INSPIRING LIVES: EMILY DICKINSON - THE QUIET REVOLUTIONARY OF AMERICAN POETRY

Photograph from the collection of Philip F. Gura.

Author Original photographer unknown

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Emily Dickinson: The Quiet Revolutionary of American Poetry

Emily Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886), born on this day, lived a life that appears outwardly small but created an inner universe vast enough to reshape American poetry forever. In an age of public orators, crowded salons, and elaborate verses, she chose solitude, brevity, and a voice unlike any other.

Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, into a respected and intellectually inclined family, Dickinson received a sound education at Amherst Academy and later at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Yet the conventions of society—especially those prescribed for women—never quite claimed her. Gradually, she withdrew from public life, eventually confining herself largely to her family home. This withdrawal, often misunderstood as eccentricity or illness, became the fertile ground for her genius.

From this quiet world, Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them compressed, intense, and startlingly modern. Only a handful were published during her lifetime—and those too were altered to suit the poetic tastes of the era. Recognition would come only after her death, when her revolutionary voice finally met readers ready to hear it.

What makes Dickinson extraordinary is not merely what she wrote, but how she wrote it. She abandoned traditional poetic structures, replacing them with short lines, slant rhymes, unexpected capitalizations, and her famous dashes—those flickers of silence that seem to think along with the reader. Her poems feel less like finished statements and more like lightning flashes of thought.

She wrote about love, death, immortality, nature, faith, and doubt—themes ancient and universal—yet treated them with an intimacy that feels astonishingly contemporary. Death, in Dickinson’s hands, could be a polite carriage driver. Hope could become “the thing with feathers.” Eternity might reside in an ordinary moment. Her poems shrink the distance between the infinite and the everyday.

Equally striking is her fearless independence of mind. Dickinson questioned organized religion while remaining deeply spiritual. She distrusted accepted truths, preferring personal experience over inherited belief. In one poem, she famously declares that she keeps the Sabbath “staying at Home,” turning solitude itself into a sacred space.

Her life reminds us that impact does not always require visibility. In an era that valued public achievement, she chose inward exploration. In a culture that demanded conformity, she insisted on authenticity. From her small room in Amherst, she anticipated poetic movements that would not fully emerge until decades later—modernism among them.

Today, Emily Dickinson stands as one of the greatest poets in the English language, studied, quoted, and cherished across the world. Her work speaks especially to modern readers navigating uncertainty, isolation, and the search for meaning. She teaches us that silence can be eloquent, that brevity can be profound, and that a single, honest voice—however quiet—can outlast generations.

On her birth anniversary, Emily Dickinson’s life offers a powerful reminder: greatness does not always announce itself loudly. Sometimes, it whispers—and changes the world forever.

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its great help and support in creating this blogpost and Philip F. Gura.

and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS for the beautiful image of EMILY DICKINSON!🙏🙏🙏

INSPIRING LIVES: SHIMON PERES, THE DREAMER WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP ON PEACE

Author: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland

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INSPIRING LIVES:

SHIMON PERES, THE DREAMER WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP ON PEACE

Few world leaders embodied hope with as much steadfastness as Shimon Peres—a statesman, visionary, and moral voice whose long life mirrored the turbulent history of Israel itself. Born in 1923 in a small Polish town, Peres arrived in British-mandated Palestine as a young boy. What he carried with him was not wealth or privilege, but a remarkable sense of possibility—a belief that nations could be built through courage, imagination, and unshakable faith in the future.

Peres rose early and fast in public life. As a young man he worked closely with David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s founding father, helping to build the institutions of a new state. It was Peres who secured arms during Israel’s early wars, strengthened its defense capabilities, and helped establish what eventually became the Israel Defense Forces. Yet, ironically, this man who played such a key role in Israel’s security architecture would later become one of the world’s most passionate advocates for peace.

Throughout his long career—spanning almost seven decades—Peres held almost every major office in Israel, including Prime Minister (twice) and President. But titles alone do not define him. What truly distinguished Shimon Peres was his ability to dream boldly, even when critics dismissed him as naïve.

Peres believed that peace was not just a political strategy but a moral duty. His most famous contribution, of course, was his central role in the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Alongside Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, Peres sought to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to peaceful coexistence. The road ahead would prove far more complicated than anyone anticipated, but the courage to attempt peace in a region long consumed by conflict earned Peres and his partners the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.

