BOOKS, ESSAYS, SPEECH:

Helen Keller saw herself as a writer first and foremost—her passport listed her profession as "author." It was through the medium of the typewritten word that Helen communicated with Americans and ultimately with thousands across the globe.

From an early age she championed the rights of the underdog and used her skills as a writer to speak truth to power. A pacifist, she protested U.S. involvement in World War I. A committed socialist, she took up the cause of workers' rights. She was also a tireless advocate for women's suffrage and an early member of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Helen Keller wrote 14 books and over 475 speeches and essays on topics such as faith, blindness prevention, birth control, the rise of fascism in Europe, and atomic energy. Herautobiography has been translated into 50 languages and remains in print to this day.

The books, essays, and speeches that you can read here provide a sampling of Helen Keller's writings that are contained in the collection.

BIO-GRAPHY:

from a child unable to communicate due to her multiple disabilities, to her exalted place on the world stage as the famous global citizen she would become, is one of the greatest stories of the 20th century.

For many, Helen's story ends with the image of a young deafblind girl and her teacher Anne Sullivan at a water pump. However, that transforming moment for Helen signified only the beginning of her new life—a life dedicated to tireless advocacy and fearless activism that opened wide the doors of possibility for people with disabilities.

Helen Keller was a luminary who continues to transcend her historical era. Because she was a woman outspoken in her principles, she inspired changes in public attitudes about the capabilities of people with visual impairments. As she pushed for revolutionary changes in the law, people with disabilities were able to transition into mainstream education and employment. Helen Keller inspired future generations of people with disabilities to live life to the fullest

QUOTES:

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." — We Bereaved, 1929

"We are never really happy until we try to brighten the lives of others."—"My New Speech," undated

"I take happiness very seriously. It is a creed, a philosophy and an objective."—"Happiness," School Bank News [published by the East New York Savings Bank, Brooklyn, NY], May 1935.

"If we do not like our work, and do not try to get happiness out of it, we are a menace to our profession as well as to ourselves." —"Know Thyself," The Home Magazine, September 1930

1) Kasurrba Gandhi:-

Do you remember famous women Satyagraha movement? Kasturba Gandhi, affectionately known as “Ba” was the leader of this famous movement. She was the honorable wife of Mahatma Gandhi and the way she supported every step of her husband was indeed commendable. From Champaran movement to Quit India Movement Kasturba Gandhi struggled shoulder to shoulder with her husband. She led the growth of women education and tried to abolish the class differences and also taught hygiene and discipline to children. She had to undergo imprisonment many number of times but she sustained her courage boldly. Kasturba Gandhi like a true patriotic worrier died in the arms of her husband in Jail.

2) Sarojini Naidu:-

సరోజినీ నాయుడు (ఫిబ్రవరి 13 , 1879 -మారి� 2 , 1949) భారత కోకిల (నైటింగేల్ ఆఫ్ ఇండియా) గా ప్రసిద్ధి� చెంద్ధిన ఈమె స్వా$తంత్ర సమరయోధురాలు మరియు కవయిత్రి్ర[1]. సరోజినీ దేవి 1935 డిసెంబరులో కానుపూరులో జరిగిన అఖిల భారత జాతీయ కాంగ్రె@ష్ మహాసభలకి తొలి మహిళా అధ్యక్షుురాలు మరియు స$తంత్ర భారత దేశపు తొలి మహిళా గవర్నరు కూడా.

3) Dr. B.R. Amedkar:భీంరావ్ రాంజీ అంబేడ్కర్ (మరాఠీ : डॊ. भीमराव रामजी आंबेडकर ) (ఏప్రి�ల్ 14 , 1891 - డిసెంబర్ 6 , 1956) "బాబాసాహెబ్" అని ప�సిద్ధి� పొందారు. ధర్మశాస్త్రపండితుడు, భారత రాజ్యా*ంగ నిరా్మత, రాజకీయ నాయకుడు, స్వంతంత్ర భారత తొలి నా*య శాఖా మంత్రి్ర, సా్వతంత్ర్యో్ర *ద*మ దళిత నాయకుడు, వృత్రి: రీత్యా* నా*యవాద్ధి, ఇండియన్, భౌదు� డు, తత్వ శాస్త్రవేత: , ఆంథ్రోD పోలజిస్ట్H , చరిత్రకారుడు, ప�సంగిడు, రచయిత, అర్థశాస్త్రవేత: , పండితుడు, సంపాదకుడు, విప్లవకారుడు, బౌద� ధర్మ పునరుద�రణకర్త.

