The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Reading opens us to a new world'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 19, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Reading opens us to a new world'

Staff Reporter

Lack of time is an excuse many give as far as reading is concerned

BANGALORE: One hardly hears anyone saying, "Books are my best companion". Lack of time is a common excuse given by many as far as reading is concerned. Securing high percentage of marks and landing lucrative jobs have taken over everything. Students do not have time to relax nor do they have time to hone their creative skills. In most instances, a student's world is confined to school, college, tutorials and academic books.

Vidhya, an SSLC student of BEML Education Trust, says, "I don't find time to read my textbooks, and how can I read books of general interest. In fact, as a student leader in school, I have many duties to be accomplished."

According to Vijeth, a second year pre-university student, says that he wants to emerge as the topper of his class and that is most important for him now. "My career is more precious to me and I can make my career only through academics," he says.

Shreyas, another class 10 student, reads only the prescribed syllabus and does not bother to touch even a comic, says his sister.

But a few do read. Sindhu, a student of psychology at NMKRV College, says, "I never stick to my syllabus as my definition of knowledge and intelligence is different." Bhamathi, another student who shares the view, says, "Reading classics opens us to a new world and widens our view. I never bother about the marks I score." Swathi, a student of journalism, says, "Time is not the factor, if one does not read books it means one is not interested in knowledge. I always go beyond syllabus."

Ramesh, an employee of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, is of the opinion that he cannot sleep without reading at least a few lines from a book.

What is the way out? Geeta Ramanujam, an educationist and executive director of Kathalaya Trust, suggests that the habit of reading should be cultivated among children from the beginning. She says, "Pictorial books attract children. The books have to go with the time; one cannot expect a child to read classics. Parents must lure the child towards a story by attractive narration.

At a point when the child finds it interesting, let it continue with the book. Gradually, the child develops an interest towards reading."

Reading not only boosts imaginative skills and creativity but also enhances vocabulary. A sense of reasoning can be developed. Reading is considered as a healthy habit for people of all ages.

Kathalaya activists point out that one can manage to read books while travelling in jam-packed bus or between intervals to and from office.

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