Four Steps to Developing a Healthy Reading Habit!

The ‘Leaders for Tomorrow’ programme at Kanyakumari, [5, 6, 7 October 2017] saw hosts of committed students from all walks of life, gather in large numbers with zeal and enthusiasm, verve and vigor, to be shaped and carved, honed and refined, for a bright future of their choice.

All eyes were ardently attentive to Dr. Jesudoss Manalan, Librarian, Bishop Heber, who gave a motivating talk on the topic, ‘Love for Books and Developing One’s Reading Habit.’

Excerpts from his motivating talk –

'Reading is for the mind, as exercise is to the body.' 

I’ve never regretted the fact that I became a Librarian!

Whenever we get letters of compliments from our past students we feel delighted and happy. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.

I wish to tell you that, you should not only have a love for books, but also for fellow human beings.

We as Librarians, play a noble role in helping individuals to grow.

At Bishop Heber, we have more than 10, 000 students. Yesterday, (04 October 2017), 1170 students visited the library. They just have to swipe their card, and their entry is clocked. I am not worried about the 1170 students who checked in, yesterday. What about the remaining 8900 students? What about their reading habits? That’s the challenge! To bring the student to the library.

It’s a process! It’s a learning process! It’s a mental process!

It improves your power of concentration, refreshes your mind, sharpens your intellect, improves your spelling, strengthens creativity, promotes fluency, increases your imagination, stimulates intellectual thoughts, helps academic achievements, etc.

A good reader is therefore a good learner.

Habit, is when you do something over and over again.

Let reading become a daily habit for you – a routine behavior.

Home,

Schools & Colleges

and

Libraries

Are places that have a great responsibility in promoting reading habits amongst youngsters.

So create a conducive atmosphere for yourself right at your home/hostel/workplace to read books.

I tell students, ‘Please pay at least a casual visit to the library. You need not sit and read! Just pay a visit! There might be some serious learners, who might inspire you to read!’

Dr. Manalan outlined four steps towards developing a healthy reading habit.

Step 1: Pick up a book with less number of pages.Step 2: read non-stop for fifteen minutes a day.Step 3: Avoid distraction while reading.
Step 4: When you finish a book, reward yourself with a new book.

Dr. Manalan signed off with a wonderful thought: ‘A Reader Today! A Leader Tomorrow!

*****

Dr. Dinakarlal, spoke on the topic, ‘Vision for a Great Life.’

He started off, saying, ‘Who am I will be decided in five years’ time from now, based on the books I read!’

Some people always find topics for criticizing others. Even when they go to heaven, they will ask for the complaints book, first thing!

Your thinking decides who you are! Thinking positively makes you strong, vibrant, innovative and energetic. On the other hand, negative thinking results in worry, fear, blame, gossip, jealousy, etc.

You can always be a winner if you have the determination.

For this to happen, you should just do one thing -

Ignore discouraging comments!

Change your stumbling stones into stepping stones! Only if you fight against all odds, you can emerge a winner.

He recollected his College Librarian Mr. David, who had taught him the right way to flip the pages of a book. Quoting Milton, he said, ‘A Good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit’. His librarian had also taught him the art of handling a book: ‘It should be handled with utmost care. There’s a way to hold the book. Never write with pencil or pen on the library book. Just fall in love with the books’.

Quoting yet another famous Professor Mr. Karunakaran Nair from the Institute of English, Kerala University, Dr. Dinakarlal observed, ‘Whenever a new book arrived, he will make it a point to read it completely. It was not only in his mind but also in his heart!’

He used to tell me, ‘Dinakar, till noon, don’t talk to anyone.’ Then at 12 noon sharp, he would take us to the canteen. There he will ask us, ‘Did you read this book?’

That’s how we grew up on books which remains our great source of vigor and sustenance even today!

To be contd…