Children must read more, follow dreams: Writers

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24

Author Bhaavna Arora today called upon students to turn failures into opportunities in life and asked them to follow their dreams keenly.

She was speaking at a session of The Ghummakkad Narain Travelling Literature Festival that took place today in two schools, The Heritage School and Jaswant Modern School. She was joined by writers Shaguna Gahilote and Dr Dinesh Chamola who interacted with students of Class VI to XII about issues of adolescence, writing and poetry.

At the sessions at Jaswant Modern School, Bhaavna talked about how to turn failures into opportunities and the importance to following one’s dreams. Describing the festival as a fantastic one, Bhaavna stressed the need for organising more such festivals. Such festivals were very rare these days, she stated.

“The kids were lovely and they had wonderful questions to ask. We need to provide them with more such opportunities,” said Bhaavna, who has authored “The Deliberate Sinner” and “Mistress of Honour”. Dr Chamola recited Hindi poems and explained the nuances of Indian poetry.

Prarthana Gahilote, festival director, expressed happiness over the progress of the festival. “We are reaching out to children and are working with them over the years to keep the spark of reading kindling in their hearts,” Prarthana said.

Shaguna Gahilote, a writer, said the school and teachers were seeking more of such sessions, which was a welcome sign.

“There is a huge demand and unfortunately it is not matched with funding opportunities and we do as much we can with Ghummakkad Narain festival. It is a wonderful platform and everybody immediately connects with the Ghummakkad Narain concept and logo,” observed Shaguna.

The Ghummakkad Narain Travelling Literature Festival is named after well-known writer and journalist from Dehradun Thakur Vishwa Narain Singh and was started under the aegis of UNESCO to support Government of India’s Right to Education Act (RTE).

Thakur Vishwa Narain Singh was the recipient of the prestigious Soviet Land Nehru Award which was awarded to him for his social work, especially for his work for the blind.

He was a literary figure of his times and contributed to various newspapers and magazines and wherever he went, he encouraged children to read, offering books and his own stories. It is this message of his that is being carried forward through the festival which is now in its 7th year.