4) Madan Mohan Malviyaమదన్ మోహన్ మాలవా*  (1861-1946) ఒక రాజకీయ నాయకుడు. భారత స్వా$తంత్ర సమరంలో తాను వహించిన పాత్రకు ప్రఖ్యా్యత్రి గడించాడు.

1861, డిసెంబరు 25 న  అలహాబాదులో ఒక నిషుc లైన హిందూ కుటుంబములో పుటిcన మాలవ్యా్య చిన్నప్పటి నుండి వేదాంతము చద్ధివ్యాడు.

యుక్త వయసుlలో రెండు ద్ధినపత్రి్రకలుహిందుస్వాn న్(హిందీ) మరియు ద్ధి ఇండియన్ యూనియన్(ఇంగ్లీrషు)[1] లను స్వాs పించాడు. భారత జాతీయ కాంగ్రె@సు్క 1909 లో మరియు 1918 లో అధ్యక్షుునిగా పనిచేస్వాడు. బెనారెస్ హిందూ విశ$విదా్యలయాని్న స్వాs పించాడు.

బ్రి్రటిష్ రాజ్యంలో భారత భవిష్యతుn ను నిరాs రించడానికి ఏరా్పటైన సైమన్ కమీషన్ ను వ్యత్రిరేకించడానికి లాలా లజపత్రి రాయ్ ,జవహర్ లాల్ నెహ్రూ�  ఇంకా ఇతర స్వా$తంత్ర సమరయోధులతో కలిశాడు. 1931 లో జరిగిన రౌండ్ టేబుల్ సమావేశంలో మహాతా� గాంధీతో  కలిసి కాంగే@సు పార్టీcకి పా్ర త్రినిధ్యం వహించాడు.

"సత్యమేవ జయతే" అనే నినాదాని్న వ్యా్యపింపచేస్వాడు. అతడు గొప్ప విదా్యవేతn, కర�యోగి, భగవదీ� తను పాటించెను. సమకాలిక నాయకుల వలే కులమత భేదములను పోగొటcడానికి ప్రయత్రి్నంచాడు.

Stephen Hawking - A Short BiographyJanuary 29, 2008,

Stephen Hawking as born on January 8, 1942. Hawking's father was a research biologist, he had two younger sisters and one (adopted) brother.

Stephen grew up in London until age 8, when the Hawking family moved to St Albans in Hertfordshire. He was a good student, although not an exceptional one, but he was always interested in science.

Later on, at University College, Oxford, Stephen Hawking wanted to study mathematics - but this was not offered at University College, so he chose physics. Hawking finished university in Oxford in 1962, but stayed there to study astronomy. Finally he left Oxford for Trinity Hall, Cambridge, to study theoretical astronomy and cosmology.

Just after arriving at Cambridge at age 21, symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) first appeared. ALS is a neuron disease which can cause a total loss of muscular control - doctors said

Stephen would not survive more than two or three years, so he didn't see much point in obtaining a doctorate any more.

But everything changed in 1965, when Stephen Hawking finally married Jane Wilde and regained interest in finishing his studies. Hawking gained his Ph. D., became a Research Fellow and later on a Professorial Fellow.

A few years later, Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose studied mathematical models derived from Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity and in 1970 Hawking was able to prove a singularity theorem that showed that singularities (black holes for example) could indeed exist. Stephen could also prove that a black hole can be fully described by mass, momentum and charge ("black holes are hairless").

Then, in 1974, Stephen Hawking was able to prove that black holes emit radiation and thus black holes can also evaporate. Finally he also developed a model of a universe without boundaries and space-time. The same year Stephen Hawking was elected as one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society.

String theories gained popularity, and soon Stephen stared working on unification models of the various string theories to find the "theory of everything". But he gradually lost the use of his arms and legs, and soon  he needed a wheelchair. In 1985, Hawking contracted pneumonia, which was life-threatening and cost him his voice. Since then Stephen Hawking has to use a voice synthesizer to communicate.

