It is difficult to share Tishani Doshi’s pessimism regarding “The future of books” (July 24). The problem is that writers/journalists writing in English are far removed from the Indian realities. As far as the country is concerned, books will remain popular for several decades, though at a declining pace — simply, how many Indians can really afford an iPad? If at all books will go out of fashion, it is going to be mainly because of personal computers and the Internet, and not the iPad.
Whatever may be the trend in western countries, it’s difficult to assume that books as a means of education, entertainment, enlightenment, etc. have outlived their utility. iPads can’t match what books with varied sizes, shapes, colours of the jacket, printing quality can offer. At the same time, iPads are useful while, what is also rightly mentioned by Doshi, going on a travel, referring to a dictionary, etc.
Finally, for the book lovers who can afford iPads, it’s going to be quite similar to watching TV news channels while not moving away from newspapers.
K J Desai, on email
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