The other day was one of my regular visits to the library in the vicinity. A bright evening with cheerful sunshine swallowing you in its beams… So I eagerly headed to the library in search of my favourite novel by Agatha Christie.
A handful of youngsters had their heads together pondering on some book. An old man grumbled that he couldn’t find the book that he wanted to which he was politely asked to give a list of books that he would like. While I stood there waiting to be handed over the novel after being stamped behind with the return date and library card number, my mind scurried to analyse the fact ‘Why were there so few people frequenting the library? Don’t people realise the benefits of reading? Are people too busy wrapped up in their mundane roles of life that reading is considered a serious waste of time?’
With the book safely tucked in my handbag, I hopped on to the local bus which was headed in the direction of my home. As soon as I reached home, I said to myself, “My next article should focus on increasing the reading habit among the youth.” What are the youngsters busy doing the whole day?
I got a glimpse into their activities as I was chatting with a young mother the other day. Making a dramatic face that could outshine many of our tiatr artistes, she said with emphasis, “I get up about 5.30 am every single morning. I have to churn a quick breakfast and pack the children’s tiffins. My two children have to be dropped off to the nearby school. Then I do my grocery shopping on the way back home and cook lunch. Then off I rush to pick them up from school. After a hasty lunch, they have to be dropped off for tuitions at different places. Sometimes, there is no time to rest and relax. The children are dog tired by the time they reach home which is very late in the evenings. They prefer to watch some hilarious programmes to reading. I also don’t force them to read as they have been writing and reading other stuff the whole day long.”
With a maddening schedule like this, time restraints pose a major hindrance to the reading habit. Although I personally feel that tuitions for every school-going child are not necessary, parents make it a point to send them to tutors. Tuitions should be reserved for the academically weak lot.
With a well-organised time-table wherein a child reads, plays and relaxes sufficiently, all round personality development would be the ideal outcome. A parent should encourage the reading habit at a young age. In addition to browsing the local dailies, the parents must frequent the library with their children and help them select books and magazines of their liking. Nowadays, children are quick in clicking the computer mouse or tapping away at the keyboard. Ask any college student about their Facebook profiles and see how their faces light up. Also quick to post comments or change their WhatsApp profile pictures, our youngsters are masters of such social networking. Where are their reading skills gone?
