Bringing back the art of reading books has been in the media for quite a while now. Once considered a normal activity among young and old, reading books has become as uncommon as finding a good read. Almost all regular students or any growing youth were seen visiting libraries and sharing or exchanging books in their homes and schools. Finding an assortment of books was a common sight in any home. The motivation to actually read the books, and not just collect them to stack up as furnishings, is however diminishing. Somewhere along the passage of time, the powerful art of reading books has got lost in the transition of the many shifts and alterations.
Reading literature has become limited to textbooks for the aim of passing an academic course. The dominant medium for critical questioning, generating curious attitudes, exploring new perspectives of the outside world, or creating imaginative outlooks is no longer minds engrossed in books. Conversations, sermons, education are becoming shallow as the art of reading books slowly slides back and no longer holds the place they did once in the human culture.
Our J&K society is also equally preoccupied by the digital culture- invasion of the internet, technologies, and the idea of existing in the virtual world. The e-format, audio, and video reading materials are the alternatives easily available for those who remain committed to the art of reading, primarily scrolling on screens. All hope has not vanished for our society! The efforts of several individuals and like-minded people to recover the art of reading are commendable.
These positives steps to recover reading need to build up more. Keeping a check on the screen time for children and having dedicated hours for book reading, engaging young minds in book reading clubs or discussion groups, etc. are some achievable options.
J&K UT libraries need to function well, and reading spaces should be available at the panchayats and district levels. Above all, to recover the reading culture, the minds of the people need to accept that literature resonates with the spiritual component that nurtures human lives and beliefs.
We hope Jammu and Kashmir administration do an undertaking to create a learning space, generate awareness and hopefully build an informal learning hub garnering people from all walks of life both at the village and city level. There is a need in the society to drive positive action and change and to engage youths more meaningfully in the process of community development thus, the library was initiated to revive the dying art of reading, to make books easily accessible and available.
The skill of reading is not yet obsolete; there is still allure in reading and learning from the world’s greatest minds, and it makes perfect sense to have a healthy connection with books.