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Paulo Coelho makes a section of his e-books free, ACK media announces a month-long free subscription to their comic-book archives; individuals and companies are doing all they can to ensure you are gainfully engaged.

Mona

Your current circumstances are part of your redemption story He is writing.” ― Evinda Lepins

As the current circumstances of the world force one and all to be cooped up indoors, individuals and various companies are making an effort to get to your homes to help you stay engaged, productive and sane through the tough times.

Coelho shows the way

The Alchemist hitmaker, Paulo Coelho has made a section of his e-books free on his website as a kind gesture. “During the current pandemic, I posted some e-books for free on my page,” reads his message. Three in English, one in Italian, one in Portuguese, one in French and one in Spanish, he has tried to reach out to his readers across the globe. With a spiritual vein running and life affirming, his books offer a new insight to look at life; teenage onwards, anyone can taste his style.

Shikari Shambu to keep company

Back home, ACK media announced a month-long free subscription to their full comic-book archives. The website or their app leads the way to Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle that many of us grew up reading. From Ashoka the great, Chanakya to Kalia the Crow, Suppandi and Shikari Shambu, it is time to touch base with your favourite characters for free. If by chance the PDFs of these comics haven’t reached you as whatspp forwards till now, it’s time to download right now!

Listen to the tales

While reading online can be huge fun, eyes on screen all the time may not be the best bet when health – physical and mental – needs utmost care. How about listening to a story? “For as long as schools are closed, we will be open,” the company offers, “Keeping to our founding belief that the spoken word can be inspiring and transporting in deeply intimate ways, we have created Stories.Audible.com—a place where anyone, in any country, can enjoy unlimited streaming of hundreds of titles for kids and families for free.” It sure comes as a huge reprieve to many parents, including Suhani who is raising a five-year-old, “Just like many moms, I too guiltily bank on screen to give company to my kid.”

Tackle Corona the right way

While the endless forwards create panic on the reality of coronavirus, openwho.org shares how to best tackle the challenge. WHO’s interactive platform offers courses in health emergencies. Fast and free, it’s one platform to obtain the latest scientific and operational know-how. “OpenWHO. Open to all anytime, from anywhere,” reads their tagline.

Trip through the world, virtually

The travel junkies have no other option, but to take virtual vacays. How about exploring museums? Ishan Sharma has taken his two school-goers so far to a trip to the British Museum and Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame. “Before this lockdown, I had no clue about virtual reality tours on Google Arts & Culture,” says this father, happy to weave in fun and learning in the virtual world tours. Their next trip is closer home, that of iconic Taj Mahal.

Learn the fun way

Aiming at kids, Scholastic India has on offer free learning resources. “Schools are closed, but we’re open for learning,” reads their tweet, giving free access to children till May 31, 2020. “Not just school syllabus, they have come up with daily challenges, reading targets and engaging activities to keep kids busy,” shares Pooja Sharma, mum to two, who is seeing current lockdown as an opportunity to get more time with her kids who otherwise spent their time going from one class to another.

While the internet even before Corona scare offered plenty of free resources to learn and have fun, the new initiatives are a welcome step. Google your way to engaging sessions right from business (Simcompanies) to music education (Cornerstoneconfesions) – all through games and free. Then there is good old, YouTube!

mona@tribunemail.com