I am from the village of Parra in Goa, hence we are called Parrikars. My village is famous for its watermelons. When I was a child, the farmers would organise a watermelon-eating…
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Nothing is written unless they write it
My all-time favourite film is ‘Lawrence Of Arabia’ and, if I have a favourite scene from the movie, then I guess it is the one of Lawrence’s triumphal return from the Nefud…
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The great fire and the little water
Among the Aztec people of Mexico, it is said that a long time ago there was a great fire in the forests that covered our Earth. People and animals started to run,…
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How to change the world
The ninth week of (US Navy) SEAL training is referred to as Hell Week. It is six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment and one special day at the…
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Jalabandhu
Debasis Mondal’s bright orange vest signifies the important role he plays in communities in his region of India. He’s a Jalabandhu – a “Water-Friend.” The Jalabandhu are hand-pump mechanics, and they are responsible for making sure…
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The elephants knew
Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of three books, including the bestseller, The Elephant Whisperer, bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including…
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Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln was no stranger to tragedy, even before her husband’s assassination. The Lincolns lost one son, Eddie, at age three. Then, in their White House years, they lost eleven-year-old Willie…
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True to one’s nature
There was this man who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried…
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The kind rider
Once upon a time in USA, a rider came across a few soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log of wood without success. The corporal was standing by, just watching…
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A special teacher
Years ago, a Johns Hopkins professor gave a group of graduate students this assignment: Go to the slums. Take 200 boys between the ages of 12 and 16 and investigate their background…
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Lives that made a difference
Queen Victoria of England asked Helen Keller once, “How do you account for your remarkable accomplishment in life? How do you explain the fact that even though you were both blind and…
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God’s own
A little boy about 10 years old was standing in front of a shoe store window, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said,…