Indian readers prefer print over digital devices: Survey

Readers still prefer paperbacks over electronic reading on devices such as the kindle, according to results of a new survey that aims to put the spotlight on the reading habits of Indians.
Irrespective of age, four out of five people (78 per cent) respondents surveyed by the Tata Literature Live! Survey 2014 said they favoured printed books over electronic reading.
From among the respondents, hyper-connected post-millennials in the age group of less than 20, ranked highest (81 per cent) in their preference for paperbacks and hardbound books over those read over digital devices like the Kindle.
This was followed by those in the age group of 21-30 with 31-40 age group (79 per cent) and 41-50 age group (75 per cent) each. The lowest was in the age group of 50 and the lowest being the age-group of 50 and above with (74 per cent).

Also, people of 50 years and above emerged as a generation of book hoarders, with 20.59 per cent claiming to have more than 300 books on their shelves.
Respondents from Mumbai topped those who preferred physical books with 80 per cent opting for the printed word. This is followed by Delhi (79 per cent), Kolkata (78 per cent), Bangalore (77 per cent) and Chennai (76 per cent).

"The survey is an effort to look into contemporary India's literary leisure reading. The survey has not only explored reading tastes, but more importantly how India is reading today," says Anil Dharker, Founder and Festival Director of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai Litfest!, which concluded recently.

Conducted in October 2014, the survey takes a closer look into the evolving landscape of literary reading amidst technological, social and behavioural impacts.
The research was conducted online accumulating responses from 1,426 individuals countrywide.
The survey also throws up other findings of the survey such as "60 per cent respondents read one literary piece a week while 42 per cent respondents ranked reading as the best means to a survive a bad day."
A total of 74 per cent respondents said they preferred reading on the Internet, social media or gaming, while 69 per cent respondents prefer reading over watching television shows or movies.

Out of those polled 61 per cent said they preferred reading over socialising while 60 per cent respondents preferred to read over playing outdoor or indoor games.