Stephen Hawking was already a well known person among scientists back then, but he really became famous in 1988 after publishing his first book entitled "A Brief History of Time". It rapidly became a best-seller and can be considered to be one of the most popular books of all times.

In 1991 Jane and Stephen separated - it is rumored that Jane had problems with both Stephen's disease and the enormous press coverage and fame after the release of this book. Stephen finally married his nurse Elaine Mason in 1995 (and filed for divorce in October 2006).

Today Stephen Hawking is almost completely paralyzed, but he's still working and still hopes to find a theory of everything one day.

PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS

It is a great achievement for any man to perform extraordinary acts – but it is even more so when this is done despite a terrible disability. This list looks at 10 people who have made a major mark on society through their actions or through succeeding against all odds.

Sudha Chandran 1964

Disability: Amputee

Sudha Chandran was born to family in Chennai, South India. She completed her Masters in Economics from Mumbai. On one of her return trips from Mumbai to Chennai she met with an accident resulting in the amputation of her right leg. She was given an artificial leg and despite this terrible disability, she became one of the most accomplished and acclaimed dancers of the Indian Subcontinent. She has received and still receives invitations to perform all over the world. She has been honored with numerous awards and has performed all over the world. She appears often on Hindi television and in films.

Marla Runyan, January 4, 1969

Disability: Blind

At the age of nine, Runyan developed Stargardt’s Disease, which is a form of macular degeneration that left her legally blind. Marla Runyan is a three time national champion in the women’s 5000 meters. She won four gold medals in the 1992 summer Paralympics. In the 1996 Paralympics she won silver in the shot put and gold in the Pentathlon. In 2000 she became the first legally blind paralympian to compete in the Olympic games in Sydney, Australia. She holds various American records such as 20,000

Road (2003), All-female Marathon (2002), 500m (2001) , Heptathlon (1996). In 2001, she co-wrote and published her autobiography ‘No Finish Line: My Life As I See It’

Vincent Van Gogh, 30 March 1853–29 July 1890

Disability: Mental Illness

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch Painter and is regarded as one of the greatest painters the world has ever seen. His paintings have immensely contributed to the foundations of modern art. In his 10 year painting career he produced 900 painting and 1100 drawings. Some of his paintings today are the most expensive: Irises was sold for $53.9 Million and Portrait of Doctor Gachet was sold for $82.5 Million. Vincent Van Gogh suffered depression, and in 1889 was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. His depression worsened over time and on July 27, 1890 at the age of 37 Van Gogh shot himself in the chest. He died two days later. His last words were “the sadness will last forever”.

Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827

Disability: Deaf

Beethoven is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in history. He gave his first public performance as a pianist when he was only 8 years old. He studied in Vienna under the guidance of Mozart. By his mid-twenties he had earned a name for himself as a great pianist known for unpredictable and brilliant improvisations. In the year 1796 Beethoven began losing his hearing. In spite of his illness he immersed himself in his work and created some of the greatest works of music. Beethoven’s finest works are also the finest works of their kind in music history: the 9th Symphony, the 5th Piano Concerto,

the Violin Concerto, the Late Quartets, and his Missa Solemnis. And he achieved all this despite being completely deaf for the last 25 years or so of his life.

Frida Kahlo, July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954

Disability: Polio

Frida Kahlo was a renowned Mexican painter who created striking paintings, most of them being self-portraits reflecting her pain and sorrow. She painted using vibrant colors that were influenced by the cultures of Mexico. She was the first Mexican artist of 20th century whose work was purchased by an international museum. Kahlo contracted polio at age six, which left her right leg thinner than the left, which Kahlo disguised by wearing long, colorful skirts. It has been conjectured that she also suffered from spina bifida, a congenital disease that could have affected both spinal and leg development. Although she recovered from her injuries and eventually regained her ability to walk, she was plagued by relapses of extreme pain for the remainder of her life. The pain was intense and often left her confined to a hospital or bedridden for months at a time.

