To discuss about newspapers on a blog may appear a bit absurd. But then newspapers are a way of life for most of us. I would like to share the unique reading habits that people have while going through their new papers. I start with my family. My mom wants to read her ‘daily’ while enjoying her cuppa of tea early in the morning. The newspaper is read by holding the same in both her hands. The news items and main stories are shared with me and we both keep discussing the topics as contained in the 'daily'.  Mom usually starts from the front page of the main section and then shifts to the city supplement followed by the magazine section (on week ends). After this the remaining pages of the main section are read. After reading the paper is left in the shape it may acquire.

My father wants silence while reading his paper. After finishing the first page, it is neatly folded on the back and the second page is read. So at a time only the reading page is in his hands. This folding of pages on its length creates a unique noise. The newspaper is read in order till the end from the main paper followed by city supplement and then the magazine if any.

Now about yours truly (YT). YT has the habit to start from the magazine section (on week ends) followed by the city supplement and then the main page. YT loves to check all the papers for their content irrespective of sequence and folds. YT has passion for news, information, new subjects/topics and so has amassed newspaper cutting on various topics. At the end of paper reading session usually the city editions of papers are mixed up, magazine(s) is reduced in size due to cuttings and main paper has cuts on most of the pages.

A few observations, on the reading habits of my friends. Friend one uses his 'saliva glue' to turn the pages while reading the paper.

Friend two is in the habit of underlining the news item of interest. This I presume is done to make other readers read the particular news item.

Friend three, copies out the information of his interest on his dairy with the date and newspaper details.

Friend four has the habit of keeping the newspaper in its original shape after reading, to be handed over to the recycler (kabari wala).Not a single sheet is moved or removed from the papers.

Friend five, prefers to read his copy alone and does not believe in sharing his paper with us.

Friend six  does not buy his newspaper and so we have to share our paper with him.

Friend seven likes to read the newspaper being read by other person. So in library, usually every visitor knows his habit and smilingly pass on the paper to him.

Friend eight likes to peep into the paper being read by other person and prefers to read along with the other person. It hardly matters that he reads the last page first and the first page at the end.

Friend nine is in the habit of correcting the margins and the folds of the paper. This is done by constant thumping of the paper on the table after each page that is read.

These are an indicative list of reading habits. There may be more persons with unique reading habits. But every thing is fine as long as there are newspapers and its readers.

Blessed are we to have all the facilities at our disposal. Be it mobiles,internet, computers, Ipods, Iphones, dish TV,black berry etc. to name a few. There are various options before us to choose from. Technology has facilitated our lives. Still we are not satisfied with the ongoing.

The prime question that comes to mind is Who am I? The reality is such. My identity has been lost. What is my real identity. Is it the log in name assigned to me by machines?  I hold multiple identities at the moment.  I have numerous email acounts with uniques id. This is for the interface with the machines. I am customer of mobile companies, a consumer of dish tv., user of black berry services, an avid internet user. All these also have given me unique identities.

At the end of the day, iam lost. Lost to know my real identity. Have i become a machine? Where is my human element?  Day in and day out i perform the same functions. This is too mechanical in nature. If i do not perform any of the functions, i become insecure. Like if email accounts are not checked by me, then i keep thinking about the latest message that may be there in my inbox. So from inbox, sent mail,blogs, sms,video edits, daily soaps and back to downloads, uploads and what not.

But then, where is the real me? How long will i be able to carry on like this. Can google search help me in this please —- Who am I?

Press - enter

and the results wil be — some pages  but………….

I will have to search for this answer myself No search engine is going to help me in this enterprise. I will have to simplify my life a bit. Clear the clutter. Delete the unwanted activites from my schedule. Change the routine. Sit down and relax a bit. Close my eyes and do some introception. Think and rethink. May be i get my answer. The search is on_____________.

                               WHAT IS YOUR GOOD NAME ?

First interaction with  a stranger starts with the usual question — What is your name? But most of the time you all must have noticed that the question asked is — What is Your good name? Or it can be reframed as Can i know your good name? Now i am in a dilemma to understand the correct  formation and use of this sentence.

Names are always good. Atleast in the Indian context names are assigned to a new born after a proper ceremony. Usually, the eldest of the family member is asked to name the child. Or, the person performing the puja/ religious ceremony is asked to name the child. Some parents use the services of astrologers to get the first alphaabet suitable to the child and then name the child using this alphabet. Names are also assigned on the basis of some unique physical features of a child say big wide eyes etc.,or his nature say laughing and jovial etc.

Now we must understand the efforts that go in the naming of a person. Lot of planning and man hours go into this exercise. Besides money is also spent  in these ceremonies.

Moreover parents want that the child should be assigned a name that will enable him/her to lead a blessed life and help the child in achieving some name,fame, money and status in the society. So they will tend to give a good, or should i say the best name to their child. Similiarly the elders in the family or the religious person or say the astrologer will also give the best name to the child as per their faculties. How then can any  person  question the name being ’good’ or ‘bad’ ?

The particular name assigned to me is ‘the best’.Moreover i have spent years of my existence on this earth by using this name. Now my name is my identity, my personality, my individuality, my motivator.This hold true for every one else also,i suppose.

Then, how come we still want to use the same old question.What is your good name? In its palce it would suffice if we can ask — what is your name? and then appreciate that person and his individuality. Names per se are always good. No one can cast any aspirations on this count.  No stranger has a  right to’ judge’ the goodness of a name.For this we will have to change the concepts that have been there in our society for a long time.