Why the Asppeal of Reading Has Declined

The famous maxim, "A home without books is like a body without soul," is the best defined one emphasising the importance of books and their office in shaping up the importance of book reading.

Reading books is a globally recognized intellectual and cultural activity, which keeps the encephalon healthy and alive, but unfortunately the culture of reading books is almost condign not-existent in our society, the reasons for this sad state of affairs are numerous, one primary contributing factor is the prevailing poverty the graph of which is moving upward with every passing day, the other predominant factor is our education system, in which the students are forced to learn everything by heart, and a very mutual believe among the students is that the best and the easiest way to get good marks in the examinations is to learn by center everything from the "central books" , while this is a bitter reality that any pupil writing anything different from that as written in the "key" books hardly gets passing marks. Not just this the teachers never capeesh any student citing from whatsoever other volume other than the prescribed text books, reason being the knowledge of the teachers most of the times is limited and he or she is aback of accepting her lack of knowledge.

In the early days or to be more than precise, lxx or lxxx years dorsum when the resource of individuals were express, book reading was considered as one of the basic requirements like eating nutrient or drinking water. Those unable to buy books were able to read books of their pick and liking from libraries spread all over a certain locality at quite affordable rates to exist charged on daily, weekly or monthly ground

Teachers not alone are to be blamed for this distressing situation, even parents never encourage their children to read books other than text books, considering they are only interested in getting their kids loftier marks required for getting admissions in the professional colleges.

In the early days or to exist more precise seventy or fourscore years back when the resources of individuals were limited the book reading was considered equally ane of the bones requirements similar eating food or drinking water. Those unable to buy books were able to read books of their pick and liking from libraries spread all over a sure locality at quite affordable rates to be charged on daily, weekly or monthly basis. It was a must practice in every firm hold to encourage the reading habits among the children by providing them story books and monthly magazines. In those days the status symbol was one'southward collection of books and how well he/she was read, and not the cars model or the size of bungalow and the branded clothes. One widely read was considered equally most respectable, creditable and estimable in the society. This was the case in well-nigh in every gild and culture. History is witness to the fact that the scholars, thinkers, philosophers, writers and poets had a very high and esteemed position in the courts of kings and monarchs and always held a very distinctive and important position in the corridors of power. The elites were those who had the knowledge of art, literature, history, politics, philosophy, faith and not the ones having heaps of wealth. People used to exist proud of their collection of books and the size of their own library.

I call up my child hood when we were e'er encouraged to read books and magazines by our parents, when we ourselves were unable to read it was a matter of routine of my mother to read out stories for u.s. from dissimilar books and magazines that was to induce a habit of reading.

Our mother made it sure to subscribe all children'south monthly magazines, the memory of those still afresh such as Taleem O Tarbiyat, Hidiyat, Bachoon Ki Dunya etc. In Bachoon Ki Dunya the most famous and liked serial was "Nanay Kay Karnamay" and to read that serial story every child of those days ever awaited desperately. In every story there used to exist a lesson of morality, respect, dear for humanity, besides historical narratives. There used to be very few stories without whatsoever lesson or leaving a negative bear upon on the mind of the immature ones, as all such books were considered as highly condemnable and reprehensible every bit Akbar Allahbdi in simple word condemned such books,in these words

Hum Aysaee Kul Kitabayeen Qabil E Zabti Samjahtay Hain

Kay Jin Ko Parh Ker Bachay Bap Ko Khabti Samajhtay Hain

(All such books must be confiscated, which make children call up their fathers as insane)

Not only the books and magazines for the young were in affluence but the literarily magazines and periodicals were likewise of great value and very popular and available at an affordable price like Naqoosh, Fanoon, Adabi Dunia, Saqi and many more. With the rise of cost of living, the reading of skillful literature also became costly the event being culture of reading books dying rapidly at a very alarming rate. Genuine readers especially the young generation finds it next to impossible to buy a book of their favourite author or the subject of their interest because of the heaven high prices of the reading material. In our neighbouring country India books are available on much a reduced prices and are easily affordable to almost every segment of society, where as in Islamic republic of pakistan even the price of newspapers is so loftier that a lay man is left with no option just to read cheap evening papers offer no serious or informative material.

Another major reason of decline in reading habits is the invention of internet, every bit all books and magazines are easily available free of cost just on one click of the computers key boards, the worst aspect of the electronic reading material is not but that all sorts of reading material even harmful for the minds of young and young is available but long sitting in forepart of computers badly furnishings the eyesight also, and equally Akbar Allahbadi said they tin can't be confiscated so the new generation has started considering their "fathers insane".

The city of Lahore is famous for its quondam books shops, and since decades the weekly boutique of old books at Mall Road is the hallmark of the city, simply gradually the number of book buyers is reducing over hither too the reason existence the high prices and lack of facilities. If the metropolis administration could very proudly institute a food street, why tin't they set up a "Books Street" where the book lovers can find out the books of their choice without searching it in the soaring heat, dust and filth, equally is the instance with the Sunday boutique of quondam books in Lahore?

All over Pakistan one can detect a new nutrient outlet appearing at every locality, but i hardly finds a new book shop coming upwardly, we can run across our youth wasting money on junk food, where equally our volume shops presents a deserted look. Mr. Z A Bhutto, himself highly read and lover of books tried and introduced a system of press the books on cheaper prices, fifty-fifty separate sections were created at all book foundations outlets for children with latest books and magazines available to read free of price. I remember visiting those children reading corners after my school, and what a fun it was to read Urdu and English language story books free of toll in a comfortable temper, simply with his unfortunate and tragic departure from the power corridors of the country likewise resulted in the emptying of that reduced price books culture.

A very positive aspect is the almanac Literary festivals in different cities of Islamic republic of pakistan, in which ane tin notice participation of young girls and boys in large numbers, taking keen involvement in books and discussions on literary subjects this clearly indicates that our youth are nevertheless in search of good reading material only being out of their reach due to high prices opt for on line reading. The new generation takes dandy interest in Urdu poetry non but in big cities but in remote areas, I take come across many youngsters who had never been to a college schoolhouse, reading Faiz, Faraz, Muneer Niazi, Nasir Kazmi, Parveen Shakir, fifty-fifty Ghalib, Mir and Momin, but again the cost of their poetic involvement is and so high that they opt for on line versions of these giants of Urdu linguistic communication.

Our youth can compete their counterparts only if they are well read and this can go possible only if the books are hands available to them at nominal prices.

Another unfortunate aspect and a surprising one is that people just to show that they are lovers of books mainly belonging from the new brand of riches purchase books and exuberant prices from the book shops generally from quondam book shops and fill up their book shelves in the "Study" at times one can find dozens of same volume of same author, I myself was told by an old volume seller that the "elites" coming up in latest model cars buy same book in dozens for their newly constructed house in Defence.

The government should seriously think on this subject before it'due south too late and reduce the price of newspaper and the printing material so that the books are in easy reach of genuine readers along with it our media should also come forrard to highlight the importance of reading and suit book festivals along with the songs and dance festivals.

The writer is a former marine engineer. He can be reached at aamiraqil@gmail.com

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Source: https://dailytimes.com.pk/557666/decline-in-book-reading-culture/

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