He sat in the veranda carefully watching the struggles of a butterfly trying to win over the petals of a blooming flower in his home garden. Looks like he had a lot to learn from the little creature.
Mr Abhyankar, a retired school headmaster, beloved teacher, and author of a few regional short stories was a man with an infectious smile. At the age of 72, his eagerness to learn from life and share his experiences with the younger generation was inspiring.
As I approached him, I greeted him with a hearty “good morning” and asked him what he was looking at.
“I was reading the nature’s story”, he replied.
Reading was his favourite hobby. A hobby that the world discovered when he secured a university gold medal in Master of Literature. And he never stopped. He continued reading even in the midst of challenges and hardships.
Speaking to him was always a pleasurable experience. He always reminded me of a walking encyclopaedia and I couldn’t help myself from asking him how he maintained his enthusiasm at this age when most of today’s youth were falling prey to depression.
I read and imagine a lot”, he replied. “The power of imagination helps give directions to our present and future and contextualise our past. And authors give us an opportunity to exercise this power every day. The great battles fought in history or the emperors who ruled our lands is all brought to life when we read a historical novel.”
“Look at our great historical personalities, and the extraordinary virtues that they possess. Is it possible to meet them? No. But if you can encounter them in the nearby library whenever you want. Just stop by and say hello.”
As he started to elaborate I could feel the enthusiasm building. “The problem, he said, with today’s generation is their lack of patience. Young minds are struggling to save time. But for whom? How many of you have healthy family gatherings or trusted friend-circle?” Yes, we are constantly connected. But through a virtual touch. What’s real in that? Most of the young minds are running an aimless race in herds, but still feel alone.” And that’s why this monster called depression is engulfing young lives.”
He continued to explain how reading the right literature will not just guide you but will also inspire you to live. It will help you to embrace failures like Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln. How the inspiring stories of Betty Mehmoodi, Sindhutai Sapkal, Subhashchandra Bose who have fought against injustice and suffered enormous torture, will be sources of inspiration whenever we feel the urge to give up.
What he said made complete sense.
“Travelling to a new city? Grab a book and read about it. Or look it up online. It will enrich your experience. Reading will not only distract you from your monotonous life, your troubles, and problems but it might bring you closer to finding a solution. Randomly hidden, in a line.”
That conversation taught me something important. I would be lying if I say that I made a dash to the nearest library and pick up a book instantly. But I was inspired to want to do the same. And that big deal.
It was a start.
So, my dear read ,read & read…
A beautiful saying by Dr Ambedkar, ‘Vachaal tar vachaal’ means
If you read then you will be saved from thousands of forthcoming troubles.”
