"Between the Lines, I Found Myself": A World Book Day Reflection.
By Anupama Vaidya.
A soul searching on the pages that shape my life of purpose and passion;
A
celebration of stories that build my soul and spark silent revolution;
A dedication
to the timeless source of knowledge, wisdom, and imagination;
A tribute to
the books that shape my mind, move my heart, and anchor my mission;
An ode to the quiet teachers who guide me gently - one chapter at a time, one verse, one revelation at a time
The ones that softened my sharpest edges, stirred silent questions and stood by me in the loneliest of hours.
The ones that helped me make sense of a noisy world – and find clarity within.
For many of us, the first brush with books was pure magic - the comfort of a bedtime story, the thrill of an adventure hidden between the pages, the joy of a chapter finished by flashlight or a line that reshaped how we saw the world.
It is nostalgic to remember the books that have filled my early years - From the mystery-filled adventures of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven, to the moral simplicity of Aesop’s Fables; from the mythic allure of Chandamama and the cultural richness of Amar Chitra Katha, to the wit and charm of Tinkle Comics, and of course, the timeless insights of Reader’s Digest – each left its mark, gently and lastingly.
As the years unfolded, so did my literary journey. I was drawn to the gripping pace of Robin Cook’s science thrillers, the intensity of John Grisham’s legal suspense stories, and the profound depth of leadership reflections, management classics, self-growth and spiritual teachings.
Time and again, the Bhagavad Gita became my lighthouse—centering, guiding, and expanding me.
Reading evolved from an ecosystem I was surrounded by — shaped by my sister’s avid habits and my colleagues’ shared booklists - to a deeply internal practice. A sacred space where learning became intentional, personal, and profoundly transformational.
Each genre offering a new lens.
Each book mirroring a different version of me.
What began as a simple joy - sparked by curiosity – has blossomed into a lifelong rhythm of learning, shaped by words, ideas, and imagination.
Today, when I glance at my overflowing bookshelf, I feel a quiet sense of fulfilment… and a gentle reminder. So many books have found a place in my life - yet so many still wait patiently, longing not just for space on a shelf, but for time, attention, and the turning of their pages.
In life’s transitions – joy, grief, solitude, celebration, reinvention - books have always shown up. They’ve been my co-travellers on flights, my sounding boards in silence, and my teachers when I had needed one most.
I owe so much of who I am today to the ink that danced across those pages.
But books aren’t just vessels of personal solace - they’re instruments of collective transformation. It was this belief that inspired the birth of The Innovative Learners Brigade - a small but spirited heartfelt movement rooted in the simple yet powerful idea of bringing ‘Books’ back along with other genres to the heart of learning.
Not reading for routine, but reading to rediscover wonder. To rekindle reflection and conversation among friends. To turn silent pages into bold possibilities—together.
Watching this brigade bloom into a thoughtful, articulate, and curious collective reminds me: ‘Books don’t just sharpen intellect—they shape identity’
Books: Windows to the World
A book is more than ink on paper; it is a portal to unknown worlds, a teacher without borders, and a mirror to our unspoken truths. Whether fiction or non-fiction, mythology, history or science, poetry or philosophy - books bridge cultures, time periods and ideologies.
As one Sanskrit verse beautifully
captures:
"विद्या ददाति विनयं, विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्।
पात्रत्वाद् धनमाप्नोति, धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥"
(“Knowledge imparts humility,
from humility comes worthiness. With worthiness, one gains prosperity, and with
prosperity, one attains righteousness, leading to true happiness.”)
This is the power gift of books – they do not just inform, they transform.
They shape character, awaken values, and silently lead us toward deeper meaning and fulfilment.
A Gentle Pause to Reflect
As I celebrate this day, I look back with gratitude at the books that shaped my thinking, comforted my heart, and stirred my spirit. Some books etched themselves into the fabric of my being. Others quietly passed through like whispers - leaving behind a lesson, a question, or a spark.
Perhaps today, you too will reach for a book that once spoke to you or you once begun but never finished... or gift a story to someone who needs it most.
And to those who have long drifted away from the habit of picking up a book and reading: Consider this a gentle nudge, a heartfelt reminder: When you stop reading, you stop feeding a part of your soul that starves for reflection, growth, and quiet expansion.
The mind may stay busy, but the
spirit craves stillness - the kind found only in the turning of a page, the
unfolding of a story, the echo of a profound thought held in ink.
The World Book Day Reading Challenge
Let’s revive that beautiful rhythm - one book, one soul, one step at a time.
Pick up a book you once started but never finished.
Revisit an old favorite that once left a mark on you.
Gift a book to someone who needs hope, perspective, or joy.
Share a passage or quote that shaped your thinking.
Encourage someone - a child, a friend, a colleague - to begin their own reading journey.
Tag it. Talk
about it. Reflect on it.
Because
every book opened is a mind awakened.
Every story
shared is a seed sown for a wiser, kinder world.
Books Will Remain Timeless
No matter how advanced our lifestyles become; No matter how unimaginable the future may be – Books will remain timeless.
They may evolve in form - from parchment to print to pixels - but their essence will endure.
For books are more than mere objects; they are vessels of memory, mirrors of our becoming, and maps of the human spirit.
In a world rushing forward with AI, augmented realities and constant noise – Books will still ask us to pause, reflect, and feel.
They will continue to shape us –
Not through urgency, but through understanding.
Not through noise, but through
nuance.
Not through immediacy, but through introspection.
Books are humanity’s gentle inheritance - etched in words, passed through generations.
Legacies not just to be preserved, but to live, share, and carry forward.
So even as the world reinvents itself, may we always find ourselves…between the lines.
Happy World Book Day
to every reader, mentor, and seeker. Let’s celebrate not just the books on our shelves - but the journeys they’ve taken us on… and the ones still waiting to begin.
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