Even after setbacks, violence, and political criticism, Peres refused to surrender his belief in dialogue. “An optimist is someone who believes that the future is better than the past,” he once said—and he lived by those words with unwavering sincerity.

Interestingly, Peres was not only a political figure but also a futurist, deeply fascinated by science and technology. Long before it became fashionable for statesmen to talk about startups and innovation, Peres predicted that Israel’s greatest strength would lie in the creative power of its people. As President, he championed Israel as the “Nation of Innovation,” encouraging young people to pursue science, entrepreneurship, and big ideas. His speeches were sprinkled with references to nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering—remarkable for a leader in his eighties and nineties.

Shimon Peres’ personal character also endeared him to millions. Known for his kindness, soft-spoken manner, and poetic way of speaking, he conveyed hope even in difficult times. He was often described as someone who thought in decades, not days—someone who navigated politics but was never consumed by its bitterness.

His passing in 2016 marked the end of an era. Yet his life continues to inspire diplomats, thinkers, and young dreamers across the world. In a region where cynicism can be overwhelming, Peres remains a symbol of relentless optimism—a reminder that peace, however distant, is worth striving for.

Shimon Peres once wrote, “You are as young as your dreams.”

By that measure, he stayed young until the very end.

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its generous help and support in creating this blogpost and 

World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, Flickr and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS for the beautiful image of Shimon Peres!🙏🙏🙏

GREAT WRITERS: MARK TWAIN, THE GREAT AMERICAN STORYTELLER

Mark Twain taken by A. F. Bradley in New York, 1907

Source:  steamboattimes.com

Author:  A.F. Bradley, New York

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MARK TWAIN: THE GREAT AMERICAN STORYTELLER

Few writers in world literature have captured the humour, contradictions, and restless spirit of a nation as brilliantly as Mark Twain. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835, he grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River—a landscape that would later become the beating heart of his most cherished stories. Twain’s writings sparkle with wit, mischief, and a deep understanding of human nature. They made him not only America's greatest humorist but also one of its keenest observers.

A Childhood by the River

Twain’s formative years in Hannibal, Missouri, were full of adventure and innocence. The Mississippi River, with its steamboats, forests, and mysterious islands, became his playground—and later the setting of his masterpieces. After his father died early, the young Clemens worked as an apprentice printer and later as a typesetter. But his eyes were always on the river.

At age 21 he fulfilled his dream of becoming a steamboat pilot, earning the river term “Mark Twain” as his pen name. The phrase, meaning “two fathoms deep,” signaled safe waters for boats. It would go on to signify safe passage into the hearts of millions of readers.

The Writer Is Born

Twain’s early travels shaped his worldview. A restless adventurer, he worked as a miner, journalist, and lecturer. His humorous short piece “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” brought him national fame. With its comic exaggeration and brilliant storytelling, it introduced America to a unique literary voice—irreverent, bold, and unmistakably original.

His travel books such as “The Innocents Abroad” and “Roughing It” showcased his talent for observing human quirks with gentle satire. Everywhere he went, he soaked up stories, characters, and contradictions—turning ordinary encounters into unforgettable narratives.

Masterpieces of Childhood and Freedom

In “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1876), Twain immortalised the mischief, curiosity, and unfiltered joy of boyhood. The scenes of whitewashing a fence, exploring caves, and running away to become pirates have become part of world folklore.

But it was “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (1884) that secured Twain’s place among the greats. Often called the first truly “American” novel, it is a powerful journey down the Mississippi with Huck and the runaway slave, Jim. Under its humour lies a deep moral exploration of freedom, friendship, and the cruelty of racial prejudice. Ernest Hemingway famously remarked, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain—Huckleberry Finn.”

Twain the Social Critic

Behind the laughter was a sharp critic of society. Twain exposed hypocrisy, corruption, and injustice with fearless honesty. His book “The Gilded Age”, co-written with Charles Dudley Warner, gave America the phrase that now describes an era of glittering prosperity masking deep social problems.

He attacked imperialism, slavery, and religious dogmatism with biting clarity. His humour often carried a sting—yet it was rooted in compassion for the common person.

Later Years: Tragedy and Reflection

Despite his global fame and financial success, Twain’s later years were marked by personal sorrow. He suffered the loss of his wife and children, and endured severe financial troubles. But even in grief, he continued to write with courage and honesty.

