Amish Tripathi: Books are the best investment for children, says author at Mumbai reading discussion

In today's digital age, children spend much of their time with mobile phones, screens and AI, which makes it important to nurture a love of reading in them. With this thought, neOwn, India's first app-based platform for renting children's books, held a special discussion session in Mumbai.

Author Amish Tripathi, Poddar Education Network chairperson Dr Swati Popat Vats and neOwn founder Kranti Gada took part in the event. Finland International School, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, was the venue partner. Senior journalist Kalpana Ravi moderated the discussion.

The topic of the discussion was "Your children's reading habit - an important investment for the future". It was pointed out that reading does not merely help with schoolwork but also builds children's thinking ability, imagination, communication skills and the habit of understanding others. Although information is easily available through mobiles and AI, books help children think deeply about a subject and form their own opinions.

Regular reading expands children's vocabulary, improves their language and builds confidence in writing and speaking. These changes do not come in a day; they become visible gradually when the reading habit is kept up consistently. Reading is therefore an important investment in children's future, was the view expressed at the event.

Kranti Gada said, "Reading gives children not just knowledge but also builds imagination, creativity, vocabulary and confidence. It also develops the habit of understanding other people's ideas and looking at things from different perspectives. All of this helps in making the right decisions while growing up and in overcoming difficulties. That is why it is important for parents to cultivate a reading habit in children. Parents should begin by reading themselves."

Author Amish Tripathi said, "Reading is the best investment for children's future. Through stories and books, children can learn how to face failure, how to show courage and how to stand up again when trouble comes. The importance of books is not limited to entertainment. Reading shapes the way children think and gives them the strength to face life's challenges."

Poddar Education Network chairperson Dr Swati Popat Vats said, "Cultivating a reading habit in children is not only the children's responsibility; it is an equally important responsibility of parents. It is necessary to show children the world of books, ideas and new things. Reading does not merely build recognition of language and letters; it is also linked to the development of a child's mind, values and upbringing. Reading helps parents understand their children better."

Kranti Gada founded neOwn in 2023. The platform, which began in Mumbai, has reached more than 25,000 families across the country and has more than 15,000 active members. It has more than 75,000 books, including titles from publishers such as Scholastic, HarperCollins, Penguin and Hachette. For children aged 0 to 14, it offers mystery stories, fantasy tales, comics and informational books. There is also a special emphasis on books by Indian authors.

The discussion session conveyed the important message of cultivating a reading habit in children. Reading helps children think better, builds their imagination and lets them express their ideas effectively. In changing times, befriending books is necessary to make children capable.