Akangjungla
For some time now, bringing back the art of reading books have made it to the headlines. Once considered a normal activity among young and old, reading books have become as uncommon as finding a good read. Almost all regular students or any growing youth were seen visiting libraries and sharing or exchanging books in their homes and schools. Finding assortment of books was a common sight in any home. The motivation to actually read the books, and not just collect them to stack up as furnishings, is however diminishing. Somewhere along the passage of time, the powerful art of reading books has got lost in the transition of the many shifts and alterations.
Reading literature has become limited to textbooks for purpose of academic course, a way to pass the class. Minds entwined in books are no more the dominant medium of critical questioning, generating curious attitude, exploring new perspective of the outside world or creating imaginative outlooks. Conversations, sermons, education are becoming shallow as the art of reading books slowly slides back and no longer holds the place they did once in the human culture.
Naga society is also equally preoccupied by the digital culture- invasion of internet, technologies and the idea of existing in the virtual world. The e-format, audio and video reading materials are the alternatives easily available for those who remain committed to the art of reading, primarily scrolling on screens.
In the book, ‘The Lost Art of Reading: Why books matter in a distracted time,’ the author David L Ulin attempts to reason and remind the readers the great power of thoughtful reading. He writes, “...This is what literature, at its best and most unrelenting, offers: a slicing through of all the noise and the ephemera, a cutting to the chase. There is something thrilling about it, this unburdening, the idea of getting at a truth so profound that, for a moment anyway, we become transcendent in the fullest sense. I’m not talking here about posterity, which is its own kind of fantasy, in which we regard books as tombstones instead of souls. No, I’m thinking more of literature as a voice of pure expression, a cry in the dark.”
All hope has not vanished for the Naga society! The efforts of several individuals and likeminded people to recover the art of reading are commendable. The self-funded community library by the Phiro brothers- Akho and Thepfukelie at Nepi Tsekwhe, Merama Khel in Kigwema village is their personal undertaking to create a learning space, generate awareness and hopefully build an informal learning hub garnering people from all walks of life. At 25, Akho understands that there is a need in the Naga society to drive positive action and change and to engage youths more meaningfully in the process of community development and thus, the library was initiated to revive the dying art of reading, to make books easily accessible and available.
‘Pick A book’- a community based free street library project at Mission Compound, Phek by Vezito Tetseo was set up to be a catalyst of creating an impact toward community reading through reading books. The Green Club Zunheboto under its Project 50: Jukivi Zunheboto opened a small street library “for the people of Zunheboto” to encourage people to cultivate the habit of reading books. Inspired by the thought of raising children who are so much more aware of the world and the difference we have, like special need, Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome started ‘The Book Home’ library along the Billy Graham Road in Kohima town last September. She recognizes the need to give children literature that makes them question poverty, talking about adoption, racism, etc. Many others are exploring and thriving with similar initiatives.
These positives steps to recover reading needs to build up more. Keeping a check on the screen time for children and having dedicated hours for book reading, engaging young minds in book reading clubs or discussion groups, etc are some achievable options. State libraries need to function well, reading spaces should be available in café and restaurants. Above all, to recover the reading culture, the minds of the people need to accept that literature resonates with the spiritual component that nurtures human lives and belief. The art of reading is not irrelevant yet; there is still charm in reading and learning from the finest minds of the world and it absolutely makes sense to have a sound relationship with books.
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
