Books - A gateway to a whole new world

As humans, one of the best things we possess is the ability to imagine. We create the greatest inventions solely based on our imaginations. The human brain is innovative and imaginative. And one of the best ways to keep this innovation running is by reading books. Books are the best way to enhance imagination. They have shaped generations, built empires and changed the course of humanity in more ways than one. And to celebrate this precious entity World Book Day is celebrated on 23rd April every year.

It was established on 23rd April 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The date was shortlisted since it is the death anniversary of William Shakespeare and prominent Spanish chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The World Book Day date is also the same as the "World Reading Day" date.

Throughout the history and evolution of humankind, books have been a constant source of passing down the lessons, secrets and most importantly, knowledge to the newer generations. Books have several genres such as - romance, fantasy, thriller, suspense, biography, autobiography, self-help and more. As a child, I remember reading extensively about Indian history, especially the brave kings like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Peshwa Bajirao I, Maharana Pratap, the Cholas and the many unsung heroes of the yesteryears. I also read a lot about medieval and modern history. All of that made me inclined toward history. I was curious about the hows, the whys and the whens. That is when I understood the importance of books. Growing up, as I was gravitating towards spirituality, I read the Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharat. Those two books changed my perspective completely.  Several important lessons such as human behaviour, karma and more were taught to me in a way no school ever could. And boy was I grateful!

Since reading became a hobby, I also picked up different genres and books. Authors such as Virginia Woolf, Margaret Atwood, Sudha Murthy, Ernest Hemingway, Pu La Deshpande, Kusumagraj, Haruki Murakami, Khaled Hosseini, Amish Tripathi, Manu S. Pillai and more have been pivotal in moulding me into a different person. Being in the tourism industry, I have also read many travel inspired books. However, one of the most important books that have changed my life for the better has been Harry Potter. As cliched as it sounds, there has never been a book in the genre of fantasy that has pulled me in so well. It gave me so much to think, learn and talk about. My friends and I have gone and can still go on for hours talking about it. It has changed the lives of millions of readers throughout the world.

Books have a way of bringing the best imaginative ideas out of a human. They expand your horizons to a limit that you didn't even think was possible. And to read, there is no boundary. You can read any book in any language of your choice. It can be cliched, it can be offbeat or it can be anything that makes you happy. But what is important is that you read. Various organisations in the world promote reading and books in general. Every year, several literary organisations declare a particular theme for this day. Based on that theme many events are held. Millions of book clubs and literary clubs are spread out across the globe and have made people find a safe place in the chaos of this world. Every book lover will vouch for the wonderful smell of a book. The feeling of opening a book and experiencing the fragrance of the pages is magical. This smell is called Biblichor.

This World Book Day, let us resolve reading regularly. Or at least one interesting book every month. Do let us know in the comments about your favourite book. See you next time with another interesting blog!