Have you read anything so good that it becomes a part of who you are? Have you liked something to such an extent that people start associating it with you?
If you have, then you’ll be able to relate to my liking for the Harry Potter series. Written by J.K. Rowling, the series consists of 7 books.
It has become an indispensable part of the identities of millions of millennials who have grown up reading the series.
A lot of people often ask me why I love it so much. After all, it’s just about a bunch of kids with wands.
That is certainly not true. Of course, that is a part of HP, but it’s not just limited to chanting spells and swishing wands.
It’s much more than wingardium leviosa or alohamora. Anyone who has read the series will be able to recognise the values that it imparts.
The ‘sanskars’ which we Indians feel are disappearing due to the influence of the west can be easily learnt by reading the series. The way an 11-year-old orphan deals with fame and yet stays humble, the way he helps out his friends, the way the female characters have been portrayed are all laudable.
HP makes one realise the value of loyalty, love, the importance of individuality, courage and hospitality.
Not only that but one can also find the subtle nuances of history that have been beautifully depicted by Rowling. One can hardly miss the similarity between house elves and the history of slaves, Voldemort’s obsession with pure-bloods, his hatred and desire to wipe out muggle-borns and half-bloods and Nazi Germany. One can easily compare the Fuhrer to Voldemort and the death-eaters to the Nazis.
The way the golden trio and the others at Hogwarts fight against the social evils of their magical world speak volumes about Rowling’s desire for an egalitarian society.
The HP series is about the magical journey of three people and their indomitable courage to fight against the evil even at the cost of their lives. Dumbledore’s famous quote – “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the lights” – talks about finding solutions to one’s problem when all one can see is doom, quite similar to Tagore’s “Ekla Cholo Re”.
It’s about how important the youth is and the contributions of the youth towards transforming the society. With thousands of thought-provoking quotes, the story is bound to stay with the readers for the rest of their lives. Bravery, courage, sportsmanship, resilience, beauty is what makes Harry Potter what it is – much more than magic, much more than wands.