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Book or Internet, knowledge remains primary

“Reading dies” or “Decline of reading” can be used as a phrase to focus on the death of reading habit among Malayalis. With the advent of Internet and television channels, most of them prefer watching them than reading books. The common man does not have enough time to go to a library or book stall. Instead he prefers to read on the Internet. Almost all important items are readily available there.

Electronic media cannot be blamed for this.

In the 21st century, everything is through e-world.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Poonithura

Computer is wonder machine, more wondrous than Aladdin’s wonderful lamp. Internet is the slave spirit asking, “What will you have, master? The Internet has a whole world in it. With the advent of computers and Internet, many things have become possible that we could not have even dreamt.

We can see and chat with the help of a webcam; we have e-learning, e-commerce. eBook, eLibraries…, the prefix ‘e’ never ends. Promises and possibilities are mind-boggling and information is literally on our finger-tips.

But what is lightly got is little valued. When information is so easily available, no one bothers to assimilate it. Information assimilated is knowledge, and knowledge assimilated is wisdom.

Internet may affect reading habit; avid readers will read anyway though. People will become over-dependent on the internet. Internet is a powerful tool. If used wisely, we gain immensely. But one must not be addicted to the Internet. There should be limit to everything.

P.V. Divakaran

Avittathur

“Reading maketh a full man”, said Bacon, the 16th century essayist. His words evidently show the importance of reading. Many take reading as a hobby. But some takes it seriously. Books provide instruction as well as delight and hence it is a treasure. I don’t think that the easy accessibility of information in the Internet has any adverse impact on reading.

On the contrary, those who read or buy books and visit libraries go on doing that. In fact on the Internet, we don’t get to read all the new publications. Also we can’t use Internet while teaching in a classroom.

The advantage of the Internet is that we can search for a particular piece of information.

The fear that Internet will occupy the place of books is irrelevant. Like newspapers and television channels co-exist, books and Internet will also go hand in hand.

Gayathri.S.

Pallipad

With the coming of internet, most of us have bid adieu to books. It is true that internet plays a very important role in today’s scenario of ever growing technology. But the traditional role of reading is on its way to oblivion.

One of the key traits looked for in a prospective candidate by a firm is his/her communicative skills, and reading plays a major role in developing it. Time spent in front of computer should be limited. In Kochi, the number of Internet cafes is on the rise. This trend also indicates the reading habit among people is declining.

Being a part of the new generation, I think students should hone their technical and communicative skills simultaneously. In the past few years, there have been several attempts to spread the computer knowledge across the society. But I have not seen anyone trying to promote reading by starting libraries. For easy access of information Internet is good, but for soft skills and character development read books.

Shruthi Binoy K.

Kochi

Whether it is correct to read from Internet than books has to be discussed in a forum, which should study the pluses and minuses of reading books. Internet provides all facilities and functions on your fingertips. One can purchase books, pay bills, buy and sell and read books from the Internet.

But Internet has rung the death bell of man’s reading habits. Some writers have even started posting their writings on Internet.

P. Sankaranarayanan

Petta

Internet provides or seems to provide information at one’s fingertip but the situations in which power supply or internet connectivity fail are to be contemplated while discussing this issue. The 21st century is the reigning period of e-books and e-libraries.

Children are able to do their homework, projects and assignments through the various search engines.But the point of concern is whether such facilities are being misused or not. Excessive reliance on sources like Wikipedia or any other ‘internet jargons’ tend to diminish the quest for real knowledge. But effective use can also be made for those people who are committed to their goals.

Thus, books can never be ousted out of the lives of the present generation especially, students.

Krishna K.

Maradu

The resort to Internet in preference to books has affected the knowledge base particularly of the students. Internet no doubt provides easy access to information; but the problem with such information is that it is often sketchy and some times out of context. It takes time to read books. But, the information gathered is complete and full. The joke about computer-based information is relevant to the question at hand. A computer was asked to translate the passage: - “Spirit is willing but flesh is weak” into Russian and then back into English. Prompt came the answer: “Wine is excellent but the meat is rotten.”

M.J. Kuruvilla

Pulimughal Road.

The Internet is a very useful source to gather information, exchange views in an accurate manner but this is also like many other utility services liable for misuse.

The government must enact a law for Internet users and providers only.

It must unambiguously declare that Internet cannot be used to fool and that it will be treated as a cognisable offence.

Similarly misuse of this facility to intimidate or blackmail an individual will come under cognisable offence.

P.M.G.Pillai

Mannar

The information from Internet is in capsule form. It mitigates the sudden appetite for facts. But a broad outlook of world can be gained only through reading. Through reading one can increase his word power, mental concentration and imagination.The overall development of a person is attained only through reading. The Internet can provide a bundle of facts, but mere fact has no use without the support of wisdom. Sreenath S.K.

Kulathoor-Prayar

Internet has become the one-stop source of information and does not pose any threat to printed books and libraries. Mainly sued as a communicative or entertainment tool, Internet might emerge as an information storage and dissemination tool.

But modern libraries will soon be restructured to include Internet as dominant input information covering printed books, in-house digital documents and information materials. Digital libraries with powerful search facilities may emerge and the services will be available through Internet.

The Wikipedia and search engines like Google will be used as intense information access facilities. The sites for book search and book selling will be made use of substantially in building up our libraries and their collection.

With the help of Internet, libraries can improve their skill-sets to emerge as better managers of knowledge rather than keepers of books. K.Rajasekharan

Mulagunnathukavu

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