Imported Children’s books

I have membership in BookWorld Library, where they have many imported childrens books - i think mainly from US.
Along with my son I also read these books. I wonder at the number of books they bring out for each age group. There are many things that fascinate me to read those books along with my son!

• The main characters are boys and girls of that particular age group to which the books is categorized.
• The story tell simple things like fighting with brother and coming to a compromise, clash between two friends in the class or school, going to the zoo with father etc
• There is nothing specially told as moral, but it is there all the time…. Advise should not look like advise
• Ah, and the pictures – beautiful depictions. Visual medium is the most effective way to understand things.
• There is one main point (which in turn points to my previous post - My dream about India by 2020). I still remember one book which touched my heart - where the friends go to a library and the picture shows the Librarian as lady in a wheel chair. But the story mentions her only as the librarian. The picture tells everything….And another one, where a cousin who throws temper tantrums come for sleep over….Soon the boy realizes his cousin’s talent as a football player. And many other books which shows people with special needs as part of our life… The child learns to understand and gradually it extends to the real life. I have never seen such depictions in our own books.
• Many of the classic books are available in a smaller version for the children like Christmas carol, Around the days in 80 days and many others

I feel our Indian children’s books have a long way to go.........

India2020 - my dream

Today December 3rd, is World disability day. Do we need a specific day to remind that we need to extend our helping hand to our fellow beings?
I was just thinking about this when I was trying to cross the main road near my house at Velachery, Chennai. I wanted to reach the Medical shop opposite and it took me 15 min to cross the road because of the traffic. There is no pedestrian crossing in the visibility and none of the vehicle seems to bother about the few people waiting to cross. If this is our situation, then imagine for a person with special needs or even children or aged people.

Then I was thinking the situation in India: (when I refer the problems below it is for a person with challenges like physical, mental, visual etc or children or aged)

• How will a person go the top floors of a building where there is no lift?
• How will a person access the suburban train in the platform across, where there is no over bridge or ramp
• Imagine the condition when you are having your nature’s call and the toilets are in different floors or on the ground floor…..
• I read somewhere people with calipers are not allowed inside the temple to pray…..
  ..............and the list is endless

Just like the great poet Tagore or our favorite President Mr.Abdul Khalam, I also dream for our India to be developed at least by 2020)

When people with special needs can move about freely
Just as independent as any of us
They can cross the road with out fear
They can go to any floor of the building where they want to go
They can commute by the public transport as others
They can access any public facility or utility as others
Children are not restricted education or opportunities
Due to their special needs……
When that day comes, India is a developed nation!

Till then let us remind everyone atleast on this day about the need for to extend their hand and time for their fellow beings who are not the same as them.

P.S:- Awareness walk or camp alone is not enough. More than the individuals, every corporate, institution, organization should come forward to support people with special needs.

Michael Phelps – the inspiration

It was unbelievable for me when I read that Michael Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD in his childhood. It has not stopped him from achieving great success. Now at age 23, the whole world’s attention is on him!!!!

Is there not a learning lesson for every one of us from this legendary story or even many other similar stories?

When we tell that some children are having ADHD, LD, CP or what ever it is, does it not show that we do not have the patience to go with them and support and encourage them? Every one of us has to analyze the reason behind this success and take our own decision as how our children have to grow. We have to find out the hidden talent in each child and nourish that.

How I sincerely hope that parents, teachers and ofcourse the society does not discriminate children and is able to provide a positive environment for every child to thrive. Especially in India we have to change and go a long way…….

Read on..

http://jockbio.com/Bios/Phelps/Phelps_bio.html

http://www.edgefoundation.org/blog/2008/08/15/michael-phelpss-adhd-is-not-an-attention-deficit/

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/swimming/2008-07-31-phelps_N.htm

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1998.html

Dasavatharam - the movie by Kamal Hasan

In the movie "Dasavatharam" actor Kamal has come out with 10 different roles. The movie shows the efforts he has put and shows his talent. Before also he had done different roles as that in "Avvai shanmugi". In this movie he has tried to bring together characters across the globe and across times/centuries. The movie has to be watched at least once and appreciate the Indian movie's transition using technology, theme, story line etc (apart from our regular sentiments).

We have watched superstar Rajnikant's "Sivaji". Sivaji was an entertainer where as "dasavatharam" is more than an entertainer, provoking everyone to think.

http://www.dasavatharam.info/

Connecting with nature

For the past three years our April vacation was in Kerala with my parents, brother and family. Abhi enjoyed the holidays with his 2 cousins. The trio had lot of fun playing, fighting……
This time we went for a house boat ride at Kollam. The ride was very nice, with the natural beauty of Kerala on all sides. After living in Chennai for some years, it was really a rejuvenating experience. The trio cousins had a good time in the boat, the best of all sharing the driver’s seat and trying a hand at the steer.

During our parents time, connecting with nature was part of their everyday life. Taking a bath in the lake or river with friends, swimming from one side to the other side, walking ont he grass barefoot…Now we have to create the opportunity for our children to connect with the nature.!

Attitude towards disability

Few incidents which I experienced have prompted me to write this post. I think many people (especially those who are differently abled) would have experienced the same way, especially in India. I have heard that abroad people empathize with special people more.

First - When I and Abhi were getting down the narrow stairs, a gentleman does not have enough patience to wait till we reach down. He started to climb up and we have to press ourselves to the railings to give way for him.!!

When waiting for the lift, a lady who waiting behind, suddenly brushed past us into the
Crowded Lift. We took the next turn.

In the children’s park Abhi was playing in the slides along with few others. One boy was regularly pushing others to reach first. Result, I had to take Abhi to some other play area. And I overheard the parent proudly remarking to another that her son always wanted to be first everywhere.

Is it not our, parents, responsibility to teach our children to go in queue, to empathize with other children who are not as fast or as good as them? Is it not our duty to teach our children good values, so that we bring up a better generation? Is it not our responsibility to tell our children to empathize with others? If the same thing somebody else does to you, how will you feel hurt??
Is it not our duty to practice what we preach so that our children learns from us automatically.

Though there has been lot of awareness created by organizations, media and all, to change the attitude is very difficult. I feel it can be brought out through children only, so that the attitude of next generation is better!The awareness, attitude, good values etc has to be brought from the school level itself. For example, the schools can promote volunteering during holidays, helping the needy, visiting special schools etc.

The place I like to visit again!!!

I am not a frequent traveller. But there is one place which I would like to visit again and again. The Vivekananda Rock at Kanyakumari. The strange feeling, the peace that fills the mind when you sit there on top of the rock in the middle of the sea.......it is wonderful.There is no expression for that. It seems Swami Vivekananda used to swim to the rock daily for the meditation.

When ever I have tough time, I imagine myself to be on the Vivekananda rock. I imagine the sound of the sea. The beauty of the sea water splashing on the rocks...