My musings - Helen Keller

My parents are trying to make it a habit for me to read a book periodically. So, I read a children's book on Helen Keller. The first time I read it, it seemed like an unusual book to me. There were no cartoons or silly animals in the story. I was confused and did not understand the book. I asked my ammA to read to me and explain it. It was not a fun story. How can something not be jolly and rosy?! I tried my best to ask questions to get the jolly side of Helen Keller's story but found none. The next couple of days I read the story over and over trying to wrap my brain around her story.

"Helen Keller cannot see or hear?!" "Even after she grew up?! How is that possible?!"

"She learnt languages, studied and authored books?!"

I was curious to know how not seeing and hearing feel like. I tried closing my eyes and ears and doing things. I asked ammA to show me alphabets with her hands just like Helen Keller learnt from her teacher. It IS tough. How did she live like this....?

I wanted to know more about Helen Keller and her life. I spent 45 minutes of a bus ride discussing about Helen Keller with ammA. I saw her pictures and wanted to know the other books  I can read about her. I want to read the books she has written. I try being her closing my eyes and ears to feel the world she felt. I came to know of Braille. 

It is so interesting and I don't know the feeling I get when I read her story. I have never felt this way. My parents say that the feeling is "inspiring". 

Helen Keller is my star and hero. 

GOD - decoded

I have been wondering and asking questions about God to my parents. Once during one of my autorickshaw trips, I revealed my conception of God.

pAdukA - ammA, namba Mahabharat munnAdi povomA? (will we reach home before Mahabharat (T.V. serial) starts? )
ammA - povom nnu ninaikaren ( I think we will reach )
pAdukA - enakku Krishna oomachi ya irukkanum ( I want to be like Lord Krishna )
ammA - yen (why?)
pAdukA -  nee paarthayA Krishna oomaachi andha pAtti ya seripanna (Did you see Lord Krishna made the old lady ok (meaning he made her hunchback go away))
ammA - ammAm pArthen (yes I saw)
pAdukA- eppadi pannA (How did he do it?)
ammA - silent hoping something in the road will distract her (too hard to explain.Don't know how to handle the topic)
pAdukA -  ammA, sollu (ammA, tell me )
ammA - still silent

pAdukA starts rambling

pAdukA - Krishna oomachikku mindla best scientist and best doctor irukaa nnu ninaikaren (I think there is the best scientist and the best doctor in Lord Krishna's mind)

pAdukA - adhaan ellam seri panna mudiyum oomachiyala. (that's why he is able to solve everything)

pAdukA - naan scientist and doctor aatum think pannen na, naan Krishna oomachi aaidalaam. naanum ellarukkum help pannalaam (If I think like a scientist and doctor, then I will also become Lord Krishna and help everyone)

pAdukA - ammA hard work panna best scientist and doctor aagalaamaa ? (Can I become the best scientist and doctor if I work hard?)
ammA - yeah sure (relieved that pAdukA found her own interpretation of God)

(Pictures) Jan-Jun-2014

More here

A stop over

Solar system is so fascinating. I have many many questions about planets, gravity and Sun. I just can't get a grasp of how Earth and other planets are just floating in space and also moving in an orbit.

Here are a few questions I always ask when we start reading about solar system.

Why isn't Earth falling because of gravity?
Which other planets do humans live in?
Isn't there any living being on other planets? Really? Why?

pAdukA - vera planet pona jolly-a irukkum ila ma? (woundn't it be fun to go to other planets, ammA?)

ammA - enda planet? (which planet?)

pAdukA - Saturn or the dwarf planet pluto.

ammA - yen? (why?)

pAdukA - Saturn azhagA irukku. enakku Pluto pidikkum (Saturn looks beautiful and I like Pluto)

ammA - avalavu dooram laam poga mudiyaadhu innum (We cannot travel so long right now)

pAdukA - rocket la kudavA (even with rocket?)

ammA - yes

pAdukA - appo Mars or Jupiter la stop pannittu Saturn polaam. apparam Neptune la stop panni Pluto kku polaam dhaane? (Then we can stop at Mars/Jupiter and go to Saturn and later stop in Neptune and reach Pluto, right?)

ammA - ???!!!

