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Journalism of Courage
To understand the anatomy of a particular dinosaur, its clade and level in evolution, its accurate diet, feeding habits, metabolism, oestology has to be studied.8221;
Sounds like esoteric stuff right out of some huge encylopaedia that you can use as effective weights to build muscles! Well, this is esoteric stuff alright, but coming from a walking talking information storehouse on dinosaurs called Meghna Bendre, a 14-year-old Std X student of Sardar Dastur Nosherwan Girls High School! Given the chance, this little woman, yet to finish school, is equipped to even publish research papers on her study of dinosaurs and has already been invited to speak about her theories to academic audiences comprising university professors, researchers, post-graduate students.
8220;Right from then, I8217;ve been studying dinosaur paleontology on my own.8221;
Realising her strong desire to study this higher science of extinct terrestrial life, now in the form of fossils, Meghna immediately got down to serious work. At an age when bedtime story books are your favourite reading material, her shelves were stacked with literature on dinosaurs 8211; their behaviour, structure, circumstances that led to their extinction.
Today she has a personal library with books and journals she subscribes to, information she has downloaded from the Net, models and dinosaur floppies she has procured from her scientist friends abroad.
8220;I enjoy giving lectures on the various aspects of dinosaurs, especially the technical parts, because that8217;s where I can explain how and why a particular thing exists.8221;
Meghna8217;s first lecture was at the H V Desai College of Science in 1996, followed by others at S P College, SNDT, University of Pune, Bhartiya Vidyapeeth Deemed University. Despite addressing a scholarly and older crowd, she does not believe in carrying notes to the lecture. And does she get nervous? Who, Meghna? No way! Thoroughly prepared for any bouncer that may be hurled her way, she says with grown-up expression, 8220;It8217;s idiotic to get skittish while giving a lecture.8221;
8220;Age does not matter8230;8221;
For her, it truly is just a number. Meghna is confident of her meticulous research, shows what and how much she knows 8220;I still have a long way to go8221;, and has not faced any contempt because she is so young. Usually, before the lecture commences, people take her for any other curious youngster. But the moment she walks onto the stage, incredulity is the first reaction she can sense. Open mouths, astonished looks, chaotic expressions 8211; she8217;s used to them all. Research has no limit, and she has started young.
8220;People have even asked me for my autograph!8221;
Adulation is a way of life for Meghna now. The end of her lectures is always the same 8211; people rush to her, the questions never end. She is quite a star now, having been featured on the Hindi cultural magazine Surabhi8217;, and knows how to handle requests for autographs, pictures, even her birthday.
8220;I8217;d like to be a full-fledged researcher in vertebrate paleontology, visit the actual dinosaur sites8230;8221; 8230;that would be great! Meghna is already a member of the Dinosaur Club, Australia and Dinosaur Society of New York. She also studies Latin and phonetics on her own, as it helps her in understanding the nomenclature, and is interested in drawing, and can even do mirror image handwriting. But she knows she cannot pursue her interest further in India, and is set to study in the United States of America.
8220;My parents have given me their unflinching support8230;8221; 8230;especially her father, who has given her every freedom to order any subscription, get whatever information she needs. Her school has not responded much, she feels. Her classmates do not always understand her passion, and she believes that perhaps things could be different had she been schooling abroad, but 8220; I8217;m satisfied.8221;
Straight talk from a little girl who thinks big!
