“"Literacy is the door to knowledge, essential to individual self-esteem and empowerment. Books, in all forms, play an essential role here.“__Irina Bokova
We have often heard wise sayings "Books are windows to the world" or “Reading books opens the horizons of knowledge.” And the Arabic proverb says “The best friend is a book.” Narratives and expressions like the ones above are very familiar to our ears.
And there are many similar expressions with more or less the same meaning: encouraging us to love reading and not be greedy for knowledge. This has become an undeniable global consensus that reading makes us intelligent.
However, in reality, we come to a paradoxical conclusion: reading is, on the contrary, less popular in our society. Yet, we clearly agree that reading brings new knowledge to readers.
A simple example: how many people around us enjoy reading? Within our family? Among our classmates? Partner Hangouts? Office friends? University students and lecturers? Even the people we live and socialize with on a daily basis?
How many people actually have an interest in reading? It's safe to say that most of them don't enjoy books and don't enjoy reading. I can't guarantee that everyone is reading, but the vast majority of people don't enjoy reading.
In fact, our society has agreed with the above slogans and pearls of wisdom! So, why do people seem so impulsive, selfish, and skeptical of these slogans? wisdom That? This reality is what is called the adherent of the paradox of knowledge.
Knowing the benefits of reading, but not wanting to read. Reading increases knowledge, but not doing it. Books are a source of knowledge, but reluctant to seek it out. It's the same as wanting to make a lot of money, but not wanting to work. Wanting to be rich, but not willing to put in the effort. Wanting to be smart, but not willing to learn. And so on.
This is what's known as paradoxical thinking. A tendency toward this understanding leads to habits that contradict reality. Choosing to deviate from reality, then creating a new, opposing viewpoint. This is truly unfortunate, considering that we are a 'lay' society that needs knowledge and understanding.
Every April 23 is celebrated as World Book Day. Books are a symbol of science that wants to end the spread of acute ignorance and stupidity. This talkative superiority has been growing in our heads and brains for a long time. Don't we want to throw it away and replace it with new knowledge?
Today, countless bookstores are closing down. Closed. Bankrupt. Their customers have disappeared. Their readers have suddenly been swallowed up by the earth. Books that once spilled onto the sidewalks are now... disappeared, never reappeared. The seller gave up, gave up, and lost.
I witnessed and experienced firsthand how, in the past, a small veranda on the porch of my house was filled with books of various titles. Every wholesaler, whether selling groceries, crockery, household goods, or stationery, would always have books, newspapers, magazines, and tabloids on display for sale.
“"Books are the carriers of civilization. Without them, history is silent, literature is dumb, science is paralyzed, and thought and speculation are at a standstill. Books are engines of change, windows to the world, lighthouses erected in the ocean of time."” _Barbara W. Tuchman. “As long as bookstores exist, libraries can be rebuilt.” _Tan Malaka
Like a fight, book present as a hero. The hero, however, was deliberately forgotten. The presence of a hero in a battle will definitely bring victory and glory. On the other hand, if the hero falls, glory and civilization fall.
In my hometown of Taliwang, West Sumbawa, bookstores are no longer visible on the terraces of houses and shops. Once, bookstores were readily available, well-stocked, and quite large. Now, they've closed, changed their name and location to Toko Modern. An undeniable paradox. Books once existed in their classic form, then fell by the wayside and were dramatically pushed aside.
My regular place at the traffic light at the Selex shop intersection, Taliwang, was a cruel witness to the disappearance of the small bookstore where I often bought Hidayatullah magazine, Risalah, Femina tabloid, football magazines and books of the religious genre.
Ten meters from the Selex shop, to the east, there's a meatball vendor. Besides serving customers, the meatball vendor also sells books. creed, Islamic magazines, pocket books and types of herbal medicines, such as olive oil and black cumin.
“"Please take a look at the book, sir," he offered to customers who came to buy meatballs. Sometimes, they were ignored, and even apathetic to the strange offer. They came to buy meatballs, only to be offered a book, or simply to read, which was displayed on the shelf where crackers and peye hung.
I always pay attention to the behavior of this meatball stall owner. There's great hope in his enthusiasm for introducing literacy to the community. However, the community isn't interested in fueling their brains, and is more focused on feeding their stomachs. For them, a bowl of meatballs is a pleasure, while reading is a distraction.
The echoes of literacy from the corners of stalls, terraces, and sidewalks may continue to echo. While stomach-focused learning is important, brain-focused learning is far more crucial. Unfortunately, our society prefers the former, and the literacy paradox resurfaces.
Literacy practitioners and activists were once a hidden profession. Hidden profession. In fact, they themselves are unaware that they are the true activists and champions of literacy. In an era where people are obsessed with books and reading, they are here to dispel that craze and ignorance.
Happy World Book Day, April 23, 2026. Promote literacy, advance the country.
