READING AND WRITING HABITS

FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

 

 

READING AND WRITING HABITS 

  

Reading and writing are like two sides of  the same coin.  Unfortunately, these two habits now seem to be slowly on the wane. Gone are the days when we, as children, used to do a lot of reading and writing in schools and colleges. And, of course, subsequently, we had a mélange of reading materials in newspapers, magazines, journals, books, etc. In addition, we had the habit of writing - diary-writing, taking notes of important points from source materials, and usefully scribbling and/or scripting. During our hey-days, it was almost a manuscript era where we had to do a lot of writing - in papers and files. And as a Secretary, I had a lot to read and write, both shorthand and long-hand.

 

Earlier, for typewriting examinations, in the second paper, we used to be supplied with unintelligible and garbled manuscripts (almost like doctor’s prescriptions) to be neatly typed on the paper. One used to scratch his/her brain for deciphering their content. There would even be short forms for words or phrases like – ‘govt’ for Government - ‘equipt’ for equipment – ‘w.r.t.’ for 'with reference to' – just to mention a few. The acronyms used would also send us into a tizzy.

 

In olden days, we would send hand-written letters to our loved ones and wait for replies. For that, we would yearningly wait for the postman. We would ask him, “Are there any letters for me or any of our family members?” A postman was thus a VIP as he used to be a link or bridge for us with our loved ones living away. The thrill of writing letters and expecting and receiving replies thereto was rather unique. That scenario is conspicuously absent now.

 

With the transformation and transition of manual typewriters to electric and then electronic typewriters with memory field, our job eased as writing considerably reduced.

 

Even in offices, file writings considerably shrunk with officers/officials increasingly opting for typing their notes on the note-sheets.

 

In the present era of 'ஈ அடிச்சான் காப்பி’, 'Cut/Copy/Paste’ has become the norm. Writing letters by hand and sending them to members of the family has almost become a thing of the past. Writing anything, say letters to parents, relatives, and friends that used to be the case in those days not only helped us to effectively and efficiently convey our feelings to our loved ones but it gave us air of personal satisfaction, gratification, and fulfilment besides enhancing and enriching our language skills, even though initially we might make some mistakes. And of course, we would get them corrected, and update and upgrade ourselves in due course. After all, writing is an interesting art and habit to be continuously practiced.

 

As the present rocket-speed and machine-like life almost leaves no scope for manuscripts, none takes pain to write anything on paper with a pen or pencil. And, with the arrival of smart phones facilitating communication through SMS, WhatsApp, etc., it has eliminated the scope of writing to a great extent in the name of ‘revolutionizing the communication medium, its modes, models  and channels.’  The improvised short forms used in the mobile note pads would be funny. While Sir Isaac Pitman found the shorthand, we have many Pit-men (and Pit-women also) nowadays. The text of a vernacular language is typed in English. And the short-spellings and short forms of expressions used are really mind-boggling and hair-splitting, to say the least, albeit it being the fait accompli.

 

Nowadays, none wants to read anything beyond one page; the less still better. If the writing spills over to the second page, people murmur and mumble, and are almost sure to skip. And, endorsements and forwards have become the order of the day. 

 

While in service, in the office, besides writing in shorthand, I used to do a lot of writing as well in the so-called one-side papers (the other side already fully used) that gave me self-confidence and positive effect on language handling skills apart from improving handwriting (mine was not bad anyway!)

 

Books and libraries have always played a vital role in one’s studies and I was no exception. For, they were the natural storehouses of knowledge products and information searches those days. Today, we have many resources in CDs/DVDs, hard-disks, pen-drives, etc. containing huge data and information besides  the digital and online search engines that give instant results.

While the libraries in schools, colleges, and other educational institutions are a source of knowledge and reservoir of information on the specific subjects taught by them, general and special libraries outside will quench our intellectual and erudition upgradation thirst in other areas besides heightening and widening our knowledge horizons, if one makes proper use of them.

 

I was an avid and ardent reader of English books and newspapers for language enrichment and general information/current affairs updates. The local District Library in Big Street, Triplicane and the famous 1890-established Connemara Library, one of the oldest in India, located in the Museum Compound, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai were my favourite libraries. My local library was a quiet, well-stocked retreat from the summer heat and distractions. It was one place that I could be myself, because the books there didn’t care if I was a little bit weird. They wanted to be read and I would be readily there to gladly oblige. 

Needless to emphasize, good books are a treasure trove beneficial to people transcending generations and times!

 

Book reading habit had produced many world-renowned illustrious writers and statesmen and tallest personalities including erudite scholars in diverse fields across the world, as they grew up clothed with that educationally enlightening. enriching, and edifying routine and practice throughout their lives. To name them all here will be well-nigh impossible due to space constraints.

 

On a lighter vein, “Everything comes to him who waits except perhaps a loaned book”, observed Kin Hubbard. Jim Rohn once quipped, “Poor people have a big TV. Rich people have a big library.” So nice! Isn't it? Can we bring back those greener days now? Youngsters have to take the call.

 

Of course, I am very fond of writing, writing, and more writing!

 

(R.SAMPATH)

2/2/2022