READING CULTURE IN NEPAL
Since time immemorial, books have been the most trusted source of knowledge. Moreover, books give flight to the creative imagination, and regular book reading can positively affect a person's personality. Book reading inspires, educates, and transforms people's lives. History is replete with examples where great readers became great thinkers, philosophers, and writers. In brief, it can be said that a regular reading habit works as a tonic for the human brain.
Regular readers don’t only accumulate more knowledge but also become much wiser, more knowledgeable, and more successful in their personal and professional lives.
READING CULTURE IN NEPALI SOCIETY
There may be a common curiosity among people about where
Nepali society stands as far as reading culture is concerned. Well, the answer
is rather depressing. The fact is that Nepali society has never had a reading
culture. From the early times until now, Nepali people have not been known for
book reading. In fact, Nepali education has always been neglected, backward,
and traditional by nature.
Even after the reinstatement of democracy in the country, different governments came and went, but none of them had ever put the education sector on their priority list. Corruption and political instability have always occupied the central stage in the country. These power-hungry politicians spent much of their energy and time trying to stay in power for a longer period of time. And those who are not in power will always conspire to topple the government in power.
Unless and until a consolidated framework for the education sector is developed, evolving a reading culture will only remain a will-o-the wisp. Only a well-established education sector will provide a platform where a reading culture can flourish.
NEPALI EDUCATION VIS-À-VIS READING CULTURE
It seems that over the last six decades, Nepali education has concentrated on increasing the literacy rate in the country but not the reading culture. Education curricula have been developed to produce a crowd of literate people whose intelligence is confined within the periphery of textbooks. For many educated people in Nepal, book reading means only reading the textbooks prescribed in their academic courses. Our schools, colleges, and universities have designed courses that compel students to spend all their time reading course books. These courses do not encourage students to read popular literature available in fiction and nonfiction.
This is a known fact: in the past, Nepal did not have many educational institutions. For decades until now, the Nepali education sector has not received any significant investment. This is really the worst-case scenario for any country. For decades, the literacy rate was at an all-time low. In a situation like this, how can one expect a growing reading culture when most people are illiterate? Thus, the subject of reading culture is a recent phenomenon in the country. Even the current education system in the country does not encourage our young students to read books other than textbooks. For many of them, reading books outside of formal education is merely a waste of time. A systematic effort is required to break this kind of mindset among young people.
LIBRARIES TO PROMOTE READING CULTURE
Libraries can be the best option to promote reading culture in the country. But the present government-funded libraries are in the most deplorable condition. The fact is that no government has ever shown an iota of commitment to promoting public libraries in the country. Due to a lack of adequate funds, most of the public libraries are in pathetic condition today. No efforts have ever been made to revive these public libraries in the country. As a result, many of these libraries have already been shut down. And those libraries in service have almost no budget to run them smoothly. They have old books, and many of those libraries are in bad shape. Thus, many of these public libraries have failed to attract serious readers.
In recent years, libraries have been found in almost every private boarding school and college. But the truth is that very few students visit these libraries on a regular basis. And the reason is that school and college curricula do not encourage students to read books other than those prescribed in their syllabus. Extra classes and tuition classes are run in order to score impressive marks in the exam. But students are not encouraged to visit libraries.
STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS READING BOOKS
Most students think that the purpose of studying at colleges and universities is to earn a degree with an impressive score. A good score in the examination will help them secure a study visa. And a good score is only possible if students devote all their time to textbooks. Under such circumstances, why will students read books other than textbooks? So top-notch academicians in the country should prepare a curriculum that encourages students to read books.
NEPALI BOOK MARKET AND READING CULTURE
Over the last couple of years, Nepali book publication has substantially increased. With the publication of new titles, more young and senior writers are attracted to taking up writing as a full-time career. At the same time, it is also seen that many authors publish one or two books and then don’t continue writing. The main reason behind this is a lack of sales. Regular book readers are limited, and they are active in some pocket areas. If more books are not sold, then neither publishers nor authors will benefit. Authors put their hearts and souls together to write a book, and then publishers risk their money to print the books and market them. After spending so much hard work, time, and money, if the return is meager, then writers will definitely not be encouraged to write yet another book. For this reason, many writers have turned to other professions, including writing articles and columns in the dailies, weeklies, and monthlies.
