A mother complained, "In spite of reading all day long, my--daughter is not doing well in studies!" "What does she read?" "Obviously, her 'course' books," she answered. Ask a parent; "Does his child reads some storybooks, magazines etc." They will be surprised. "Story books? How could reading storybooks and novels help him in his studies? Is not that an absolute waste of time; of money?" They would retort.

After one of my lectures in an institution, when I asked students how many hours they study, the answers varied between 4 and 6 hours. When asked what books they read; 95% answered they read only the course books. Merely 5% said, besides the textbooks, they read newspapers, books and magazines also.

Reading books has now become a rare habit. Why only reading, the television and Internet has made playing, chatting, waking a rare activity. The truth of vanishing reading habit was vindicated by the recent survey by a well-known daily. On a question, "Is reading as habit dying?" 90% answered 'Yes'. Only 10% said 'No' and 5% 'Can't say'.

Talking about own self is not a good proposition, nonetheless if it could benefit, the reader would bear with me. Until 1948, when I was admitted in 5th standard, I had not seen or read a book, magazine or a newspaper except the textbooks. My first introduction to the newspaper was through two Hindi dailies the school subscribed. The news, which interested me most then, were the hot and spicy ones, as hartals, fracas, quarrels, assaults, theft, elopements, rape, murder and the like. Soon, they lost appeal and the attention focused on to the sports, then politics. By college days, the editorial and the articles on the editorial page became the favourites. During service, in the spare time, college library was my favourite destination. The hobby continues even today.

As principal, my first job used to be to visit various departments. In most cases, during conversation, the students and the staff took me to be the teacher of their subject - that was obviously the result of my hobby of reading. The reading has stood me in good-stead to this day.

Two other experiences would also be of benefit to the reader. First concerns my professor colleague who was also a renowned Urdu poet. The professor had three sons. The eldest, topper in the university, was then a trainee in the National Defence Academy, Deharadun. The other two were doing MBBS. They were whiz kids. Not only were they meritorious, but good sportsman, singer, stage artiste, and orator all in one.

My two sons were in a stage when they were to choose their career. I asked the professor how he led his sons to such an accomplishment? To quote him verbatim: "You know, I am a shayar. I rarely read books even of my own subject. Only thing I do to my sons is I make available to them all good magazines, periodicals and newspapers. I never read them! But that made them passionate reader."

My measure of success is that when you begin to be introduced as father of your son, everything is all right with your son. And I feel proud when I am introduced as the father of my sons. And this happened because I followed the advice of my professor colleague.

Those who engage themselves in the hobby of reading are more successful, more modern, more liberal, more tolerant and more rational. They are positive and forward-looking. Reading expands their power of discrimination - ability of sorting out chaff from the barn. A good reader is a good communicator too. And lastly, teaching produces educated, reading creates man of wisdom. Remember, enough is never enough. You will realise this when it all adds up in the end. So, read, read and read.