Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha Y ears ago, when I had decided to do something about my poor English, one of the things I did – and found very effective – was telling a nice story in two tenses… the Present and the Past. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of people, who were earnest about improving their English, with the same method… Yes, write a nice story down in both the tenses… and, then, tell it to someone! This old story dramatically describes as to what happens if we do not learn to be assertive in life… if we do not stand for our rights… THE COBRA’S PROMISE PAST: There lived a Swami in a village temple. People from the village came there to pray. On the way to this temple, there was a large banyan tree, under which, in a hole, lived a cobra, peacefully. One evening, while the children were playing around the tree, one of them stamped on the snake-hole. The cobra, in his self-defense, attacked the child. The poison quickly spread in chi...

“Sir, can I drink water?” seven-year old Harsha asked me. “Okay sweethearts, I will give you two minutes, all of you drink water from your bottles,” I declared. “Sir, I have not brought water,” said little Shristi wearing a sad face. “Sir, I also,” nine-year-old Ritesh’s hand went up. “Well, my darlings, you were supposed to bring… Didn’t you know that? I asked lovingly. “Sorry sir,” both, Shristi and Ritesh murmured tamely. “Don’t worry, Bunty will share with you Ritesh,” I announced, “and, Sheeba will share with you Shristi.” “Sir, see,”  Bunty began to complain, “Ritesh is finishing the entire bottle!” “Ritesh beta , you can not do that… Bunty had helped you by sharing his water… and, how can you hurt him by finishing his entire bottle?” I reminded the little brat. “Sir,” six-year-old Seema’s hand went up. “Yes, dear,” I encouraged bubbly Seema to say what she wanted to. “Sir, that is not good manne...