The Hindu Business Line : Great to have a day dedicated to `celebrating reading'

April 23 is observed as `World Book and Copyright Day'. Launched by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1996, the date is symbolic for world literature: "On this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died," informs http://portal.unesco.org. "The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on April 23, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold."

Among the book-promotion initiatives that have gained international success is the `World Book Capital', one learns. "Madrid was the first city to be proclaimed World Book Capital, on the sixth World Book and Copyright Day. After Alexandria (Egypt, 2002), New Delhi (India, 2003), Antwerp (Belgium, 2004), Montreal (Canada, 2005) and Turin (Italy, 2006), the designated city this year is Bogotá (Colombia)." More than 100 countries are expected to participate in the 12th World Book and Copyright Day, today.

To mark the occasion, Business Line sought to obtain the views of a few authors on what the day means to them.

The following publishers facilitated the interaction: Jaico (www.jaicobooks.com), Rupa (www.rupapublications.com), Sage (www.sagepublications.com), Tata McGraw-Hill (www.tatamcgrawhill.com), Viva (www.vivagroupindia.com), and Wisdom Tree (www.wisdomtreeindia.com).

Whatever new medium of information dissemination may come every now and then, it is but books that will remain to be the only source of gaining a permanent `impression' for mankind.

An investment in books, if done like `tithing' religiously, will go a long way to assure returns — the treasures of indomitable wisdom!

Gibson G. Vedamani

Come electronic communication come Internet, books will go on forever. They are the lifeblood of a country's culture.

M. V. Kamath

For me World Book Day is the celebration of reading as a habit. As authors, we have an additional responsibility to stimulate this habit among the people.

Subhash Khare

I believe World Book Day meets a great need in a world that is rapidly changing — reiterating the pleasure and excitement of books and rekindling and reaffirming pleasure that is within the reach of all.

Raghu Palat

Education is one of the key elements to eradicate today's ailments — poverty, war, disease, global warming. Books are the foundation to provide this inspiration!

Azim Jamal

In this infinite expanse of universe, books are our gateway to knowledge. The World Book Day is just a reminder to decipher those unread books lying in the personal bookshelf, and many more waiting to be brought online.

And if one has been adventurous enough, finish the incomplete works, lying on hard disk of the PC, and the unstated words lying in the corners of the peripatetic mind.

Sumit Kasera

The world is too enmeshed in video, TV, Internet, PlayStations, mobile-based games,... especially the younger generation. They've moved away from books. The World Book Day is a chance to show them that books have a unique place of their own — which no electronic technology can replace!

Dhruv Nath

To me, books are the next closest to living beings.

They speak to you, commiserate, understand... and so long as you respect them, they will stick by you.

They almost have a mind of their own!

Derek Bose

There's actually a World Book Day? Interesting but sad, because it makes it sound like books are an endangered species. Perhaps if someone comes up with a World Turn-off-the-Bloody-TV-&-PC Day, there would be no need to encourage people to read.

Rupa Gulab

The day means one must finish reading all those books one always meant to read like classics by Leo Tolstoy and the third Harry Potter or throw them out of the house and admit once and for all that you will never get around to reading them EVER. The day also means quoting from Pierre Bayard's bestseller How to Talk About Books That You Haven't Read.

Shinie Antony

Books are a window to the world; and how nice that these various windows come together on World Book Day, reminding us that faraway lands are within our grasp.

Arvind Singhal

The "World Book Day" is a time for me to introspect and see how have I been doing on my learning goals.

At the beginning of each year I set goals on areas such as: Current Work, Future Trends, Personal Development and Spirituality. While the first two pertain to my being effective at my workplace, the latter two pertain to my being a better human being. If I have done well on few targets I try and see if I have implemented the learning's in my workplace and my life. In case there are goals which I have not met, I would try to analyse the reasons for not meeting the same.

At the end it is about promising to myself that "learning goals have to be met come what may — it is required for my being a more effective and a better human being."

Debashis Sarkar

In the age of information technology, books are the only source of proper understanding and wisdom for a creative reader.

M. B. Sharan

On World Book Day I shall make one wish for the coming literary year: May editors resolve mercilessly to shun sycophancy and slash away at the verbosity of vainglorious VIPs. Then their memoirs might become a pleasure to read not just an indulgence to write.

Adam Clapham

It's great to have a day dedicated to `celebrating reading'. When we are living in the times of 300-plus TV Channels, DVDs, gaming and endless distractions, this can especially play a role in bringing back to children the importance of the written word. I can recall how the wonderful world of fantasy definitely enriched my own childhood!"

