During my childhood days, we used to have regular sessions at schools and at gatherings to read out poetry and also slokas from ancient Sanskrit literatures. We used to memorize them and then taking turn complete entire series giving a good feeling to the participants as well as the audience. However, these days, I feel, whether our children get to participate in such activities with the same fervor and interest. Even if they learn the scriptures, do they get to read aloud? Imagine, walking into a room, where were a session of poetry reading in English, or other Indian languages or even Arabic happening. You will get to enjoy the seamless flow of poems covering themes such as love, alienation, sensuality and even light-hearted poems. It will generate a creative awareness, will bring out the poets ideas with ease. I feel we should have more poetry reading sessions here in the UAE. It should be a part of our culture. Schools and organizations should arrange regular poetry reading sessions and encourage children as well as adults to take part in it. Television media should also support and initiate poetry reading session as one item in their schedule. We are slowly moving to a generation who are becoming non-expressive and non-reactive towards day-to-day happenings. The over dependence on electronic gadgets and communication systems are dangerously spreading “Short Message Syndromes” in their world. We must alert them about the dangers of it and bring them back to the world we enjoyed. To a small extent, I am trying my own part, by organizing a Young Readers Club through my Talent Share blogging activity. Children and parents are welcome to showcase their oratory/poem reading skills.

Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt. 19.06.2010 – A lesson for schools