Today is April 23. ‘World Book Day’. This year the theme of the day is ‘Read Your Way’. The day was celebrated on the initiative of UNESCO from 23 April 1995. Every year more than 100 countries of the world celebrate the day through various events. The main objective of ‘World Book Day’ is to create public awareness through extensive discussions on book printing and publishing, sale and supply of books, increasing reading and consumption of books, preservation of copyright of books etc.
Although ‘World Book Day’ was first celebrated by UNESCO in 1995 AD, ‘copyright’ was not included in it. In 2001, at the request of booksellers, publishers and libraries and library associations around the world, UNESCO added the term ‘Library Day’ to ‘Book Day’. Hence its title, ‘World Book and Copyright Day’. Also, every year one city will be chosen as the ‘book capital’ of the world. Accra, the capital of Ghana in the African continent, has been chosen as the ‘book capital’ for the year 2024.
Although the journey of ‘World Book Day’ officially started in 1995 AD, its main idea comes from an event dated 23 April 1616 AD, about 400 years ago. The event was – on that day the famous Spanish poet and writer Miguel de Cervantes died. The famous Spanish novelist Vincent Clavel Andres was his disciple. Andres celebrated 23rd April 1923 as ‘Book Day’ exactly 100 years ago today to commemorate the death anniversary of legendary writer Cervantes. Apart from this, William Shakespeare also passed away on this day, Satyajit Ray also passed away. Taking these issues into consideration, UNESCO decided to observe April 23 as ‘World Book Day’ as per Spain’s proposal.
Although ‘National Library Day’ is celebrated at the national level on 5th February every year in Bangladesh, there is no precedent for celebrating ‘World Book Day’ on 23rd April. However, it is true that there is essentially no difference between the aims and objectives of ‘National Library Day’ and ‘World Book and Library Day’.
To make students, teachers and researchers of Bangladesh more library-oriented, to explain the contribution and necessity of libraries in nation-building, to discuss and exchange ideas on the techniques of collecting, distributing and studying the latest books and periodicals on various branches of epistemology in existing libraries in the country and overall a thoughtful, knowledge-based society. With the aim of establishing and in view of the demands of librarians and professionals, writers, publishers, readers especially the Bangladesh Library Association, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared February 5 as ‘National Library Day’ in the Cabinet meeting held on October 30, 2017. We demand that the government can take the initiative to celebrate ‘World Book and Copyright Day’ in keeping with the outside world with the same objective in mind.
The government wants to make the future Bangladesh as a smart Bangladesh. It is noted that for the purpose of building Smart Bangladesh, Smart Citizen, Smart Economy, Smart Government and Smart Society are designed keeping in mind the goal of the world famous fourth industrial revolution. There is no option for us to make the nation book-oriented by properly celebrating ‘National Library Day’ and ‘World Book and Library Day’.
In view of this situation today, on the 30th ‘World Book Day’, the time has come to review the quality of libraries and education at all levels in Bangladesh in the national and international context. We know that the richer the nation’s library, the better the nation. We also know that the barometer or measure of a nation’s development in the present era is the amount of use of libraries and information. Current benchmarks for library and information use are Global Knowledge Index, Global Economy Index and Global Ranking of Universities etc.
In the last 12-13 years, Bangladesh has been able to achieve significant progress in poverty alleviation, productivity, health and social sector, per capita income, foreign exchange earning and overall development. As a result, in 2015, Bangladesh was able to enter the list of developing countries from the list of underdeveloped countries. Bangladesh will be recognized in the outside world as a developing country from the year 2026 if the expected results of various economic and social parameters continue. But compared to other countries in the global knowledge index, Bangladesh needs to improve library use and education quality to reach the desired position. Bangladesh ranks lowest among South Asian countries in this index. One of the reasons for this is that Bangladesh is failing to achieve its goals in education, research and innovation.
Nowadays, whether due to technology or any other reason, the habit of studying and reading books has decreased tremendously in our society. Now everyone’s eyes are on mobile screens instead of books. According to the data of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), in 2023, the number of internet subscribers in the country is more than 12 crore 61 lakh. From last January to March (2024), customers have increased by 2 million. Most of them are young. There are about 30 million people aged 15 to 29 in Bangladesh. Most of them are using many types of digital media including Facebook, YouTube, Tiktok, Imo and Likes. According to research, young people spend an average of 4-5 hours a day on digital devices.
Those born between 1995 AD and 2012 AD are called ‘Aizens’. This generation is growing up with smartphones and social media. Their behavioral and emotional patterns are different from previous generations. Aizens are more at risk mentally in this change. The incidence of depression and suicide among young people has been increasing recently. Aizen is now suffering from the most mental problems in the last few decades. In a report titled ‘Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation’ in ‘The Atlantic’ (September, 2017), Professor of Psychology at the University of San Diego, Jean Twenge, used various data to outline the details of the ‘Eigen’ generation. He said, the impact of smartphones on the mental health of this generation is beyond measure. Today’s teenagers are spending less time with friends, dating is declining, and even an entire generation is sleeping less. This rate of loneliness increases and cyber bullying, depression, anxiety and suicide are on the rise.
In today’s world, screen addiction or net addiction is compared to life-consuming drug addiction. Excessive use of social media is clearly indicative of social isolation, reduced creativity, decreased activism, abnormal behavior and incitement to militancy among ‘Eigens’. To save ‘Aizen’ from this totalitarian octopus-like social media, they need to focus on printed materials instead of mobile screens. It should be remembered that just as it is necessary to eat healthy and nutritious food to keep the body healthy, in the same way it is necessary to give food to keep the brain healthy, functional and active. The habit of reading books is brain food! Reading improves memory and cognitive function of the brain. Reading is very beneficial for brain and body.
Studies have shown that the habit of reading books has a positive effect on the brain. The content of the book keeps its reader emotionally stimulated. As a result, fatal diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s cannot touch him. Apart from this, reading books reduces stress, sharpens memory, increases imagination, increases logical thinking skills, increases attention, helps to sleep quickly at night, can be inspired, empathy towards others, creativity increases. Reading a book before going to bed at night calms the nerves and mind. As a result, sleep comes in a very short time. Therefore, the only way to save the new generation from the evils of technology is to encourage them to read books.
In order to establish a smart Bangladesh, we must increase the amount of reading books and the quality of education at all levels of education. The quality of learning will increase only when students continue to expand their knowledge by going to the library and reading additional reference books on the subject in addition to the specific textbooks. It is an unfortunate fact that our children, despite achieving high GPAs at secondary and higher secondary levels, are performing poorly in university entrance exams on the same syllabus. One of the reasons for this is that our students have not learned to study in the library, read reference books, search websites, let alone read their own textbooks properly. They passed by reading the guide or notes.
Therefore, with the aim of getting rid of the evils of technology and building a smart Bangladesh, I am drawing the attention of all concerned to some issues on World Book and Book Copyright Day. Do not give smartphones to children (2-5). Instead, parents should be given enough time for their children, management of libraries at school, college and madrasa level and close monitoring of whether their use is appropriate or not, making it mandatory for students to sit in the library every day and read books on various subjects, outside their syllabus for reading at home. Taking necessary measures for quality education by issuing books, organizing frequent book reading competitions, taking necessary steps to increase research activities at university level and connecting students with research activities and implementing Objective Based Education Program (OBE). May ‘World Book and Copyright Day 2024’ be a success.
Author: Proctor, Asian University of Bangladesh
Tags: Construction Smart Bangladesh World Book Day Opinion
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