Nandita da Cunha

Books, both technical and literary, are an unmatched source of knowledge. Assimilating and internalising ethically sound usable ideas and concepts from a few books — not voracious reading — help gain wisdom. The Indian sutra system served this purpose in the pre-printing era.

Ashok R. Garde

I heard about this day for the first time through this mail from Jaico. This event, I understand, is targeted at encouraging personal development of children through reading of books. The cause is undoubtedly noble. For effective `after-event' results, this should be followed up with workshops conducted by eminent people who can `Ignite Their Minds & Spirits', and `Dissuade Indiscipline', which is becoming rampant in Indian school students.

Rajiv Gupta

World Book Day sounds like a day dedicated to books. It should act as a catalyst for you to buy a book, visit a library or just finish the book that you have not found the time to finish, all these weeks. Or take it as a day that will make you pull out books that are gathering dust on your book shelves and give them to someone you think will enjoy them. But to me every day is a World Book Day.

M. G. Parameswaran

It is a splendid idea indeed to celebrate World Book Day on 23rd April every year. In India, one of the world's largest book publishers, the day is an occasion to promote the culture of reading through making books affordable and through a nationwide chain of public libraries.

Keval J. Kumar

Books form opinions and opinions can change men, societies and even nations. The publication of good books is therefore extremely essential for all of us. The day therefore means a lot to me.

Ashwani Lohani

I am a management consultant and books are my friends. They keep me updated in this ever-changing world. In fact, they are the backbone of my profession And a knowledge, strength and attitude building tool. I can't imagine my-world without books. So God give me the strength to buy plenty of books every month.

Ajoy Guha

What would life be without books? Can't even imagine it! Books are not just storehouses of information and knowledge. They are the one unfailing source of delight, excitement and comfort to all of us. If we wish to acquire knowledge in a particular field, books give it to us better than the Internet or the TV. If we wish to experience the joy of intellectual exploration and discovery, books provide us this joy in abundance. If we wish to have fun and entertainment, books are the greatest entertainers. If we wish to forget the problems and sorrows of life, books are the best solace. Nothing else in this world could give us so much.

In spite of the technological advances in this globalised world, books continue to be written, published and read in millions in the hundreds of languages of the world by people of all ages and cultures, which shows the enduring quality of the appeal they have.

Nothing can match the thrill of delightful expectation that a book-lover experiences as she holds a new book in her hands which she is about to open and start reading, and nothing can equal the deep satisfaction and pleasure that she feels as she closes a well-written book after reading it.

M. A. Yadugiri

Being a passionate reader I am certainly glad of the fact that such an initiative is promoted. I do believe that books are loyal friends, sources of inspiration and can contribute to a better world: therefore any action that may help spread the interest for reading is clearly welcome. Unfortunately in today's word the sound habit of reading is often replaced by other ways of spending the free time, both for adults and for children. It would be nice if, as a tool to promote books and reading during this day, the associations of publishers state that purchases during the day would have some kind of incentive (for example, 10 per cent discount on the MRP). At the same time, schools may request their students to read a short book and other institutions may distribute some free booklets to invite people to discover the pleasure of reading; the bookshops may also organise some special events with the same objective. Maybe such initiatives are already happening; in that case it would be useful to adequately advertise them.

Stefano Pelle

Books have always been an incredibly powerful force in society, but I think they will become even more important in the Internet era. These days, on the Web, so much of journalism and communication have been reduced to small bits of information with a short useful life. Context is being torn away from "content." It's in books that authors can best present large ideas and explore complex matters. Also, with so much blogging going on, some pundits have declared the rise of the "citizen journalist." They act as if an army of bloggers is a suitable replacement for more traditional journalists — whose publications, in the United States at least, are losing the financial strength required to afford first-rate journalism. I believe that this is a dangerous idea. A couple of years ago I heard Bob Schieffer, then the anchorman for the CBS Evening News, define journalism as the search for truth by professionals. I agree with him. And I believe that because the truth is complex and hard to find, it is in books that the work of journalists will have some of its greatest impacts.

Steve Hamm

The libraries at Nalanda and Alexandria were burnt long ago. In course of time books came out stronger in the end. Burning books was no guarantee to destroying them. Now, with virtual publishing we've got the instrument that will effectively destroy the habit of reading in people. Books will soon cease to exist. Not that people would gain more thereby. They won't read, they'll play intense games on gadgets. They won't discuss books they have read over chai or coffee. All prestigious teaching institutes will follow IIT Bombay in forcing students to shake themselves out of the chairs, move from their computer screens, peep out of their rooms to say hello to the unknown boarder next door. The writer who continues to write will be a brave one or a person without any wisdom since he'll never expect to be read. Thank God! We won't have critics!"

