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Githa Rebello

John is my younger brother and the youngest of five siblings. At the age of four, he began reading the headlines from the newspaper, and teaching himself new words, which made my mother think he was a child genius. His literary ability – reading, writing, narrating stories and vocabulary was remarkable and he loved to caricature cartoons as illustration. He ran a library at home called KIT-KAT (named after his favourite chocolate) for children near our home. We always found him reading or creating stories or rhymes after analyzing characters and situations. He also took active part in cricRead More...

He ran a library at home called KIT-KAT (named after his favourite chocolate) for children near our home. We always found him reading or creating stories or rhymes after analyzing characters and situations. He also took active part in cricket, hockey and football arranging tournaments in our neighborhood. Like any other boy his age, he was playing sports on the field. As he grew up, we never realized that he might prefer verbal over written communication. He enjoyed talking in allegories.

His primary school teachers and my grandparents were the first to identify a difference in the way he wrote and drew. The geometry class was a nightmare in middle school, and we noticed that he always had an atypical strained grip on his drawing pencils. He developed an illegible writing which could not be improved. This was not clear early on, as he had no difficulty playing badminton, cricket or swimming. Though he was recognized as a poet in school, his bad handwriting was always highlighted at every parent teacher meeting.

When we attended school, there was no concept of a special educator then or a pathway to assess and support children with special needs. Although he possessed a high IQ, excelling particularly in language and the humanities, his writing greatly deterred his scores. He was denied a scribe in the examinations then. He lost a possible career in Social sciences, Literature and Journalism.

His long battle with mood swings began at this time, which further hampered his education in Degree College. Despite his troubles, he took solace in music, games and books like The Holy Bible, current affairs, sports journals and Philosophy. He was cheerful and never lost his faith in God. He continued to write both poetry and prose, but he could not handle a typewriter or computer as his fingers were always slow and coordination of finger movements was a challenge. At that time, we were not able to arrive at what caused the stiffness, being diagnosed as a fine motor disability many years later. I do remember my mother trying various other activities to count as rehabilitation, but it was not effective. With her encouragement, he volunteered at the local Seminary, which was close to our house to correct English papers. He also taught informal spoken English to primary school children in the vicinity and volunteered at the India Every Home Crusade as a translator. Inspired by a friend, he developed a new interest in ethnology, while attending the Anglo-Indian Association meetings and continued to do his research on the Anglo Indian community. John always assisted my mother with daily shopping and volunteered to distribute bread to the poor.

My mother’s death hit John very hard. On the advice of his doctor, he attended seventeen months of rehabilitation at the Medico Pastoral Association, Bangalore and learnt the program which has done wonders for thousands. Here he learnt to overcome his challenges, accept his disability as a stepping stone to success and embark on his journey of hope. He progressed in his daily living activities, as he realized that he was blessed with other talents like poetry and music which he could harness. It was then he decided to write a few lines daily and his poems took shape in the form of this book. Cheering the elderly and always showing kindness to the poor and marginalized were his innermost talents and gifts that he shares as a noble giver.

John is an inspiration for all of us at home, as he has been a loving sibling, spreading joy to the family and the elderly. His strength comes from great faith in God and a belief in the divine plan for each one. He is an inspiration for all who have suffered from similar challenges.

GITHA REBELLO,

Third sister

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Published Books 1

Blue June

Books by John Dominic Nazareth

John Nazareth's Blue June is a collection of poems that reflect a keen attention to the natural world. In lines that ring with rhyme, these poems explore a deep faith and call us toward the sacred. It's a gift to encounter John's poems, and it's an honor to have such talent in my family.

- Nina Boals, MFA candidate in poetry Indiana

John is my teenage friend. I was delighted going through his collection of poems. I recalled his love for

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John is my younger brother and the youngest of five siblings. At the age of four, he began reading the headlines from the newspaper, and teaching himself new words, which made my mother think he was a child genius. His literary ability – reading, writing, narrating stories and vocabulary was remarkable and he loved to caricature cartoons as illustration. 
He ran a library at home called KIT-KAT (named after his favourite chocolate) for children near our home. We always found him reading or creating stories or rhymes after analyzing characters and situations. He also took active part in cricket, hockey and football arranging tournaments in our neighborhood. Like any other boy his age, he was playing sports on the field. As he grew up, we never realized that he might prefer verbal over written communication. He enjoyed talking in allegories. 
His primary school teachers and my grandparents were the first to identify a difference in the way he wrote and drew. The geometry class was a nightmare in middle school, and we noticed that he always had an atypical strained grip on his drawing pencils. He developed an illegible writing which could not be improved. This was not clear early on, as he had no difficulty playing badminton, cricket or swimming. Though he was recognized as a poet in school, his bad handwriting was always highlighted at every parent teacher meeting. 
When we attended school, there was no concept of a special educator then or a pathway to assess and support children with special needs. Although he possessed a high IQ, excelling particularly in language and the humanities, his writing greatly deterred his scores. He was denied a scribe in the examinations then. He lost a possible career in Social sciences, Literature and Journalism.
His long battle with mood swings began at this time, which further hampered his education in Degree College. Despite his troubles, he took solace in music, games and books like The Holy Bible, current affairs, sports journals and Philosophy. He was cheerful and never lost his faith in God.  He continued to write both poetry and prose, but he could not handle a typewriter or computer as his fingers were always slow and coordination of finger movements was a challenge. At that time, we were not able to arrive at what caused the stiffness, being diagnosed as a fine motor disability many years later. I do remember my mother trying various other activities to count as rehabilitation, but it was not effective. With her encouragement, he volunteered at the local Seminary, which was close to our house to correct English papers. He also taught informal spoken English to primary school children in the vicinity and volunteered at the India Every Home Crusade as a translator. Inspired by a friend, he developed a new interest in ethnology, while attending the Anglo-Indian Association meetings and continued to do his research on the Anglo Indian community. John always assisted my mother with daily shopping and volunteered to distribute bread to the poor.
My mother’s death hit John very hard. On the advice of his doctor, he attended seventeen months of rehabilitation at the Medico Pastoral Association, Bangalore and learnt the program which has done wonders for thousands. Here he learnt to overcome his challenges, accept his disability as a stepping stone to success and embark on his journey of hope. He progressed in his daily living activities, as he realized that he was blessed with other talents like poetry and music which he could harness. It was then he decided to write a few lines daily and his poems took shape in the form of this book.  Cheering the elderly and always showing kindness to the poor and marginalized were his innermost talents and gifts that he shares as a noble giver.
 John is an inspiration for all of us at home, as he has been a loving sibling, spreading joy to the family and the elderly. His strength comes from great faith in God and a belief in the divine plan for each one.  He is an inspiration for all who have suffered from similar challenges.
GITHA REBELLO,
 
 Third sister

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Githa Rebello

Blue June

Books by John Dominic Nazareth

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