“Colors of Silence” is a thought-provoking poem written by an anonymous author that explores the intricate emotions and depths of silence. Through vivid metaphors and evocative language, the poem invites readers to contemplate the various shades and meanings of silence in the tapestry of human experience. It portrays silence as a canvas upon which our innermost thoughts, feelings, and memories are painted, revealing that silence is not always empty but often filled with unspoken stories and emotions. Read More Class 10 English Summaries.
Colors of Silence Summary
Colors of Silence Summary in English
The lesson is the extract of the childhood days of the famous foremost artists of India. This lesson is studied under the unit – Enabling the disabled. The readers get encouragement from the hero of the lesson, i.e., Satish Gujral. This is the real incident that happened. The present prose proves that physical disability is no barrier to success. Satish was eight years old, he didn’t attend the school one day. His friend Surender came to visit him and asked the reason for his absence.
Poor Satish was lying on the bed, he couldn’t hear though Surender called him three times. After that Satish replied that he was not feeling well. Surrender with more concerned asked again what was the reason for his illness. Satish didn’t know the reason said that he had terrible headaches and felt everything is going dark and silent. He questioned Surender why did he speak so softly. Surrender had a strange look and wondered himself that Satish might lose his hearing.
Previous year Satish went to Kashmir with his brother and father during holidays. There he met with an accident. When he wept walking with his father and brother, they wanted to cross a bridge which was weak. Both stood on the bridge and looked down the swirling water below. Satish pointed out a spot to his brother, just then his foot slipped and losing his balance, he fell into the dangerous part of the river. When he regained his consciousness, his legs were injured. His head also hurt, he was injured and badly hurt all over.
He had several operations and his legs healed but they remained weak. After that, frequently he was ill and had infections in his ears. Satish was suffering from pain. Surrender got up and asked whether he will come to school the next day. Satish shook his head and Surender left. Satish was suffering and felt that some huge weight was pressing upon his head, making everything seemed far away and silent. He was upset and helpless. A slow tear came down drop by drop on his cheek. He felt the silence was worst as he had been confined to bed. He wanted to scream to break the silence but he couldn’t. Everything looked like the scenes from some dramatic show.
This was very terrible for the eight-year-old boy. According to the doctor, all this was caused by side effects of the medicine given at the time of treatment for his legs. Doctors didn’t diagnose the correct cause. Because of his illness, he was irregular to his school and had the hearing problem. So the school authorities couldn’t keep Satish in their school. His father decided to look at a new school for him. But Satish didn’t want to go to a new school because he was not able to, talk to the new children and had a fear that they would make fun of his deafness. But there was no other way, his father made a lot of effort to convince him, at last, he agreed to join the school.
They had to face the same situation in the new school also. The headmaster said that was the school for normal boys, why didn’t they took him to deaf and dumb school? Satish s father Avtar Narain got angry and said that his son was not dumb. Almost all schools rejected Satish They felt helpless. After this, Satish became very moody. He couldn’t talk freely, at this stage he didn’t hear a single word.
His elder brother Inder accompanied him, hours together and sat beside him. He talked, taught, and make an effort to learn the pronunciation of the words. Satish did not go to play with his neighbors because he was unable to bear their talents and teasing of other children. He had a very delicate mind, and too sensitive. His father and his brother spent their time with him and taught him many things. His father brought many books to read and said that he can learn a lot of things through the books reading. From that day onwards, he read many books. By reading, a whole world was opened for him. He became a voracious reader. He read The life of Garibaldi, works of Munshi Premachand, Sarat Chandra, and several others. The reading made him feel depressed and left a deep impression upon his sensitive mind. He came to know another world of suffering and trouble while his own world looked comfortable in comparison.
After some days Satish again struck and confined to bed. At this stage, he could sit, look out of the window or read the books. One day he saw a rare bird that was flying here and there. It had a long tail and black crest. It had restless energy and to flight at any moment. He Was attracted by the bird and sketched the bird from his memory. He liked his sketch and kept beside his bed on the pile of books. He had discovered his past time by filling the pages with pictures and patterns of his thinking. He was good at Urdu writing and sketching came naturally.
But his father thought that it was an idle pastime. Instead of this, it was better to read books. Satish was refused to stop drawing though his father opposed it. His mother said to his father that why did he take away his son’s source of entertainment. His father’s concern was about his future. How can he lead his life as an artist? Artists had very less income and his hearing may return at any time and he had to study to make something out for his life. Mother asked how it possible that he can recover his hearing. He had become ill for 3 years. She lost her hope but his father didn’t lose his hope. His father said why should they decide that he is going to remain deaf all his life, instead of what they should be optimistic and gently scolded his wife.
Though they visited doctors several times, his condition was not improving. He remained in his silent world. The only comfort in his life was painting. His father was opposed but he managed to paint and draw. One day his father observed his son’s talent and decided to encourage him. He asked his son about his painting, Satish was astonished that his father was not angry with him. After a few hours, father brought paints, brushes, drawing sheets, etc., and carefully set them on his table. Satish came and hugged his father with love. His father said that those things for him. His father found the best school in Arts and his son made his life in his way.
At last Satish’s father accepted his son’s wish to become an artist. Satish learned more than painting in that school and also learned about life. The boy, now popularly known as Satish Gujral. He was one of the few artists, famous for painting, sculpture, and architecture. He was also a writer. His works were displayed in prestigious museums like the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Hiroshima collection. Washington and the National Gallery of Modem Art, New Delhi. He had published four books of his works in the various arts. He was awarded the Order of the Crown for the best architectural design of the 20th century for his design of the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi. He was honored with “Padma Vibhushan”. He was a good example for the disabled could also achieve the best. Disability was no barrier to success.
Conclusion:
“Colors of Silence” is a thought-provoking poem written by an anonymous author that explores the intricate emotions and depths of silence. Through vivid metaphors and evocative language, the poem invites readers to contemplate the various shades and meanings of silence in the tapestry of human experience.