Over the years reading has taken the back seat to social media and television and the world has been struggling to keep their literary end up. It’s difficult to point out exactly when and why the transition took place, but the addictive buzz of looking into a screen seems to have subdued the immersive joys of losing yourself into the pages of a book.

However, judging by the number of people who have taken up the habit of stupidly smiling at their phone screens instead of opening up a book, we’re guessing the collective IQ of the world has experienced a significant drop in the past decade. And mind you, we’re not throwing stones in the dark either. A study showed that spending higher amounts of time in front of the television increased frontal lobe grey matter, yet lowered verbal IQ.

Irrespective of the scientific facts and figures, reading a book trumps the television or Facebook any day of the week. Anyone who revels in the aroma of opening up a newly bought book to give in to the adventures inside and drown in the building excitement and anticipation in every turn of the page will tell you the same. Reading allows you to escape reality and let imagination take you to a world completely different from yours. Sit down and take a minute to think about it and you will be hard pressed to find a reason not to read.

Getting into the habit at a young age is doubly important. The adventures of a Nepali frog traveling the country, the battles of a boy wizard with a scar on his forehead, or the magical story of a boy and a giant peach; there are so many worlds that a young mind could explore. And reading at a young age helps develop creativity. The mind is a muscle and it needs exercise. Teaching young children to read helps them develop their language skills.

There are many writers in Nepal who are currently prospering in what they do. A few writers have volunteered their time to create La.Lit a magazine spurred by the sheer love of literature. They feature original and translated fiction, non-fiction, and poetry; photography and graphic art; and exclusive interviews and news from the world of literature.

And if you have a knack for writing, you actually have an opportunity to get your writing published in the magazine. La.Lit welcomes submissions from all over the universe and in whatever tongue you communicate in. The basic criterion is that your material, as per the collective judgment of their editorial team, has quality or relevance or preferably, a combination of both.

La.Lit has a plethora of exclusive content for the avid reader to enjoy and an opportunity for budding writers to write. For anyone interested, you can send your contributions or queries to editor@lalitmag.com. You can also visit their website www.lalitmag.com.