#369 - Learning to Be : Women in Sport
by Pervin Saket and illustrated by Aparajitha Vaasudev, Prerna Roy, Ria Mohta and Rajyasree Sarkar
“Women in Sport” by Pervin Saket and illustrated by Aparajitha Vaasudev, Prerna Roy, Ria Mohta and Rajyasree Sarkar. Published by Adidev Press. A delightful collection of four charming books narrating the awe-inspiring stories of four incredible sportswomen from India and their towering achievements in their respective sport.
“Adaptability With Arunima Sinha” is about the brave heart who chose to scale mountains after a life altering accident. Arunima Sinha was a National volleyball player. She lost one of her legs when she was pushed off a moving train by robbers. But this did not deter her from moving on in life. She got into mountain climbing and aimed at Mt. Everest no less. How her determination, perseverance and adaptability helped her scale it after which she climbed the highest peaks in several other continents is the highlight of this book. She became the first female amputee in the world to achieve the distinction of having climbed Mt.Everest.
“Resilience With Bhakti Sharma” introduces us to the courageous woman who swam across several oceans around the world. There are quite a few who swim but what sets Bhakti Sharma apart from them all is the fact that she relentlessly swam through hurdles across five oceans including the Antarctic displaying courage, resilience and a gritty attitude to never give up. She made it through the Antarctic Ocean breaking the world record.
“Transformations With Chandro and Prakashi Tomar” talks about two women who showed that there is no age limit for learning. They were in their sixties when they started training to shoot. They were dissuaded from this venture by the men in their family. But they did not give in to the pressures. Despite having never done anything beyond their fields and homes, they excelled at shooting and won medals and awards. They set an example for the girls and women of their village to follow. They transformed into “shooter grannies” changing their lives forever.
“Trust With PT Usha” is about the star athlete who became a household name in India. Her talent was recognised by Coach Nambiar when he saw her at a sporting event. He started training her with commitment which was equally matched by Usha who trusted him and pushed herself to achieve success. Her progress can be attributed to the unwavering faith and trust in her coach which was a vital factor. Their remarkable teamwork highlights the important role played by coaches/guides/teachers in everyone’s lives.
My 8.5 year old and I were fascinated by the stories of these amazing women. We felt a sense of pride and respect for these women who had overcome so many hurdles in their paths and never gave up. Their determination, passion, perseverance, ability to adapt to diverse conditions, courage and willingness to learn new things ensured that they reached never before heights and fulfilled their dreams. They won so many accolades for India and it is heartwarming to see their stories in children’s books. The illustrations are bright and cheerful bringing the stories alive in front of our eyes. These books need to be read by everyone to appreciate and realise the importance of values showcased through the stories in them. The books can be bought as a pack or even individually. The books are a part of the “Learning to Be” series of books of which we have read and enjoyed “Women in Science” and “Kindness With Mahavira” earlier.
Recommended Age
The books are apt for everyone aged 5 and above.
Reasons to Read
To know about women who have contributed immensely to sports and showing exemplary qualities and talent in what they do.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Adidev Press here.
Disclaimer - We received these books from the publisher, Adidev Press, for review. Thank you to Archana and Tanu, from Adidev Press, for sending across the books!