Will she understand?

We just got down from the bus from airport. ammA walked carrying Madhura who was sleeping and was dragging a suitcase and a bag while holding my hand. I do not know what came upon her when she decided to stop at a store to buy veggies, milk etc.. Once in the store Madhura woke up but refused to walk and insisted on being carried. With a added bag, ammA carried madhurA. I tried my best to make her walk and also offered to carry her. My little sister was very adamant arrgghh... She was such a trouble for ammA till we came back home.

I decided to talk to her and explain what she did was wrong.  I thought it will be a good time to tell madhurA about why she was a trouble while eating our favourite food (noodles:)

pAdukA - noodles pidichirkA? (Do you like your noodles?)
madhurA - cheese ikku (There is cheese)
madhurA - nanna ikku (It's good)
pAdukA - ammA nanna panna (ammA has made it well)
madhurA nods
pAdukA - appo nee yen ammA va paduthina thookku nnu? (then why did you trouble ammA to carry you?)
madhurA - ila naan paduthala. (I did not trouble her)
pAdukA - poi vera sollarayA? (Are you lying too?)
pAdukA - ammA eppadi potti, bag thookindu onna thooka mudiyum? (How can ammA lift box, bags and you?)
madhurA - ammA, pAdukA bad girl-a pesaraa (ammA pAdukA is speaking like a bad girl)
pAdukA - naan bad girl ila nee dhan. oru naal nee big girl aanaparam amma aavai. appo onnoda paappa onna thukku thukku sonna eppadi irukkum. appadi dhaan ammA kku ippo irukku. bad girl! (I am not a bad girl, you are. You will grow up to be a big girl and become a mother. Think about how you will feel when your baby will trouble you to carry her. That is how ammA is feeling right now. Bad girl!)

madhurA - nee dhaan bad girl ( you are a bad girl!)

Will my sister ever understand??

(Pictures) Aug-Dec-2013

More pics here

Questions!

pAdukA - nan ipo pudhu edathula okkAcchikaren ma ( I sit in a new place at school now)

ammA - good. ellarodum pesanum (speak with everyone)

pAdukA - pesaren ma ( I talk ammA) nAn Isha oda pesinen (I spoke with Isha)

ammA - chammathu...(good girl)

pAdukA - Isha oda amma/appA avala romba love pannara ( Ish'a parents love her a lot)

ammA - hmm.. appadiyaa (Is that so?)

pAdukA - avalakku appo appo gift kudupaalaam avaloda appA/ammA. ava sonna avaloda

ammA/appA adhanala romba love pannara (They give her gifts now and then. She told that her parents therefore love her a lot)

ammA - ok

pAdukA - neeyum appavum ennakku gift kudukardhe ilai. love ilai-a? (you and appA do not give me gifts. So don't you love me?)

ammA -!!!!!!! ammA and appA huggie and mutthA kudukarom la? appA/ammA onna romba romba love pannarom (ammA and appA give you hugs and kisses all the time. So we love you a LOT)

pAdukA - naan nalaikku Isha kitta solla poren (I will tell Isha tomorrow)

ammA - !!!!!!




ammA - pAdukA ashadA irukka ippo (you are being a bad girl now)

pAdukA - ana madhurA dhaan first pudinganA (but Madhura snatched it from me first)

ammA - azha vekkara madhurA va (you are making madhurA cry) Bad girl pAdukA...

pAdukA - nee enna bad girl-a valatthaya ammA (Did you bring me up as a bad girl ammA?)

pAdukA - enna good girl la dhaan valattha ila? ( didn't you bring me up as a good girl?) appo enna bad girl nnu solladhey (Don't call me a bad girl)

ammA - !!!!!!!!