Reading culture growing but access to resourceful books is limited

With literacy rate showing signs of progress the culture of reading in Nepal is on the rise, but access of readers to issue-based reading materials is very limited.

One of the causes that limit the publication of books in Nepal is lack of readers who buy books to read. Nevertheless, things are gradually changing.

Writers and academicians also believe that reading culture has been growing in the country. Library-goers and visitors in bookstores are growing in numbers but unavailability of resourceful reading materials has been a serious setback for those who want to expand their horizon of knowledge.

Commercial publication houses look for books that have 'wider appeal' to the readers, but books offering in-depth knowledge on specialised subjects are limited to small interest groups.

With an aim to bring non-commercial publications within the reach of the readers, the second Alternative Book Fair 2006 has begun in the capital from Wednesday .

Prof Abi Subedi, a noted writer and academician, says non-commercial publishers have the best potentiality to produce knowledge-based materials on specific subjects. "A publication on Dalits, whatever its worth, is limited largely within the Dalit community. A good research on water resources is limited within very few people who have interest in the subject. This trend has hindered the expansion of knowledge in Nepali society," observes he.

While we still criticise the NGOs for running after greenbacks, we fail to take note of the resourceful materails they have had been able to bring out. "NGOs are not only into making money out of donations, but they are also good forums that bring out the issues that hardly figure in the general discourse," says Bhasker Kafle of Alternative Books Forum.

In Prof Subedi's view, alternative publishers are yet to develop their strength to the extent that they influence the society through their publications. They, however, deserve the credit for bringing important issues into public discourses, which are crucial for policy making. He stresses that inclusion of these issues into university studies is necessary so as to bring them into broader debate.

Publication of books is not only intended at bringing issues into perspective, they also aim at inculcating knowledge to the largest possible number of people. And, this can be possible only when there are enough readers. "The reading culture is growing but at a snail's pace," says writer Ajit Baral. Though more and more youngsters are getting habituated to reading they still look for lighter and fictional subjects. "Indeed, that is how you build the habit of reading books. Books on specialised and serious issues may come your way once you start thinking that you need to specialise on certain area of knowledge," Baral adds.

Government-run publishing groups like Sajha Prakashan, Janak Sikshya, Nepal Academy made little efforts in encouraging literate population to buy and read books while the private publishers see prospects of profits rather than aiming at increasing the level of reading habit in readers.

According to the Alternative Readers Forum, the fair is an alternative means to bring out the non-commercial publishers, who are neglected by the commercial companies, during book fairs, as they have potential to produce publications that are more resourceful and deal with subject that are of national importance, into the readers' access.

The fair will continue until December 24 during which discussion would be held on reading culture, publishing models and book editing. nepalnews.com Indra Adhikari Dec 20 06

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