It was invented by Louis Braille in 1829, so that blind people could read by touch.
Annie had Helen feel the Braille letter A with the fingers of one hand, while A was finger-spelled in to her other hand. Then B ‘’’ and C. Helen mastered
the Braille alphabet right away. Annie brought her books written in Braille. Helen loved them so much that she always slept with one in her bed.
Next, Annie taught Helen how to write in Braille. Before long, Helen was writing stories, notes to Teacher, and letters to the blind children at the Perkins
Institute.
Mr. and Mrs. Keller were thrilled at Helen’s progress. (You have worked a miracle,) Mr. Keller told Annie.
(The miracle is Helen,) Annie insisted. (She can learn anything. Why, right now, we are working on ordinary writing. You will soon be reading her letters
yourself.)
Helen wanted to learn, learn, learn. Annie did her best, but she could see that Helen needed more than she could give her. So, in the spring of 1888, they
took a train to Boston. There, at the Perkins Institute, Helen went to a real school for the first time.
Annie sat next to her in every class, spelling out the teacher’s words in Helen’s hand. Helen learned geography, zoology, Latin, German, Arithmetic, English,
Greek, and French. She didn’t have to study all these subjects, she wanted to!
From eight o.c in the morning until six o’c at night, Helen went to classes. She stopped only for lunch and for an hour of play with other children in
the gym. It was very tiring for Annie, who never left her side, but Helen thrived on it.
When Helen was ten, she read about a blind, deaf girl in Norway. That girl had learned to speak words out loud. Helen wanted to do the same thing. Annie
took her to the Horace Mann School for the deaf in Boston. There, a teacher named Sarah Fuller began working with Helen. First, Helen placed her hand on
Miss Fuller’s mouth. She felt the way words are formed. Then Helen tried to copy this with her mouth.
Helen could not hear her own voice, so she could not know if her words sounded the way they should. Annie worked with her, day and night. Their reward
came when Helen said, (It is warm,) in a clear voice. And when they went to Tuscumbia for summer vacation, Helen’s family received a beautiful surprise.
The Keller’s were waiting at the train station. Helen, prettier than ever, stepped down to the platform. Very proudly, she said, (Mother, I am not dumb
now. Mildred, I love you. Father, I am glad to be home.)
This was a moment the Kellers would never forget. It was a wonderful summer vacation. Then Helen and Annie returned to school in Boston. And this is how
they spent each year as Helen grew into her teens.
One day, Helen told Annie of a new goal she had her heart set on. She wanted to go to College. Some of her friends felt College would be too hard for Helen,
and that she would be crushed by failure. But Helen refused to give up her dream.
She studied tirelessly for the entrance examinations. Her hand printing was slow, so Helen learned to use a typewriter. And she typed her answers through
a nine-hour preliminary exam, plus a full-day final exam.
Helen did brilliantly. She won honors in English and German and was given credit in advanced Latin. Now her friends had to believe in her dream!
Helen attended Raddcliffe College in the fall of 1900. During her four years there, she found her life’s work: to help others. She would tell the world
her story. She would show every one that the deaf and the blind can learn. Helen wanted to bring hope to the handicapped. Her life was proof that everyone
deserved a chance to learn.
In the years that followed, Helen wrote many books and magazine articles. She traveled around the world, speaking to people of all nations. Until Annie
died, in 1936, she was with Helen every step of the way. Polly Thompson, a young Scottish woman, took Annie’s place at Helen’s side. And together they
carried on Helen’s work.
During World War II, Helen visited soldiers who had been blinded in battle. She gave them courage and faith in the future. After the war, she worked with
blind and deaf children. (I cannot stop to grow old while there is so much work to do,) she said, (and so many children to help.)
Until her death, on June 1, 1968, this most remarkable woman continued to give love, hope, and inspiration to thousands of human beings.
An Awesome Story of Humanity
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never
be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued... 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize
true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.... Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most
of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a
much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing
by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The
boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to
be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much
less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly
so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero
for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high
and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into
this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his
Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued... 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize
true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.... Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most
of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a
much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing
by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The
boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to
be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much
less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly
so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero
for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high
and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into
this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his
Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
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