The other day we met a gentleman who shall remain unnamed. He runs a successful business and is a well-respected member of society. He proudly told us that he hadn’t read a book in his life. We had gone there to meet him to promote our concept of #ReadKarnataka – Karnataka Today’s read to lead the mission. We were aghast. But he followed up that comment with, “I regret it”. “Everybody should read something every day without fail. Because reading expands your horizons, changes your perspective and alters your mindset.” he continued. “I’ve realized that today. No amount of WhatsApp messages, or forwards, or Pictures on Instagram etc. can help me achieve the knowledge equilibrium that I need to deal with my customers or my social circle that has evolved with time. I’m ready to help you out with your mission”, he concluded.
The written word has that kind of power to improve both self and society. But what is the use of the written word, if there are none to read it, appreciate it, learn from it, transfer that knowledge? It’s so true, we have all forgotten to read… the written word, not what’s forwarded to us on WhatsApp. Social Media has its advantages – its immediate, its fast and it can go viral… like Ebola. While the written word has created revolutions, destroyed tyrants, and given voice to the less empowered, social media posts have created divides, influenced elections and provided a never-ending stream of information, Paradoxically it has reduced knowledge. Yet we tend to prefer the mobile to a book! Technology is changing the way we interpret the world – we now being done in short bursts of third-party wisdom, rather than a full understanding of the big picture.
Amidst all this carnage of the written word, we can still read books and magazines online or on Kindle, Magzter or the mobile, but do we? No, we still don’t. Maybe because we have to subscribe!
This is unfortunate because, in order to lead, one must read. That is the lesson history has taught us. And if we withdraw that opportunity from the public, we would in one way or another be initiating climate change. If on the other hand, we do invest in providing that opportunity, our future will be brighter as it will bring that many more to the leadership table – people who are well read and well-bred.
Where do we begin?
Instilling a love of reading in our children/youth is one of the best gifts we can give them. Reading fosters children’s emotional and psychological development, gives them the opportunity to experience sensations and feelings with which they will mature and learn. With books, they laugh, dream and travel to other worlds; Share pleasant moments as a family, reinforcing the bond with their parents. In short, reading helps children to grow in every way.
At the same time, the hope is for them to be inspired by all that is positive in Karnataka’s polity while simultaneously reorienting their understanding of issues and concerns plaguing the state. This, the Karnataka Today team believes, is the only way to build a wise and prosperous Karnataka. We call it the ‘Read to Lead’ mission, or if you prefer a hashtag- #ReadKarnataka.
Towards this end, it was decided to focus our energies on providing our wholesome magazine, Karnataka Today, which carries a mix of reading material that interests the youth, and enhances their knowledge for free to students in the state, wherever they may be. We can’t accomplish this alone. But luckily for us many have come forward to support this mission. Besides Praveen Shetty of Fortune Hotels and Deepak Verma, Founder and CEO of WannaGo Cloud Services, CA Valerian Dalmaida, CA Sudhir Kumar Shetty, former President – Global, UAE Exchange, has extended support in a big way. He has sponsored 250 students under this mission.
Know more about Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty
The name Y Sudhir Kumar Shetty, is popular in finance and global remittance circuits, for he is a person with strong technical insight and operational expertise. He was the driving force behind the global remittance major, UAE Exchange. Mr. Sudhir strengthened the company‘s culture of innovation and infused inimitable quality in all aspects of its operations.
Mr. Sudhir‘s strong functional expertise in the process flow of the organization coupled with his rich understanding of this dynamic industry gave UAE Exchange, a competitive edge. Under his leadership, UAE Exchange initiated a comprehensive study which led to organizational restructuring, strengthening the brand and expanding its network across the world, thus transforming the company into a global brand with operations over 30 countries across five continents with over 700 direct offices.
The soft-spoken leader, who headed this global brand today, actually had a rather humble beginning and that is why, he told us, that he wants the next generation to “read as much as they can, when they can, but not just what they can”. They must read something useful, for their intellectual and prospective growth, he said. He liked our magazine “Karnataka Today” so much, that he volunteered to join our mission #ReadKarnataka. Sudhir Kumar Shetty holds a Bachelor‘s degree in Commerce, Law and is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
You too can support the mission. Don’t wait. Join the mission today. Here’s how.
Sponsor as many students’ annual subscriptions to Karnataka Today as possible. It’s noble, it’s useful, it’s healthy, it’s easy and it’s discounted. Just Rs 150 for 10 issues (Students generally have a 2-month summer break) of Karnataka Today (a wholesome window to the world of Karnataka) for one student (there is no cap on the number of subscriptions you can sponsor, though we recommend a minimum of 300). Team Karnataka Today hopes you will donate liberally- individually or as Company registered under the CSR Provisions of the Companies Act 2013 (Clause II of Schedule VII – Promotion of Education).
Use the link http://imojo.in/9l7e7s for easy remittance (INR only) or remit through the banking network for transfer of funds: Account holder’s name: Spearhead Publications Private Ltd; Current A/c no.002512100007963; The Bharat Co-operative Bank (Mumbai) Ltd (Mangalore Hampankatta Branch); IFSC Code: BCBM0000026.
Following your remittance, do send the team an email at canute@newskarnataka.com or WhatsApp on +91 82177 29859 to enable them to cross-link the payment and conclude the transaction. The team will then send you a list of students supported in his/her reading habit by your funds. Alternatively, you may specify the students/schools/colleges you would like this popular magazine to reach. Reach out to us for any clarification in this regard.
Visit www.karnatakatoday.com to know more about the magazine and its contents. You can also reach out to the team on the above WhatsApp number or email address for any clarification in this regard.
“Reading is weightlifting for the brain” – Tim Green.
