Siya, alias Sonam Junior, hated hubby-to-be because of his stutter/stammer, it seems. That news item made me think of two remarkable wins over this physical impediment. Both the efforts in my opinion are the best, indeed regal, examples of the human will to overcome seemingly impossible hurdles.
Meet Demosthenes. Misfortune dogged his footsteps since childhood. He was orphaned at seven when his father passed away. His so-called guardians so squandered away his inherited wealth that he grew up to be abjectly impoverished.
As if that misfortune was not enough, he suffered from both, a weak voice and an articulation issue, a stammer. Either did not deter him as he had an iron will. He practised with pebbles in his mouth. He would recite verses while running uphill. At the seashore, he would speak over the lashing winds and crushing waves.
Thus he became the most impressive speaker of his times.'The Philippics' is his passionate series that warned Athens against the marauding territorial ambitions of Alexander and his father. In fact, his first public win was the prosecution speech against his wastrel guardians. He became the best logographer, that is, the speech writer of his times.
Now meet George VI. His childhood could prove that being a prince is a misfortune. His father was both, emotionally distant and disagreeably disciplinarian. His nanny was a horrid harridan who pinched him hard so that she would not have to present him often in the royal presence as his royal father did not like the cry-baby.
Much worse, he was naturally left-handed, which was then considered diabolical. He was brutally forced to make his right hand in to his dominant hand. The hardship was both, neurological and psychological.
Emotionally thus impoverished, these childhood traumas led to a marked stutter. Destiny delivered him a huge surprise. His elder brother abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. Now, as the King, during the World War II, he had to give impressive speeches!
How did he manage a fight against an impossible fate? Lionel Logue was a speech therapist who taught him breathing techniques, vocal warm-up's, and thus built his confidence so much that the royal speeches during World War II were the solace of his subjects.
In brief, if/when there is a will, there sure is a way!
Pratima@ Go.Pu. Deshpande, a brilliant thinker, analyst, educationist and author had a pronounced stammer. Yet one never noted the long pauses, the stutter, et al, so brilliant was his content.
Quote of the day: "The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it," asserted Molière.
Word of the day: grit Grit generally refers to firmness of mind, indomitable courage, and the passionate perseverance required to achieve long-term goals despite obstacles.
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