By Tanvi Devpura, Class XI E
By writing Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling created nothing short of a revolution. It went on to shape an entire generation and created a fandom larger than one ever witnessed. By now there’s not much that can be said about the Harry Potter phenomenon that hasn’t already been said. Worshipped by kids, enjoyed by adults, this modern myth has become an accepted classic worldwide. Pull any copy of the series off a shelf anywhere in the world and you’re holding magic.
The magic potion Rowling herself concocts starts solidly with Harry, a remarkably unassuming kid who’s got ‘hero of mythical powers’ written all over him. He’s courageous, clever and resourceful. He’s got a special talent in the form of magical powers. He’s wounded, not just physically as evidenced by the scar on his forehead, but emotionally as well due to the death of his parents, not to mention a tortured upbringing by the uncaring relatives. Next into the potion goes a heavy dose of down-to-earth realism – the kind of stuff recognized by almost every kid in the world. The rest of the ingredients are just as high in quality, from the magical, mysterious yet somehow familiar Hogwarts to the friends that help Harry get through it all.
Rowling serves it all up with a deceptively simple and straight forward writing style that sparks a response deep in the subconscious, drawing the reader in. The truth is, this story is not just read, it is experienced and that’s the magic right there. Along with the magical fantasies and the unending thrills, Harry Potter also taught us a lot of lessons that changed our way of thinking and gave us newer, more magical loves altogether.
Here’s to one of the most influential series so many of us picked up as kids and one that will remain with us for eternity. So, no matter how the years grow on us, when we’re old and grey with a Harry Potter book in our wrinkled hands and someone asks us, “After all these years?”, the answer shall be, “Always.”!
