Dear Jayamohan,
I have been watching the announcements of book fairs taking place all over Tamil Nadu, even in small villages. I often wonder whether people are actually reading the books they buy or merely buying them.
Fifty years ago, we had a strong reading habit. Today, I see young people constantly immersed in their mobile phones, watching short videos and clips. I can hardly find anyone reading a book.
So, who is buying all these books? And what is the purpose of publishing so many books and organising book fairs throughout the year if people are not reading them?
K. Narayanan
Dear Narayanan,
If people were not reading these books, they would not be published. That is the obvious truth.
Fifty years ago, our reading culture was confined to a few privileged classes. Today, a new generation from underprivileged sections of society is entering the world of education and modern, text-based culture. Among them, a small but growing section is steadily turning towards reading and literature.
In those days, only about 400 titles were published in a year, and people rarely bought books for their personal collections. Reading was largely confined to libraries. That is no longer the case. Today, ordinary people buy books for themselves. We can see them reading, discussing books, and sharing their reading experiences with younger generations. There has been an astonishing growth in reading culture in Tamil Nadu.
At the same time, the upper classes seem to be increasingly distancing themselves from reading. They are becoming more absorbed in technology and consumerist lifestyles. They are not studying Tamil in their schools and colleges, and their English knowledge is very limited. Consequently, many are losing the ability to read in either English or Tamil.
That is the difference I observe in Tamil Nadu today. While reading culture is expanding among sections of society that were once excluded from it, those who traditionally enjoyed educational and cultural privileges are increasingly turning away from it.
Jeyamohan
