Literature enhances readers' perception
by Ranjan Amarasinghe
The growing popularity of literature is a global phenomenon, in spite
of television having a crippling effect on masses who have bartered
their inborn critical faculty in exchange of instant pleasure and
amusement.
Notwithstanding a modicum of excellent programmes transmitted over
the television on science, arts, environment etc, the medium of
television to a great extent thrives on cheap sensationalism, and wanton
violence.
Given this unsatisfactory situation, it is not surprising that an
increasing number of enlightened public has opted to find solace in
literature, thus curtailing their time spent on television to the bare
minimum.
Today, irrespective of busy schedules, men, women and children select
reading books as one of their favourite hobbies sharpening their
imaginative powers.
Creative writers play a pivotal role in moulding their readers with
deep resonant ideas and also making them more sensitized to gripping
problems, which they confront frequently, in their day-to-day life.
The prospect of living without books of literary value is not a
bright proposition. Such an apocalyptic event, where perceptive mind
loses its inalienable right of finding solace through the age-old habit
of reading books, will surely chime the death-knell to the well-being of
the mankind.
For nothing can replace books of literary value and television in
comparison, a poor imitator, which will on the other hand hasten the
stabilization of robot civilization, in which man's brute instincts will
be given undue prominence, which after all was the norm, in our
pre-historic times.
Paradoxically, the modern man is capable of causing irreparable
destruction, with his proud legacy of accrued stock pilings of Nuclear
arsenals, which will effectively seal the fate of human civilization
with doom and extinction.
Therefore let us cherish the habit of reading books especially
creative writing, such as short stories, novels and poems. Apart from
fiction, poetry which boasts of a rich oral tradition, is a powerful
tool which can evolve man's finest sensibilities.
This trait of inherent humanity, a characteristic of mankind enlivens
us with a spark of hope that the human beings are capable of ascending
to a higher moral pedestal in a broader sense, and one day eschew from
committing all kinds of heinous and despicable acts of violence against
their own kindred.
Towards this end, creative writers should work with diligence in
their chosen field such as poetry, short story, novel and drama,
spreading with religious zeal, the universal message of love,
understanding among all the strata of society, fulfilling their quest of
findings the truth, however unpalatable, about the human nature of the
mankind.
This will enable us to come to terms with the stark reality and
inevitable change which smother us with a relish, from the cradle to the
grave.
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