In this world, exist the best creature of the Almighty, the human being. A man is the amalgamation of diverse elements coupled with the blessing of ability to think and power of taking his own decisions. However, very few humans take the right decision and adopt a value-oriented path. Anyhow, the Reading Challenge 2019 can lead one to a proper way.
Recently, a video went viral on social media and television media regarding a challenge called a “Bottlecap” challenge. In the challenge, a person needs to kick a bottle in such a way so that its cap gets open. It is wondrous indeed. Similarly, there was another challenge named “KIKI” went viral across the globe in yester months.
Bottle Cap Challenge
However, a point to ponder upon is whether the kicking of the bottle cap or dancing beside a moving car and singing “KIKI” are doing any value addition and contributing any good to our society? No, it does not. How great it would be if we come up with something like Reading Challenge 2019.
The quandary of our world is we are driven by materialism rather than morality, ethics, and values. We incline towards mundane and corporeal things; we get impressed by money, a lucrative job or handsome physique or beauty. Whereas, as a human being our thinking should be higher than the worldly goods.
Thomas Overbury in his poem, “A Wife” (1613), writes “beauty is only skin deep”. What a wonderful thought and what glorious lines that depict the essence of life in one phrase.
In this era of rapid technological advancement, humans have reached the heights of the universe, a moon; they have developed a cure for multiple diseases; scientific inventions have pacified the way of living. Nevertheless, such advancement only begets materialistic happiness and not the spiritual one.
Getting back to the challenges, the challenges went viral from superstars like Jason Statham to Mehwish Hayat, a leading Pakistani actress did it. Moreover, from a random working guy to an adult student almost all and sundry tried the challenge. How amazing that would be if beside showcasing fitness the bottlecap and kiki challenge would have lent something cerebral.
Aisha Arif Esbhani
In 2016, a girl, then aged 13 challenged herself of reading fiction, short story collection or biography from every single nation of the world. The girl, Aisha Esbhani made a facebook page and posted about her challenge. Now many are calling it a “Reading Challenge 2019.”
She wrote, “I am Aisha Arif Esbhani, a 13-year-old based in Karachi, Pakistan.
After discovering that most of the books I read as a preschooler, as an adolescent, were by a British or North American author, I wanted to explore the writers of the African continent and the tiny islands in Asia. I wanted to explore the nations of which I had never read any books. I wanted to explore stories that had been translated into English.”
She further said in her Facebook post, “I wanted to explore the writers of the African continent and the tiny islands in Asia. I wanted to explore the nations of which I had never read any books. I wanted to explore stories that had been translated into English, I had finished 43 countries”.
The girl should be a role model not only for Pakistanis but for people across the globe. In such a little age, the girl chose wisdom over worldly affections. Aisha’s challenge to herself is the one which everyone should adhere to.
There is nothing wrong in challenging others but if the challenge is full of wisdom it is worth accepting and doing. The challenge of reading books not only enhances one’s intellect but overall personality
Aisha further said narrating his conversation with the former president of Nigeria and other notables across the world, “In October, Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan sent me a message. He told me of some great Nigerian authors and proved to me that great individuals around the world are taking interest in my quest and are willing to help me.
Karlis Verdins had provided me with his story “Come to Me” from Latvia and Robi Gottlieb from Luxembourg had couriered me his book, Minute Stories.”
What are the Benefits of reading books?
Books are replete with the knowledge of almost anything which a human mind has ever perceived or can conceive in the future. Books moulds our thoughts, they let us identify right and wrong; they provide us with the experience of the most eminent personalities.
Source: Pixabay
Besides, Books let us help in distinguishing a logical, rational idea and a vague or a foolish one. The knowledge we get from books is irreplaceable and priceless. It helps us in every venture of life whether we are on the brink of doom or sheer happy, the knowledge we procure via books assist us in handling the temporal affairs.
Read Also: 10 Best Pakistani Books That Are Acclaimed And Awarded Across The World
In addition, a human being has a higher status among all the creatures owing to his ability to think and an ability to think in a sane way comes with knowledge, and knowledge comes with books.
Today, most of us rely on Google and other social media platforms in order to obtain knowledge; however, we often forget most of such online source of knowledge are blend of concoction and fabrication with meagre research and plagiarism. Thus, there is no relevant and proficient medium of learning other than the books.
Studies suggest in nations, where book reading at leisure time is rampant, they are more progressive than the ones who waste their time on ineffective internet applications.
Source: project syndicate
In a nutshell, we as humans, especially the current generation of millennials are failed miserably in inculcating the real knowledge wisdom in our coevals and families. The world leaders meet at the United Nations (UN) every year and discuss emerging problems from global warming to gender disparity. However, the most significant thing to discuss is education and knowledge.
For progress in any area from fighting terrorism to non-traditional security threats what the world leaders need to do is to promote education in their respective nations. We must follow the Reading Challenge 2019, which Aisha assigned to herself in 2016. The KiKi or Bottlecap challenges coupled with showing off on social media applications will not yield any good to the children of Adam and Eve.
