Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
Indian railway stations have not only been hubs for passenger traffic, but they have also long symbolized the nation’s cultural and intellectual consciousness. Book stalls like Wheeler’s used to attract travelers’ attention upon entering any railway station, big or small. Buying a newspaper before embarking on a journey, selecting a magazine, or picking up a novel for the journey was a common practice. Rail travel and books were seemingly complementary. But today, those same book stalls appear deserted. Places that once thronged with book and magazine buyers now see only a handful of customers. At many stalls, books have been replaced by water bottles, biscuits, chips, cold drinks, and other edibles. This scene reflects not only the changing nature of the market but also the changing reading culture of society.
Over the past two decades, technology has profoundly transformed human life. Smartphones, the internet, and social media have made access to information easy, fast, and accessible. Today, nearly every piece of information in the world is available on a mobile screen within seconds. News, books, research papers, magazines, videos, podcasts, and audiobooks—everything is integrated into a single device. This technological revolution is undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements of human civilization. But it also raises a significant question: has this digital convenience reduced the need for printed books and magazines? The deserted book stalls at railway stations make this question even more relevant.
There was a time when readers eagerly awaited new copies of magazines like Dharmayug, Saptahik Hindustan, Kadambini, Sarika, Navneet, Ravivar, Hans, Sarita, Mukta, Grihashobha, Vanita, Meri Saheli, Pratiyogita Darpan, Chandamama, Madhu Muskan, Mayapuri, Manohar Kahaniyaan, Reader’s Digest, India Today, and Outlook. Railway station bookstalls were the biggest selling points for these magazines. Millions of passengers traveling long distances purchased magazines according to their interests. Comics for children, competitive exam material for youth, home and family magazines for women, and novels and story collections for literature lovers were readily available. This wasn’t just a business, but a vibrant reading culture.
Today, the situation has completely changed. Many prestigious magazines have closed. The circulation of many magazines has been limited. Even those that continue to be published, print far fewer copies than before. Booksellers say that now travelers’ first choice is not books, but mobile phones. Most people waiting on train platforms are seen engrossed in their mobile screens rather than looking at the bookshelves.
The Internet is considered the biggest reason for this change. It has democratized knowledge and information. Previously, one had to visit a library or purchase a book to obtain information on a topic. Today, that same information is freely available online. Thousands of books are available in PDF format. Kindle and other e-book platforms have transformed the way books are read. Audiobooks have also provided a reading option for those with limited time. From this perspective, the habit of reading has not disappeared, but rather, its medium has changed.
But this is only half true. The real concern is the tendency to over-read through reading. Most content available on digital media is designed for quick consumption. Social media platforms don’t allow users to focus on any one topic for long. Reels, short videos, and short posts constantly move people from one content to another. As a result, the tendency for in-depth study, reflection, and analysis is weakening.
Psychologists also believe that constantly changing digital content affects human concentration. People used to spend days reading a novel or book. Now, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate on a single topic for more than a few minutes. The amount of information has increased, but the depth of knowledge seems to be decreasing. This is why it’s important to understand the difference between reading and watching. Watching a video and reading a book are two different mental processes. Books encourage the reader to imagine, analyze, and reflect, while videos present most of the visual content directly.
The changing landscape of railway station book stalls not only tells the story of technology, but also reflects changing lifestyles. Today, people have less time and more busy schedules. Even long train journeys have become a medium for mobile entertainment. Previously, a four-hour journey would have meant reading a book; now that same time is spent on social media, web series, games, and watching videos.
The education system has also been affected by this change. Students’ studies are becoming increasingly exam-oriented. The habit of reading outside the curriculum is steadily declining. School and college libraries lack the same hustle and bustle as before. Digital notes and online coaching have significantly reduced the need for printed study materials. While this change is convenient, it has weakened the tradition of literary and general reading.
Even within families, the reading environment is no longer what it once was. Children were once gifted storybooks on their birthdays. Homes used to have small bookshelves. Newspapers were read by the entire family. Today, children have smartphones and tablets in their hands from a young age. Digital entertainment options are so abundant that books are losing their appeal.
It’s also true that the publishing industry itself hasn’t fully adapted to the times. It was slow to develop a balanced strategy, combining content, attractive presentation, and digital platforms with the changing interests of younger readers. As a result, social media has captured a significant portion of the readership.
However, the picture isn’t entirely bleak. The large participation of young people in India’s World Book Fair, Jaipur Literature Festival, regional book fairs, and literary events indicates that the interest in good books hasn’t waned. Online book sales are also steadily increasing. This suggests that readers exist, but their purchasing and reading habits have changed.
Today, there’s no need to create a conflict between books and digital media. The need of the hour is to use both in a balanced way. E-books and printed books can coexist. Concepts like modern digital book kiosks, special displays of books in local languages, attractive book corners for children, and “book cafes” can be developed at railway stations. Bookstalls can regain their relevance if passengers are encouraged to read while traveling.
The Railway Ministry, publishers, and booksellers must work together to develop a new strategy. Instead of simply selling books, the station should offer a reading experience. Local literature, books in regional languages, travel literature, children’s books, and popular books on contemporary topics should be prominently displayed. Features like digital payments, online ordering, and book pickup at the station can also open up new possibilities in this area.
There’s a need to revive a reading culture in schools and colleges. Exam preparation alone cannot be the goal of education. Regularly reading books on literature, history, science, biography, and society will enhance the overall development of students’ language, thinking, and personality. Families should also set aside a few minutes a week for “screen-free reading.” This small initiative can foster a lifelong reading habit in children.
The government could also launch initiatives like the “Reading Culture Mission” at the national level. Schemes like modernizing public libraries, establishing library corners at railway stations, mobile libraries, and promoting local language literature could revitalize the reading culture.
Ultimately, it wouldn’t be fair to say that the internet has killed books. While it has transformed the way we read, it has also fragmented people’s attention. The challenge isn’t technology itself, but its unbalanced use. If mobile phones become a medium of knowledge, they complement books, but if they become limited to entertainment and quick consumption, they pose a challenge to reading culture.
The silence that prevails at railway station book stalls isn’t just a story of declining sales. It reflects society’s changing intellectual attitudes. If reading habits continue to decline in future generations, it will impact not only the publishing industry but also democracy, social consciousness, language, literature, and the quality of thought. Therefore, the need of the hour is not to oppose technology, but to ensure that books remain an integral part of our lives, even in the digital age. As long as books survive, so will ideas; and only when ideas survive will the creation of an aware, sensitive, and progressive society be possible.
(Dr. Satyawan Saurabh, PhD (Political Science), is a poet and social thinker) |
