Actually, I had written this 3 years ago but now just changed the year. These are my heartfelt feeling towards Louis Braille.
On 1/4/12, Sruti disAbility Rights Centre <[email protected]> wrote: > Ketan, > > Thanks for sharing this in this forum. I am forwarding this to our groups. > This needs to be shared more widely. > > In solidarity, > Shampa Sengupta > Kolkata > > On Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 9:32 AM, Ketan Kothari <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear Uncle Louis, >> >> I am happy to celebrate the 203rdh anniversary of your birth and would >> like to gratefully acknowledge your contribution in my life. In fact, >> it is only due to you that I am what I am today. You probably could >> not have imagined at the time when you created a totally new script >> the monumental development that it was. But let me assure you that >> you are God for most of us especially in places where people are not >> living in palaces and owning large properties. Your script is the >> greatest gift that has been bestowed upon us. >> >> In these days of so-called modernization, it has become fashionable to >> look down upon your invention as either out of date or even worse >> archaic but those that talk that way do not realize what mistakes they >> are committing. In fact, it is only through your contribution that >> more and more of us who are deprived of light have been experiencing >> the divine light and live our lives with fair amount of success. >> >> I have always believed that even when people will give up your script >> (hopefully that day will never come) you will still have won as the >> contribution that you have made in our lives is indelible. Even today >> when computers and other media have come about people are still >> talking of Electronic Braille displays. And yes, there is no >> alternative for reading and writing and no other technology will equip >> the poorest of the poor amongst the blind to access the printed word. >> >> Let me thank you for the immeasurable hours of pleasure you have given >> to fill my solitude with the treasures of the creation of the greatest >> authors and poets resulting in broadening the vistas of my knowledge. >> You have filled void in my life on days when I had given up on life >> and only through reading some of the greatest works of literature I >> have been inspired to continue. >> >> On another note, in the world filled with parochial conflicts, uncle >> Louis, yours is probably the only script that can be written in any >> language of the world and if it were used by all we would rid the >> world of the conflicts that have created havoc in our lives. >> >> I am extremely pained to read about the treatment meted out to you in >> your lifetime but unfortunately the world is a place where mere >> mortals have always failed to recognize great souls and later >> worshipped them as Gods. >> >> There has been a fashion to find out alternatives for your script but >> let me assure you that those of us who have benefitted by your >> invention will never let this happen. Braille has a place that is >> very difficult to be taken by anyone, least of all by scripts that are >> very rudimentary. >> >> Dear uncle, on this 200th anniversary of yours, let me share with you >> one secret: the linguistic skills that I possess have all been >> developed by you and had it not been for you I cannot imagine my >> status. I am horrified when I hear that these days’ children are >> discouraged from learning “literacy” but as Jesus Christ had said: >> God forgive them for they know not what they are doing. I hope that >> God will send you back amongst us and save my brethren. People are >> not even aware of the immense loss that they are suffering. >> >> May God let the better senses prevail. I cannot thank you enough for >> making me what I am and let me assure you that till the last day of my >> life I will work for the propagation of your great script and will >> create awareness amongst all classes of people about its efficacy and >> utility. May God grant you the highest place in his divine abode and >> may you come to us one more time to recreate the great atmosphere for >> the literacy of my brethren. >> >> >> -- >> Ketan Kothari >> Phone: [r] 24223281, >> Cell: 9987550614 >> MSN ID: [email protected] >> Skype ID: Ketan3333 >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> 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 >> >> > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > 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 > > -- Ketan Kothari Phone: [r] 24223281, Cell: 9987550614 MSN ID: [email protected] Skype ID: Ketan3333 Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. 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