By Melvin Ridonn Rani
This generation is beyond books. Their identities are squeezed into gadgets,” I heard an elderly man say with palpable disgust in his voice. Ironically, I was on my way to the State Central Library to explore the new collection after spending months outside Shillong for education.
The gentleman’s words made me introspective. Is it really that the local youths are moving away from the world of books to create their own space in the digital arena? I enter the library with a resolution to find out the truth.
With no membership card in possession I went to the regular reading space with a questionnaire in my mind. Then I met Nancy and Saroj, two young students who were immersed in their respective books when I entered. With hesitation, I pushed the chair near them and tried to strike a conversation. Luck was in favour as both turned out to be jovial geeks. Without a prelude I posed my question, “Is the number of young readers decreasing in Shillong?”
“Actually, youths in Shillong have developed an idea about what kind of books they want to read. This way, they can get to know more about the subject and also interpret their ideas to the needful,” said one of the two readers while the other nodded in agreement.
I asked what brought them here. Nancy said literature because she was more of a “literature person” and loved reading books on various literary theories and fiction. “I prefer fiction the most.”
The 22-year-old student from Manipur studying at Lady Keane College utilises her time by being at the library to get to know more about the subject. She prefers reading about Indian literature. She spends most of her days in the library before her exams to prepare well. On the other days she visits the library to read the other collection of books of modern literature.
Saroj, on the other hand, is more rooted to reality and cares less about romanticism. She is more keen on management books.
The 21-year-old student from Manipur studying at Umshyrpi College spoke at length about the management books in the library. Saroj spends most of her time reading the books which deal with business affairs. “These books provide me more information and prepares me for a business platform. Sifting through the books in the library helps me to know more about the subject,” she said and added that she was happy with the collection of books on human resource management, service management and entrepreneur management. She prefers books by Philip Kotler and Anuva Kaushik.
Jonathan Lyngdoh, another student sitting at a distance, said he preferred fact-based books focusing more on social theories. However, the 22-year-old student of Shillong College said he was not happy with the collection and wished that the library
updated the books on this subject.
Nancy too was of the view as she is often left disappointed while searching for a book on literary criticism.
Some of the other young readers scattered across the huge reading room said though the collection is satisfying the attendance in the library fluctuates. “It is sad to see an empty library sometimes,” said a young reader reluctant to give his name.
I bid goodbye and left the library. I was feeling bad as I could not discover the variety of books. Nonetheless, it was a fruitful visit as I made the discovery that youths here are not completely detached from the world of books. I felt happy and wanted to share my find with the gentleman who made the remark before I entered the library but eventully left it to myself to be satisfied with the conclusion.
