Pages and Passion
Book reading is a therapy. A balm for a disturbed mind and a restless heart. If stung by this bug, you would be praised, not rebuked. Looked up to, not looked down upon. It opens new vistas of the mind, fosters love, humility, and respect, and weans away arrogance and anger. Pick up a book, perch somewhere, and start reading. A thousand worries will fade into thin air. As Anne Michaels says, “You hold a book in your hand, and you’re a pilgrim at the gates of a new city.” So, take a dip into the pages and leave behind everything that nags you. Travel with the author and witness the world unfold before your eyes. A book is the best refuge after a tough day at the office.
Yet, despite all these gifts, book reading is gasping for breath. The bookworms long for a revival of its golden days. But why does the reading culture continue to dwindle?
Hindrances in Our Reading March
Unattractive Public Libraries
Our public libraries could have played a crucial role in fostering a reading culture, but the attention they receive has snuffed out that hope. Tangmarg Public Library, tucked away in a dingy single room, fails to attract readers. Apart from academic books, a collection of diverse genres could have built a community of faithful readers. But shelves crammed with NET/SET preparation books, heavy tomes of poetry, and religious texts do not entice a new generation of readers. Young aspiring readers often confide in me that they do not find their favourite writers in these libraries, and thus, they stop visiting.
Internet at our Fingertips
Smartphones consume a massive chunk of our time. The endless availability of the internet has given social media an unchecked influence. Scrolling through Instagram reels drains our vitality, saps productivity, and diminishes our attention span. It is an addiction. The rush of a “like” or a “comment” is no different from the nicotine rush a smoker craves. Every few minutes, the urge to check notifications takes over, wasting precious hours. The impact is devastating—both mentally and physically. With little physical movement and a mind cluttered with digital noise, our health suffers. It takes an elephantine effort to break free from this cycle.
Society’s Attitude towards Reading
Our society doesn’t cradle the habit of reading. Ideas are debated at shop fronts and Mosque hamams, but rarely through the pages of a book. We have become a “hearsay society,” thriving on second-hand knowledge. Reading is dismissed as unnecessary, replaced by the convenience of YouTube summaries. Non-academic reading is discouraged, seen as a distraction from school grades. Only a handful of parents are readers themselves, passing on the habit to their children. Digital games and screens, meanwhile, continue to tighten their grip.
Procrastination – The Silent Killer
“Pagah paro,” “pagah karav”—but that ‘pagah’ (tomorrow) never comes. Procrastination is a deadly enemy of reading. It is the same reason students cram at the eleventh hour, failing to develop a consistent reading habit. The “delay button” keeps us from opening books, from chasing knowledge, from fulfilling our to-do lists. And yet, we do little to fight this habit. It’s a double whammy—our lackadaisical attitude coupled with procrastination buries the desire to read.
The Absence of Books in Our Celebrations
Books have no place in our festivities. Our mithai tokreh (gift boxes) overflow with dry fruits, sweets, and clothes, but not books. We have set a precedent—occasions are to be marked with material gifts, not with the gift of knowledge. Children grow up believing books are an academic burden rather than a source of joy. Their schoolbooks are mugged up for exams and discarded once declared “Pass.” Crores are spent on weddings, land, and cars, but books remain an afterthought. There exists a “Book Giving Day,” yet we have failed to embrace it.
Digital Dangers
The digital world is an abyss. If scratched , it reveals a Pandora’s Box of vices—adult content, online gambling, addiction and much more. Harlan Coben aptly said, “Make no mistake, adolescence is a war. No one gets out unscathed.” The implications are grave—families torn apart, fortunes lost, young lives derailed. Online distractions are pulling children away from books, dragging them into a void.
Steps for the Revival of Reading Culture
Give Readers Options
Reading begins with choice. Short stories, novellas, fiction, nonfiction—every genre must be made available. A reader’s journey starts with tasting different flavours. If libraries and homes provide a variety of books, readers will discover their true calling.
Embrace Digital Minimalism
A digital sabbatical is necessary. The time devoured by social media can be reclaimed through books. Initially, the withdrawal symptoms are real—the anxiety of not checking the phone. But soon, the habit fades, and books take centre stage. Digital minimalism is key to reviving our intellectual well-being.
Seek Hope from the Past
Our past holds answers. Long winter nights once echoed with tales of Rustom and Sohrab from Firdausi’s magnum opus. The whole family would sit together, listening with rapt attention. Those moments were sacred. Why not revive that tradition? Let a family member pick up a book, read a page aloud, and invite discussions. Let the thinking process be upgraded. Let curiosity bloom.
Defeat Procrastination
The giant killer of procrastination must be silenced. A strict commitment to the to-do list is essential. What is meant to be read today must be read today. Let us celebrate “International Book Day” with fervour, ensuring every child receives a book, just as they receive an Idi on Eid. Imagine shelves brimming with books the next morning, waiting to be opened, explored, and cherished.
Include Books in Mehthai Tokreh
Why not add books to our gift baskets? Imagine gifting a book on the birth of a child, on weddings, or other milestones. A cricket-loving child gifted books on legendary cricketers would read them with passion. Thus begins a seamless journey into reading.
Marry Books for Life
We need to stop treating books as temporary affairs. They must be lifelong companions. Love books. Love is insatiable. It keeps pulling you back. Let us forge a deep, unbreakable bond with reading books.
Tanveer Magrey has a Masters in Convergent Journalism from Central University of Kashmir.
