Wonderful Wizard of Oz

                            Michael Foreman's

                         Wonderful Wizard of Oz  - 

        L. Frank Baum

This is a wonderful story, of a little girl named Dorothy with her dog named Toto  and three friends i.e. Scarecrow, Woodman (Tin-man) and coward Lion 

The Great Wizard of Oz is humbug (fraud )- following is only the gist of story and the whole story surrounded by the Dorothy and her four wonderful companions.

THE CYCLONE 

Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies with her former uncle and aunt.

Their house was small, with four walls, a floor and a roof. The one room house contained s rusty looking cooking stove, cupboard for the dishes, a table, three  or four chairs and the big bed for uncle-aunt and small bed for dorothy at a corner. Dorothy, was an orphan, first came to her, Aunt Em had been so startled by the child's laughter that she would scream  and press her hand upon her heart. They were childless so the  it was wonderful experience for this couple to hear the sweet and honey voice of this little and beautiful girl named Dorothy. Her uncle was a different type of a hard worker and serious type, he never laughed, even he did not know  what joy was. He rarely spoke. Toto was Dorothy's Dog.    One day Uncle Henry sat upon  the doorstep and looked anxiously at the sky, which was even grayer than usual. Dorothy stood in the door with toto in her arms and looked at the sky too. Aunt Em was  washing the dishes. From the far north they heard a low wail of the wind and uncle Henry and Dorothy could see where the long grass bowed in waves before the coming storm. There now came a sharp whistling in the air from the south and they turned their eyes that way they saw ripples in the grass coming-from that direction also. uncle Henry suddenly stood up. He said "There is cyclone , Em,  I will look after the stock" He ran towards the sheds where the cows and horses were kept. Aunt Em dropped her work and came the door. she told to dorothy, "quick dorothy, run for cellar " she screamed.

Toto jumped out of Dorothy's arms and hid under the bed and the girl started to get him. Aunt badly frightened, threw open the trap door in the floor and climbed down the ladder into the small, dark  hole. Dorothy caught toto at last and started  to follow her aunt. When she was half way across the room there came a great shriek from thewind , and the house  shook so hard that she lost her footing and sat down suddenly upon the floor. A strang thing then happened. The house whirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air. Dorothy felt as if she were going  up in a balloon. 

The North and South winds met where  the house stood and made it the exact centre of the cyclone. In the middle of a cyclone the air is generally still, but the pressure of the wind on every side of the house raised it up higher and higher, until it was very top  of the cyclone; and there it remained and was carried miles and miles away as easily as you could carry a feather.  It was dark  and the wind howled horribly   around her, but Dorothy found she was riding quite easily. After the fist few whirls around, and one other time  when the house tipped badly she felt as if she were being rocked gently, like a baby in a cradle. Toto was running in the room and barking loudly, but Dorothy sat quite still on the floor and waited to see what would happen.Toto got too near the open trap door and fell in;and at first the little girl thought she has lost him, but soon she saw one of his ears sticking up through the whole, for the stronger pressure of the air was keeping him up so that he could not fall. She crept to the hole , caught toto by the ear and dragged him into the room, then she closed the trap door so that no more accidents could happen. Though Dorothy got over her fright; but she felt lonely. The wind was shrieked so laudly all about her that she nearly became deaf. She was waiting the worst she might be dashed to pieces when the house fell again, but as the hours passed  and nothing terrible happened, she stopped worrying  and resolved to wait calmly  and see what the future would bring. At last she crawled over the swaying floor  to her bed and lay down  upon it and toto followed  and lay down beside her. Inspite of the swaying of the house and the wailing of the wind, Dorothy soon closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.  

The Council with Munchkins    

Dorothy was awakened by a shock, so sudden and severe that she had not been lying on the soft bed she might have hurt. There was light everywhere, bright sun shine came in  at the window, flooding the little room. She sprang from her  bed and with toto at her heels ran and opened the door. The cyclone had set the house down , very gently - for a cyclone  in the midst of the unknown country.  She gave a cry of amazement and looked about her, her eyes  growing bigger and bigger  at the wonderful sight she saw. 

