To instil ambition into young minds, it requires the government and its education ministry to sponsor frequent events
SUKKUR: Apart from traumatising people world over, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has in some ways helped to organise our once disordered lifestyle. The recently reported increase in the online sale of books corroborates this notion. While it is true that knowledge can be gained from many sources, the one acquired from books stands supreme.
Before the Covid-19 outbreak, there were reports that reading culture in our society has greatly declined. Many of our working individuals were frequently heard citing their hectic professional lifestyle and familial responsibilities as the major reason for neither getting time to read nor being able to inculcate in the youth the habit of reading. With the educated class now confined to their homes, as a measure of protection against the virus, sufficient time can be spent on reading. Knowledge, understanding and wisdom that one achieves from reading books continue to remain unmatched. The fact that our country lacks thinkers, leaders, intellectuals, and philosophers — commensurate with the likes of Allama Iqbal — alludes to our previously declining reading culture. It is lamentable that we hardly see contests and events being held in Pakistan that foster reading culture. It leaves the young generation demotivated to see local writers disregarded in our society.
To instil ambition into the young minds, it requires the government and its education ministry to sponsor frequent events and exhibitions, allowing for contemporary works of art to be displayed. Writers must be acknowledged and good work rewarded. This would inspire the young generation to emulate the worthwhile activity of reading.
Riaz Mahar
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2020.
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