We need a book that can be as devastating as a catastrophe, like the death of a loved one in exile, like exile in a secluded forest away from the world, and as painful as suicide. Let the book be such that it acts as an ax for the frozen ice inside us.
Franz Kafka.
In Kafka's view, if the book cannot break the ice that is frozen inside us, it is better not to read it. Snow is frozen on the branches of our conscious trees. The weight of the snow may have put a complete stop to its mobility. Reading a book should be able to shake the tree of consciousness vigorously and break the frozen snow into pieces, so that our consciousness can be refreshed once again. Then don't book! Then don't read!
Why we Need to Study
Man is cursed to read. That is, we cannot escape by trying not to read, reading is our destiny. This concept encompasses the broader meaning of the word reading. Before drawing any conclusions about objects and events, it is important to read their systematic observations. But reading in the general sense means accepting what is written in books, magazines, etc. Reading in a more limited but common sense is just 'reading a book'.
The purposes of reading are varied. You have to read the prescribed textbooks for formal education. Its purpose is to acquire knowledge or gain expertise in related subjects.
- Social Acquaintance: To get acquainted with society, culture, history, philosophy, etc. in general. This level of study is relatively non-technical and serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and the general public.
- Intellectual Challenge: Books that simplify information and knowledge are likely to be popular. It is also a challenge for writers to prepare books for this purpose.
- Entertainment: To soothe the momentary impulses, stimuli and basic level emotions. Such readings help to relieve stress, to use one's free time, to wander in imaginary worlds or to experience the intimate aspects of human life. Narrative, drama and poetry are its suitable genres.
In short, reading plays an important role in following the course of time, adapting to the situation, and keeping the brain active.
Are We Reading Friendly
In the last 60 years, the objective of the Government of Nepal has been to increase the literacy rate. Literacy and reading culture are two different things. Reading culture is also an indicator of the prosperity of the society. The per capita income of a large part of our population is very low. That income also makes it difficult for them to make a living. It does not seem appropriate to expect a reading culture within a class that has to be deprived of even basic education as it has to work hard to earn a living.
How much time people have left to make a living and how they use that time is an important question in the development of reading culture. Reading is not the only option to make the most of your free time. Apart from professional involvement, a person's family and social role is also the same. The various instability created by the fluid politics of present day Nepal has not allowed the people to remain neutral in contemporary political activities. Against this background, ordinary parents do not like to see their children engrossed in extracurricular activities.
Leaving aside the issue of rural and economically lower class families, the concept of private and family library has not been able to enter even the affluent families. It's a matter of culture, not personal preference. The majority of parents do not want to spend on such 'unnecessary' things.
Is There a Reading Culture Here In Nepal
Is it possible to develop reading culture in a non-reading society? There are few people in Nepal who believe that a university produces knowledge. The institutional purpose of the university is to produce knowledge, but the institutional effort is almost nil. The first goal of people going to university is to 'earn' a degree. Our degrees have not become indicators of knowledge. The indifference of the university towards the synergy of the degree and the knowledge expected of it has had a negative impact on the reading culture in the society.
Examples include Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger’s "What is Life," which revolutionized biology, and Yuval Harari’s "Sapiens," which became a synthesized discussion of multifaceted aspects in the development of humanity.
When an expert in one subject has a basic knowledge of another subject, a new veil of knowledge is being opened. A letter from our scholarly community certainly shows this kind of awareness. But it is very limited, in infancy. ‘Light’ literature read for entertainment and leisure does not enhance the reading culture. In order to increase the reading culture, there should be a hunger for knowledge, a thirst for information should be chased away. As Kafka said, one should be awakened by the inspiration to break the frozen mountain of snow within oneself.
Why The Contraction of Reading Culture
Due to economic reasons, there was no opportunity for flourishing reading culture in Nepal. Reading the psychology of society is not culture friendly. In fact, these two factors are like two sides of the same coin.
Linguistic Access & Translations
Healthy Debate & Criticism
Interest Identification in Youth
Teaching as a Profession
When discussing the reading culture, the quality of our own books must be discussed. Content and presentation are important. Books like 'Read today, forget tomorrow' do not cultivate a reading culture. Reading should be 'contagious'.
Why Did the Book Market Slow Down
A few years ago, sales of Nepali books skyrocketed. This market wave gave birth to many new writers. Despite the departmental diversity, the novel had beaten the market. Unfortunately, most of the writers who reached the top did not show any magic in their second and third writings.
Autobiographies also have a big hand in ruining Nepal's book market. The illusion that I should and could become a writer haunted many. Some such works became documents of frustrations, covering weaknesses and mistakes without sharing theoretical or practical knowledge. Retired life seemed to be for writing autobiographies.
Attraction Towards Nepali Books Decreased
The popular genre of literature, the novel, is now on the defensive. If there is enough supply but no activity, it indicates very few readers are buying. The reason for the slowdown should be found within the author and publisher, not the reader.
Until a few years ago, foreign books were the main demand. However, foreign books have not been imported for almost three months after the government imposed the tax. Popular international books are unavailable, and rumors of abnormal price hikes have shrunk the market further.
Finally
Publishers have the main responsibility to re-establish Nepali books at the center of reading culture. They need to research useful themes and avoid making publishing a 'earning vessel'. Authors also need to expand the scope of their studies to give quality and variety to their creations. Readers are customers, they don't wait. According to Franz Kafka, if both the writer and the publisher could be guided, the result would be satisfactory.
Critical Thinking Question: How can we bridge the gap between literacy and reading culture?
Answer: Bridging the gap requires increasing linguistic access through high-quality translations, fostering a tradition of healthy debate and criticism, and improving the institutional quality of school and public libraries to make books more accessible to all economic classes.