Biju Dharmapalan
Do printed books have a future? Will digital platforms replace print books as a whole? These questions started rhyming in the minds of academicians and the public for quite some time. Many people have shifted their interest towards electronic books after the emergence of digital forms of books, especially after the covid-19 pandemic. Of course, digital books have advantages, like being easy to carry, economically viable, less physical storage space, etc. But will it ever completely take over the print books?.
The book, as we see it today, took thousands of years to evolve. The earliest forms of writing emerged around 5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. These early civilisations developed writing systems such as cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and oracle bone script. Information was etched on clay tablets in Mesopotamia or written on papyrus scrolls in Egypt. These early forms were cumbersome, limiting their distribution. The ancient Egyptians were among the first to create a precursor to the modern book. They used strips of papyrus plants pressed together to form scrolls, which were used for religious texts, administrative records, and literary works. The transition from scrolls to the codex format, which resembles modern books, began around the 1st century CE by Romans. The codex consisted of sheets of papyrus or parchment bound together, making it more portable and easier to handle. Parchment, made from animal skin, became a more durable alternative to papyrus. Then came the revolutionary invention of paper in China around 105 AD. Paper was lighter, cheaper, and easier to produce, paving the way for wider book creation. The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-1400s marked a turning point. Gutenberg produced the first mass-produced book in Europe, the Gutenberg Bible, using movable metal type and a printing press in the mid-15th century. It allowed for the mass production of books, making knowledge far more accessible to the public. This era saw a surge in literacy rates and the spread of ideas. The 19th century saw the rise of paperback books and mass-market publishing, making books more affordable and accessible to the general public. Publishers like Penguin Books pioneered the paperback revolution, democratising reading habits. In the late 20th century, the advent of digital technology transformed the publishing industry once again. The early 2000s saw the release of popular e-readers like the Kindle, sparking a surge in e-book popularity. E-books offered portability, convenience, and access to a vast library of titles, making them a compelling alternative to traditional books.
Which type of book one should read is their personal choice. Reading is an exercise for the brain, improves cognitive function, and enhances critical thinking skills. It exposes readers to new ideas, perspectives, and information, fostering intellectual growth and curiosity. In the pre-digital era, people travelled to unknown far of places through imagination by reading books. It instilled scientific curiosity and innovation for a new world. Some great scientific works have taken their cue from great fiction books. A good book can be our friend, mentor, entertainer, philosopher, and even act like our parents, supporting the overall development of human character. It can even act as medicine in some health conditions. Bibliotherapy, the use of literature as a therapeutic tool, is a recognised form of psychological intervention. Reading specific books or engaging in guided reading programs under the supervision of a trained therapist can help individuals process trauma, manage mental health conditions, and improve overall well-being.
Books have long been a companion of humans. It connects the present with the past and future through historical perspectives and fiction. A book published during a time presents the sociocultural aspects prevailing in the society of that time. They document past generations’ thoughts, experiences, and ideas, allowing us to learn from their wisdom and mistakes. By reading books from different periods, we gain insights into the beliefs, values, and perspectives of people who lived before us. Books act as agents facilitating the transmission of ideas across generations and cultures. Even without any digital tools the reader of a print book was able to understand and pictureise even the society prevailed during centuries ago. Every reader has the liberty to visualise the events in their own intuition. The strength of these visualisation can be noticed when great literary works are translated into cinema or theatre.
There was a time when we could find newspaper vendors selling books and magazines on the pavements. The tactile pleasure one gains while browsing the new books and the alluring scent of a new book (and the old library books) is beyond explanation. They were students’ sole source of information and knowledge before the advent of television and the internet. Even in libraries, there was a restriction to photocopying due to copyright restrictions. With the emergence of the internet during the late 20th century, the importance of printed books started dwindling. The post-COVID-19 era saw digital formats gaining the upper hand with the younger generation. Sharing resources has become common without any respect for copyright protection. Even educational institutions started sharing unauthorised copies of e-books with students. Digital books’ emergence has brought copyright issues to the limelight. There are large scale copyright violations and infringement into copyrights without giving due respect to the author. Digitization has made copying contents very easy. Many youngsters are simply copying the contents created by others without any guilt. They reproduce the contents after making minor changes using paraphrasing tools. They even produce a new book and publish through online publishers. The original author who has developed the content through research and creativity has to stand as a mute spectator to these unethical practices happening infront of them. In such a scenario great literary works won’t come out from the present generation that we can showcase for the future geneartions to come. When literature flourishes, it often indicates a vibrant and engaged society, one that values creativity, critical thinking, and diverse perspectives.
Digital book is just a transition to the new format. For a generation born during the digital era, e-books are normal, similar to how print books appeared to the earlier generations. Of course, it is a new format for the earlier generation, and it takes time to accommodate it in their life. But still, in this digital age, there are many who cherish the experience of reading print books as they connect with the human lives. The beauty of the cover page and the flow of ideas passed from one page to another cannot be experienced in the digital version, where one would see only the current page or paragraph. It doesn’t matter whether the book is print or digital; what matters is that our youngsters should be encouraged to read great works. Reading broadens one’s thinking process, making them broad-minded enough to mingle with people from different backgrounds. Books act as the channels for socialising. The famous quote, “Reading makes a full man” by English philosopher Francis Bacon, captures the profound impact that reading can have on an individual’s intellectual, emotional, and moral development.
(The author is an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore)
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