‘Vanche Gujarat’

The fiftieth year of formation of Gujarat has many firsts to its credit. One of these is an amazing accomplishment of a small yet very inspiring idea - the experience and habit of reading.

Christened ‘Vanche Gujarat’, this campaign has made significant progress in the last six months. Yesterday, it witnessed a gathering of nearly 1100 selected students from schools and colleges of the state, who had been invited to a three day workshop to celebrate their accomplishment and shape their lives. Coincidentally, it happened to be the birth day of Thomas Alva Edison, one of the greatest contributors to human knowledge, who had over a thousand patents to his credit and worked across myriad fields, in spite of his hearing disability. It is believed he regretted his inability
to hear as it denied the pleasure of hearing the chirping of birds, which in turn speaks volumes for his sensitivity and connection to nature. He, incidentally, went on to establish a fairly big aviary to watch birds and relish this experience.

At the function of Vanche Gujarat yesterday, one felt amazed watching young Brijesh of class five, who, braving his disability has read over twenty five books and was found seated on his wheel chair in the front of the hall. Inspired by this, as I asked a young reader about the gains of reading, his insights astonished me. “It hones your aspirations for the highest, exercises your brain, widens your
imagination and transports you to the mood and context depicted”, he said. Wow!

The habit of reading has often been described as one which is fundamental to the growth and development of an informed human being. As we move towards a knowledge society, it is imperative that we acknowledge and respect knowledge and seekers of knowledge.
Speaking to the students gathered from the length and breadth of Gujarat, Chief Minister Sh. Narendra Modi congratulated the participants. Gujaratis, whether rich or poor have always worshipped Lakshmi, he said. This campaign, he felt, is about propitiating the Goddess of learning, Saraswati, without whose grace, wealth does not stay nor is beneficial. This campaign, he emphasized, was aimed at encouraging reading with complete freedom of choosing a book of any genre.

While living and travelling abroad, I would be amazed at the number of books that young children would guzzle up! Needless to say the importance of reading in school, on the job, for information, or recreation cannot be exaggerated. It is heartening that an excellent beginning has been made.

The habit of reading could start at a very young age if parents and elders read out stories with pictures to young children. This gently leads them to the world of books, words, ideas, images and beyond. It helps hone their understanding and imagination. Their construct of the world and beyond get formed by reading. Inspirational stories which talk of the supremacy of truth, courage and love should be read out to children from a young age. Such stories will not only instill the
highest aspirations from a tender age but also strengthen the bonding of the child with her parents. Stories of national pride, universal oneness and sensitivity to nature and animals could also be read out to young minds.

The stories that Jijabai told Shivaji as a child, perhaps laid the foundation for what he grew up to be. The Children’s University has brought out a collection of stories for parents and teachers to read out to students and gradually lead them towards silent, independent reading. Slowly over time, children develop a friendship with books which grows into a life long relationship with the world of
books, knowledge and highest aspirations.
Smt Jayanti Ravi