AMAZING REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES: THE STORY OF CHIKKANNA-THIMMAKKA AND THEIR AVENUE ...

AMAZING REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES: THE STORY OF CHIKKANNA-THIMMAKKA AND THEIR AVENUE ...: "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney JOIN HANDS TO SAVE TREES - INSPIRED BY THIMMAKKA...

THE STORY OF CHIKKANNA-THIMMAKKA AND THEIR AVENUE TREES

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney

JOIN HANDS TO SAVE TREES - INSPIRED BY THIMMAKKA

          There is something special about the three hundred towering avenue trees on the Kudur-Hulikal Road in Karnataka. All of them were planted and cared for by an elderly couple, Thimmakka and Chikkanna.

       

SAALUMARADA THIMMAKKA

  Thimmakka was born about eighty years ago in Gubbi and married Chikkanna of Hulikal at an early age. They were landless labourers working on farmlands. Thimmakka could not have children and the couple were often lonely in the evenings. Chikkanna kept thinking of  'something to do' with their lives.

          About fifty years ago they decided to plant trees on the main road to Kudur. They wanted to provide shade for the villagers, who had to walk often on the hot and dusty road. 

          They chose the peepul tree, created a small nursery, and began planting the saplings. They built thorn guards around the saplings, watered them daily until they took root. They tended each tree until it was ten years old. 

          Every year they planted fifteen to twenty trees, until they had covered the entire stretch of four

THIMMAKKA AT WORK

km. They took care of the trees as if they were their children. In fact, Chikkanna quit working and devoted himself full-time to this task. The trees grew tall and have been providing shade for the road users and shelter for many birds and animals.

          Chikkanna died in 1990. Thimmakka has received many awards like the National Citizen's Award in 1995 and the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award in 1997. Now she sits alone in her little house with the picture of Chikkanna And other certificates hang too. Still she remains poor and continues with her struggle even today.

THE LONG AVENUE CREATED BY THE PAIR OF STRONG HANDS

WHITE VISION - THE STORY OF HARD WORK AND WILL POWER

WHITE VISION

On 11th. October 1943, RAF Coastal Command operated from the Shetland Islands, was patrolling the Northern sea routes using Catalinas looking for U Boats returning to Germany. It was a 22 hours mission. As each plane was ready to leave, the crew collected two pigeons from the loft, just as to keep an option for communication, if radio signals somehow fail to work.

White Vision was one of them, who was aboard a Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat. White Vision was bred by the Flemming Brothers of Motherwell, Scotland. During the Second World War, she was lent to the National Pigeon Service and was posted at Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands with no. 190 Squadron RAF.

Towards the end of the flight the weather turned really bad with gales and fog. The Catalina was not allowed to land on the Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands and was directed to Aberdeen. But, Good God., the storm conditions were worse over there and the plane was forced to direct towards Oban. With petrol running low, and finally running out, the plane was forced to ditch in the Atlantic. it was out of all the radio signals. So the Captain put messages informing their location into the leg capsules of each pigeon and sent them off. There were two life rafts, but accidentally one of them drifted off with only two men in it, which left too many of the crew for the second raft, and everyone voted to stay on board the plane.

DICKIN MEDAL

One of the pigeons never made it, but White Vision flew 60 miles (97 kms.) against the storm, with visibility almost reduced to zero and arrived back at her pigeon loft. She landed exhausted and with lots of her feathers missing. From the message in the capsule, calculating the wind speed and tidal drift, the RAF came to rescue the Catalina after about 40 hours. As the last man jumped the gap between the tossing plane and the launch, the plane immediately sank. The two men who were drifted off in the life rafts were rescued later, with the result that White Vision was responsible for saving the lives of 11 men. White Vision was one of about 33 pigeons, who was awarded with the Dickin Medal on 2nd. December 1943. She lived until 1953.

We salute her "For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew while serving with the RAF in October 1943.

WHITE VISION WITH HER MADAL

"PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK" - DR. HOWARD KELLY

THE HEART-TOUCHING STORY OF DR. KELLY

There was once a poor boy who sold goods from door to door to pay his way through school. One day he was doing the same and had only one thin dime left. since he was hungry, he thought of asking for meal at the next house.

On knocking, he found a beautiful young woman opened the door, and lost his nerve on seeing her. Instead of asking for food, he asked for drinking water. The woman thought he must be hungry, so brought him a large glass of milk. "How much do I owe you?" asked the boy after drinking it slowly.

