"Books are the carrier of civilization. Without books history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled and thought and speculations are stand still. -"George Bernard Shaw"
The reading habits have gradually vanished from the whole Pakistani culture so much so that its repercussion are now seriously felt in the entire body fabric of our civil society. Why have people completely lost interest in reading and as a consequence showing lack of enthusiasm at every level of the social order for the books and libraries? This question needs to be addressed first before suggestions for remedial measures are offered.
In pre-seventies period one of the major factor, which contributed a lot towards developing reading culture was privately owned small libraries and roadside bookshops in every mohalla of big town. These were small outlets, which used to offer books and magazines to the interested readers on daily rent at paltry sum of one anna per book. Despite the fact that these books were either novels or containing material of light reading, yet these added a lot towards developing reading habits of the populace.
Now these small enterprises are nowhere seen because letting out of books has remained no more a profitable proposition; besides no patronage was offered to these individual entrepreneurs by the local well to do people or the government agencies. The owners of these libraries were forced to switch over to other gainful businesses.
As a result the only avenue left for the reader was either to purchase books, cost of which being exorbitant and not affordable for a common man or to visit some library normally located in some posh locality of the town, therefore not easily accessible to the reader.
The local bodies/municipalities mostly in the community halls maintained almost in every town not long ago, reading rooms, another very important cost free venue accessible to the common man. In these reading rooms local dailies and magazines were made available on regular basis. the people of the vicinity who could not afford to buy the newspapers, which cost Rs. 5 to 15, crowded these places in early mornings and evenings.
It is for unaffordable cost of dailies that circulation of all newspapers put together in Pakistan is less than the circulation of New Delhi alone, where it hardly cost one rupee.
Unfortunately our local institutions now do not believe in such benevolent educational activity and these amenities were considered unprofitable and pecuniary wastage. These facilities therefore, are no more available to the general public, adding more to non-reading habits.
In early sixties the Federal Government started a very advanced concept of cultural and educational activities in the country. It was under the federal ministry of information: 28 centers with the name 'Pakistan National Centre' were established in almost all divisional headquarters.
These PNCs were not only providing the public with the facilities of good libraries stocked with latest publications and reading rooms where local as well as national dailies and magazines were available, but they also had extended services for cultural and educational activities.
Under the sponsorship of these centers regular seminars, symposia, lectures and talks by the eminent scholars and educationists were conducted in the weekends. Where such centres could not be established, these facilities were made available through mobile units.
Such type of activities were like a window of fresh air, in otherwise stagnant atmosphere. On July 15, 1994 Pakistan National Centres, 28 in whole of Pakistan and seven in Sindh-were officially closed.
These centres of excellence that were imparting education to common man at their doorsteps, free of cost, were discontinued, because these were found 'commercially not viable'. Contrary to the values and teachings of Islam, the people of our country were deprived of learning and education in our own country.
I vividly recall that in the past in Hyderabad alone there were numerous libraries; and famous amongst them were British Council Library, PNC Library, Pak-American Cultural Centre Library, Khan-e-Farhang Library and Sindh University Old Campus Library (which had not shifted to the new campus of Jamshoro then) which provided remarkable services to the people of the city.
This was in addition to individual small libraries spread over in the city and mohalla reading rooms maintained by the local government. It was, therefore, no wonder that this city provided best brain to the country in every walk of life. As a result of this educational and social hehaviour this city had enjoined ambience of harmony, love and peace that was conspicuous in every section of the general population. This was applicable to almost entire country.
After closure of more or less every avenue of reading in the country, the general public has now developed an aversion for reading and consequently disassociated further from the books.
This can be observed from the rapid reduction of good number of book shops, substituted by jewelery, cloth or shoe business in the markets of big cities like Karachi and Lahore: however, Islamabad being the capital is an exception. Otherwise even in large cities such as Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Quetta, Multan and Peshawar one cannot find a book shop worth mentioning.
Now due to absence of reading environment on account of non-availability of government patrongage and public disinclination towards learning, the lack of interes in the books is complete. The young generation now sincerely: though erroneously believe that information provided in the CDs is better substitute then reading a book.
In this euducationally gloomy environment the task of re-creating reading habits is a herculean job. Not only people have to be convinced about its dire need: a sin qua non for establishment of a civilized, enlightened and healthy society, but what is more required is the patronage from government: federal, provincial and local as well as active participation of non governmental organizations so as to create reading atmosphere in the country.
To start with local bodies institutions that are now functioning at gross root level should be asked to establish small libraries and reading rooms in very mohalla in their jurisdiction on the same pattern that was prevalent in our cities and towns not long ago. The services of NGOs may be acquired to mobilize public support to make these endeavours a success.
Needless to emphasize, it is the institution like defunct PNCs, having successfully run the programme for about three decades, which can play even today most significant part in this regard.
These centre in the past were not only a source of imparting literacy by providing good library facilities and reading rooms to the common man but were also serving as a stage for numerous social activities, by holding seminars, conferences, gorup discussions which are necessary for promotion of a healthy society.
These centres should be re-established in every district of the country with modern library, reading room and community hall for social and educational activities.
This time the control and functioning of this institution of utmost national importance should be handed over to Higher Education Commission, which is more suited to do this job.
The HEC, headed by eminent scholar Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rehamn was established in September 2002 is already striving hard to build human capital. Re-establishment of these centres under HEC will, therefore, go a long way to help achieve the desired target.
I would part with the famous saying of great world historian Professor Arnold Toynbee. "There are two things which a nation must have, before it will gain and command respect, place, and recognition in history and among the community of nations, and that is, it must produce a book of international recognition and other it must produce a man of international status and reputation". And for achieving these lofty ideals first we have to cultivate reading habits in our young generation.