Curtains over Fort’s iconic Strand Book Stall is end of an era where reading books enhanced knowledge and was fun as well as a favourite pass time. Today, people are more occupied on WhatsApp and Facebook which leaves no time for books and that really is sad. Strand book shop was more than a book stall where you were enlightened on not just good reading but the owners and staff had every answer to your questions and guided you to pick the right books and encyclopaedia you wanted to read. It was a book lover’s delight and people loved spending time there which enriched their knowledge and vocabulary.
Cat cafes and dog cafes have mushroomed all over the city which is great as pets are human beings best friends. This is time that some intellectual people must come up with an idea and business model of Book cafes where people come and not just read books but exchange knowledge and share their ideas as well apart from exchanging reading material to spread intelligence. Books no longer in use could be donated to such shops instead of sold to a scrap dealers so that more and more people can benefit out of its content. Knowledge is priceless and government too should open public libraries for the benefit of the citizens!
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
