All books are not good!

Not all books enlighten people – only enlightened individuals can illuminate others

After the invention of the printing press, the most widely read book in Europe at that time was about how to conduct “witch hunts” – how to kill witches! Gradually, however, thanks to a few enlightened individuals, Europe was able to move beyond that era and arrive at the modern age.

On the other hand, do you know which book was the most read in the Middle East? Hitler’s Mein Kampf! A book that details how to exterminate Jews became the most translated and widely read book in the Arab world.

Not all books enlighten people. To enlighten others, what’s needed first is enlightened individuals. Only enlightened people can write books that have the power to enlighten others. The books and readers of Bangladesh are not much different from those of medieval Europe and the Middle East. The bestsellers in this country are not just a matter of shame – they are downright disgraceful. Many of them are filled with pseudoscience, cheap and convoluted fallacies, cookbooks, stale motivational fluff, guides on how to get a job, learn English quickly, become successful in 10 days, or get rich easily. These are the kinds of books that become bestsellers in Bangladesh.

Then there are books that are saturated with hatred – how to hate others, how to create global chaos and eventually establish worldwide dominance. Despite being a hundred years behind in education and science, these books preach why a certain group is the “greatest nation.” These are filled with delusional and inhumane content.

This trend is growing day by day in Bangladesh. While people around the world are ascending toward knowledge, our country’s people are regressing. At least, if you look at the bestseller lists at book fairs and online marketplaces, you’ll get a clear picture of the intellectual state of our nation. Over the past few years, and especially during the COVID pandemic, many progressive poets, writers, and artists over the age of 70 passed away. With their deaths, the era of progressive thought in the arts, literature, and culture has essentially come to an end. Most of today’s creators have compromised with the forces of darkness, fearing they might lose popularity.

Here, the definition of “light” has changed. Modern, humane subjects rooted in science and knowledge are no longer considered “light” by the majority. Instead, the masses now embrace books that spread hatred, superstition, and delusion. The real tragedy is that this isn’t just a literary crisis- it’s a crisis of national consciousness.