There were lovely patches of green sward all about,long trees bearing rich luscious fruits. Bank of gorgeous flowers were on every hand and bird with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. She was looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming towards her  a group of  queerest people she had ever  seen. They were neither with standard height nor so small. They were tall as Dorothy, who was a well grown child for  her age, although they were many years old. All were men and one woman oddly dressed. Men wear with blue  hat and white hat of woman. Men dressed in blue with polished boots. Little woman was doubtless much older' her face was  covered  with wrinkles, her hair was neatly white and she walked rather stiffly. Along all men the little woman came near to Dorothy, she made a low bow and said, in a sweet voice. "You are welcome, most noble Sorceress, to the land of the Munchkins. We are so grateful to you for having killed the wicked Witch of the East and for  setting our people  free from bondage." Dorothy was an innocent, harmless little girl, who had been carried by a cyclone many miles from her home and she had never killed anything in all her life.  But the little woman evidently expected her to answer;  so Dorothy said with hesitation, "you are very kind but I have not killed anything ". "Your house did any way, and that is the same thing , see, there are her two  toes, still sticking out from under  a block of  wood "   replied the lady with a laugh. There were a pair of silver shoes. Dorothy asked, Who was she ?" "She was wicked witch of East.  She has held all the Munchkins  in bondage for many years, making them slave , now the all are free  and are grateful to you for the favor" said the little woman.   

The little woman was the witch of North (good witch). She came here on the invitation this people of the land called Munchkins. She told Dorothy "that there were four witches of all land of  Oz, North, South, East and West.  North and South witches are nice where as East and West witches are wicked, East wicked witch has been  killed by your house and now one wicked witch is still ruling west Oz where she made all their subject slave. She is naughty powerful. The East wicked witch was powerful because of her Silver shoes and West wicked witch has golden Cap.  " Dorothy said "my aunt Em told me that there are no witches now and all have died years ago". The little woman said your country might be civilized and in civilized societies I believe  there are  no witches left' nor Wizards, nor  sorceresses, nor magicians. But land of Oz  has never been civilized, for we are cut of from all the rest of the world and we still have witches and wizards amongst us." She further said " Oz himself is the Great Wizard. He is more powerful than all the rest of us together. He lives in the City of Emeralds". 

It was a surprise to all the people present there that the the feet of wicked witch who was lying dead  had disappeared  entirely  and nothing was left but the Silver shoes. The little lady gave the Silver shoes to Dorothy to wear.  Now Dorothy said to the Munchkins "I am anxious to get back to my aunt and uncle, for I am sure  they will worry about me. Can any one of you help me to find my way." But non of them knows kansas, there was a great desert surrounded the country  and beyond that desert no one dare to cross. The South country is belong to Quadlings. The West country ruled by the wicked witch  where winkies live.  "The North is my country and that too surrounded by desert" said the old lady. 

Dorothy began sob, at this, she felt lonely among all these strange people. Her tears seemed to grieve the kind hearted Munchkins, for they  immediately took out their kandkerchiefs and began to weep also. As for the little old woman , she too off her cap  and balanced the point  on the end ofher nose, while she counted " one, two, three" in a solemn voice. At onece the cap changed to a slate, on which was written in big white chalk marks,

'LET DOROTHY GO TO THE CITY OF EMERALDS"

THE LITTLE WOMAN ASKED dOROTY, "iS YOUR NAME IS dOROTHY, MY DEAR."

"Yes " Answer the child, looking up and drying her tears. The little lady asked to Dorothy to go to City of Emeralds. The Wizard is a good man  and will help you. Dorothy asked "How can I can get  there,"

Little lady, " you must walk, It is a long journey, through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from harm. I will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed  by the witch of the North " and she came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead. Where her lips touched the girl they left a round , shinning mark, as Dorothy found  out soon after. They also guide her "The road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick, don't miss it. When you get to Oz do not be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to help. " Dorothy started her long journey, three Munchkins and little old lady gave her good farewell. 

 

Anne Frank - Jew

Anne Frank was born into a Jewish family on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt Germany. At that time millions of Germans were out of work. Many were listening to the hate-filled, anti-Jewish  speeches of Adolf Hitler. In 1933 Hitler became Chancellor of  Germany, and the Franks moved to Holland, Amsterdam, when they thought that they would be safe. Anne attended school there and at one time she won the prize in easy competition. The World War was broke out in 1939. In 1940 the German army invaded Holland. To avoid being persecuted, the Franks moved into secret apartment. When she  became thirteen she was a Diary as birth day gift. She use this diary as her autography and started to write daily happening in her life , describing the hardships  she endured  while in hiding, as well as some of the  happy moments. Jews were not allowed in movie theaters, parts, swimming pools, ride cars even bycycle.  Dutch schools were closed to Jews. During their hide out the Dutch people helped them risking their own lives.   In 1944, the hideout was discovered, and Anne was sent to Westerbork with elder sister, a prison camp in northeastern Holland. After that she was sent to Auschwitz , a death camp in Poland, and finally to Bergen-Belsen, the German camp where she died in just 15 years of age in late February or early March 1945 due to diaease and hunger,  with her sister Margot.  