"You don't owe me anything", she replied. "Mother has taught us never accept payment for a kindness." The boy said, "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, his faith in man and God grew stronger and physically also he felt strong. Earlier he had decided to give up and quit.

Years later, the young woman had fallen critically ill. She was taken to a big city since the local doctors there were helpless. Specialists were called to studu her rare disease. Dr. Kelly was also one of the specialists. When he heard the name of the town from where she came, a strange light filled his eyes and they were gleaming.

DR. HOWARD A. KELLY
(Feb. 20, 1858 to Jan. 12, 1943)
Surgeon, Professor & Writer

Immediately out of excitement, he went to the patients' ward dresses in his doctor's gown. He recognized her at once. He went back to his consultation room and decided to study the case and do his best to save her life. From that day, he began to give special attention to that case.

after a long struggle, Dr. Kelly succeeded to cure the lady. He suggested the hospital authority to pass on the final bill for approval before sending it to the woman. She feared to open it, for she was sure that it would take the rest of her life to pay for it at all. Finally she looked and something caught her attention when she saw these words written on the edge...

"Paid in full with one glass of milk." (signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy filled the woman's eyes as her happy heart prayed, "Thank You God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands." 

THE STORY OF LOVE, DEDICATION AND ATTACHMENT - HACHIKO

HACHIKO
(Nov. 10, 1923 to Mar. 8, 1935)
Resting at National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo

In January 1924, Dr. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agricultural department at he Imperial University in Tokyo, brought home a two-months old Akita puppy. Dr. Ueno named the pup Hachiko.

The following year was a wonderful time for Hachiko and his new master. Normally Akitas are big dogs and Hachiko grew to be over 90 pounds. This beautiful golden dog accompanied Dr. Ueno every morning to the Shibuya train station to bid his master goodbye while the professor was heading to the university. And every evening, when Dr. Ueno returned home, Hachiko would be waiting for him at the train station and the two would go home together. The strong bonding between them was a familiar sight to the commuters.

HACHIKO (left) AND PROFESSOR UENO (right)

If things had continued like this, then this story would be among one of the amazing faithfulness of a dog and his master. But, the twist came on May 21, 1925.

It was like any other day for the pair. In the morning, professor Ueno left Hachiko in the Shibuya station. In the evening, Hachiko returned to the station to welcome his master home, But professor was nowhere to be seen. Though Hachiko waited, Professor never returned.

Dr. Ueno had died from a stroke earlier that day.

The very next day, Professor Ueno's relatives took Hachiko to another area of Japan. They probably hoped that the dog would make a new family very soon as Hachiko had spent only a little over a year with Dr. Ueno. But, proving them wrong, Hachiko ran away from the family and returned to the train station for his master to return. The family realised that it is impossible to keep this big Akita from heading to the Shibuya train station everyday. So they gave Hachiko to Dr. Ueno's old gardener who still lived in that area.

Hachiko evening, Hachiko was found waiting for Dr. Ueno to get off the 6 O'clock  train and everyday he was disappointed. Still, he never missed a day of hoping that his master would return to him.

Months passed, then years. Still Hachiko kept his vigil. Basically Hachiko lived as a stray, fought other dogs and ate scraps and handouts. He became an old, scarred dog with one ear up and one ear down and no longer looked like a purebred Akita, that actually he was.

On March 8, 1935, Hachiko finally died from terminal cancer and filaria infection. The old Akita was found dead in a Shibuya street. He waited for his master's return for almost ten years, which was probably not even done by Dr. Ueno's family members.



Hachiko's story of loyalty touched the hearts of many people throughout the world. To commemorate his loyalty, a bronze statue of Hachiko was erected at Shibuya station, which is still a very popular meeting place. Every year, on 8th. April, there is a ceremony in the honour of Hachiko's loving memory.

                                                                 

A MONUMENT HAS BEEN ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF HACHIKO, BESIDE
DR. UENO'S GRAVE 

BRONZE STATUE OF HACHIKO
AT SHIBUYA TRAIN STATION 

HACHIKO: A DOG'S STORY (2009)

A Japanese movie, Hachiko Managatari, was made in 1987 and was considered a smash hit. Inspired by it, another block-buster, Hachiko: A dog's story, was released on July 8, 2009, under the direction a Lasse Hallstrom.










