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CULTIVATE READING HABITS IN YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.

There is a popular saying – ‘reading makes the man perfect’ or say ‘one who reads better, writes better’. The way of life in any place reflects in large part the percentage of its people who can read and write. Unfortunately, the general reading habits of today’s generation, especially at our natives, not encourage. Few days’ back, our Host flashed few messages to state "barkur.com efforts not reaching where they must." (And still related feedback pouring in…)

Dear reader’s, of this site and this corner, first I took it lightly, again and again, as it is appearing on the Message Screen, started an introspection within self.

WHY THERE IS DEARTH OF READERS:

Many answers in negative, like ‘what worthy there to read or who has time to do so’.

This is a half-truth. One has to cultivate reading habits in children. During my childhood days, when money was scares to buy books, few of us used to spend time in the Reading room of the School / Library, in reading News papers and Magazines. As my parents not able to subscribe any newspaper, shops / hotels / barbershops were frequently visited to serve the purpose. One day I found out, Panchayat Board was arranging, selected few Dailies / Magazines both in Kannada and English as well, thereafter, in the evenings, we used to visit the Buddha Jayanthi Mandira.

In these days, seen quite a few magazines nicely arranged, on the Vicar’s Table including a Kannada daily. Seen youngsters just turning the pages to have a glance at the headlines but ‘serious reading’ distinct from recreational / study type, are a rare scene.

As the newspapers are the windows to the world events, if one confine only to school book learning, surly one’s personality doesn’t develop. Just reading Amcho Yuvak, Jeju Rai or Pedruchi Chavi or things like that not sufficient. Do inculcate serious reading habits in High school / College going children.

Parents and teachers can influence children in this regard. Let me admit here it is my father, who used to buy, a Kannada Digest ‘ Kasturi’ and occasionally ‘Illustrated Weekly of India’, and making me, rather forcing to read, at initial stages, helped immensely to develop a liking for books in later years.

FEW TIPS TO CONSIDER:

Many children don’t know about the existing facilities and purchasing power or money may be a problem.

One can find solutions for them, when we were at Mumbai, used to run a "Circulating Magazine Club"; there were minimum 15 – 20 periodicals every month – Konkanni, Kannada and English. Based on each one’s interest, each one of us used to buy one or two books every month, spending an average of Rs.10/= p.m. but has an access to reading material worth Rs. 200 – 300 p.m. ICYM can plan-out something on these lines.

In this part of the world, in Muscat, we continued the same, with the co-operation of friends who were asked to bring Indian Magazines while returning from leave, every month, which worked out to be very much economical, as like minded people join hands.

If the above not feasible, 3-4 families can unite to subscribe various newspapers and Magazines and inter exchange the same. At present, we take, Kannada daily Udayavani, Taranga, The Times Daily, India Today, Women’s Era, Raknno and the local English newspapers and everybody reads everything at minimum cost. (Publishers of the papers / magazines may not be happy to accept this proposal)

HOW TO CULTIVATE WRITING HABITS:

It is said, overnight no one become a writer. It is a talent or gift with many; out of this many, very few develop this art.

[I would like to share my own observation of few known writers of Barkur, hopefully in my next article]

In a broad way, there are two categories – general writers and literatures, most of us can write to the editor, send complimentary notes, for special occasions, draft a complaint, short message, express one’s opinion on a subject etc. - which hardly need experience or special knowledge – one must have the guts to say a spade a spade, that’s all - but the latter is a gift and one have to develop the same.

We at barkur.com doing our best possible to reach each one’s doorstep, (I repeat it is a free service by the Host and very few likeminded people, in the interest of community at large, to keep you updated of Barkur) and to do so solicit your patronage and contribution, friends we are not writing for name or fame, (if that is the case one can write to popular magazines with wider readership and get recognition) but surely with a hope of someone to get benefited and to share what little we know. I am very sure many of you know better than most us over here.

We already put-up a special Notice Board in the Church, to exhibit selected articles, of course, the space surly insufficient to display everything, as you all know it is voluminous, if need be, larger board may be installed over here (and one in the High schools, or in the Panchayat Offices, if people interested) with the permission of Host, for the convenience of local people.

P.Archibald Furtado, Muscat, 10/06/2003.

   For a series of a very high quality articles covering many subjects,  by       Mr. Archibald Furtado , go through the archives. Click on the respective subject 

Barkur, located in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, India. 576 210

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Copyright Kishoo, Barkur 2002.