Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Mar 22, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Mar 22, 2002 |
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Variety
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Books She draws strength from Vivekananda Our Bureau
PUNE, March 21 WHEN Pune's Mahilashram School decided to celebrate the centenary of Swami Vivekananda, they decided they would do it in a manner which would benefit the underprivileged which was the great thinker's personal philosophy. The school then decided that it would also take the opportunity to involve some of the 40 blind girl students in the initiative. The result is an extraordinary effort by a 10th standard student, Anita Gautam, who has just published a collection of Vivekananda's writings in Braille. For Anita herself it was tough since she was simultaneously studying for her board exams; but she says it is also a dream come true. "Reading material in Braille is always in short supply, but I chose to transcribe Vivekananda's books since I have always been deeply inspired by his teachings and believe that these can be a great motivation for the blind," she says. Anita met the challenge of getting the book out in a record 10 days to coincide with the celebration week by studying during the night and doing transcription work on the 35-story collection at night. Her father and her teacher at school pitched in by reading aloud 70 stories on Vivekananda's life so that she could decide on which to include in her book. The 150-page book in Braille will now find a pride of place in the Poona School and Home for the Blind of which Anita is an inmate. The school already has 140 books in Braille for the benefit of its inmates. Says Archana Tapikar, its principal, the new book with its message of compassion and love will be an inspiration both for the blind inmates and the teams working with them. Anita's book was recently released at the school and a proud and visibly touched author told the audience, "Vivekananda's message of `Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is achieved', is a source of strength for me every time I feel confused or not confident enough to complete the job I have undertaken".
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