Waiting for a friend after our textile project at a weaver’s service center in Chennai; I happened to see the notice board with one pin out upside down hanging newspaper article. I usually ignore any thing with words written on it. But this time, may be because I was completely jobless, I just took a glance at the letters. To capture my interest I realized I could actually read even though the letters were upside down. Was completely taken away by the new discovery I made and as soon as I reached my room, first thing I did was to take the “Gardner’s Art Through The Ages”, eleventh edition and go through the pages upside down. I really don’t know how to explain the feeling I had at that very moment when I realized I can actually read quiet comfortably upside down when compared to the normal way. Was completely thrilled, excited, happy at the same time, scared, and little freaked out. Next thing I did was to take a piece of paper and tried to write the letters upside down. And to my astonishment, I found out I can do the same. But realized I need little practice to get the hand writing neat and fast. Did a lot of reading that day comparing to the past days .After that incident I started reading. Not in public of course. But when I accepted the fact that I am comfortable with reading upside down and nothing wrong in doing so, started slowly using the same skill of reading in public.
One day while doing the research work in library, I got so worked up by reading the normal way. Finally decided to forget the surrounding and to read the way I am comfortable with. Was totally scared to expose myself in front of others, but gained the strength by encouraging myself. “One day you will have to face it, then why not today. The earlier you face it, the better for you”.
Kept the huge book upside down, hoping no one will notice and continued with my work. When I got really involved with my work, I heard a surprised and a curious voice from behind. ”Lady! You are reading upside down? ”. It was so clear from her tone that is more than just a question. With all the courage I could gather at the very moment I answered “Yes! I am. I am comfortable that way”. She was so curious to know more about it and sat beside me continuing the topic “Are you serious? Oh! My GOD. How?.I mean I know Da Vinci could also do that and he was also dyslexic. But! But!! This is amazing”. First thing that ran through my mind was, “Really? Da Vinci could? I really have to do a research on him”. Yes I knew he is some big shot personality related to art field. But due to lack of reading I knew nothing more than that. But didn’t show I was clueless.
Instead, remembered what my mother always said when I was a child “They all are just curious because they have not come across anything like that in their lifetime. And you will also do the same if you are in their shoes. It’s human nature. You just have to take the time to explain it out to them why it is different. By doing so you are helping yourself by helping other person to understand you.”
With a deep breath I explained to her, “When I read the normal way, it is too stressful for me to focus on what I read. The visual is so wide spread. It kind of makes a jumble of letters to form my own words. For a person like me, it takes extra strain to read than a normal person. But when I read upside down, the stress is much lesser and it helps me to concentrate and focus on what I read.”
In some time, the whole of 1st Year M.A Fine Arts dpt. came to know and for a while one of the topics to discuss was my reading ability and my dyslexia. Initially I did enjoy all the extra attention. Like anyone else I was quiet carried away in the beginning and started reading in public upside down more confidently and less bothered about the public. Once while traveling in the train, reading Da Vinci code by Dan Brown; the kid next to me happened to notice that I was reading upside down, couldn’t believe his eyes he turned his head once again to make sure what he saw was right. His face expression was so cute, that I couldn’t stop noticing it. And once a man sitting next to me couldn’t resist himself from asking me why I am reading upside down. Even at home people where so taken by my new discovery and were so glad that finally I started reading comfortably.
But for me the initial phase where I enjoyed receiving all the extra attention didn’t last long. Slowly, the fact of being an odd one out started worrying me. I kept my mind open and started looking out for more logical explanation. I did a lot of research. I made my friends to read upside down as part of analyzing and came to understand the fact that 95% of people with normal reading skill can also read the book upside down. But the amount of concentration and strain they put is much more than the usual and get tired of reading much faster. Adding on to the fact that all the concentration is on getting to read the word and the sentence upside down properly that they tend to lose on what the sentence means. That helped me to realize that is what exactly happens when I read the normal way.
Some nerves in my brain must be connected in a different way than the others, similar to how you accidentally connect some wires in the screen and the visual comes upside down. I don’t know. But I could not find any further simple answer to convince myself. The moment I figured this out, it was like finding fresh air to breathe. And after that, whenever people asked me for explanation of my reading style. I smile at them and give them a chance to read upside down. Encourage them by saying “Come on. It’s not a big deal .Any one can do it. Just give it a shot.” and once they are done, I would give the explanation.” The stress level is somewhat the same when I read the normal way.” And now a days, the first thing I do before reading a book is covering it up, so that I don’t draw any attention.
After all I just made friends with the books.
