Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Chetna Shetty Y ears ago, when I had decided to do something about my poor English, one of the things I did – and found it very useful – was telling a nice story in two tenses… Past and Present. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of people who were earnest to improve their English with the same method… Yes, write a nice story down in both the tenses… and tell it to someone. Today, the English phrase ‘Lion’s Share’ means a ‘bigger share’ or ‘better share’. But, long time ago, it meant ‘everything’. THE LION’S SHARE PAST: O ne day, Lion, the king of the jungle, went for hunting. He took along some of his friends for help. By the end of the day, they gathered a large pile of meat… It was time for sharing. The lion made four equal parts. Pointing at the first share, the lion roared, “I am the king of the jungle. So, this share belongs to me. Any problem… Any objection?” “No sire,” the animals replied. Pointing at ...

Pic.: Tanvi Jeurkar S even-year-old Aniket is fantastic… Naturally confident, exuberant… Pleasant to be with, adorable… I can go on and on… But, then, he is restless… like a rat! Well, by now, a person like me – a fifty-seven-year-old teacher/trainer knows that’s Aniket’s excess energy…  It is difficult to contain it… So, when he comes to our Kiddos’ PD sessions, he brings it out by not sitting at one place… or not doing one thing at one time… He is there everywhere… sometimes, over the benches, sometimes under them… Yes, if I can make Aniket sit at one place and pay attention, that would be a great feat – that’s what his young parents jokingly say – and, he deserves a certificate for that… And, I, too! From the day one, I tried to cajole Aniket… in ten different ways – to be less restless. “Beta , if you sit at one place and pay attention, I will give you a special prize on the day of our certificate, ok?” “Ok sir; but, first tell me what is t...

Pic.: Nachiket Jeurkar “S ir, I like Easter Eggs,” a ten-year-old said to me with excitement, “The neighbor aunty gives us every year.” Then, he asked me, “Sir, you like Easter Eggs?” “Oh yes, dear, I like them,” I caressed the little head, “Easter Bunny brings them to us, every year.” “Who is Easter Bunny, sir,” the little fellow asked me. “The good Rabbit, who comes, every Easter, from the far away land, carrying those colorful eggs in his basket for all of us,” I narrated to my little friend. I added, “Just as the Santa Claus, who comes every Christmas carrying gifts for you kids.” The little-one thought for a while, and, then, said in even more excitement, “Sir is he the same good rabbit who lives in the Moon?” Now, I knew the Rabbit who lived in the Moon and the Bunny who came with Easter Eggs in his basket were both legends... just as the Santa was. They, always, fired our imagination... and, we all accepted the legends without questio...