#WorldBookDay: Reading has made me more aware of many things in my life, says Sehban Azim

As the pandemic wreaked havoc, many started finding their solace in dancing, cooking, and most certainly books. Not just during the pandemic, books were considered to be a great tool to deal with loneliness and isolation even before it. On World Book Day today, we ask actor Sehban Azim about how reading has been a pivotal aspect of his life, genres that he loves to read, and more.
Talking about his earliest memories of inculcating this habit in his daily routine, Sehban says, “I still remember the first book which I enjoyed reading was ‘Robin Hood – The Prince of Thieves’, although that wasn’t the first book that got me into reading. When I was staying in New Delhi with my family, there was a government-affiliated library called Delhi Public Library. So, my parents enrolled my brother in it and I would often tag along with him. As I started reading more comic books, I started exploring different genres. Also, as my parents have been avid readers, it was easy to inculcate that habit in me.”

Quizzed about his most loved genres and his go-to reads, the actor says, “Mostly allegorical but then, I read those books which can hold my attention. Hence, it's difficult to choose one particular genre. However, I have always loved comic books. Since childhood, I have enjoyed reading comics and I believe that my love for reading advanced from comics to books. However, I still thoroughly enjoy comics. As for my go-to reads in happy or tough situations, it would be those by P. G Wodehouse and Paulo Coelho.”

While the smell of the hardbound novels is unmatched for many, there’s another section of readers that prefers Kindle and other reading gadgets that can withhold the treasure of several novels in them. So, what does Sehban prefer? “I still prefer books but recently, a friend gifted a Kindle to my brother and I think it's not as bad as I thought, especially when you are away from your home and books,” he shares.
Sehban further adds, “For me, one of the biggest boons of reading has been that it has made me aware of many things in my life.”