YES, TIMES HAVE CHANGED... BUT, READING HASN'T









Pic.: Chetna Shetty



“We are the children of a technological age. We have found streamlined ways of doing much of our routine work. Printing is no longer the only way of reproducing books. Reading them, however, has not changed."


Lawrence Clark Powell


Reading hasn't become extinct, yet. People still read… Only question is: Whether they prefer reading online or offline… Whether the traditional book – the hard-copy or the trendy, convinient soft-copy…

I have just returned from the THE DAWN CLUB Certification function held in the local gymkhana today. During the course, one of the many things I had kept reminding them to do was: to read, read, and read…

Yes, read anything…

Read anything that helped them broaden their outlook towards life… “Reading helps you develop your world-view,” I would, often, tell them…

Read anything that helped them enhance their subject-knowledge… “Reading helps you in constantly enhancing your field-knowledge long after you have done with your college,” I would remind them…

Reading anything that helped them feel inspired to lead a better life… “Reading about successful people, their stories - biographies and autobiographers - helps you aspire for a similar life… to do well in life… lead  a productive and inspiring life,” I would emphasize…

Finally, reading anything that helped them relax in life… “Reading a good book is like being with a good friend… it helps you calm down, and be by yourself,” I would conclude.


So, while it is true, that the majority, today, do not read books, it is not true, that they do not read at all…

For, people still aspire for a great life… They still want to enhance their field-knowledge… They still want to broaden their world-view… They still want inspiration to succeed in life… And, yes, they still want to relax and lead a peaceful life…

Life, itself, is an open book…  Isn't it? So, how can one lead through it without reading it?

Whether online or offline… the hard-copy or soft-copy – it should not matter, then. Yes, times have changed… But, reading hasn't.


GERALD D’CUNHA

Comments

Vivek Pai said…
Agree with you sir.
January 27, 2015 at 12:37 PM
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