Anne Frank's courage amidst the horrors of war, humans suffering and death has inspired the millions of people who have read her diary. On May 08, 1945 the war in Europe ended. During the course of the war, six million Jews  were murderedby the Nazis. One and one half millions of victims were children. Of the 120,oo0 Jews who had lived in Holland in 1940, just 14,000 survived. Of course eight who hide in the secret apartment in Amsterdam, only Otto Frank (anne's father) was left. The Nazis murdered millions of others, too, including cripples, the mentally ill, beggars, Russian prisoners of war, Romanies, homosexuals, and communists.    

Her father Otto Franks returned to Amsterdam. Some one had found Anne's diary and had given  it to him. The diary was first published in 1947. Since then it has been translated into more than fifty languages. Many millions of people have read Anne's Diary. They have learned fromit the horrors of war, and the terrible price paid in lives and human suffering for prejudice and hatred.  Some people find it difficult to understand the enormous tragedy of the Holocaust , the organized murder of millions of people. But when they read Anee's diary, it all become real. Then they know one of the victims. They know anne Frank.  

Written by David A. Adler

illustrated by Karen Ritz

(A Picture Book of ANNE FRANK)

i READ THIS BOOK IN hALF hOLLOW hILLS 

COMMUNITY LIBRARY

55 VANDERBILT PARKWAY

DIX HILLS, NEW YORK - on 29/10/2011  

       

George Washington - American first President

George Washington was born on 22/02/1732 in Virginia farmhouse. It was an English Colony. He was interested in fishing and boating. He watched ships that sailed past on nearby river. But most of all he liked to ride horse.. He learned to read and write in school. He practiced his handwriting by copying lists of rules such as "Keep your fingers clean" and "Thank before you speak." But his favorite subject was arithmetic. When George  was 11 years his father died. George helped his mother to run their farm and  watch his younger brothers and sister.. One day George found some surveying tools that had belongs to his father, he used them to measure and map a turnip field and a pine forest. He liked surveying. When he was sixteen he was very tall and looked much matured. He was given a job surveying land in the Virginia wilderness. On attaining    21 years he joined Virginia army. He rode to the Ohio Valley to warn French to get off English land. 

   In 1754 the French and Indian War began. George Washington fought on the side of England. He led Virginia soldiers against the French. George was was known as a brave good leader throughout the the thirteen American colonies. When he was 26 years of age he married with Martha Custis  a wealthy widow with two children and moved to Mount Vernon. The England won their long  war against French. King George III of England wanted the American Colonies to help pay the cost of war, so he taxed them. American Colonists refused to pay the taxes. In Boston , colonies dumped tea into the harbor rather than pay the tax on it. 

   In  April, 1775 fighting between England and her American colonies began near Boston, at Lexington and at Concord, Massachusetts. One month later leaders of the thirteen colonies met in Phildelphia. George Washington was chosen to lead the Continental Army.  Often there were not enough uniforms, food, blankets and guns for George Washington's soldiers.

War lasted eight years,George Washington and the Continental Army fought bravery. In 1783, when the American colonies won the war, Geoprge Washington was a hero. Thirteen colonies became 13 states. They joined together and formed a government, but it was weak. In 1787 a new government was formed. with a congress, a supreme court and a President. George Washington was the best known, most loved leader in America . He was elected the first president of the United States of America in 1789. He was reelected in 1792.

 President George Washington signed treaties with the Indians, Spain and England. There was a war in Europe, but George Washington  kept the United States out of it. When some farmers in Pennsylvania refused to pay a tax  on whisky, George Washington sent soldiers to force the farmers to obey the law. In 1797, after eight years as President, George Washington returned to his home at Mount Vernon. Each morning he rode across his large farm on horseback.

