1,00,000

p { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }a:link { } As the site meter rolls to 1,00,000 mark, I would like to look back and share some thoughts.
First of all, I wish to thank ALL the contributors. All the READERS too! And all those who left behind a comment, even though it was “such a hassle”!
Like any other stammerer, I suffered a lot of self-doubts (is it worthwhile?) when I began three years ago- but today, so many friends and colleagues have joined this movement that I have no doubts about it: we have a community based on common interest and goals. We are no more alone. This is our one big collective achievement. Let me share some highlights: These are the pages which have received maximum hits between 2009 May – 2011 June:

http://stammer.in/2009/01/01/tisa-delhi-contacts/ (637)http://stammer.in/2011/04/01/3-day-tisa-communication-workshop-in/ (301) http://stammer.in/2010/02/03/stammering-stars/ (247) http://stammer.in/2011/06/22/upcoming-communication-workshop/ (214) http://stammer.in/2008/05/14/running-self-help-groups-support-groups/ (190) http://stammer.in/2010/10/31/nainital-hc-issues-notices-to-golmaal-3/ (140)

We received valuable referrals from stammer.in, thestutteringbrain.blogspot.com, Google search, Facebook and blogs of TISA friends like Shorn, Amit and others. We had most visits from within India but there were visitors from other countries too: United States, Italy, Pakistan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Thailand, Asia/pacific Region, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Portugal, Romania, Qatar, Russian Federation, Nigeria etc. Here are the stats: p { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }

A little later (Sep 2009), I started our Youtube channel. It has a collection of 75 stammering related videos. So far the three most popular videos have been

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU-Dsqjw-0k (Dr Tarun’s Interview) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cfTBDFl-A8 (Tisa Documentary, made by Raja Bhattacharjee, Chennai) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz4N72I8GgY (JP’s interview) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2huMpNWZrR4 (Sanjib’s Interview on “Cure”) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcaUJDI-J_4 (Pramendra’s Interview)

Most of the viewers of the video channel are adults and adolescents:There are women too, about 17%:
So, now looking back, I think, the one big step forward was: we became more open as a community and began writing about stammering on a public blog. Many IPWS started their own blogs and felt ‘whole’ and strong in the process. Second big gain was- we developed networks of friendship and support. Our friend circle suddenly jumped up. I got to know some very interesting, committed and wonderful people like Mr Manimaran and his friends in Chennai; and many more friends in other towns- too many to capture in a blog post. So what more needs to be done? I think, we can be more proactive and have an “opinion” on things that matter- and also on things that don’t matter. After all we are supposed to be different than “things”. More alive and kicking.And women who stammer should also be encouraged to write, meet and participate.
Let me conclude by thanking all of you out there- and my colleagues in the board, JP and Nitin for having made this movement possible- and quote part of a post, representing TISA ethos:

Today we went to a school for screening of young boys, looking for any child with any kind of speech impediment especially stammering..As the boys were introducing themselves, I saw a young boy struggling with his speech and when it was my & Parmanand’s turn to introduce ourselves, we bounced a bit. I could see a hint of smile on his face after our introductions..Soon after the introductions as we get prepared to play a game, the same young boy surprised me. He came up to me and said in very sweet and innocent voice – “Sir, you speak like me”..