They would do well to support the myriad book fairs that make India such an exciting publishing landscape, and leave the sermons to those who live in the twenty-first century and actually enjoy reading.
The 41st Agartala Book Fair is underway , and like with almost every book fair in India, some idiot is explaining how “screens” are undermining reading and that salvation can only come from having paper and ink in your hands.
Preferably some dry textbook from a bygone era, of course.
This week it’s the turn of Chief Minister of Tripura Dr. Manik Sah and ENT specialist Pran Gopal Datta.
Let Enewstime take up the story.
Datta “urged people to read more instead of fixing their eyes on Computers or mobile screens for health and mental benefits. His appeal came up in view of the growing tendency to spend more time with devices – which have serious effects on health – rather than on reading books, which nourishes the mind and body.”
Sah added, “If you do not read books, you will feel a lack of well thought out consciousness in your body.”
Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury had to get in on the Luddite act too: “Books still have relevance and importance in this Digital era.”
Thankfully many Indian publishers understand that digital publishing opens up whole new audiences, the like of which these so-called dignitaries will unlikely ever comprehend.
They would do well to support the myriad book fairs that make India such an exciting publishing landscape, and leave the sermons to those who live in the twenty-first century and actually enjoy reading.
#Indiapublishing #Indiabookmarket #India #SouthAsiapublishing