  Sometimes he rode fifteen miles north of Mount Vernon to watch the building of a new city. It would be the capital of the United States, and it would be named after him. It would be called Washington. Then, in 1799 George Washington became ill and died, he was sixty-seven years old. He was a great leader. He has been called the "Father of our Country". It has been said that George Washington was "First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

written by David A. Adler, illustrated by John & Alexandra Wallner.  (28/10/2011(  

दिवाली २०११

मैं पिचले २००३ से अमेरिका में ही दिवाली मन रहा हूँ ! शायद २ या ३ साल दिल्ली में दिवाली मनाई होगी ! पहले हम लोग यूटाह में थे और २००३ की दिवाली हमने वहीं मनाई ! साल्ट लेक सिटी काफी खूबसूरत जगह है ! वहां राजेश के
बहुत सारे दोस्त थे ! सारे नजदीक ही थे ! जन्म दिन, कोई भी त्यौहार हम लोग मिलजुल कर मना लिया करते थे ! वहां नजदीक ही मंदिर भी थे ! २००५ में राजेश यहाँ न्यूयार्क आ गया ! उसके बाद यहाँ फिर उसके आई आई टी के बहुत सारे दोस्त मिल गए ! हर त्यौहार ये सारे लोग मिलजुल कर मनाते हैं ! यहाँ भारतीय बहुत बड़ी संख्या में हैं लेकिन बहुत दूर दूर रहते हैं ! हर एक के पास दो दो तीन तीन गाड़ियां हैं इसलिए आने जाने में कोई परेशानी नहीं है ! यहाँ पर हिन्दुस्तानियों के ही रेस्टोरेंट भी हैं जहां हर प्रकार का खाना मिल जाता है, साउथ इन्डियन भी और नॉर्थ इन्डियन भी ! साथ ही किसी प्रकार का महोत्सव इन्हीं रेस्टोरेंटों में मनाते हैं अमेरिका में हिन्दुस्तानी मूल के
लोग ! यहाँ राजेश- काजल ने दो साल पहले मेल्वील में नया घर लिया है, लोकेशन बड़ी प्यारी है ! मेंन दरवाजा पूर्व दिशा की और मुखातिब है ! दक्षिण में शानदार मख मली घास का लान है ! यहीं पर हमने टमाटर, पौकी की बेल बोई थी ! टमाटर पिछले साल भी और इस साल भी खूब खाए ! कुछ टमाटर तो २५० ग्राम तक के थे ! लौकी केवल एक हाथ लगी ! कालोनी के उतर में एक बहुत बड़ा फार्म हाउस है जहाँ मकई, टमाटर, बैंगन, सोयाबीन शिमला मिर्चें और भी ताजी ताजी सब्जियां मिल जाती हैं !
इस साल की दिवाली २६ अक्टूबर को पडी और उसी दिन मेरे बड़े पोते आत्रेय का जन्म दिन भी था ! करण ने दरवाजे पर लाइटें सजाई , वेदान्त ने खूब मस्ती की दादा दादी के साथ ! कालोनी में कम ही भारतीय हैं, इसलिए दूर से हमारा ही घर जगमगा रहा है ! दीवाली अमेरिका में मना रहे हैं और इंडिया की दीवाली और जगमगाती रोशनियों का आनंद ले रहे हैं दूरदर्शन पर !
यहाँ के लोग ३१ अक्टूबर को हेलोवीन का त्यौहार मनाते हैं ! सारे लोग अपने घरों के दरवाजों पर अजीब अजीब आकृतियों के भूतों के पुतले टांग देते हैं ! कहते हैं ये हेलोवीन का भूत है जो बहुत ही फ्रेंडली है ! इन लोगों का मानना है की हेलोवीन परिवार में खुशी और समृधि लेकर आता है ! उसके अलावा हरेक के घर के आगे कद्दू (सीता फल) को भी रंगों में पोत कर भूत में तबदील कर दिया जाता है ! बच्चे शाम के समय हाथों में छोटी छोटी बाल्टी लेकर हर दरवाजे पर दस्तक देते हैं और घर के लोग दरवाजा खोल कर उन बाल्टियों में बहुत सारे चौकलेट डाल देते हैं ! ये बच्चे कालोनी में किसी को नहीं छोड़ते ! अब ऊपर वाला ही जनता है की अगली दीवाली कहाँ मानी जाएगी, भारत में या अमेरिका में !

