Digital media threatening book culture, says Marulasiddappa at literary event

Senior writer and thinker K. Marulasiddappa has said the growing dominance of digital media is threatening book culture, affecting the publishing industry and the reading habits of younger generations.

Speaking after inaugurating the Kannada Book Authority’s 2025 annual awards and book prize endowment awards presentation ceremony here on Friday, he said book culture, once an integral part of households, was gradually disappearing with the advent of digital media.

Earlier, homes had large collections of books, but today young people could carry thousands of books on a single Kindle device. While digital platforms offered convenience, the trend was causing considerable losses to printers, publishers and authors, he said.

Preserving book culture was a collective responsibility, and the media had an important role to play in this regard. Highlighting the contribution of librarians in promoting reading habits, he suggested that the authority institute an award to recognise their services.

Releasing Honna Kalasa, a booklet introducing the award recipients, Rajya Granthalaya Pustaka Aayke Samiti chairman Rajappa Dalawai said Kannada book culture had a rich history. Books were essential to understanding the past and passing on history and heritage to future generations. The publishing industry also sustained hundreds of families, making its preservation a collective responsibility, he said.

Kannada and Culture Department Secretary Manjushree N. said her choice of Kannada as an optional subject for the civil services examination had helped her appreciate the richness of Kannada literature. The State government was prepared to take the necessary steps to preserve the literary tradition, language and culture, she said.

University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor N.K. Lokanath said the university had made a significant contribution to Kannada book culture through its Prasaranga publications.

Presiding over the programme, Kannada Book Authority chairperson Manasa outlined initiatives to promote reading, including Manegondu Granthalaya (a library for every home) and Angaladalli Thingala Pustaka (book of the month in the courtyard). Four new awards had been instituted to revitalise book culture, she said.

M.G.R. Urs and folk singer Shivarudrappa Jogi, who had instituted endowment awards, and Santosh Madenur, sponsor of the Kavithe Haadi Gida Padeyiri (Sing a poem, get a sapling) initiative, were felicitated.