On June 27, 1880, Helen Adams Keller was born in Tuscumbia, a small rural town in Northwest Alabama, USA.
Helen was born with full sight and hearing. When she was only 19 months old, she contacted 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 degree from Radcliffe College based on Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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 honorary 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 John Milton (1608-1674) and Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827).
On December 9, 1608, John Milton, the English poet and political writer was born in London.
In 1632, Milton did his MA 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.
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 as one of the founders of musical romanticism.
On March 26, 1827, at the age of 57, Beethoven died in Vienna.
Helen mentioned the names of Milton and Beethoven in her poem in a very attractive way:
On June 1, 1968, Helen died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 87 at her home in Arcan Ridge near Westport, Connecticut, USA.
In the face of overwhelming odds, Miss Helen rose above her disabilities and became world's wonder!
Email: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net
Source : The Financial Express , 26th October 2013
Helen was born with full sight and hearing. When she was only 19 months old, she contacted 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 degree from Radcliffe College based on Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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 honorary 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 John Milton (1608-1674) and Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827).
On December 9, 1608, John Milton, the English poet and political writer was born in London.
In 1632, Milton did his MA 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.
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 as one of the founders of musical romanticism.
On March 26, 1827, at the age of 57, Beethoven died in Vienna.
Helen mentioned the names of Milton and Beethoven in her poem in a very attractive way:
On June 1, 1968, Helen died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 87 at her home in Arcan Ridge near Westport, Connecticut, USA.
In the face of overwhelming odds, Miss Helen rose above her disabilities and became world's wonder!
Email: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net
Source : The Financial Express , 26th October 2013
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