फिर भी दिल है हिन्दुस्तानी

मेरी कार है जापानी, मेरी पैंट इंगलिस्तानी,
मूछें मेरी हिटलर कट हैं फिर भी दिल है हिन्दुस्तानी !
स्वीटजरलैंड की हाथ घड़ी है, कोरिया की टी वी पडी है,
सूट पहिनता इटली की, चाय चायना कीटली की,
स्पेन की शर्ट पहिनता अमेरिका की नेकर,
खाट, कुर्सी सोफे मेरे सारे हैं फारेन मेकर,
मंत्री सारे देशी हैं पर विदेशी रानी,
सूरत है चाहे अनजानी, मतदाताओं को हैरानी,
मूंछे मेरी हिटलर कट हैं फिर भी दिल है हिन्दुस्तानी !
सडकों पर तो भीड़ बड़ी है,
नेताओं की लाईन खडी है,
सबको अपनी अपनी पडी है,
बिन पीये ही जाम चढी है,
भ्रष्टाचार में अगवा मंत्री
रिश्वतखोरी करते संतरी,
ये सब काले धन के रोगी,
इनसे भिड़ाने आए जोगी,
पुलिस ने फिर मारे डंडे,
रामदेव जी पद गए ठन्डे,
कहने लगे मुझको हैरानी, थे कल तक मेरे आसामी,
सूट चुनरी नारी की थी, फिर भी दिल है हिन्दुस्तानी !
मेरी कार .....
मनमोहन अंधा बन जाए, जब सोनिया आँख दिखाए,
फिर मंत्री करते घोटाला,
पहिन गले हीरों की माला,
कलमाडी ने शीला मोदी,
घोटाला दोनों की जोड़ी,
करूणानिधि की प्यारी बेटी,
भ्रष्टाचार में सबसे जेठी,
ए राजा ने मारी छलांग
कदम पद गया थोड़ा रांग,
फिर तिहाड़ में आ के पड़े,
हो न सके वे फिर से खड़े !
यहाँ सूरत जानी पहिचानी, कुछ रा हैं कुछ हैं रानी,
मूंछे मेरी हिटलर कट हैं, फिर भी दिल है हिन्दुस्तानी !

मेरी अभिलाषा

मानव अगर बनू इस जगका जाके अयोध्या वास करूँ,

चरण कमल जहां रघुनन्दन के वहीं बैठ निवास करूँ !

पार ब्रह्म परमेश्वर वे हैं सदा उन्हीं का ध्यान करूँ,

सरयू की जल धारा में मैं परम ब्रह्म का गान करूँ !

ये मेरी इच्छा है भगवन जब tak मैं यह सांश भरूँ,

चरण कमल जहां रघुनंदन के वहीं बैठ निवास करूँ ! १

ब्रह्मा विष्णु महेश जहां नित झुक झुक शीश नवाते हैं,

वेद पूराणों में खुद ही ये महा विष्णु कहलाते हैं,

नील गगन में चाँद और तारे नव आभा बिखराते हैं,

सूरज रथ में बैठ के अपने स्वर्ण किरण वरसाते हैं,

हे पुरुषोतम राम सदा मैं दर पे तेरे पड़ा रहूँ,

चरण कमल रघुनन्दन के वहीं बैठ निवास करूँ २

नारद की वीणा के स्वर भी जिससे नेह लगाते हैं,

पापी भी जिस राम नाम से भवसागर तर जाते हैं,

शेषनाग भी लखन रूप में जिनके अनुज कहाते हैं,

वही नर नारायण श्री राम दशरथ के राज दुलारे हैं !

अर्द्धांगनी जिनकी जनक सुता उन चरणों के मैं पास रहूँ,

चरण कमल जहां रघुनन्दन के वहीं बैठ निवास करूँ !

यादों के झरोखों से - प्रिय भाई मनोहरसिंह की याद में

हे भाई मनोहर बता क्या हमारी खता, कुछ कहे ही बिना तू कहाँ चल दिया ? न कोई गिला न शिकवा किया, चुपके से भय्या कहाँ खो गया ? तुझे क्या पता क्या हमारी दशा, हम बेहोश हैं ये दर्द का नशा, तू छोटा था मुझसे पर आगे रहा, रुक रुक के चल मैंने तुझसे कहा, जहां तो जरूरत थी चलने को आगे तेरे साथ भय्या हम भी तो भागे, पर यहाँ तैने ऐसी छलांग लगाई , किधर गया कुछ समझ में आई, तुझे क्या पता क्या हमारी ब्यथा, कुछ तो बताता हमारी खता, कुछ कहे ही बिना तू कहाँ चल दिया ? तेरे जाने से हमको धक्का लगा, क्यों किया भय्या तुने हमसे दगा आँखों में आंसू टपकते रहे, हर जख्म सीने पे सहते रहे, लेकिन भय्या, जो पीड़ा तुमने हमको दी, चुपके से गया आह तक न की ! ये जख्म इस जन्म में भर न पाएगा, लगता ये तो अब साथ ही जाएगा (१०/1997)