His autobiography and late essays reveal a more philosophical Twain—ironic, wise, and seasoned by life’s trials.

A Legacy That Lives On

Mark Twain remains one of the most quoted writers of all time. His wit is timeless, his observations razor-sharp, and his stories universal. Whether he makes us laugh, think, or question our assumptions, he continues to speak to readers across generations.

He once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

Twain got started with a pen, a river, and an irrepressible curiosity—and the world of literature has never been the same.

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its great help and support in creating this blogpost

and steamboattimes.com, A.F. Bradley, New York and  WIKIMEDIA COMMONS for the image of Mark Twain!🙏🙏🙏

HOMAGE TO A GREAT SCIENTIST🙏🙏🙏

Renowned physicist and Nobel laureate Chen Ning Yang passed away in Beijing on Saturday at the age of 103.

For more: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-10-18/news-1Hzd4kDvO8g/p.html

ROLE MODELS

GREAT LIVES

GREAT INVENTORS: The Namibian Teen Who Talked Through Thin Air

GREAT INVENTORS: The Namibian Teen Who Talked Through Thin Air

​In an age dominated by sleek smartphones and global networks, imagine a device that lets you communicate without a SIM card, without airtime, and without even a traditional cellular network. Sounds like something out of science fiction, right? Yet, this is precisely what a brilliant young Namibian student achieved, proving that innovation knows no bounds, especially not a lack of resources.

​Meet Simon Petrus, a name that should resonate in the halls of ingenuity. Hailing from Abraham Iyambo Secondary School in Ohangwena, Namibia, Simon didn't just dream of solving communication challenges; he built a solution with his own hands.

​In 2016, while many of his peers were likely absorbed in social media on their high-tech phones, Simon was meticulously salvaging parts from discarded televisions and radios. His vision? To create a phone that could make calls where conventional networks were scarce or too expensive for the average person.

​The result was astonishing: a homemade, SIM-free mobile device that operates on radio frequencies. Think of it as a sophisticated, long-range walkie-talkie system, but crafted into a "phone." This ingenious design meant that calls could be made without the need for a costly SIM card, a subscription plan, or even existing cellular infrastructure. For communities in remote areas, or individuals struggling with the cost of mobile communication, Simon's invention offered a glimpse into a world of accessible connectivity.

​Simon's achievement wasn't just about building a gadget; it was a powerful statement on resourcefulness and problem-solving. It highlighted how fundamental electronic principles, combined with a keen mind and persistent effort, can lead to groundbreaking innovations that directly address real-world needs. His work quickly garnered national attention, earning him accolades and inspiring countless others.

​What makes Simon Petrus a true "Great Inventor" isn't just the functionality of his device, but the spirit behind it. He saw a limitation and, instead of accepting it, repurposed available materials and knowledge to overcome it. His story is a testament to the fact that innovation isn't solely the domain of Silicon Valley labs or multi-million dollar R&D departments. Sometimes, the most impactful inventions emerge from a garage, a classroom, or, in Simon's case, a desire to connect people in a smarter, more accessible way.

​Simon Petrus reminds us that the next great invention could come from anywhere, by anyone, armed with curiosity, determination, and a pile of "junk." He truly is an inspiration in the world of accessible technology and a beacon for aspiring inventors everywhere.

Grateful thanks to GOOGLE GEMINI for its great help and support in creating this blogpost!🙏🙏🙏

GREAT LEADERS: FIDEL CASTRO - THE REVOLUTIONARY WHO REWROTE CUBA's DESTINY

Fidel Castro in an Associated Press taken photo. This photo was taken circa 1959

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GREAT LEADERS:

FIDEL CASTRO: THE REVOLUTIONARY WHO REWROTE CUBA's DESTINY 

Few leaders of the 20th century left as deep and controversial a mark on world history as Fidel Castro. Born on this day, Castro rose from a young law student to become one of the most powerful and polarizing figures of the Cold War era. To some, he was a fearless revolutionary who stood up to imperialism; to others, an authoritarian ruler who curtailed freedoms. Yet, no one can deny that his life was extraordinary.

