Need of the hour …Read!

So, what do you do when words fail? Make those very words the subject of the day! Well, it is seemingly an easy way out particularly when your thoughts are constipated by either lack of anything worthwhile to write about or plain inertia of the mind. But the escapism does have its positive flip side too. Indeed, for those of us buried neck deep in the profession of purveying the printed word to, often, unsuspecting and hapless readers, it is a welcome op. to open up or introspect or just survey the scene. And since I pass off as a columnist, –or is it ‘calumnist’, as some brickbats have claimed? — the temptation to delve into the world of words is overwhelming.

Frankly, it is not that topics are wanting, what with such earth shattering issues like Shilpa Shetty’s troubles with racism, or the Congress suddenly discovering Mulayam’s communal incliniations or the Corporation repolls in our own backyard. And in TN where wars of words and trading in rhetoric are a fulltime pastime of politicos with every statement evoking an equal and opposite reaction, there is no dearth of scope for us, wordsmiths, too to chip in. The immediate trigger could also be the Book Exhibition that has so far elicited four visits by self and yet remains largely unexplored. But the provocation also emanates from certain existential issues at stake for the printed word, particularly in the ensuing era of ephemeral footages that are supposed to ‘speaketh more than a thousand words’.

The visual onslaught by TV poses the biggest challenge to the printed word. While poaching of ad revenues by TV from print has been happening for more than a decade now, a greater concern for newspaper publishers should be the conversion of readers into viewers. The sudden mushrooming of news channels has clearly played havoc with the business of news with newspapers ceding their pride of place as newsbreakers to prime time. This despite the credibility gap and the abject trivialisation of news and issues on TV. ‘Publish and be damned’ is an oft quoted refrain of newspapers, because there is no chance for recall of words printed once the paper is out; the imprint is etched for eternity with the attendant consequences. This is in painful contrast to TV where news ‘broken’ with great gusto in spoken words and ticker lines vanish without a trace if found untrue or simply indiscreet. Yet TV is set to prevail if not prosper. But whither the sanctity of the written word when its survival itself is thus at stake?

This is not to say that newspapers are stagnating. Both vernacular and English newspapers allover the country have been reporting consistent rise in their circulation. And with price wars raging thicker than even cross-border terror, it is small wonder many Indians are ‘buying’ more than one paper. Indeed, it is obvious that as days pass, people will not be, and should not be, paying for news, which is available on various other media … and gadgets too. (This explains the tell-tale Talk on your hands.). Indeed, a totally ‘free press’ is becoming a literal reality. But it is doubtful if the rise in circulation means a rise in readership. And considering both the sheer volume of printed output, in dailies and weeklies, and the growing literate population of the country, newspaper readership is paltry. The gaps are indeed yawning.

And so are many impatient readers. In fact, it would be presumptuous of me to believe that those who started reading this piece are still at it this instant. Much of what journos consider print worthy are not deemed ‘read-worthy’ by readers. While the print community derisively dubs the TV as an idiot box, it does not mean that the newspapers are shining specimens of intelligence. Ignorance and flippancy are vices common to all journos, in print or on prime time. And brevity is not our virtue, as those of you who are sticking around still in these columns, would vouch for. But the problem lies as much as with the readers as with the writers. Reading needs time and attention and these have become scarce. Reading habits have changed with reading almost caesing to be a habit. The psyche of the reader has been transformed, with reading becoming a casual diversion, with no penchant or patience for detail. The mind-space to pore over print, much less the fine print or to reading between the lines is gone. And if still you happen to behold an intensive reader, just look over his shoulder; it is likely he would have spotted an ad of interest.

Much reading has also shifted to the Internet but here newspapers have little to complain. The web is not as transient as, er, the Idiot Box, and in fact, newspaper publishers treat it as an extension and expansion of their forte, namely the printed word. Also, newspapers are not the sole custodians of the printed word. The book publishing industry, if statistics are to be believed, is certainly on the upswing. While TV has hit this section too, the revival still is a reality. And much credit for this is given to the student community, which has always, not surprisingly, been the backbone of book publishing. But while in the past, the youth carried their reading habits into adulthood, replacing text and reference books with fiction and then philosophy, that may not be happening with the current and future generations on the same scale. And Ramadoss’s heart be warmed, Tamil books sales are also rising. But may be that’s because he is yet to unleash his scissors on print. Now, have I, inadvertently, given him ideas?

The printed word, with its capacity for recall and record, remains the most reliable repository of information. My glaring vested interest notwithstanding, it is a truism that a society that relishes reading stands a better chance of becoming a knowledge society, though not necessarily wiser, than one that just sees, forgets and moves on. Plain piffle or profound, the printed word has to be preserved, for posterity sake. So, a prayer for print would be the in thing. But, howmuchsoever we may write, the last word would remain with the reader.

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