Editorial: In today's time when there is a smartphone in every hand and hunger for likes and followers in every mind, the existence of women who read literature and books is being left behind. This is the era of platforms like Instagram reels, TikTok and digital entertainment. Here, images of women performing mujra in semi-nude form reach millions of people in seconds, but the voice of women who read serious literature, poetry or criticism seems to be suppressed somewhere. This is not only a social irony but also a cultural crisis.
For centuries, women have been watering the soul of society with sensitivity and compassion through literature. Writers like Mahadevi Verma, Amrita Pritam, Krishna Sobti, Maitreyi Pushpa not only created literature but were also symbols of women's identity and consciousness of society. But today's time is more busy in making "quotes" of them and decorating them on Instagram stories than reading them.
A large part of today's generation is entangled in visual content. The quick consumption of videos and pictures has pushed back the slow, deep and introspective world of books. Women, who once sought solace in books, are now being forced to create a glamorized identity on social media. There is no doubt that social media gives women a platform, but this platform often gives more importance to their bodies, not their thoughts. This is why a dance or semi-nude act on Instagram gets millions of likes, but a literary analysis done by a woman remains limited.
Women who read and created literature used to leave a deep impact on society. They used to challenge the system with their writings, create new definitions of relationships and prepare new grounds for gender equality. But today, priorities have changed. The modern woman often joins the race of social media to prove herself. Here beauty and charm sell more, thoughts and emotions less. It is ironic that the same literature that gave voice to women is now waiting for their voice.
Mahadevi Varma's poems were such a symbol of a woman's compassion, pain and beauty that the soul would tremble after reading them. She used to write - "Main neer bhari dukh ki badli..." The soul of a woman spoke in her poems, but today the same soul is getting suppressed in the noise of Instagram filters and background music. Where earlier women used to tell the society "listen to my voice", today they are forced to say "like my dance." This is the biggest cultural degradation.
However, it would not be entirely fair to say that women who read literature have disappeared. They still exist, but their scope has become limited. Women are still reading, writing and discussing literature in libraries, universities and small literary forums. The only difference is that their voice is not as loud as that of the glamorous content of social media. Actually, the problem is also of the platform. The algorithm of Instagram is such that it gives priority to entertainment and glitz. Serious literature or long studies do not become "trending" there.
Reading literature means looking within oneself, understanding the pain of others, and feeling the soul deeply. When society is away from literature, it also loses its sensitivity. The compassion and tenderness of women keep the society balanced. But when these women are limited to only body show and ignore the depth of the soul, then the hope of society becoming sensitive also decreases.
To overcome this situation, it is important that the family and the education system inculcate a love for books. Children, especially daughters, will have to develop the habit of reading books at home and in schools. Writers and publishers should present literature in an attractive form on social media. The government and society should give more platforms to women who read and write literature, so that their voices are not suppressed. Women should form literary groups and book clubs among themselves, which inspire each other.
History is witness that whenever society was plunged into darkness, literature showed the way. And the role of women in that literature was always decisive. Be it Meera, Mahadevi, or contemporary women - they decided the direction of society with their words. Even today, if women embrace books, the coming generation will not only get "followers" and "likes", but will also get a deeper understanding of life.
Today is the era of Instagram and digital media. Here, attraction and spectacle sell the most. But to save the soul of society, it is important that women return to literature again. Because the noise of Instagram will stop after some time but the words of literature will remain immortal. Women who read literature are never lost - they only become blurred due to the negligence of society. Whenever a book is opened, they will come alive again.
(The author is a freelance commentator.)
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