From Scroll to Story: Why Reading Books Matters More Than Ever

We live in an age when screens are almost inseparable from daily life. Smartphones, social media, streaming content, and even workplaces have woven digital devices into our routines. But this convenience carries a cost.

Excessive screen exposure – especially on smartphones – is linked with reduced attention spans, disrupted sleep patterns, eye-strain, anxiety, and diminished deep thinking and sometimes clouding of brain.

A large percentage of India’s population consists of youth. Youth means energy, creativity, thinking, and innovation.If you spend 5 hours a day on your mobile phone, in one month = 150 hours, iIn one year = 1800 hours, that is nearly 75 days! Think about where you are spending 75 days of your life.

“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached,” as Swami Vivekananda said.

Though these words were spoken 130 years ago, they still resonate with the same power even today.The main problem facing today’s youth is excessive screen time, hours of social media, continuous gaming and unnecessary videosTechnology is not the enemy. But its misuse is dangerous.

Simultaneously, the traditional habit of reading books – whether for knowledge, entertainment, or reflection – is declining. Short-form online content has replaced the immersive engagement of long-form reading. This shift isn’t merely cultural; it has real implications for cognitive development, emotional resilience, focus, imagination, and empathy. Reading books – especially physical books – demands sustained concentration and fosters deep comprehension in ways that continuous scrolling does not. Unlike short bursts of digital consumption, reading a narrative or argument nurtures critical thinking and memory consolidation, benefits that screen-centric habits fail to deliver.

That is why there is urgent need to ensure that a cool new culture of ditching screens for books is necessary. For this all you need is strong will power, a place could be in nearby parks or green areas of big apartments and just an hour every Sunday.

Cities like Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, Benguluru, Mumbai and Pune are witnessing a quiet reading-together trend. In recent years, initiatives inspired by global silent reading movements (like Silent Book Club and Cubbon Reads) have taken root in many cities, turning public parks, cafés and outdoor spaces into shared spaces of stillness and books rather than screens.

Hyderabad & Surrounding Region – Hyderabad Reads, Vizag Reads, Vijayawada Reads

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, communities like Hyderabad Reads, Vizag Reads (in Visakhapatnam) and Vijayawada Reads have organised weekend gatherings where book lovers come together in parks to read silently and escape screen distractions.

Bengaluru arguably leads the movement in India. What started in Cubbon Park as Cubbon Reads — a weekly silent reading meet — has grown into a network of similar gatherings in parks across the city and beyond. Participants spread mats on the grass and read together quietly, embracing the outdoors and mindful presence. Other chapters like HSR Reads, Whitefield Reads and Lalbagh Reads follow the same philosophy. This model has since inspired chapters in dozens of Indian cities.

Similarly, weekend silent reading groups have also taken shape in Mumbai’s parks. Places such as Juhu, Bandra, Powai, Versova and Malad host local readers who gather to read silently amid greenery and urban bustle, finding calm and community off the screens.

In Pune, Pune Reads brings readers together every Saturday morning in public parks such as Kamala Nehru Park. Participants read in silence and afterward often share thoughts over coffee or snacks, merging quiet focus with friendly conversation.

Delhi – Silent Book Clubs

The silent book club concept has gained traction in parts of Delhi, particularly around spaces like Lodhi Garden and café meetups in locales such as GK-II, where book lovers gather to read quietly for a while and then optionally chat.

What These Movements Share in Common

Across these cities, the reading trend reflects similar values:

• No assigned books or pressure — you bring whatever you’re reading.

• Quiet time together — individual focus, shared presence, minimal conversation.

• Weekend public rituals — most gatherings happen on Saturdays or Sundays in parks or outdoor spaces.

• Low cost, open participation — no fees, no membership, encouraging inclusivity.

This nationwide spread shows that reading as a collective, silent experience is not just an Ahmedabad phenomenon — it has resonated with many across India seeking calm, connection and a deeper way to spend leisure time away from constant screen stimulation.

Ahmedabad’s Experiment in Silent Reading Culture

In the city of Ahmedabad too a new cultural trend is emerging that models a different way of engaging with time and attention — one that privileges stillness and reading over screen-driven distraction.

Organisers stress that such community reading isn’t a formal club but a shared pause — a collective unscrolling of attention. These meetups often attract people aged from students to professionals who use the time to unwind and mentally recharge away from screens.

Groups like the Pocket Diary Book Club and Reading Room have created organised spaces for reading and book-related activities, making reading a social, joyful pursuit. They facilitate reading sessions in open spaces like Sabarmati Riverfront and Parimal Garden and create supportive environments where readers can also socialise after the reading time.

A recent trend across Gujarat — including in Ahmedabad and Anand — sees people adopting Sundays as dedicated screen-free book reading days. Cafés and public spaces open early for readers looking for a peaceful, screen-free weekend ritual.

These initiatives demonstrate that reading doesn’t need to be an isolated solo activity; when people read together in silence, it can become a shared refuge from digital noise.

Collective Reading Works replaces addiction

with ritual

Screens are designed for attention capture — through notifications, algorithms, and endless feeds. Reading, on the other hand, builds habits that extend attention, deepen thinking and encourage imagination.

Unlike competitive social media engagement, shared reading spaces invite non-hierarchical interaction. People aren’t judged on how much they read or how loudly they talk about books; they simply read — side by side.

Quiet reading has been linked with reduced stress and improved emotional regulation. Taking time away from screen stimulation helps calm the nervous system, improve sleep routines, and reorient attention toward internal reflection rather than external consumption.

Reading connects us to other minds across time and space. Whether it expands empathy, knowledge, or curiosity, books remain one of the most profound tools for intellectual and emotional growth — something screens, in all their convenience, cannot fully replace.

In a world dominated by screens, the quiet act of reading a book feels radical. But as initiatives in Ahmedabad and many Indian cities show, it’s possible to reclaim attention, community, and depth through the simple ritual of reading together in silence. These movements offer a model for how societies can shift from isolated scrolling toward shared reflection — one page at a time. If we embrace these strategies with intention — from individual routines to community movements — we can not only ditch screens but also restore a culture of deep thinking, compassionate imagination, and lifelong reading.

Let this be our moment to trade the flicker of screens for the richness of stories.

(The author is a former Chief Editor at The Hans India)