By Vijay Phanshikar :
THE evidence of this reality — that books are still ‘the’ favourites — is amply available everywhere, no matter the erroneous impression to the contrary. People who have the urge to learn, the strong desire to make genuine progress, still tilt in favour books as repositories of knowledge. This creates
happy feeling within at least those who have understood the importance of books
in life.
Of course, there would be countless numbers of people who would testify that they never read books. And many of them say that with a sense of brazen pride that actually makes little sense. Teachers, too, do not appear to be reading books, as a general impression goes. And the condition in homes also appears more or less to be the same — lack of interest in reading books.
Most also resort to their mobile phone sets to do whatever can be said to be reading. If there is a question that needs an immediate answer, most resort to internet (Google) that is so easily available on their mobile phones. Books, as most feel, appear to have lost their appeal.
Yet, against the entire body of this general experience, to say that books are still the favourites may appear as clear temerity. Yet, the loud-thinker feels that books — those wonderful monuments of knowledge — enjoy a position of primacy in civilised human thought.
He has ample evidence to assert this.
No matter if countless numbers of people among us may not be taking to books, there is no doubt that everybody looks at a person reading or even holding books with a sense of awe or respect. On aeroplanes, on trains, in public places where one has to wait to meet somebody, we do find some people delving into books, no matter of the busy surroundings.
Even in schools or colleges or at home, books are certainly respected, even though the number of people actually reading books may appear to have reduced.
The loud-thinker takes this as one evidence of the primacy the books enjoy in human consideration.
Besides this, the loud-thinker has always run into countless people who are serious users of books as a reading material.
They buy books — either from book stores or through on-line purchases — in good numbers.
The loud-thinker spent on full evening sometime ago with the owner of a book store — as he selected books for himself and engaged the man in a general conversation. The man was happy enough about the sales he had every month. “Yes, there is a dip in sales of books, but that is actually very little.
I may relate that to increased prices of books because of general inflation. Particularly after COVID rage, everything has become more expensive. Books are no exception. Yet, my revenues are affected only to a small extent”,
he said.
The store owner also said that a good number of people buy books on-line. “That helps them since the prices of on-line books are certainly lesser than the ones from physical book stores. Nevertheless, my sales are good enough,” the man added with a happy smile.
Let alone the evidence in terms of revenues etc, the loud-thinker is in touch with a large number of people who buy and read books regularly. Over the years, the number of people in this community has not shrunk. Rather, it appears to be going up. A happy input also refers to a growing number of young people taking to book-reading.
When the loud-thinker talks of books, he does not necessarily refer to text books that students require while in school or college. The reference is to general books. But in his own reading, the loud-thinker has books even on advanced sciences since reading that material has its own high-grade excitement. Science has added to its own kitty in recent decades many new subjects whose reading is often a happy experience.
Before opting to write on this subject, the loud-thinker thought many times over if he was reading any false signals. A serious check led him to believe that the signals he was getting about the books being the actual favourites for knowledge-seekers were not false.
This is good enough for book-lovers to feel good about themselves.
Cheers!
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