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.