'Handicaps exist only in the mind'
Iftu Ahmed | Sunday, 15 June 2008
IT needs to be understood that people with disabilities are human beings and an indivisible contingent of the society. They are not cursed by Allah. Only the superstitious would believe so.
They can overcome their disabilities, given education, training and care. Many people around the world with disabilities, are struggling for better life. Many of them have become successful and world-famous.
Here are some examples:
John Milton (1608-1674); On December 9, 1608, John Milton, the English poet and political writer was born in London.
In 1632, Milton did his M.A. at Cambridge. He used to write about love, politics and religion. He was the man of very high moral standard.
In 1652, Milton became totally blind. In 1667, his epic Paradise Lost, was published. In 1671, his two other works, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, were published. The three works made Milton one of England's greatest poets.
Samson Agonistes recounts the end of Samson, betrayed by Delilah and blinded by Philistines and finally Samson defeated his captors. The movie, Samson and Delilah, is still alive in the hearts of many.
Milton would mentally compose verse upon verse at night and then dictate them from his memory to his aids in the morning.
On November 8, 1674, at the age of 65, Milton died in London.
Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827): On December 16, 1770, Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in Bonn in Germany. One of the greatest composers, his works immortalised classical European music.
At the very beginning of his life, Beethoven showed his musical talent and learned to play the violin and piano from his father who was a singer.
In 1790, Beethoven began to lose his hearing and became totally deaf. His deafness did not hinder his composing. He composed much of his finest music after his deafness.
Beethoven became a public figure, as no composer had done before. He was regarded one of the founders of musical romanticisms.
On March 26, 1827, at the age of 57, Beethoven died in Vienna.
Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968): On June 27, 1880, Helen Adams Keller was born in Tucumbia, a small rural town in Northwest Alabama, USA.
Helen was born with full sight and hearing. When she was only 19 months old, she contracted a fever that left her blind and deaf. At the age of seven, her parents appointed Anne Sullivan her tutor.
Anne Sullivan's care, guidance, patience and dedication changed Helen's life. She began to read, write and speak by the time she was 10.
On June 28, 1904, Helen was the first deaf-blind person to attain Bachelor of Arts from Radcliffe College.
After college, Helen dedicated her life to improving the conditions of the blind and deaf-blind people around the world lecturing in more than 25 countries of five continents.
Helen was honoured with numerous awards including honourary university degrees, the Chevalier's ribbon of the French Legion of Honour, the Alumni Achievement Award of Radcliffe College, the Lions Humanitarians Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Women's Hall of Fame, and more.
In 1999, Helen was listed in Gallup's Most Widely Admired People of the 20th century. Her books have been translated into more than 50 languages.
Helen was very fond of Milton and Beethoven. She wrote in her poem:
"They took away what should have been my eyes
But I remember Milton's Paradise
They took away what should have been my ears
Beethoven came and wiped away my tears
They took away what should have been in my tongue
But I had talked with God when I was young
He would not let them take away my soul
Possessing that, I still possess the whole."
On June 1, 1968, Helen died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 87 at her home in Arcan Ridge near Westport, Connecticut, U.S.A.
In the face of overwhelming odds, Miss Helen rose above her disabilities and became world famous.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945): On January 30, 1882, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York, U.S.A.
In 1903, Roosevelt graduated from Harvard in history. In 1904, he entered the Columbia University Law School and in 1907 he passed the bar examination.
In 1921, at the age of 39, Roosevelt was paralysed in both legs by polio. Indeed, it crippled his two legs but not his spirit. He was the only President of the United States who was elected for four consecutive terms (1933-1945). He led the United States through its worst depression and through its worst war. He was a great fighter who turned his greatest obstacles to his greatest advantage and became successful. He used to say, "Our handicaps exist only in the mind."
On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died of stroke while he was serving his fourth term as the President of the US.
The writer, based in US, can be reached at e-mail: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net
They can overcome their disabilities, given education, training and care. Many people around the world with disabilities, are struggling for better life. Many of them have become successful and world-famous.
Here are some examples:
John Milton (1608-1674); On December 9, 1608, John Milton, the English poet and political writer was born in London.
In 1632, Milton did his M.A. at Cambridge. He used to write about love, politics and religion. He was the man of very high moral standard.
In 1652, Milton became totally blind. In 1667, his epic Paradise Lost, was published. In 1671, his two other works, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, were published. The three works made Milton one of England's greatest poets.
Samson Agonistes recounts the end of Samson, betrayed by Delilah and blinded by Philistines and finally Samson defeated his captors. The movie, Samson and Delilah, is still alive in the hearts of many.
Milton would mentally compose verse upon verse at night and then dictate them from his memory to his aids in the morning.
On November 8, 1674, at the age of 65, Milton died in London.
Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827): On December 16, 1770, Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in Bonn in Germany. One of the greatest composers, his works immortalised classical European music.
At the very beginning of his life, Beethoven showed his musical talent and learned to play the violin and piano from his father who was a singer.
In 1790, Beethoven began to lose his hearing and became totally deaf. His deafness did not hinder his composing. He composed much of his finest music after his deafness.
Beethoven became a public figure, as no composer had done before. He was regarded one of the founders of musical romanticisms.
On March 26, 1827, at the age of 57, Beethoven died in Vienna.
Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968): On June 27, 1880, Helen Adams Keller was born in Tucumbia, a small rural town in Northwest Alabama, USA.
Helen was born with full sight and hearing. When she was only 19 months old, she contracted a fever that left her blind and deaf. At the age of seven, her parents appointed Anne Sullivan her tutor.
Anne Sullivan's care, guidance, patience and dedication changed Helen's life. She began to read, write and speak by the time she was 10.
On June 28, 1904, Helen was the first deaf-blind person to attain Bachelor of Arts from Radcliffe College.
After college, Helen dedicated her life to improving the conditions of the blind and deaf-blind people around the world lecturing in more than 25 countries of five continents.
Helen was honoured with numerous awards including honourary university degrees, the Chevalier's ribbon of the French Legion of Honour, the Alumni Achievement Award of Radcliffe College, the Lions Humanitarians Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Women's Hall of Fame, and more.
In 1999, Helen was listed in Gallup's Most Widely Admired People of the 20th century. Her books have been translated into more than 50 languages.
Helen was very fond of Milton and Beethoven. She wrote in her poem:
"They took away what should have been my eyes
But I remember Milton's Paradise
They took away what should have been my ears
Beethoven came and wiped away my tears
They took away what should have been in my tongue
But I had talked with God when I was young
He would not let them take away my soul
Possessing that, I still possess the whole."
On June 1, 1968, Helen died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 87 at her home in Arcan Ridge near Westport, Connecticut, U.S.A.
In the face of overwhelming odds, Miss Helen rose above her disabilities and became world famous.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945): On January 30, 1882, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York, U.S.A.
In 1903, Roosevelt graduated from Harvard in history. In 1904, he entered the Columbia University Law School and in 1907 he passed the bar examination.
In 1921, at the age of 39, Roosevelt was paralysed in both legs by polio. Indeed, it crippled his two legs but not his spirit. He was the only President of the United States who was elected for four consecutive terms (1933-1945). He led the United States through its worst depression and through its worst war. He was a great fighter who turned his greatest obstacles to his greatest advantage and became successful. He used to say, "Our handicaps exist only in the mind."
On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died of stroke while he was serving his fourth term as the President of the US.
The writer, based in US, can be reached at e-mail: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net