TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: As World Book Day was celebrated on Wednesday, a bookstore owner along the Dhavali bypass in Ponda taluka has felt that if children are exposed to reading books at a young age, they will not spend much time watching TV or on the internet.
Mukund Dhavlikar, owner of ‘Grant Vihar’ book shop at Dhavali bypass road, told Herald that he has organised a number of book exhibitions to generate curiosity and to provoke the reader to read books.
He dispelled the general notion that the electronic world provides people with the required information.
“Internet and TV has not reduced the reading habit and there is still a good demand for books, as it satisfies the readers.”
“However to some extent, the main reason for some decline in the reading habit is that not much effort is made to bring books to the people. There is little encouragement from parents, schools and society due to busy schedule like homework, exams, etc,” he said.
“Love for reading can be generated by providing books through exhibitions. I get good response from students whenever we arrange book exhibitions in the school premises,” he said.
“If love for reading books is instilled among students and children at an early age, they will not spend their valuable time watching TV or on the internet. Parents should have one room or a cupboard full of books to develop the reading habit among them.” “To generate curiosity and to provoke the reader to read books, I have organised many exhibitions with the cooperation of Central Library, Institute Menezes Brangaza (Panjim) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad and also with cooperation of social institutions and schools,” he added.
“But to spread the love for reading in society, it is not always possible for me to organise exhibitions at various places. The government should provide more financial assistance to develop and encourage the love for the reading habit in society,” urged Dhavlikar.
