The month of literature is gone. The month meant for reading will soon be leaving us. We are on the threshold of a merriment feast. Yet, what both September and October stood for, literature and reading, is worth reflecting. Sri Lanka solemnised the month of October in 2004 on several grounds. The UNESCO declared the 2003-2013 period as the reading decade. They made it a point that readership must be coached because it is not a natural-born. Besides, readership is considered a decisive factor in assessing the spiritual progress of a nation. The physical factors alone would not suffice in assessing a nation’s development. If the population of this globe is to be made wealthy, the level of awareness of the surroundings shall be raised – so believed the UNESCO. Awareness is the keyword.
It was against that background that the UNESCO took several measures to encourage reading across the globe. Great Britain made 1991 their year of reading. April 23 was named the Book Day in Malaysia. On this particular day, the whole country will read at once. South Korea allocated days, weeks and months for reading. Most other countries continue the practice.
Sri Lanka, so to say, cannot be an exception to the custom.
The Government of Sri Lanka decided to name October as the reading month through a Cabinet Paper approval in 2004. As October draws to a close, Daily News meets with the National Library and Documentation Services Board (NLDSB) Director General W Sunil to find out more on the country’s efforts to promote reading.
“October was declared a reading month primarily because the previous month, September, is reserved for literature. With the International Book Fair in full swing, the month is the blooming period for books. The books sell well. The book launches happen. Discussions take place. With all this happening, the succeeding month is the best period for reading,” Sunil said.
The National Library maintains a well-knit network of libraries across the country. The network is an umbrella of 1200 public libraries and 6800 established school libraries.
“The schools without a library will at least have a book corner. They at least have a bookshelf. Or what you can call a library. The schools provide us with the best approach to take the book-reading to the provincial level. Also, we have 15 universities with good libraries. We have around 80 piriven libraries too. Then there are government institution libraries,” Sunil added.
The National Library plays the mediator role of these libraries. Connected to this network, the NLDSB attracts the readers. The reader and book clubs are one example. Most public libraries, even in the north and the east, have a reader club. They conduct various readership programmes in the month to provide enthusiasm and encouragement to the schoolchildren. The programmes are held by way of lectures, seminars and workshops.
In collaboration with the Education Ministry, the NLDSB has initiated the Kalana Mithuru Poth Sumithuru campaign to promote the reading habit among children. The pupil who reads the most will get a foreign trip. The child is chosen following a thorough supervision process.
“Every child must present a summary of what they read and how they are influenced. The teachers observe how encouraged the children are to read supplementary books. The other well-read pupils will receive prizes,” Sunil explained.
But in Sri Lanka, we hear more complaints than applause where reading is concerned. The NLDSB has conducted a survey to gain a clear picture of the young generation’s reading habit.
“There is a decrease in reading, spot on. Interestingly children and parents cite the reasons too. Television is one reason. The mobile phone is one major reason. And then comes the tuition. These factors have led to a drastic fall in reading. On the other hand, the few remaining young readers keep on marking early-period authors such as Martin Wickramasinghe and TB Ilangaratne. It is the same phenomenon for the Tamil youths too,” Sunil elaborated.
This must be the case well because the early-period authors are prescribed for general exams. The young crowd may find it more time-saving to read the prescribed authors than looking for alternative books.
How is Sri Lanka’s young generation getting ready for serious reading in the technological environment?
“More youths use technology than ever before. But the problem is they dangle with it for recreation purposes rather than reading and other serious habits. One major obstacle for reading on palm-held devices is that books in the vernacular medium are not available in e-format,” Sunil reasoned.
The libraries are also gradually gathering dust with the essential triad of parents, teachers and children, losing interest. For teachers, the library is merely a place to send away the young ‘brats’ when they become a nuisance. As the NLDSB DG explained, hardly any teaching-learning takes place in the library now.
“As I said before, tuition classes are devouring the children’s time. It reduces the time for reading. They have homework given by both schools and tuitions. Even though they are keen to read, they are pressed for time. Plus, they are exhausted when all is said and done. On the other hand, parents are keener to encourage children to studies than reading. With reading becoming lesser and lesser, the young generation has become mechanical,” Sunil said.
In a survey carried out in a rural school, the NLDSB has found out how reading affects the children’s skills. The children who read naturally generate more soft skills than their peers who do not. The well-read children have more than one solutions to natural issues springing up in life. Those who do not read tend to be quite aggressive in taking decisions.
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