Imagine what it would be like to own
a time machine. We could travel to any era in any part of the world! We
could be in Victorian England or even watch Shakespeare pen down the greatest
marvels of literature. We could witness the great fight for Indian Independence
and perhaps even take part in it! We could go meet the man we admire most in
history or better yet we could witness every epoch making moment through our very
own eyes! Yes it would be wonderful, wouldn't it?
But time machines don’t really exist, do they? In my world they certainly do and are the wonderful books in my
bookshelf.
Books are the vehicles of escape!
Yes they could take us to the Big Ben; the Taj Mahal or even the Alps anytime
and every time, over and over again! Who wouldn't love reading them then? The
possibilities are limitless when we have books in front of us! Books stretch the
boundaries of space and time. While at one moment we could be in our living
room right at the next we could find ourselves on the balcony of the Buckingham
palace! Now who wouldn't want that? Yes, books are the treasures that offer us
the corridor to any part of the world and that too at a time and place of our
convenience.
Why do we read books? Why do we
like to snuggle up with a book and be cut off magically from the rest of the
world? I’d say for they show us things far beyond the horizon; they expand our
vision. With just one life to live, I’d say books help us explore things we
normally wouldn't.
Books are companions in the best
and worst of times of our lives. With a book by our side, we are never alone,
never lonely! But that’s not all they teach us lessons that more often than not
also define the person we are. Without bickering they jump into the bed with us
while silently counselling, pacifying, exciting and even encouraging us.
Mark Twain once quoted the man who does not read good books has no
advantage over the man who can't read them. Believe me that is not just
fancy jargon from a great Author, that’s truth in essence. A well read man
knows more about the world than any other would. Books are like Alibaba’s hidden
cave of knowledge, intrigue and wisdom with the best part being that we don’t
need any ‘Open Sesame’ to unlock them!
A home with books is like paradise
on earth with every book tucking away secrets and mysteries within its bosom
just for us to unearth! We could live the life of a pirate, a cast away, a
prince or a king even. We could be anything and everything we want to for those
moments between the pages of a book. Yes that’s why we love books!
I agree there are people who don’t
read at all or just read for necessity. But then there are those for whom books
are like oxygen! The thrill of each book, the scent of the sheets, the sound of
flipping through pages or simply staying up all night in spite of the early
morning meeting just to get to through to the end. Yes, that is why books are
what they are; for many the elixir of life.
We could have acrophobia but
through books we could climb the tallest buildings in the word. We could fear
darkness but through books we could walk around at night and possibly solve a crime.
Yes these are just some of the highs and the eclectic thrills that books could
introduce us to. Books are loved for they are promises brought right to our bare
hands!
Reading books opens us up to the
world. It deciphers the various aspects of life for us. Every book tells us
more than just the words in it. Every book is an opportunity to tread and to
discover. Culture, history, civilization and in fact even religion finds more
meanings in writings; in books! A swim in the fathomless universe of books
enriches us as a person and enhances our philosophy of life. Books help us
reach clarity in thinking for they are mirrors of everything the society was,
is and could be in the future.
As E.P. Whipple quoted Books
are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time; so come forward, embrace
them for they are better than wine!