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Kathmandu Tuesday January 22, 2002 Magh 09, 2058.
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Reading culture
Apropos of the article ‘Media and Book
Promotion’, by Pratyoush Onta (Jan 18, TKP). The writer has rightly raised the issue
of book promotion and culture of reading in Nepal. Our government as well as the private
media tycoons are to blame for the pathetic state of book publication and the reviews of
the published ones. It is true that apart from text books, other books do not sell well.
But this should not be taken as an excuse for not intensifying the effort to bring out new
books and their reviews. In our neighbouring country India, let alone the question of
western countries, book review has been turned into art. India’s national newspaper
The Hindu and its sister publication The Frontline carry book reviews every week and
fortnight respectively. These reviews help the common readers as well as the media men to
keep themselves abreast of latest knowledge in different fields. Very recently the former
editor of The Times of India Sham Lal has published a book entitled ‘A Hundred
Encounters’ at the age of 89. The book covers reviews have been appearing in The
Times of India for the last 40 years.
We need to learn from such examples, and promote
the culture of reading and writing books in Nepal. Onta, who himself has done considerable
work in this regard, has done a great service to the nation by drawing the attention of
the concerned people either in government or in private sector. If his advice is heeded, I
am fully confident there would be no dearth of reviewers. Regarding the quality of
published books, practice will hone writing skills, amongst others.
Dr Shreedhar Gautam
Patan Multiple Campus |