The truth is that Nepal does not have a large number of readers. Among the readers, many of them are not serious readers. They read occasionally. Many of them don’t mind spending a thousand rupee note at restaurants, but to buy a 300 rupee book, they will think twice. Moreover, due to the ongoing popularity of social media and the abundance of free reading content available on the internet, many readers don’t want to spend money on buying new books. Instead, they would prefer to download free PDF books from the internet.
WHY ARE THE READERS NUMBERS RAPIDLY DECLINING?
There are many reasons for the rapid decline of readers in Nepal. The first is the financial part. Nepal’s economy is already on the ventilator. The Nepali government and concerned stakeholders never tried wholeheartedly to develop the necessary infrastructure to develop Nepali industries. Necessary steps must have been taken to coordinate rural-based industries with urban-based industries. But due to the open economic policy adopted by our government, Indian and Chinese goods have already decimated Nepal’s fledgling industries in rural and urban areas. As a result, Nepal has, except for a few, no industries. Nepal has resorted to relying entirely on foreign imports of all industrial goods, including food items. Literally speaking, Nepal now survives on remittances. How can one expect a growing reading community in a country where most people survive on remittances? The fact is that more readers can only be expected in a growing economy, not in a dying one.
The truth is that no reading culture can be found in poor countries. In short, it can be said that the people of poor countries don’t read. Reading is a luxury, and therefore it is only possible in rich and growing countries. The people of poor countries main worry is how to make ends meet. And they lose all their energies and resources to feed the hungry mouths of their families. Reading will not be their priority. Can you expect the people living in rural areas of Nepal to read fiction or nonfiction? On the other hand, people in Africa, where many children die due to malnutrition, will visit libraries and read. No, in practical terms, such things never happen.
THE NEPALI CURRICULUM DOESN’T ENCOURAGE READING BOOKS
The Nepali curriculum has been prepared in such a way that it only makes students read textbooks. Students are not encouraged to read books other than textbooks. Now the time has come to adopt a new concept in the school and college curriculums. The new approach to modern education should be that students must learn one foreign language and pick a vocational subject. Reading fiction and nonfiction should also be made compulsory. Such subjects as creative English writing and the art of speaking should also be included, among others.
PUT A TAB ON THE EXCESSIVE USE OF ADDICTIVE SOCIAL
MEDIA
Unfortunately, putting a complete ban on various social
media platforms is seemingly impossible in a democratic country like ours. But
these toxic social media and online video games have already taken a heavy toll
on the young generation. They spend hours on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
and upload videos on TikTok. These social media applications and on-screen
games are much more addictive than any narcotic. To get out of the cobweb of
these toxic social platforms is not that easy. Today’s youth can be seen with
their mobile phones wherever they go. The majority of them cannot live even a
single day without their mobile phones. Isn’t it an addiction? What about
pornography? Still, a large number of youths are heavily addicted to watching
pornography on their mobile phones and laptops. In a situation like this, when
youths are so addicted to various social platforms, how can we even think of
diverting these youths from such addictions to reading books?
SOMETHING CONCRETE SHOULD BE DONE
To divert our youths from addictive social media platforms and online video games, the beginning should be made by changing the present curriculum. A new curriculum should be introduced, and that should force students to do research, prepare their own reports, and submit them. Not only this, they should also be asked to explain the whole project, and this should be a part of the examination. This will encourage students to do research and improve their writing skills to prepare their reports. Because they should also explain before the expert panels, they will also go through rigorous speaking practice for the presentation. Only this little change in the curriculum will take our students away from addictive media. That has made them hollow from the inside and left them good for nothing.
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