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Clubbing true minds

READERS' CLUB has sparked off a healthy trend in the city

To read is to empower,
To empower is to write,
To write is to influence,
To influence is to change,
To change is to live.
- Jane Evershed

The universality and value of these words of poet and activist Jane Evershed hold true if you turn the pages of biographies of inspiring personalities.

These days, it is said that the visual medium lures children and adults into wasteful entertainment. This has spelt doom for the reading habit. No doubt it is a matter of serious concern.

Luckily, for the city's reading public, which has lost hope of a possible come back, there appears to be a turn around. For instance, the growing number of visitors at book fairs is taken as an indication of peoples' renewed interest in reading than sitting in front of the idiot box.

Birth of the club

With the market flooded with books, it is often difficult for a new reader to select the right kind of books.

It was this thought that propelled noted IAS officer V. Irai Anbu to moot the idea, along with his friend P. Suriyanarayanan, a Charted Accountant, to form a Readers' Club, which can motivate members and introduce them to some of the inspiring writings. "The idea struck me during an interactive session in a private firm. Immediately, we formed this club where information is shared in a non formal set up," tells Mr. Irai Anbu about the birth of the club that was set up a year ago.

The club meets every alternate Sunday and discusses varied subjects and topics from medicine to management, from literature to spirituality.

A conversation club

"It is more of a conversation club. A forum, where a member can discuss a thought or a writing, which inspired him," he says.

Since there is no obligation the members enter into a live interaction.

"The club has successfully dissuaded people from wasteful entertainment. Schools and colleges should come forward to start one in their respective institutions, as children and youths are in need of such a forum. Reading improves the power of public speaking. It could even be started at elementary school level. It ameliorates the creative ability of the children, as power of imagination is infinite. It also helps in improving episodic memory. Our aim is to make reading habit a movement," explains Mr. Irai Anbu.

Initially, the Club witnessed presentations by its members. Later, guest speakers were invited to discuss multifarious subjects. Eminent personalities like Dr.G. Venkataswamy, founder chairman, Aravind Eye Hospitals, inspired the members with their presentations. Other speakers included Brahmachari Srinivas Chaitanya of Chinmaya Mission, Suki Sivam, G.R. Balakrishnan, Professor of English, and Nephrologist K. Sampath Kumar.The guest lecture is followed by two presentations by club members.

A force

"It is a forum which has no form but force, where qualitative thoughts are shared. We wanted to make the forum lively and purposeful. It is a forum to create awareness under a democratic set up. This is a place where your character gets chiselled," says Mr. Suriyanarayanan, the club's convenor.

Impressed by the club activities, the Aravind Eye Hospitals has offered its Reading Room at Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, well equipped with modern gadgets like LCD projection and facilities for power-point presentation, for the members to meet.

Exhibition of latest arrivals

One member, A.K. Kuppuram, a bookseller, displays latest arrivals and rare collections of books for sale with a special discount for the members at each meeting.

"It is a sincere initiative to inspire and motivate people to take to reading. It should continue," he says.

The club collects Rs.200 as annual subscription from its members. "It gives me enough space to act and react. It provides me an opportunity to know different points of view, as varied subjects are discussed at the meetings. It helps us to learn and relearn," says N. Jayabhaskaran, another member.

"The success of this club is the mutual respect the members have for each other," responds V. Srinivasan, human resources consultant.

The club is celebrating its first anniversary this month. The success of this club has inspired people to start similar clubs in their locality.Already schools and colleges have shown interest to start one in their institutions. A healthy trend is in the making.

T.SARAVANAN

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