Happy World Book Day!

 

Today, 23rd April is World Book Day. World Book Day is a special event celebrated globally to promote the joys of reading and the value of books. It’s a day recognized by UNESCO to honour authors, books, and copyrights, encouraging everyone to access books and fostering a love for reading.

The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the deaths of several prominent authors, including William Shakespeare (23rd April 1564 – 23rd April 1616) and Miguel de Cervantes (29th September 1547 – 22nd April 1616). It’s also a symbolic date in the literary world, with several distinguished authors having been born in April.

On World Book Day, people in over 100 countries come together to celebrate literature’s power to connect us across time and cultures, to share knowledge, and to bridge generations. It’s a wonderful opportunity to pick up a new book, revisit an old favourite, or share a story with someone else.

We have a tradition in our family of gifting books to our children and grandchildren on the birthday (14th November) of my father, Sri N. Bhaskarachary Garu. To see several photographs of our family enjoying books you may Click On The Title Below:

  “Age does not matter or deter the magic and wonder of books”

HAPPY READING!

Where Have the Birds Gone, from Srilekha?

Where have the birds gone, from Srilekha?

Their wings, once vibrant, are now silent in flight,

The birdbaths, forlorn, yearn for their cheer,

And water bowls, untouched, gleam in the light.

I, too, am disappointed, my heart aching,

As dawn breaks, their melodies once sweet,

Perhaps they visit, a fleeting greeting,

A whispered “good morning” before retreat.

Yet the water remains untouched, unclaimed,

As if I’ve become a stranger to their song,

Am I a problem, a shadow they’ve disdained?

Or does Hyderabad hold secrets that prolong?

Perhaps the city’s pulse beats too fast,

Its concrete heart drowning out their tune,

Yet hope lingers, a fragile thread cast,

That someday, they’ll return, under the moon.

So I wait, at Srilekha, by the birdbaths’ edge,

With water rippling, an invitation extended,

Hoping the birds find solace, take the pledge,

To grace our home once more, their absence mended.