Mohammad Akram/New Delhi

Literature creates a new energy for us. This gives us a chance to see the world from a new perspective. It is very important for us to read it, but the question is what kind of literary books should we read? 

This is what Shah Faesal, a senior IAS officer posted in the Ministry of Culture said at the talk 'Ethics and Human Values ​​in Literature' organized by the Center of Indian Languages ​​at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

He said literature solves three problems. First, it makes under go through self-realisation. “We recognize our soul; understand why we come into this world? What is the purpose of our life?” 

Secondly, through literature, we understand the people around us and feel their pain and happiness closely and thirdly, we get a chance to see the entire universe. From this, we get to know why we have come into this world, and where are we going. We get the opportunity to think about such questions by reading literary books. 

Shah Faesal said all religious texts including Bhagwat Geeta and the holy Quran teach us literary knowledge. These make us aware of the bigger world outside us.

Shah Faisal said that according to Sahir Ludhianvi, there are two types of people in the world. One cries and the other does not cry but controls his tears. 

He quoted literary giants like Allama Iqbal, Sheikh Saadi, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz to make a point that reading books changes lives.

Speaking on the occasion Prof Shahid Akhtar, a member of the National Commission for Minority Education Institute said the youth should take inspiration from APJ Abdul Kalam who is known by the name of 'Missile Man' because of his contribution to India.

On the new education policy, he said that the present government is emphasizing basic education in the country and trying to impart basic education in one’s mother tongue.

After the program, Shah Faesal interacted with students and gave them tips on how to crack the UPSC civil services examination.