Essays

The word 'Newspaper' sounds a bit obsolete in this era of information technology and electronic media. With all its historical importance and important role played, print media was doomed to lose its battle in the face of the fast popularizing electronic media and internet duo to their speed, graphical illustrations and visual effects. The entire generation seems to be hypnotized by the more popular and easily accessible visual media. People had thought that newspapers are doomed forever and will soon be listed in the gloriously old and long list of the extinct species. It was thought it is already an endangered one with no added incentive to compete with its big rivals—satellite TV, internet and other channels of mass communication. Yet all the doomsday predictions against the print media have fallen apart in due course of time as we see that no matter where technology goes and to what height it reaches, newspapers and other forms of print media are there to stay forever. Nothing can substitute the feel of paper in one's hands, with the early morning tea and its rustic charm on a common man.

The newspaper I enjoy reading the most is the Times of India. It seems to b? a natural way of bringing India to the world and the world to India. The Times of India is synonymous in being the 'Masthead of India', an opinion-forming instrument for India and Indians- The Times of India is not only India's largest selling English language daily but also the leading English general daily broadsheet in the world. It attracts a daily circulation level of about 34 lakh copies. It is the largest selling English daily from Tokyo to Paris. Its own history constitutes an authoritative slice of the history of journalism in India. Since its inception in 1838, it has witnessed and reported the making of the phenomenon called Modern Indies It has been moulded by the doyen of English Journalism in India, in turn moulding public opinion in India, re-inventing itself along with the times to remain the India's favourite English newspaper.

The Times of India, according to me, is a brilliant piece of reading to any newspaper reader It is a daily masterpiece, in fact! No doubt it has had its phases - communal, secular, pro-Indira, pro-fundamentalist over the years. But it always was. and is - and ever will be - the one and only, the greatest with a typical Indian flavour to it. The Times, is a high-water mark in journalism in India. 1 enjoy reading its well-rhymed headlines, which tickle the humorous bone of every individual and also add a tinge of Indian spice even to the most boring and mundane piece of news. Everything sounds like an interesting jingle or a couplet.

I enjoy reading every part of the newspaper right from the headlines to the last page—sports page, finance and business, world and the edit page. The first thing 1 go for after getting the newspaper in my hand is the cover page cartoon of RK Laxman. Moreover, the regular columns by Jug Suraiya, Shobha De. Gurcharan Das, Swaminathan Aiyar and Bachi Karkaria are all very interesting. Alt the columnists colour life with their pen and imagination, blending it with reality very exquisitely. The Sunday Times with its Review, Deep Focus. Mind over Matter, Open Space and Special Report are all very vivid and interesting. Any person who enjoys reading can spend a few hours with this faithful friend. Not only that—I like to keep track of the movies to be telecast on the various channels and there too the newspaper is of great help. I also enjoy reading the daily horoscope and cracking my brains with the crossword puzzle even though I always get stuck after the first few initial lucky strokes. The nice inputs about lifestyle, fashion, movies etc too make a good and light reading after going through the boiling news of the political and business world. The newspaper is an excellent information provider and educator for young minds, especially for those who are interested in the field of polity, economy and business. I like reading the editorial every day and also the Speaking Tree. Everyday, there is a lovely and thought inspiring message that makes for a best kind of a reading to start your day with. The Times of India caters to the intellectual needs of all kinds of people and that brings about the versatile nature of the newspaper.

Even when I go to school, the first thing my friend and I do is to rush to the school library to take a quick look at the newspapers, especially the Times of India. The paper helps me to keep myself updated with the latest events not only in the country but also around the globe. It helps in increasing my general knowledge, improving my language, writing and reading skills, vocabulary and also helps me develop my personality. I can keep up with the fast moving pace of the world, the changes that take place every now and then and also enrich my spiritual side. I also enjoy going through the columns on astrology, the tit-bits from the Page-3 world and the events in Delhi.

I think that everyone should develop a regular habit of reading newspapers. Just as we need to have a good and nutritious breakfast to be- hale and hearty, similarly, we need to take a regular morning dose of intellectual reflections in order to maintain a sound and a healthy mind. This habit should be cultivated since childhood by the parents and also should be encouraged in the school through the reading of news daily in the morning assembly, organizing regular quiz competitions based on the knowledge of current events, sports, politics and economy. Then only can the habit of reading newspapers be developed and inculcated among children, which once cultivated will continue till the rest of their lives- The habit of reading newspapers is extremely important in today's world as it gives us every minute detail about our surroundings—everything related to the present, past and also helps us to predict or dream the future. A newspaper helps in developing the intellectual and mental faculties of a person and hence should be read with great interest, zeal and fervour. One gels all the information about stock exchange, various political activities. strikes or bandhs and not only this, one gets to know about various options available for one's career, jobs, vacancies, admissions in various institutions, scholarships in the country and even abroad, various walk-in interviews for jobs and further studies. The Times of India provides every bit of such news and is therefore my favourite newspaper.