Arun Chaudhuri

In this age of electronic media, revival of book reading habits has delighted many hearts. Increased awareness and footfalls in book-malls assures us that book reading will not only survive but also flourish. As an author I feel that there is no substitute for good books and better sale figures definitely inspires us to come out with more good products. Though in book reading habits we still lag behind in India, I am sure that we will soon catch with world standards on this count too. On the World Book day I greet all book readers and urge them to patronise this industry for the sake of future generations. Good luck.

Dinesh K. Vohra

In a fast evolving day and age, the transformational power of humanity can be re-established with a higher consciousness through writings, poetry and experiences expressed in books. Collectively we should sustain the hope of all humanity for happier, more peaceful times sharing our views and thoughts on this `World Book Day'!

Shambhavi Chopra

For a teacher who is a life long student like me, books are my best friends and a window into the wider world. Television and the Internet are having a negative impact on book reading habits of people. Therefore, a Day like this serves as a reminder to all about the need to cultivate and make book reading a habit. It is said you are known by the company you keep. That includes the books that you not only keep but also read. They tell you a lot about your preferences and values, indeed about your total personality.

I am happy to share that at International Management Institute we have started a `meet the author' series, which is held once a month. Our students have gained inspiration by meeting and interacting with prominent authors and have started a book club. The Institute, in turn is encouraging them by distributing books as awards to the best two speakers on a book at their `book of the month' series.

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam

I grew up in a household where books and learning were not accorded a high priority. Neither of my parents were educated beyond the tenth grade. Both left school by age sixteen, pursued menial jobs, met and married by the time they were eighteen. Their intellectual horizons and economic circumstances remained static. Had it not been for the influence of dedicated teachers in the public schools, and caring grandparents, my future would have been no different. I had a bright mind and thanks to the encouragement and stimulation I received from people who recognised this trait, I discovered books. This proved to be my way out. So much so that I didn't merely settle for reading books; I became motivated to write them as well. Having experienced the power of books and learning, I can only hope that World Book Day reaches multitudes of others whose lives can be transformed by reading books, the gateway to the world of ideas and the banishing of ignorance.

Dr Harold Gould

Reading enables us to enter a virtual reality, an alternative world because books are entire universes, with many kinds of climates, civilisations and cultures — they are our real `windows'! The culture of the book — whether print or digital, or even the book of nature — is central to the cultivation of minds (`culture' and `cultivation' are linked in terms of etymology anyway). The many `windows' we call books help us understand that borders are not impermeable, that ideals are not unreachable and that there can always be other worlds than these. Books are read even after we close them. In fact, the mind begins to write — craft a different worldview, compose a dream or sketch a solution — after it finishes with the book.

Pramod K. Nayar

Book contains knowledge, information, ideas. So does CD, but in a more sophisticated way. CD opens up a dynamic world of sounds, visuals and interactive texts. It is exactly the same world every one finds, whenever the CD is run. Reader of a book, however, enters into an exclusive world of understanding and experience through interactions with textual representations. That world is essentially personal.

Physical CDs are impersonal in character, whereas physical books have very distinguishable personalities. The shapes and sizes, binding styles, book covers, illustrations, papers and prints, fonts and layouts — all these, and the idiosyncratic smell of each copy, go along with our involved associations with the books we read.

Asoknath Mukhopadhyay

Francis Bacon said, "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some to be chewed on and digested", but it seems like the way the world is changing, very soon the quote may get a new version of `Some emails are to be read, others to be deleted and some you can neither chew nor digest' or better still, "some TV programmes are to be understood, others to be swallowed (painfully) and rest to be ignored for fear of indigestion". It is a sad state of affairs, with technology and lifestyle taking away the value of reading from us. I dread to think of the future with the way things are.

Who knows one day computers/TV will replace books completely and my great grandchildren will have to be shown the sample as to how a book used to look like! Wonder how uninteresting the world would be! How much lonelier people would be As the Chinese saying says, "To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one." I wish people realise the value of books and reading habit. The worst affected are the kids who are losing out due to lack of reading habit. We as adults must try and do something to inculcate this habit. To sum it all I would quote, "TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book." Author unknown.

Meera Ravi

MuraliDe@gmail.com