Happy World Book Day: Celebrating The Magic Of Reading

I have spent my life trapped between the pages of books. Books, like music, are perfection in one of their purest forms. They transport you into another world. Another dimension? Another universe? However you want to put it, the fact remains that books are magical. Magically, they transport you to an entirely different life. A world free from the troubles and complexities of the real world. In the absence of friends who’d judge and never listen, I have found solace in books. I have made friends with fictional characters; imagined myself in their stories, wished their lives were better, wished the author had mercy and not made their characters suffer. I have lived inside books. I have lived through books. I have lived behind, beside, in, inside, under, underneath, and on books! I have spent my life around books.

Today, the 23rd of April, 2025, we, book lovers around the world, celebrate World Book Day. Today, we are not just celebrating words on papers. We celebrate the impact of books in our lives. Books are more than mere ink on papers. They have helped many of us battle our emotions and overcome life’s challenges. Today, we celebrate books forever etched in our memories- the one book you will never forget no matter what. That one book that you might suddenly remember on a cool Saturday evening, as the birds chirp and the sun sets gently, and you’ll go, “oh! I really enjoyed reading that one book.” Today, we celebrate books that have touched our hearts, inspired us, and made us become the best versions of ourselves. We celebrate books that have changed us from the little book lovers with low self-esteem to a courageous person with a kind and big heart.

For as long as I can remember, books have been one of my most faithful companions. Yes, sometimes they tell us stories that are not practical- far away from the realities of life. But that doesn’t make them deceptive. No, that’s just their way of making us forget how cruel and crazy life is. Unlike friends, books don’t complain when we neglect them. They don’t complain when we leave them on our desks for months, leaving them with no food, water, or the will to continue, but nature provides them with dust and more dust. And whenever we remember them, we wipe the dust off their backs, and they give us the warmest hugs.

Like dogs, books remain loyal till the end. Whether they are ten, twelve, or hundred years old, they never complain when we pick them up. They endure every flip, every liquid we spill on them, and every accidental tear. They sit quietly, waiting for us to come back to them. They sit wherever we put them. And when we finally return to them, they welcome us, unconditionally. When humans become old, shaky and wrinkled, they retire. They withdraw themselves from the troubles of the world, and they rest in their homes. But books? Even when they become old, wrinkled and dog-eared, they do whatever we want.

These images are mine

Today, we don’t only celebrate books, we also celebrate authors. Cheers to all the book writers all around the world. Today, we say a big thank you to them for creating masterpieces. Today, I honor Judith Clarke, my favorite author, who passed away several years ago. Her book, "The Night Train," remains my favorite. It's etched in my memories and will continue to inspire me.

Cheers to the books that pulled us out of the water when we were about to drown? Cheers to books that became friends. Cheers to books that were our safe haven. Cheers to books that showed us real happiness.

Happy World Book Day! 📕📚🥂

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