CORNER SPEAKS:
BY HARISH K. MONGA
One of the more subtle trends of 2010 has been the way that our reading habits have changed, due to a convergence of other Web trends. Reading as an activity is fast losing among today’s generation. In fact, reading habits have not been tracked over time with the result majority of the readers are using e-books.
Sometime back during the course of discussions at National Book Trust Exhibition, various points were raised and the consensus was that the decline in readership was due to the electronic medium. More-so, with the introduction of cable TV, people were totally losing the habit of reading books. The major factor, pointed out, was the cost of books which are on the very high side. With a view to increase the readership, the government should seriously think over think over the cost of books. It should give subsidy to the publishers on the printing material to bring down the cost. In the absence of such an arrangement, books would have few buyers and so the readers.
Some of the discussants were also of the view that books were not being brought out as per the requirement of the readers and this too needed to be thoroughly studied by the writers.
To encourage the readership, the parents should encourage their children to read books, newspapers in addition to their prescribed course. Gifts should be given in the form of books instead of eatables or decorative items. Organizing regular exhibitions of books by the publishers and discussion forum will also help to increase the readership of books. The government should also improve the condition of old libraries and by adding the books on all subjects besides creating a reading atmosphere.
There is also a need to initiate to adopt the novel method of reading habits started by CBSE in Banglore as “Donate a Book”. This will definitely help to inculcate reading habits among students and general public who are mostly glued to the internet.
One of the more subtle trends of 2010 has been the way that our reading habits have changed, due to a convergence of other Web trends. Reading as an activity is fast losing among today’s generation. In fact, reading habits have not been tracked over time with the result majority of the readers are using e-books.
Sometime back during the course of discussions at National Book Trust Exhibition, various points were raised and the consensus was that the decline in readership was due to the electronic medium. More-so, with the introduction of cable TV, people were totally losing the habit of reading books. The major factor, pointed out, was the cost of books which are on the very high side. With a view to increase the readership, the government should seriously think over think over the cost of books. It should give subsidy to the publishers on the printing material to bring down the cost. In the absence of such an arrangement, books would have few buyers and so the readers.
Some of the discussants were also of the view that books were not being brought out as per the requirement of the readers and this too needed to be thoroughly studied by the writers.
To encourage the readership, the parents should encourage their children to read books, newspapers in addition to their prescribed course. Gifts should be given in the form of books instead of eatables or decorative items. Organizing regular exhibitions of books by the publishers and discussion forum will also help to increase the readership of books. The government should also improve the condition of old libraries and by adding the books on all subjects besides creating a reading atmosphere.
There is also a need to initiate to adopt the novel method of reading habits started by CBSE in Banglore as “Donate a Book”. This will definitely help to inculcate reading habits among students and general public who are mostly glued to the internet.
