The Boy Who Lived

12th July '11

I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when I was 11, when Harry was 11. I have literally grew up with Harry Potter. It is not just a story for me but an experience that I have always been in. A magical world that is so true to life that you sometimes want it to actually exist.

Always liking fiction I have spend my childhood reading Enid Blyton, Ruskin Bond and fairy tales. These were stories that entertained, amused and delighted me. The language was simple, the stories heart touching and I always had the satisfaction of having been in a world different to where I live.

Harry Potter is much more than those stories that I read as a child. Imagining Harry in a school called Hogwarts learning spells and doing magic with his friends Hermoine and Ron was never difficult for me. I could well see in my mind the great big castle with thousands of students.

In the start Harry Potter was meant to be a children's book. But as the characters of the books grew up so did the readers of the book. The characters went through the similar feelings of growing up as did the readers.

It was when I grew up that I realized Harry Potter is a story that requires immense imagination and intelligence. I have admired J. K. Rowling ever since. The tremendous amount of imagination and detailed work that she has put in this fictional series is one that is difficult to achieve even in non-fiction writing where you have the facts.

Every little thing that happens is connected. Once the secrets were revealed by Dumbledore to Harry the readers can also understand the depth to which J. K. Rowling has gone to answer the questions that arise in the book. The last three parts, The Order of the Phoenix, The half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows have linked each and every thing that happened in the very first book too.

But what is it in the books that has touched so many? The basic moral of the series is the good wins over evil. In the series Dumbledore has always told Harry to believe in love and friendship. Sacrifice and death are also an integral part of the series. Harry's life starts with his parents dying. And over the years when he has fought Lord Voldemort he has lost many others. He kept on fighting for what is right.

It is a story about faith, trust, respect and making the correct choices. It has taught many that truth prevails, goodness wins in the end. The books teach me a new thing every time I read them. They have made me smile, laugh and cry.

The story of the boy who lived is forever. It is a piece of literature that has changed lives of the youth the world over. The love of a story can be seen in the Harry Potter fans. No other series has inspired millions of people in this way.

It doesn't seem to me as if it is ending. I have always read the books with the same enthusiasm as the first time. The fans of Harry Potter have never been disappointed and they never will be. As Dumbledore said, "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"