Born in a rural part of Cuba, Fidel Castro grew up witnessing the sharp inequalities in Cuban society. He studied law and became deeply influenced by ideas of nationalism, social justice, and anti-imperialism. The corruption of the Cuban government under Fulgencio Batista compelled him to choose the path of armed revolution. Imprisoned after a failed attack on the Moncada Barracks, Castro famously declared in court: “History will absolve me.” Those words would later become a prophecy.

After years of struggle and exile in Mexico, Castro returned to Cuba with a small group of revolutionaries, including the legendary Che Guevara. In 1959, their guerilla movement succeeded, and Castro marched into Havana, ending Batista’s rule and beginning a new chapter in Cuban history.

As Prime Minister and later President, Castro transformed Cuba in dramatic ways. Under his leadership, the country achieved remarkable progress in education and healthcare. Cuba became a nation with one of the highest literacy rates and a healthcare system praised worldwide. For many poor and marginalized Cubans, Castro was a hero who gave them dignity and access to basic human rights.

However, his rule also had a darker side. Castro established a one-party system, limited polREAT LIVES:itical freedoms, and jailed or exiled opponents. Free speech and independent political activity were tightly controlled. Thousands of Cubans risked their lives to flee the country during his long rule. These contradictions make Castro a complex figure – both a champion of the poor and a symbol of political repression.

Fidel Castro also stood as a global symbol of resistance against the United States. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, placing Cuba at the center of global tension. Despite economic sanctions and international pressure, Castro maintained Cuba’s sovereignty and refused to bow to external dominance for decades. His defiance inspired many developing nations to challenge powerful global forces.

In his later years, Castro gradually stepped away from power, handing leadership to his brother Raúl Castro. When he passed away, the world reacted in mixed ways—mourning, celebration, debate, and reflection. That itself is proof of how powerful and impactful his life had been.

Fidel Castro’s life teaches us that history is rarely black and white. Great lives often live in shades of grey. He was a man of conviction, courage, and controversy. Whether viewed as a revolutionary hero or a dictator, Fidel Castro undeniably changed the destiny of a nation and influenced global politics like few others.

In the end, Fidel Castro remains a reminder that one determined individual can alter the course of history—for better or for worse.

Today is his.memorial day. (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016). As one of his numerous admirers, I pay homage to the GREAT REVOLUTIONARY 🙏🙏🙏

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its great help and support in creating this blogpost

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GREAT SCIENTISTS: REMEMBERING SIR JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE

Jagadish Chandra Bose (Bust) in Kolkata India

Date: 23 August 2021

Source: Own work

Author: Sufe

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GREAT SCIENTISTS:

REMEMBERING SIR JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE

A POLYMATH WHO BRIDGED PHYSICS AND LIFE 

On this day, 23 November, we pause to remember one of India’s most visionary scientists — Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, who passed away in 1937. Bose was not just a physicist; he was a pioneer in biophysics, a botanist, a philosopher and even a science-fiction writer. His life and work bridged disciplines in a way that remains deeply inspiring today.

Born on 30 November 1858 in Mymensingh (in present-day Bangladesh), Bose grew up in a Brahmo Samaj family that valued egalitarianism, education, and a deep respect for nature.  He studied at St. Xavier’s College in Calcutta and later went on to Cambridge, where he earned a B.A. in Natural Sciences. 

Bose’s contributions to wireless communication were pathbreaking. As early as the mid-1890s, he conducted experiments with millimetre-wave (microwave) radiation: he demonstrated generation, transmission, reflection, refraction, and polarization of electromagnetic waves.  He also developed one of the earliest semiconductor detectors, using galena crystals, which laid foundations for solid-state physics.  Though Guglielmo Marconi often gets credit for radio, Bose’s innovations strongly preceded many of the practical developments in wireless technology. 

But perhaps his most profound and poetic work came from his studies of plants. Far from treating plants as mere passive organisms, Bose believed they might have a kind of “life” or responsiveness akin to animals. To prove this, he invented a remarkable instrument called the crescograph, capable of measuring plant growth in tiny increments — even detecting minute movements as small as one-hundred-thousandth of an inch.  Using this, he showed that plants respond to stimuli like light, heat, chemicals and even anesthesia — much like nerve responses in animals.  In his book The Nervous Mechanism of Plants (1926), he described phenomena such as fatigue, excitation, and what he called a “death spasm” in plants.  Through this work, he essentially became a founding figure of what we might now call plant neurobiology.

