Goa is a picture perfect environment to lay back and relax with a good book in hand. With no shortage of sun-kissed, sandy beaches, cozy cafes and idyllic parks are ideal for reading but the increasing traffic, it may sometimes destroy the image of a relaxing day with a book in one of these places. As a result, most people instead prefer to read in the comfort of their own homes.
Many start reading at a young age and this habit affects the people around them, particularly friends in the same class. The butterfly effect begins from there and the habit doesn’t go away—not fully, even if you do stop for a while. “The first book I remember properly reading was when I was around 10 years old. I picked up a book my older brother brought home from his library, and have never been able to keep books down since,” 24-year-old marketing executive, Nikita Nogar shares. “I read mainly fiction but genres range from romcoms to psychological thrillers and murder mysteries—depending on my mood!”
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The genre of books read varies from person to person. Of course, there are readers of popular authors like Colleen Hoover, Suzanne Collins, Rick Riordan, etc. A popular book series generally garners more of an audience and any local book store in Goa can say the same but each person has a different answer about their favourites and they often don’t include the most trending current author.
“My favourite genres and authors keeps changing. It’s more like I have phases or I alternate in what I read to not get bored. If I had to pick a few, I’d say myth/myth inspired/myth retellings, thriller, fantasy, romance/romantic fantasy or romantic comedy and horror,” says Gilbert Soyus, a 26 year-old aerospace repair design engineer based in Candolim.
“I love exploring new genres when it comes to literature. But, the genres I tend to gravitate towards the most are within the fiction realm. I love classic literature, especially Korean and Japanese fiction literature, and adult fantasy books,” says Rashmita Monserrate, a Porvorim-based business management student. “I started reading when I was 12 years old. I was in love with the books by English author, Cathy Cassidy and was a mega-fan of ‘Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls’ novel series by Meg Cabot,” she adds.
Nevertheless, perhaps some of the best examples of the way that millennials and Gen Z take part in literary activities is through the various festivals and events held all over Goa. Most notable are the events organised by the English Department of the Parvatibai Chowgule College, Margao. The English Department organises elaborate events for literature majors, some of which include ‘The Shakespeare Festival’, a one day event organised by undergraduate students; ‘The talking Tree series’, which consists of discussions and meet-and-greets; and the famous ‘Pegasus’ which is the oldest inter-college literary festival of Goa organised by students for students.
The college also offers a course in Goan Literature and Culture in which students actively learn about various important Goan writers such as Lambert Mascarenhas, Damodar Mauzo and Eunice De Souza to name a few. Literature is a subject often chosen by students out of the love they have for it. The Goan Literature students of Chowgule College show this by their active participation in their Goan Day event.
“Goan literature essentially immortalises Goan culture and heritage. It exposes students and readers alike to Goa’s vibrant culture, delicacy, politics, religion and social fabric, from the perspective of Goan writers. Goan Literature is marked by its distinct Goan identity that people can generate an appreciation towards,” says Errol Moraes, a third year English Major Student at Chowgule, about why he thought Goan Literature was important to engage in.
In St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, the English Honours students were so passionate about literature that they had put forth the suggestion of a field trip for the 2023 Bangalore Literature Festival. An impressively organised and large event, it featured many big names such as Geetanjali Shree, Vikram Chandra and Honey Irani. The students made thorough plans for the two-day event, running from one talk to the next, hoping to catch their favourite authors and buying signed copies as souvenirs.
Literature is not just a subject but a form of recreation. People read to heal, to learn, to be inspired or simply to have fun. Perhaps it’s the internet generation that brings in the common stereotype of youth losing their interest in hobbies like reading. Though it’s true that the pass time is no longer as popular as it once used to be, if it was truly fizzling out, books like ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Harry Potter’ would not have turned into a blockbuster film series.
“It’s definitely a dying hobby now (amongst younger generations) with the rise of OTTs and adaptations. “It’s easier to watch a story than read it” is how most the people around me think. But I’d 100 percent disagree and so would my friends who also started reading around the same age as me. Reading was easier when we were kids. Now, I have to consciously make time to sit with a book. It’s hard—but it’s a hobby that still brings me a lot of happiness!” replies Nikita.
“I think the culture of reading has been growing in Goa. There are a lot of people my age (in their 20’s) that love reading or try and make it a habit.” remarks Rashmita. “I also don’t think this image that the young like to party more than read is exclusive to the Goan youth. It’s a global issue where the younger generation just can’t be bothered to pick up a book and see it as “academic”. Also, I don’t think liking to party and reading are mutually exclusive. I love doing both. In my opinion, we just need to create a better environment to show the Goan youth what reading means—that it is fun, interesting and eye-opening,” concludes Rashmita.
