Growing up it was always a pleasure to read multiple books of different genres. Undoubtedly there are many great works of fiction available in the modern era too but the classics are a class apart. It actually expands our horizons. Reading a book takes you out of yourself and nourishes your mind in a way that more passive entertainment might not. Finishing a book you've always meant to read gives you a warm glow of virtue. Today the market is bombarded with books of all taste and colour but some fail to touch our heart.
Many of us have been fortunate to have grown up on a healthy diet of literary classics that kept us engrossed right from the start. Books such as Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway, To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee to Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte,these classics would take us through unique literary experience, a journey that remains unmatched by today's social media age of curt proses, memes and snappy writing. Classic literature is like heirlooms that needs to be passed from one generation to another. It is an expression of beauty in the form of literary art, imaginative prose and language that stands the test of time transcending eras. Some literary classics are evergreen and continue to touch readers even today, enriching and inspiring them in so many ways.
It is surprising and disturbing that functional English that we often talk about is actually making the youngsters look for shortcuts. Reading just one act of Merchant of Venice or Hamlet doesn't unfold the depth of Shakespeare's capacious writings. With each book children must be allowed to embrace new perspectives, ideas and cultures. The big question is - in this age of fast-turners and short prose, how does investing our time in a timeless literary classic change us for the better?
It is common knowledge that reading as a habit enhances your vocabulary and fluency of a language. If we cannot be well equipped and loaded with an artillery of words like Mr Shashi Tharoor, at least we can understand that classics have an edge in supplying us with words. Their expression and choice of words sets them apart. The writing style is often so enriching that it makes you reflect upon it and wonder what you read.
Many classics from yesteryears, which got little or no success earlier are invaluable today. They open a window through which one can experience different cultures and their histories. They also help in strengthening social skills. Novels that have strong characters give a sense of personal ethics and make you a better judge of character. Morality and ethics are assets that are becoming extinct and it is essential to preserve it.
Not just history, culture and vocabulary, one of the most prominent benefits of reading classic literature is that it inculcates endurance and patience to live a worthy life. These masterpieces give a new stance on life, love, thoughts and ancient wisdom that still holds true. It is a part of human legacy and history. They are pearls that ornate the reader's thought process for it was never created for momentary pleasure . Most importantly it allows you to engage with the best works of the greatest minds. Thus it is imperative to show children the richness of literature. In fact with functional grammar, fad English, geekspeak and derogatory half coined vocabulary we are making our children dimwitted and fragile. Gift your young one just a classic this summer and kindle an unfathomable love for literature.
The writer is a senior teacher at Delhi Public School, Ranchi and the views expressed in the article are her own.