By not reading newspapers, we invite serious repercussions. Our thinking becomes narrow. The whole society moves towards orthodoxy and slowly loses its moral and developmental direction.
Iqra Bashir
In the present age of the digital revolution, reading newspapers has almost taken a back seat. Though soft copies of newspapers are available in the form of PDFs, the hard copies have receded from public memory. There are very few people who read newspapers regularly these days. Many regular readers of newspapers are no longer with us. However, it is an undeniable fact that newspapers are of paramount importance for everybody, particularly students. In the following lines, let us shed some light on the importance of reading newspapers.
Newspapers help us stay informed about what is happening in our country and around the world. They cover important topics such as politics, sports, science, education, business, and entertainment. They give us information in a simple and organised way. One major benefit of newspaper reading is that it improves our language skills. Apart from this, they help us build our vocabulary, understand new ideas, and read more carefully. Students can use newspapers to prepare for exams and improve their general knowledge. Reading the news regularly also makes us more aware of current affairs and social issues. They broaden our mental horizon and help us overcome narrow-mindedness. Moreover, they make us think creatively and critically. Furthermore, they help us understand the importance of the fourth pillar of democracy, the media, which consists of both print and electronic media. Last but not least, they help us become responsible citizens by understanding the nitty-gritty of the economic situation of our country.
However, there is another side to the coin as well. By not reading newspapers, we invite serious repercussions and disadvantages for ourselves. A person who does not read newspapers regularly has a limited understanding, and his or her thinking becomes narrow. Another disadvantage is that such a person becomes a frog in the well. His false pride does not allow him to introspect or notice his shortcomings. In this way, the whole society moves towards orthodoxy and slowly loses its moral and developmental direction. The boat of authenticity, depth, and open-mindedness gets caught in the dangerous whirlpool of conservatism, and no amount of window-dressing helps it come out of the mess.
Developed countries inculcate the habit of reading newspapers in students from a very early age so that the future of their countries is not wasted. Newspaper-reading sessions are conducted to help youngsters understand how powerful newspapers are. However, we hardly think about this. Our minds are burdened with superficial things of little importance, and that is why we are falling behind with each passing day.
The time has come to wake up to reality and start reading newspapers at the earliest. As mentioned above, they keep us informed, improve our skills, and help us think more clearly about the world around us. Now, let us embrace the habit of reading newspapers wholeheartedly. Everyone should come forward in this direction and try their best to make newspaper reading a habit. It will help shape us in the best possible way. Academic institutions must take the lead in this regard. They must lead from the front. So, what are we waiting for? Let us pledge that we will leave no stone unturned in developing the habit of newspaper reading.
The writer is a Class 9 student at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Zainakote, Srinagar
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