Yesterday, after almost a zillion years, I heard a few golden words from my wife. “I am enjoying reading these days!” It was music to my years. I immediately opened all of my library and took out some 15 minutes to suggest her 3-4 books that she could read immediately. And watching her read is almost a sadistic pleasure – “I told you so!” kinds… 🙂

Reading to me is therapeutic. I have been reading ever since I was born. My cousins tease me that I was so adamant a toddler, I would ask them to loudly recite comic books they were reading! I enjoy reading everywhere, for 2-3 hours on a daily basis, and not only when I am on a train/plane. And as a result, I have always encountered baffled minds when they see/observe/hear about my incessant reading. How can you? Isn’t it boring? I just cannot read…

I always wonder why? How could someone not enjoy the sheer pleasure of reading something new, getting to know new things/viewpoints/ideas. And I always reasoned that it was perhaps because Indians don’t cultivate reading habits from childhood. But I was wrong! This is true universally – people don’t like to read. They would much rather watch TV or play games or indulge in other activities than read.

Why oh Why? Perhaps, education ruins the prospects by making people dislike books. Anyways, I guess its probably inertia to do something which engages the mind in ways it doesn’t like to be engaged. Like, it took me almost eternity to return to blogging. Although I had decided to write regularly for the umpteenth time, it was only when I finally left my inertia and got off my @#$, did I write this first one (after a long time I mean).

So what can we do to remove inertia to get more people to read? What can possibly pique the interest of someone towards reading? Maybe there is a new business idea here that I can think of! Any suggestions? Do write to me, will be more than glad to give you credit for its success!

Happy reading then, till I fill in this space with another one of my masterpieces (seriously, I thought this out)!!!