When Kumulu Kirsani, a tribal teenager, fell seriously ill on a dull grey morning on September 17, 2019, all the ills that keep Odisha’s Malkangiri district backward seemed to conspire against him.…
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Charity begins on the footpath
A young man in his twenties used to stand on the footpath opposite the famous Tata Cancer Hospital at Mumbai and stare at the crowd in front of him – fear plainly…
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Life is baeutiful
Do you remember the name of your kindergarten teacher? I do, mine. Her name was Mrs. White. And I remember thinking she must be some older relation of Walt Disney’s Snow White,…
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Shine in your own way
A samurai who was known for his nobility and honesty, went to visit a monk to ask him for his advice. When the monk had finished his prayers, the Samurai asked, “Why…
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World’s ‘poorest’ ex-president Mujica turns down pension
Former Uruguayan leader José Mujica, who was dubbed “the world’s poorest president” for his modest lifestyle, says he does not want any pension from his time as a senator. Mr Mujica resigned…
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The humming bird – Messenger of joy
Some time ago, one of my friends sent me a link for a video about the rescue of a baby hummingbird. In the Native American tradition, the hummingbird is a messenger of…
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Burdens give us wings
An old legend relates that, long ago, God had a great many burdens which he wished to have carried from one place to another on Earth. So he asked the animals to…
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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…