Irinjalakuda: Reading books has been touted as a good hobby for long, however, for the new gen who are very much into tech-based gadgets it is a strange practice. The Readers Club of Christ College, Irinjalakuda, conducted a discourse on the topic 'Reading Today and Tomorrow'. AM Shinas, the son of prominent social critic Hameed Chennamangaloor, addressed the students.

While acknowledging that reading has lost its vigour, Shinas noted that due to poor reading people are scared of expressing their views on any issue that affect their society.

Speaking on the importance of reading, he also explained the various aspects in which how one should interpret a book.

Shinas remarked there were three types of studying: one is from our parents, the other from school and yet another from the public discourse. Today, due to the lack of freedom in academics, students are often in a stagnant environment that is not conducive for their benefit, he noted.

A society that is gifted with critical educators is a blessed society and criticism assures new insight and new way of thinking, Shinas said while referring to the ideas of Noam Chomsky and Mahatma Gandhi.

Shinas referred to Chomsky's 1967 seminal essay titled "The Responsibility of Intellectuals..." in which he says it is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies. Concluding his speech, Shinas said class attendance should never be a barrier to individual freedom or creativity at school or college.

"The autonomy of a teacher is both a value in itself and designed to contribute to the larger goal of excellence in the production and dissemination of knowledge. We all need critical educators who believe that the goal of education is creating informed citizens," he said.

"Irrespective of the ideological persuasion, there should freedom and wide perspective and talks around classes. There should be a critical sense of understanding among teachers and students to produce civil-minded and critically engaged citizens to debate on various topics. So one should read eclectically from different genres to widen ones horizon in order to have good number of critical educators," Shinas added.