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| Dr. Christian Barnard |
Paragraph Questions
Answer the following in 10 – 15 lines each :
Dr. Christian Barnard was a heart surgeon and a writer. He wrote the essay “In Celebration of Being Alive” giving his experiences at the time of an accident. Once when the doctor and his wife were crossing the road, there was an accident. A car hit them, both were in the hospital for sometime. At this time, the narrator had a doubt as to why, God could put him into trouble. Once when his father was alive, he said that God would test the individual by giving troubles at times. He was not satisfied. But when he saw two small boys, both having severe physical deformities, driving the breakfast trolly, he realised the fact. He thought that one should celebrate being alive.
2. What were the views of Dr. Barnard’s father about suffering? In what ways Barnard’s views differ from his father’s ?
Dr. Christian Barnard was a great surgeon and a writer. He wrote the essay “In Celebration of Being Alive” giving his experiences at the time of an accident. When Barnard and his wife were caught in the accident, he thought that it was an injustice over him. He recollected his father’s words that God would test people with suffering. When there was the test, the character of an individual would be refined. But Barnard could not accept. Later when he looked to two small boys, who started and drove the breakfast trolly, he knew that one has to bear the difficulties and live. He should learn how to live accepting the will of God.
The two boys, one with blindness and other with a hole in the heart, lived comfortably at their level. Though the views of the writer differed from those of his father, finally the art of living should be adopted.
3. Who were the driver and the mechanic in the Grand Prix held at the Cape Town Red Cross Children’s Hospital ? In what way was the choice of their roles suitable ?
Dr.Christian Barnard was a heart surgeon and a writer. He wrote the essay “In Celebrations of Being Alive” giving his experience at the time of an accident, The writer recollected an incident when he had dissatisfaction with God. At the Cape Town Red Cross Children’s Hospital a strange thing happened. There was a breakfast trolly at the hospital. Two boys drove it in the hospital. One acted as a mechanic and the other as the driver. Actually both were physically handicapped. One lost his eyes and the other had a hole in the heart. The trolley was run at a high speed and all the spectators were filled with joy. The blind one acted as mechanic galloping along, with the trolley. The other seated at the lower deck, drove the trolley, with one leg on the floor. The choice of the roles was suitable. Though blind he could push it on and the other sat at a place and steered it with one hand.
4. What lessons did Dr. Barnard learn from the two children ?
Dr. Barnard was a heart surgeon and a writer. He wrote the essay “In Celebrations of Being Alive” giving his experience at the time of an accident. There was an incident at the Cape Town Red Cross Children’s Hospital. The trolly of breakfast was moved by two · physically handicapped children. One was blind and the other was a heart patient. They drove it and made it worthy scene for all the patients and nurses around. The boys did not think of their deformities but did whatever they could do with all that they possessed. So, the writer learnt that one should try to utilise the possessions carefully. One should not aspire for that which was not available. The business of living is the celebration of being alive. Thus the poem teaches us the quality satisfaction.
Annotations
1. My gloomy thoughts probably stem from an accident I had few years ago.Context : This sentence is taken from the essay “In Celebration of Being Alive” written by Dr. Christian Barnard. When the writer thought about the suffering prevailing in the world, he remembered an accident in his life. He described the accident in the essay.
Explanation : His thoughts were gloomy but his suffering was alive in his mind. As he and his wife were crossing the street, they were caught in the accident. They got treatment at the hospital. But it was strange for him, why he should get such a punishment, by God. His anguish was great, the unexpected suffering, according to the narrator, restricted him from the service he had to render to the patients.
General Relevance : The suffering stopped the services of the doctor. He had broken ribs. So, the narrator was angry with God, for this situation.
2. My son, it is God’s will. That’s the way God tests you.
Context : This sentence is taken from the essay “In Celebration of Being Alive” written by Dr. Christian Barnard. When the writer thought about the suffering prevailing in the world, he remembered an accident in his life. He described his accident, in the essay.
Explanation : When he was caught in an accident, the writer recollected the words his father when he was alive. The problems, difficulties and short comings are given by God, for testing. It is God’s will to test the heart of everybody. Through the test everybody, shall become ripened. We move on to better positions. It was the belief of his father and here the narrator pointed out that he should bow down before God.
General Relevance : It is a common belief in this world that God is omnipotent. His will shall prevail and so whatever is bestowed from God, has to be accepted. The supremacy of God is pointed out here.
3. It opened my eyes to the fact that I was missing something in all my thinking about suffering.
Context : This sentence is taken from the essay “In Celebration of Being Alive” written by Dr. Christian Barnard. When the writer thought about the suffering prevailing in the world, he remembered an accident, in his life. He described the accident in the essay.
Explanation : Dr.Christian Barnard said that he was caught in an accident and suffered a lot. His father when he was alive said that God would test the individual giving problems and difficulties in life. He know that his brother died at a tender age. He had a grand episode of two physically challenged boys. One boy had no eyes, and the other had a hole in the heart. They did not care for their weakness. They wanted to utilise the sources available with them. They wanted to tell “The business of living is the celebration of being alive”. The writer knew the fact and lived accordingly.
General Relevance : When the writer saw the two boys, he could know the fact. He did not complain against God but submitted to him knowing the fact.
4. You don’t become a better person because you are suffering; but you become a better person because you have experienced suffering.
Context : This sentence is taken from the essay “In Celebration of Being Alive” written by Dr. Christian Barnard. When the writer thought about the suffering prevailing in the world, he remembered an accident in his life. He described the accident in the essay.
Explanation : In the essay “In Celebration of Being Alive”, the virtue wrought by means of suffering is stressed. Suffering, according to the author’s father, is a path to learn how to live. The experience of suffering brought a change in the mind of the narrator. He saw two boys, doing their best, with the limbs they had. When the writer saw it, he knew the limitation in his character. The sentence given explains that real experience will make the individual prosperous.
General Relevance : It is the experience that refines the character of an individual. Man becomes better by means of his personal experience. Suffering teaches many things.
In Celebration of Being Alive Summary
Dr. Barnard was a South African writer. By profession he was a doctor. He wrote famous books like One Life, The Donor etc. ‘In Celebration of Being Alive’ is an essay with particulars of an accident in his life.Once, when Barnard was crossing the street, a car hit him and another car from the other side hit his wife. As they were in the hospital for treatment, the narrator was very angry, at the almighty. His father, when he was alive used to tell that God wished to test men through sufferings.
Suffering cannot to be ignored1 easily. He recollected2 his experience. His brother died of heart problem, at his early age. Children depended upon doctors and nurses, for their timely help. A particular incident at the Grand Prix of Cape Town’s Red Cross Children Hospital came into his mind. A breakfast trolly was driven by two handicapped3 boys. One boy who acted as the mechanic was blind and the other who acted as driver had a hole4 in his heart. Whole of the people around enjoyed the fun.
Both of them had severe physical deformity but they did not care for it. The incident became a great lesson for the writer. He thought “The business of living is the celebration5 of being alive”. What was left with you has to be utilised for forelife6. When there is a problem, the solution will be sweet and acceptable. Thus the importance of suffering is known to the writer. Eventhough some important deformity7 existed8, at least he could live in this world. So one has to accept the fate.
