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Harry Potter (according to canon) was born on 31 July, 1980.
For people of our generation, the Harry Potter books define our childhood. Ever since the first book came out in 1997, we were hooked beyond belief. So, as Harry Potter turns 34 (he was born on July 31, 1980 according to canon) and Joanne Kathleen Rowling turns 49 we would like to express our love to her for giving us Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Sirius, Neville, Dobby, Dumbledore, Snape, McGongall and so many more memorable characters who defined our childhoods and changed our lives forever. Here are 5 things we learned from Harry and friends:
It will make them more tolerant
Harry Potter was the defining phenomenon of our childhood. Like Star Wars, The Beatles or Casablanca for previous generations, it changed our perspectives of the world we lived in. A survey found that those who had read the book were more tolerant, more politically active, less authoritian and more egalitarian. All this led to the birth of a generation that were more politically active, less taken in by autocrats and were willing to fight for what they believed in. And the same can be expected of children who go on to read the book and enter Harry's magical world.
It will help them develop a reading habit
Harry Potter came out at a time when kids no longer read. They had cable TV and video games but suddenly Harry Potter came and children everywhere picked up the book. The Harry Potter phenomenon is actually believed to have saved the publishing business and allowed publishers to take risks on niche genres. Suddenly, people were willing to read about glittery vampires (though we wish they hadn't) or dystopian futures where children fought for survival. It essentially taught a generation to read and enabled publishers to give authors with 'different' kinds of stories a chance.
It will help them understand the world better
The Harry Potter books get progressively darker and more action-packed; as Harry grows he encounters the problems that encompass the wizarding world that are quite similar to the real world. The books portrayed a society that despite being magical had many of our current society's problems inequality (between Muggle-born wizards, half-blood and pure-blood wizards), the werewolf problem (the werewolves' place in society was linked to the treatment received by those who're HIV positive) or political inaction (Fudge's refusal to accept the fact that Voldemort had returned can find parallels all over the world). People who were different were treated badly, those who were apolitical or against the authority were hunted and society in general backed the tyrant until they realised exactly what Lord Voldemort had in mind for the world. In essence, Harry Potter is the cleverest satire ever written and we'd have to congratulate Rowling for weaving in so many relevant issues in her amazing tale.
It will explain to them that heroes come in all shapes and sizes
We've always been brought up with the notion that heroes are tall, dark and handsome but Harry changed that for us. Here was a rangy orphan with broken glasses who was mistreated every day of his life without knowing just how special he was. And he was a hero like none other and the same can be said for so many of the unlikely heroes we find lurking in this world. There's Dumbledore, the wise old figure, who is actually gay and was in love with a powerful wizard he had to destroy; there's Dobby a house-elf who will do anything to save Harry and his friends, Hermoine the class nerd who's the most intelligent among them, Ron whose loyalty to Harry is absolute despite always being shunted and finally Snape the archetypal evil teacher who teaches us not to judge a book by its cover or even its contents. In essence, we're introduced to so many amazing characters, many of them fighting their own inner demons, yet ready to step up when the situation demands it.
And finally it will give them hope
Lord Voldemort was the embodiment of evil, ready to shape society in his own image and he has all the makings of a classic dictator belief in his methods, the ability to strike fear and a group of followers who will do anything for him. And while his tyranny takes over, there's the plan to stop him, devised by Dumbledore and carried out by Harry and his friends and that is the biggest lesson in the series. It doesn't matter how bad the present looks; as long as there is someone willing to fight tyranny there will be hope.
Thank you JK Rowling for giving us something to cherish, it'll remain with us for the rest of our lives.
Picture Source: Getty Images
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