The enduring charm of words

The pen is mightier than the sword they say. Indeed, it is. Mastering vocabulary is an art form that unfolds from childhood to adulthood. I recall my little girl, barely two years old, wondering aloud when she would learn to “yead” and “yite”. It was a moment of realisation about the journey ahead.

Word Power! Doing the  daily crossword that my mother deftly tackles every morning. She’s been doing this for years, and her trusty Oxford dictionary is testament to her dedication. In the bargain, this habit has helped us overcome mental inertia, and the words we’ve learned stay with us. Reading articles is enjoyable, but this additional exercise in word power does a world of good. It’s like adding a garnish to our mental palate.

Words can create magic when put together, adding a touch of zing. Some funny phrases always stay with us: ‘Man Struck by Lightning faces Battery Charge’, ‘Hospitals are sued by 7 foot doctors’, or ‘Chef throws his heart in to helping feed the needy’. 

Our composition teacher once assigned a topic on cooks, kitchens, and soups, and our witty headlines included “Cooker in a Soup” and “Broth Gurgling in ‘Tales of Flavour’”. While none of us got into a soup for our creativity or the lack of it, we learnt that no matter the weather, soup always hits the broth spot! 

Recently, while walking in the park, we met an acquaintance listening to a Jeffrey Archer novel on an app that generates audiobooks. This technology is a brilliant option for book lovers. I always carry a book with me, whether I read it or not – it’s my safety net and stays safely in my bag. My parents instilled a love for reading in me, and I’ve passed it on to my daughter.

One of the first things we did when my father was posted to a new place was join the library. The evening strolls carrying home our favourite authors was a thrill by itself. My father subscribed for various books and comics that still line our bookshelves along with classics that were prescribed literature texts in my Master’s course. The sepia-tinted novels have texts duly underlined and generous sprinklings of notes on sides.

While tipping my hat to the brilliant strides made by digital technology, enriching the reading experience on a soft-lit screen, the joy of holding a hard copy is unmatched. There’s something special about holding a physical book, underlining passages, and making notes.  

Our library visits and book collections have created a mini library at home to pull out a book and read at leisure. It doesn’t matter you don’t have to charge it like you would your digital device.

Books are a great legacy, and the memories attached to them --how they were bought or gifted -- make them priceless heirlooms for future generations.

Just like a warm bowl of daal chawal or kichdi, or a handwritten letter delivered by post, reading a classic in hardcover is a timeless pleasure that never fades.