Good Samaritans need clear facts --My sympathies are not for this journalist or for that matter anyone in the media who don't clarify before publishing an information. It isn't part of our practices to share articles, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't clarify facts unclear to us. I can't blame Mamta for this because my friends in the media who profiled me have stated grossly incorrect statements including "I know to play tennis" which I don't only that I have reported on international tennis events. "My marriage is a love marriage" which it wasn't (though there is plenty of love in my marriage). Jurnos generally get thrilled by the prospect of writing their way to glory when they see a blind person and where facts appear uninspiring, they fill it up so nicely with their imagination. Lack of awareness about disability only makes this process worse and they finally end up becoming laughing stocks amongst those of their ilk.
So, for Ashish: pl don't take the article seriously for Mamta doesn't seem to be at fault. Even if she hasn't stated the facts accurately in the beginning it is the responsibility of the journo to call her up or visit her more than once to get things absolutely clear. And for Mamta? Well you know your lessons clear by now. Don't entertain too many press people around you. I am not saying you should never get publicity for what you do, but publicity is a double edged sword and if it backfires, it will leave your best friends in bitterness. There is a lesson for all of us here. We are special people no doubt, but beware of being misrepresented or misquoted it might affect your personal and professional life. Subramani -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mamta Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 3:51 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AI] 'Samaritans need vision, not sight' Hello friends! The article had some major errors in them so I am just clarifying them. The first thing is about the website: http://www.ashishrohtagi.org Originally Ashish sir had hosted a site on Lycos domain, from that I got an idea to make the site and gift ashish sir on his birthday, and My idea was that the site should be on his own name. so the site was made by me as an surprise for Giving ashish sir on his birthday. Everything done after gifting the site to sir, had always been a joint venture between me and sir, normally sir finds new ideas and innovations, I help sir to put it up on the site. All the idea's and everything is of sir's I am just his helper I just help him mostly. When I was interviewed I had mentioned this to that interviewer btw she has not made the article like that. I learnt (HTML) on my own, but not (JAVA), As I do not no about until now, At the time of the interview I had Mentioned about (Jaws scripts) and they are difficult to learn, I am trying to learn them, as many programs need Jaws scripts. and she mentioned it as (JAVA) About ashish sir, I Mentioned that He lives in Panipad, I did not mentioned (Punjab, she just added it her self. I did not mentioned many topics covered on the site: but she saw the site herself and put it in the article. My Apologies to Ashish sir and all the readers of this article. I have mentioned these errors to her, but I do not no that whether she will be able to do anything on this or not. Once again my sincere apologies to Ashish sir and every one. I am sorry very sorry, Do not miss interpret anything, The site was always ashish sir's and it will always remain ashish sir's. It is totally up to him what so ever he will do with the site. Once again my apologies to one and all, I am sure that you all will be able to forgive me. My idea was never to hurt anyone. Or not even to create any miss understandings. When I created this site for gifting Ashish sir, I just thought like that this will be a collection of all things under one roof. And it would be helpful to every one. and no any other intentions. So once again am very sorry, and also Apology to the owner and the Moderator for posting such an off topic mail on the list, But I am sure that Everyone will understand and forgive me. Once again sorry Many thanks Mamta. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shaila D'souza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 7:51 PM Subject: [AI] 'Samaritans need vision, not sight' Westside Plus Westside Plus News images/l2 'Samaritans need vision, not sight' Posted On Friday, August 08, 2008 Though I was acquainted with the computer, my usage was limited as I always needed someone to read to me the things on the screen. It was through an ad in the newspaper that we learnt about an institute for the blind, where my mother got me enrolled. I was taught the basics at the institute, and was introduced to softwares like JAWS, a computer screen reader and TALKS, a mobile screen reader, which empowered me Saadia S Dhailey Irla 'That's impossible!' would be your reaction to moulding clay with eyes closed, or recreating a piece of art you haven't ever seen, and inculcating its finest intricacies. But Mamta Baldev Chandiramani defies all natural laws. For this 24-year-old, the word spells 'I m possible'. >From topping the Mumbai University to designing websites, weaving melodies >and taking to water as swiftly as a fish, she has done it all even as her >world is void of colour; she is devoid of sight. Born in Manila, Philippines, a premature birth led her to lose her eyesight. Yet, she has some great achievements worthy of salutations. Her tryst with information technology is one such recent landmark, which led her to design a website for the visually impaired and partially sighted. She also teaches computer basics to the blind at a government institute as a philanthropic gesture. "Though I was acquainted with the computer, my usage was limited as I always needed someone to read to me the things on the screen. It was through an ad in the newspaper that we learnt about an institute for the blind, where my mother got me enrolled." This, however, was the only initiation into a world, which Mamta is now building block by block on her own, without any further assistance or coaching. "I was taught the basics at the institute, and was introduced to softwares like JAWS, a computer screen reader and TALKS, a mobile screen reader, which empowered me. I needed no assistance after that." What followed is a story symbolizing grit and determination. "After learning the basics, I felt I needed to learn more as I thought in today's world, basics won't be enough and I zeroed it on website designing. I began to read online, learnt and gathered material." And soon she was ready with a website for her community - http://www.ashishrohtagi.org. She learnt scripting languages like Java for which people take special courses to learn it. Mamta admits that decoding Java and HTML was an uphill task. "I read and reread, sometimes even 50 times, to understand it completely." She spent sleepless nights to make the website ready in time. "I wanted to gift it to my friend Ashish on his birthday," she informs. Ashish Rohtagi is a professor at a college in Paniput, Punjab, and is also visually impaired. The topics covered on the website include a wide range. "There are tips and tricks for PCs, softwares, screen reader related information, fun stuff, information about mobiles, latest news and happenings on the net, search engines etc." She has meticulously gathered all the matter on the site over the years and has programmed the site to automatically update the latest news. Motivating her through sleepless nights was her dream to have a one-stop for all the needs of her community. "I wanted everything under one roof for the visually impaired." In the last two years around 31, 000 visitors have benefited from her creation. She also dedicates six to seven hours a week to the Industrial Home for Blind Women, teaching the visually impaired and partially sighted computers. Next on her agenda is the animated world of FLASH programming, she declares with a broad grin. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Source: http://www.mumbaipluses.com/westsideplus/index.aspx?page=article§id= 1&contentid=200808082008081417512778321aacc6e§xslt=&comments=true# Regards, Shaila. Join Access India convention: For updates on it visit: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm Registration is now open! To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n Join Access India convention: For updates on it visit: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm Registration is now open! To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n Join Access India convention: For updates on it visit: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm Registration is now open! To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