                 

FOREST
  He played the role of Hachiko in the movie
                                                

RICHARD GERE
Born: Aug. 31, 1949.
He played the part of Dr. Ueno
in the movie.

                                 
                                        A video from HACHIKO: A DOG'S STORY


please follow the link to find another wonder bird...The White Vision

A TIME OF NEED - THE STORY OF HERBERT HOOVER AND PADEREWSKI

IGNACE JAN PADEREWSKI
BORN: November 18, 1860, Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine
DIED: June 29, 1941, New York City, US

     
         Many years ago two boys were working their way through Stanford University. Desperately, short of funds, they decided to engage the famous pianist Ignace Jan Paderewski for a concert and use the fund generated to help pay their board and tuition.

          The great pianist's manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000. The guarantee was a lot of money in those days, but the boys agreed and proceeded to promote the concert. In spite of working hard, they only managed to gross $1,600.

          After the concert the two boys gave the pianist the entire $1,600, along with a promissory note for $400, explaining that they would earn and send the amount to him at the earliest. But Paderewski denied. Then, tearing the note, he returned the money to them as well. "Now," he told them, "take out of this $1,600 all of your expenses, and keep for each of you 10% of the balance for your work. I will be satisfied with the amount remaining."

Paderewski was a Polish  pianist and composer and also a
politician, and spokesman for Polish nationalism. His
musical fame opened access to diplomats and the media.

         
          Post World-War I, Paderewski, now premier of Poland, was trying to feed thousands of starving people in his native land. The only person who could help was Herbert Hoover, in charge of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau. Hoover responded and soon thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland.

BORN: August 10, 1874, West Branch, US
DIED: October 20, 1964, New York City, US
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st. President of the United States. Born to
a Quaker family, was a professional mining engineer.

         
           When Paderewski journeyed to Paris to thank him for the relief, Hoover replied: "That's all right... Besides you don't remember it, bit you helped me once when I was student at college, and I was in trouble."

                                                                                                        Ack: The Best of Bits and Pieces

THE CHURCH MADE OF FIFTY SEVEN CENTS - THE STORY OF HATTIE MAY WIATT

TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

 

REV. RUSSELL HERMAN CONWELL
(Feb. 15, 1843 to Dec. 6, 1925)
He was an American Baptist minister, orator, lawyer
philanthropist and writer. He is best remembered as the founder
 and first president of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

       Many years ago in Philadelphia, a little girl named Hattie made a difference in the lives of people in her community.

A PORTRAIT OF HATTIE MAY WIATT

          A local minister started a Sunday school program for the neighbourhood children, and Hattie came to the first meeting.Because the room was small, several children had to be turned away. Hattie went to bed sad that night because many of her playmates could not attend the Sunday school. There just was not enough room.

          Two years later, Hattie died. Her parents sent for the minister and gave him a worn out red pocketbook they had found beneath Hattie's pillow. The pocketbook contained fifty-seven pennies she had earned by running errands. With the money was a note in Hattie's handwriting that read, "This is to build the church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school."

          The Sunday following Hattie's funeral, the minister carried the little red pocketbook into the pulpit, took out the fifty-seven pennies and dropped them one by one back into the purse. He told how Hattie had given all she had, and the congregation was touched.

          After the service, a visitor came forward and offered a piece of desirable land for a new church building. He said, "I will let the church have it for the fifty-seven pennies." When the story hit the news, cheques began coming in from everywhere.

THE STORY THAT TOUCHED

57 CENTS

          Today, visitors are impressed with the Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Seating capacity for the church now is 3,300. And it all began with a little girl who wanted to help. What a difference she made!

TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH IN OLD DAYS

THE AUDITORIUM

THE CIRCLE OF A GOOD DEED RETURNS - THE STORY OF SIR ALEXANDER FLEMING

SIR ALEXANDER FLEMING  (6 August 1881 to  11 March 1955)
He was a Scottish biologist, pharmacologist and botanist. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
 in 1945 with Howard Florey and  Emst Boris Chain for the discovery of Penicillin.   

   

PENICILLIN

       It happened decades ago on Scotland. "Help me! Help me! Somebody please help me!" came the scream from a nearby bog. A poor Scottish farmer heard those cries and ran into the dangerous area to aid. He found a boy sinking in thick, black muck. It was nearly too late for the child to be rescued, but the farmer, risking his own life, somehow saved the boy. 

         A knock was heard at the farmer's cottage the next day. Opening the door, the peasant was greeted by a wealthy gentleman. The poor man was confused why someone of such obvious stature had come to call upon him. His question would soon be answered. 