Beyond his scientific inventions, Bose was deeply committed to the spirit of learning and discovery. In 1917, he founded the Bose Institute in Calcutta — envisaged not simply as a laboratory, but “a temple of science.”  He led the Institute as its first director and championed interdisciplinary research, linking biology, physics, botany, and environmental science.

Bose was also a man of principle and modesty: despite his ground-breaking work, he was reluctant to patent many of his inventions.  He believed science should serve humanity and not be limited for personal profit.

His legacy continues to resonate. A crater on the Moon is named after him, a tribute to his monumental impact.  Through his life, Bose modeled the union of deep scientific rigor with a spiritual and humanist worldview — a rare scientist whose curiosity about both the microworld of waves and the inner life of plants reflects a beautiful wholeness.

Today, on his memorial day, we celebrate not just his discoveries, but his courage — to think differently, to defy colonial discrimination (he once taught for three years without salary to demand equal pay),  and to build institutions rooted in Indian soil yet reaching for universal truth.

Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose’s life reminds us: science is not just about machines and equations, but about life, sensitivity, and connection. His spirit remains a beacon for future generations of scientists, thinkers, and dreamers.

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its great help and support in creating this blogpost!

and SUFE and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS for the image 🙏🙏🙏

GREAT SCIENTISTS: RICHARD FEYNMAN

Richard Feynman in 1959

Source: The Big T (yearbook of California Institute of Technology)

Author: Unknown author

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RICHARD FEYNMAN: THE JOY OF DISCOVERY

Few scientists of the twentieth century combined brilliance, originality, humour, and human warmth the way Richard P. Feynman did. Nobel Prize–winning physicist, master teacher, bongo-player, safe-cracker, storyteller—Feynman was a rare genius who showed the world that science is not a dry subject but a thrilling adventure of the mind. His life remains an inspiration to students, teachers, thinkers, and curious readers everywhere.

A Childhood of Curiosity

Born in 1918 in New York, Feynman’s earliest teacher was his father, Melville Feynman, who encouraged him to question everything: “What makes it work? Why does it happen?” This spirit of inquiry became Feynman’s lifelong hallmark. As a boy, he loved tinkering with radios and electrical gadgets, finding joy in taking things apart and putting them together. The seeds of a great scientist were already sprouting.

The Physicist Who Saw the World Differently

Feynman’s rise in the world of physics was meteoric. At MIT and later Princeton, he stunned his teachers with his unconventional methods and dazzling intuition. During World War II, he joined the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. Even in that stressful environment, he was known for his humour and mischievous pranks—like cracking secret safes that stored top-security documents, simply to prove how poor the locking mechanisms were!

After the war, Feynman worked on quantum electrodynamics (QED), creating the now-famous Feynman diagrams. These simple sketches revolutionized modern physics by making complex particle interactions easy to visualise. For this breakthrough, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965.

The Great Teacher

Feynman believed that if you cannot explain something in simple language, you haven’t understood it well enough. He brought this principle into his teaching. At the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), his lectures became legendary. Students would sit on window sills and staircases to hear him speak. His explanations transformed abstract concepts into clear, joyful revelations.

His famous books—Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, The Feynman Lectures on Physics, and The Pleasure of Finding Things Out—continue to spark curiosity in millions of readers worldwide.

Courage, Integrity, and Childlike Wonder

Feynman was also celebrated for his honesty and courage. When he served on the commission investigating the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, he refused to hide the truth. In a dramatic moment on live TV, he dipped a piece of the shuttle’s rubber seal in ice water, showing how it lost flexibility in cold temperatures—the real cause of the tragedy.

His message was simple: “For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations.”

Despite his fame, Feynman never lost his childlike wonder. He loved drawing, music, travelling, and learning new things just for fun. To him, the world was a playground filled with puzzles to explore.

A Legacy That Continues to Inspire

Richard Feynman passed away in 1988, but his ideas, spirit, and philosophy live on. He taught us that science is not about memorising facts; it is about actively exploring the mysteries of the universe. He showed that curiosity is a lifelong companion, and that joy can be found in understanding even the simplest phenomena.

Above all, Feynman inspires us to stay humble, honest, and always willing to learn.

In His Own Words

“I would rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned.”

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool.”

“The pleasure of finding things out is the greatest pleasure in life.”

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its great help and support in creating this blogpost and CIT Yearbook and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS for the image!🙏🙏🙏