Christy Brown, June 5, 1932 – September 7, 1981

Disability: Cerebral Palsy

Christy Brown was an Irish author, painter and poet who had severe cerebral palsy. Born in Crumlin, Dublin to parents Bridget and Paddy, he was one of 13 surviving children (out of 22 born) in a Catholic family. He was disabled by cerebral palsy and was incapable for years of deliberate movement or speech. Doctors considered him to be intellectually disabled as well. However, his mother continued to speak to him, work with him, and try to teach him. One day, he famously snatched a piece of chalk from his sister with his left foot to make a mark on a slate.At about five years old, only his left foot responded to his will. Using his foot he was able to communicate for the first time. He is most famous for his autobiography My Left Foot, which was later made into an Academy Award-winning film of the same name. The Irish Times reviewer Bernard Share said the book was “…the most important Irish novel since Ulysses”. Like Joyce, Brown employed the stream-of-consciousness technique and captured the Dublin culture in his use of humor, language and unique character description.

John Nash, June 13, 1928

Disability: Schizophrenia

John Forbes Nash is an Noble laureate American mathematician whose work in game theory, differential geometry and partial differential equations are considered ground breaking. At a young age he was interested in scientific experiments which he carried out in his room. He studied Chemical engineering, chemistry and mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University. Later he was awarded a Fellowship at Princeton. In 1959 John Nash started showing severe signs of paranoia and started behaving erratically. He believed that there was an organization chasing him. In the same year he was admitted involuntarily to the hospital where he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. After treatment he was again admitted to the hospital this time voluntarily for 9 years were he given shock therapy. After returning from the hospital in 1970 he gradually started recovering. His work was becoming more successful and resulted in various awards and recognition. Prominent among them are John von Neumann Theory Prize in the year 1978 and Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in the year 1994. An Academy Award winning film named ‘A beautiful Mind’ starring Russell Crowe was made which was loosely based on his biography.

Jean-Dominique BaubyApril 23 1952 – March 9, 1997

Disability: Locked-in Syndrome

Jean-Do was a well-known French journalist and author and editor of the French fashion magazine ELLE. In 1995 he suffered a massive heart attack causing him to go into a coma for 20 days. After coming out of the coma he found himself with a very rare neurological disorder called Locked-in syndrome, in which the mental state is perfectly normal and stable but the body is paralyzed from Head to Toe. In the case of Jean-Do he was able to move only his left eyelid. Despite his condition, he wrote the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by blinking when the correct letter was reached by a person slowly reciting the alphabet over and over again. Bauby had to compose and edit the book entirely in his head, and convey it one letter at a time. To make dictation more efficient, Bauby’s interlocutor, Claude Mendibil, read from a special alphabet which consisted of the letters ordered in accordance with their frequency in the French language. The book

was published in France on 7 March 1997. Bauby died just two days after the publication of his book.

Stephen Hawking, 8 January 1942

Disability: Motor Neuron disease or a variant of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

Stephen William Hawking is a British theoretical physicist, whose world-renowned scientific career spans over 40 years. His books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity and he is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and in 2009 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Stephen Hawking is severely disabled by motor neuron disease, likely a variant of the disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or ALS). Symptoms of the disorder first appeared while he was enrolled at Cambridge; he lost his balance and fell down a flight of stairs, hitting his head. Worried that he would lose his genius, he took the Mensa test to verify that his intellectual abilities were intact. The diagnosis of motor neuron disease came when Hawking was 21, shortly before his first marriage, and doctors said he would not survive more than two or three years. Hawking gradually lost the use of his arms, legs, and voice, and as of 2009 was almost completely paralyzed.

Hellen Keller, June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968

Disability: Blind and Deaf

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The story of how Keller’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned to communicate, has become known worldwide through the dramatic depictions of the play and film The Miracle Worker. Sullivan taught Helen to communicate by spelling words into her hand, beginning with d-o-l-l for the doll that she had brought her as a present. A prolific author, Keller was well traveled and was outspoken in her opposition to war. She campaigned for women’s suffrage, workers’ rights, and socialism, as well as many other progressive causes. In 1920, she helped to found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Keller and Sullivan traveled to over 39 countries, making several trips to Japan and becoming a favorite of the Japanese people. Keller met every US President from Grover Cleveland to

Lyndon B. Johnson and was friends with many famous figures, including Alexander Graham Bell, Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain.