Sadly such divisions and Luddite thinking will continue prevent India from taking its rightful place among the global publishing nations, but at least there is cause for hope.
They say India is a country of contrasts, and it doesn’t get more contrasting than India’s attitudes towards digital reading.
Per the press release, the”Festival of Libraries is “part of the second phase of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to foster the development and digitization of libraries and cultivate a culture of reading in India. The festival will also highlight iconic libraries from across the world in order to initiate a conversation on the modernization and digitization of libraries in India”
The press release concludes: “The government’s National Mission on Libraries (NML) launched in 2014 further underscores its dedication to enhancing libraries across the country. This mission develops model libraries, connect district libraries with digital networks, and prioritize libraries in economically backward districts.”
Compare this TNPS headline from March of this year:
“India – 833 million people online and still “dignitaries” don’t get that a book on a screen is still a book.
Or this from December 2022:
India: “No technology can diminish the importance of books. Cellphones can be misused but books can never be misused.”
Sadly such divisions and Luddite thinking will continue prevent India from taking its rightful place among the global publishing nations, but at least there is cause for hope.
#Indiapublishing #Indialibraries #Indiadigitallibraries
