Reading while commuting, a habit that needs reviving

The books, at present, are in English, Marathi and Hindi. More will be added as per the demand

Let's Read India Foundation aims to cultivate reading habits, in times when people by and large are hooked on to social media platforms.

One of the ways the foundation is working towards that aim is with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT), which has introduced a ‘books on buses' initiative. The buses that ply on longer routes have a small bookshelf, wherein a commuter can browse and read books till they reach their destination, said a report in this paper.

The project has been kicked off in air-conditioned buses on certain routes and if it really takes off well, the service will be offered on more buses.

This is a good project with an uplifting aim, dragging away people from their social media ‘time pass' into the world of books. It is also a brave attempt as it is quite unusual and would, one presumes, have its sceptics and critics at the time of inception.

Commuters need to respect the fact that a bookshelf of all things, has been made available to them. Use the facility if you wish to and if you do not, refrain from vandalising it.

By the latter we mean, do not take books if you have no intention of reading them and then leave them strewn around on the seats next to you or even on the floor of the bus, to be stamped on by commuters who may not see them, instead of placing them back on the bookshelf.

Do not tear pages from books, scribble in them, or smear them with something. Think that other commuters, too, may want to use these books. Most of all, this is public property, and it should be treated this way. A sterling idea and initiative, it may take off, it may not. Yet, while it is there, use it with care, regard and maturity.