      "You saved my son yesterday and I am here to give you a reward," spoke the fine gentleman. The farmer, however, would not accept the money that was offered to him.

THE NOBLEMAN - LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL
(Feb. 13, 1849 to Jan. 24, 1895)

          The rich gentleman, desperately wanting to bestow a gift of gratitude on the man for his heroic deed, looked into the humble abode and spotted a young boy."Since you helped my son, I will help yours," said the gentleman. "If you allow me to take your child with me, I will see that he receives the finest education available in all of the country." The poor man smiled and accepted the offer.

          The generous promise was kept, and the Scotsman's son later graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London. Because of the educational gift he had received from the wealthy gentleman, the poor farmer's son, in turn, gave a gift to the world. he discovered penicillin. His name was Sir Alexander Fleming. 

          The nobleman's son's life would be threatened for a second time. Now an adult, he lay dying of pneumonia. Ironically, it was the poor farmer's son who saved him this time when penicillin was prescribed. The nobleman, Lord Randolph Churchill, had provided for the education of Sir Alexander Fleming, and that education has saved the life of his son, Sir Winston Churchill.       

SIR WINSTON LEONARD SPENCER CHURCHILL
(Nov. 30, 1874 to Jan. 24,1965)
He was a British Prime Minister and statesman who
led the country to victory against Nazi Germany and
the Axis powers in World War II.

      

TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION - THE STORY OF WILLIAM WALDORF AND GEORGE C. BOLDT

WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR AND NANCY ASTOR

GEORGE CHARLES BOLDT
(April 25, 1851 to December 5, 1916)
He was a Prussian-born American hotelier. A self-made
millionaire, he influenced the development of urban hotel
as a civic social centre and luxury destination.

          It was a stormy night. an elderly couple looking for a room for a night, came to Belle Vue Hotel, Philadelphia. The young clerk at the desk informed the couple that all rooms of his hotel were booked and also that not a single hotel room was available that night in Philadelphia because of an international conference. 

          However, seeing their plight, he decided not to let them to go out in that bad weather. He, therefore, offered them his personal room. The couple were reluctant as that would cause great inconvenience to the young clerk. "Where are you going to sleep, young man, if you give your room to us?" asked the old man. "Oh, I am young and single. I can sleep at the reception area in the night. I insist that you accept my offer as I cannot let you go out in this storm. You may not even get a taxi in this kind of weather." Having been left with no choice, the elderly couple accepted the young man's offer and spent the night in his personal room. 

          Next morning, before leaving the hotel the old man after having expressed his gratitude offered a handsome reward to the young man. "Please don't embarrass me with offer of money for my room. I didn't give my room expecting any monetary compensation. I just wanted to be of some help to you." The old man was really touched by the young man's compassion as well as high sense of honesty. "You are really a good human being, my son! I thought God had stopped making people like you. What are you doing herein such a small hotel? A person like you should become the manager of the best hotel in the world."

          "I am quite happy working here in this small hotel and moreover, I don't have skills to run anything bigger than this. However, thank you for your kind words and compliments." said the clerk.

          "Tell me, if I built some day the best hotel in the world, would you come and join me?" asked the old man with a cunning smile. The young man thought this as some kind of jovial gesture of an old man at an emotional moment. "Yes, if you built one, I will definitely join", said the young man, wanting somehow to get rid of the old couple as he had to take up the pressing list of day's work lying on his desk. "Good bye", said the old man. "You would hear from me soon." "Good bye", replied the young clerk.

          Three years passed, the young clerk was already promoted to become manager of the hotel. While going through his mail one day, he opened an envelope and found a return air ticket to New York, with an invitation letter to attend an inaugural function. However, not much details about why was he invited, were given. 

          The young man became curious and decided to go. Upon his arrival at New York, the young man was welcomed by his host who personally took him downtown. There, in front of him, lay the finest hotel he had ever seen.

          "That," said the gentleman, "is the hotel I built for you to manage." While standing on the street corner beside the soon-to-be world-renowned WALDORF-ASTORIA HOTEL, the young clerk, GEORGE C. BOLDT, was titled its first manager. 

          For the next twenty three years, until his death in 1916, Boldt remained faithful to the hotel and to the confidence WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR had placed in him.    

WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL IN NEW YORK

WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL

A ROOM IN WALDORF ASTORIA