An ode to reading

Everyone who knows me knows I am crazy about books. I have been reading books since I was, what, five or six years old? And like many of my generation (those were the days before Harry Potter) I began with Enid Blyton's stories and progressed rapidly to Alistair Maclean, Arthur Hailey, Desmond Bagley, James Hadley Chase, Agatha Christie, and that master of the English language P.G. Wodehouse.

I have bought a lot of books in my time. In fact, books call out to me (I think), which is why I have many books at home that I have bought but not yet found time to read. I also buy books intuitively. Four non-fiction books that occupy the pride of place on my bookshelves — Here At The New Yorker, Remembering Mr. Shawn's New Yorker: The Invisible Art Of Editing, Just Enough Liebling and The Gang That Wouldn't Write Straight — were purchased because they had a connection to New Yorker magazine, because they were about writing, about journalism. I often buy fiction the same way. Once, after having read and enjoyed Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell, I went to Landmark and bought the whole series — a total of nine books featuring the iconic Inspector Kurt Wallander.

But last year I became a member of the fabulous Just Books library chain and now, for just Rs.150 per month, I get to read all the books I want, two books at a time. Now I only buy the books I really, really want to own (for which I keep visiting my favourite online bookstore, Flipkart.)

I believe you are what you read. I also believe you have to be a good reader if you want to be a good writer. So at Commits, I am always trying to get our students to read the wonderful books in the college library. I also lend books from my collection. And many students seem to like the books I recommend. That is why I was especially pleased to receive this email yesterday from Commitscion Sumith Sagar (Class of 2009):

IT'S ALL ABOUT BOOKS

Hello Sir,

I wanted to tell you that I have started reading books and have taken it up earnestly. :)  Reading has become a serious activity now. I read all kinds of books — economics, management-related, novels, short stories, and many more — in both English and Kannada.

I wanted to thank you for making me read the first book of my life. I still remember the day you gave me that book — The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Frankly, I did not understand much when I read it. But then you had the patience to sit with me and ask what I liked in it, what I found good or bad about the book.

And I can never forget Tuesdays With Morrie, one of my most favourite books. I must thank you for giving me that book because bad books can make one stop reading completely but you kept it going by giving me exactly what I wanted to read.

You might be thinking, "Why is Sumith writing about this to me now?" There is a reason. I came across an article which made me remember you (that does not mean I do not remember you otherwise). Because it was you who made me read books. I would like to share that link with you and let you know how happy I am to have read that first book given by you.

Here is the link: My Father's Son.

We will discuss more about the books I read when I come to college. :)

Thank you once again, Sir.

Take care.

Regards,

Sumith

I am very grateful to Sumith for taking the time to write in and for enabling me to discover a heartwarming appreciation of the joys of reading. In My Father's Son, veteran journalist and cricket writer Prem Panicker, who was one of the founders of Rediff.com and who is now Yahoo India's managing editor, tells us how he happened to fall passionately in love with reading. The post is also a Father's Day tribute by a son. Here's an excerpt:

Several times, in course of my twenty-odd years as a journalist, I have had people write in and tell me that they thought a particular article I had just written was well expressed, or passionately written, whatever.

And, each time, my mind would flash back to my father. To how he taught me to read and, in the process, inculcated in me a love for words and for writing. And in my heart, I would feel an immense gratitude for that moment in time when he locked up all my beloved comics and left Doctor Sally on the living room table.

"My Father's Son" is a treat to read and you'll know when you scan the more than hundred comments that I am not the only one who thinks that.

Thank you, Sumith. Thank you, Prem.

'BOOK LOVERS ARE LABELLED NERDS'

AJAY U. PAI, my 15-year-old nephew, commented via email: I wanted you to know that reading books requires awareness more than anything else. The so-called Next Generation seems to be drifting away from the dreamland created by books. Book lovers are named 'Nerds' or 'Bookworms'.

Nowadays even people who read books seem to be singing the same tune. No one wants to read and be termed a nerd and humiliated in class.

Can we ever reverse this trend and live happily ever after in our world of books? Is this possible?

Good point, Ajay. I know many young people who find reading a strain, or worse, a bore. That is probably because no one encouraged them to read when they were children and, sadly, when they were growing up there was little incentive to spend time on books given the distractions of the computer, video-game, and television (distractions that did not exist when I was a child).

But I have found that people who are averse to reading even in their twenties get to like, if not love, books once they realise that books can make a difference to their lives and careers.

Books give us enormous pleasure. And books help to broaden our minds. They help to improve our vocabulary, increase our knowledge, stimulate our creativity. Novels transport us to a world that exists only in the author's imagination and as we read on that world becomes ours too. Non-fiction works in a different way by giving us a new perspective on our world as it exists.

We learn from Sumith Sagar's experience above that it is never too late to begin reading books.

But imagine what a head start you get when you begin young. Why would you want to shrug off this first-mover advantage? So never mind what others say (though that is probably easier said than done). It's your life, your choice. If books give you pleasure, and much else, then spend as much time with books as possible. I am confident YOU will be the beneficiary.

• Also read: David Ogilvy on why reading is important; The amazing books that made me fall in love with journalism all over again - 1; The amazing books that made me fall in love with journalism all over again - 2; What to read; If you're a book-lover....
• (March 6, 2011) Commitscion Padmini Nandy Mazumder, Class of 2011, shared this link on her Facebook wall: "Date a girl who reads". It is a beautifully articulated argument in favour of reading. So read it. Please.