Kerala – Reading Culture
Kerala is widely recognized for its strong reading culture, a legacy shaped by social reforms,
educational movements, missionary activity, and the early spread of print media.
1. Historical Roots
Literacy and Education: Kerala has historically maintained the highest literacy rates in India,
which has greatly contributed to a vibrant reading culture.
Social Reform Movements: Reformers like Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, and others
emphasized education as a tool for social mobility and equality, encouraging reading among
marginalized groups.
Missionary Influence: Christian missionaries in the 19th century established schools and
printing presses, promoting Bible reading and secular education.
2. Public Libraries and Reading Rooms
Kerala has an extensive network of public libraries and reading rooms, especially in rural
areas.
Organizations like the Kerala State Library Council and Granthasala Sangham helped
institutionalize reading by creating thousands of local libraries across the state.
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, and O.V. Vijayan were major
literary figures who shaped the Malayalam literary landscape and attracted wide
readerships.
3. Government and Literary Promotion
The Kerala government supports literature through awards, publishing houses like State
Institute of Languages, and literary festivals like the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF).
Annual book fairs, literary events, and state-sponsored reading campaigns have further
promoted the culture of reading.
4. Role of Newspapers and Magazines
Malayalam newspapers such as Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, and Deshabhimani
enjoy wide circulation and are integral to daily reading habits.
Magazines like Bhashaposhini and Mathrubhumi Weekly played a central role in cultivating
literary taste and public discourse.
5. Current Trends
Despite digital disruptions, Kerala continues to have a high rate of book sales, especially
during events like the International Book Fair in Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram.
Digital reading and e-books are becoming more popular, especially among youth, but print
still holds cultural significance.
Beginnings of Print Culture
Print culture refers to the cultural practices surrounding the production and consumption of printed
material, including books, newspapers, pamphlets, and magazines. Its origins marked a revolution in
communication, knowledge sharing, and literacy.
1. Global Beginnings
Johannes Gutenberg’s Printing Press (c. 1440) in Germany marked the birth of modern print
culture. The Gutenberg Bible was the first major book printed using movable type.
This invention led to the mass production of books, making them more affordable and
accessible.
The Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment were deeply influenced by the spread of
printed ideas.
2. Print Culture in India
Portuguese missionaries brought the first printing press to India in 1556 in Goa. They printed
religious texts like Christian catechisms in regional languages.
The first Indian language book was printed in Tamil in 1578.
In Bengal, the Serampore Mission Press (1800) played a major role in printing Indian
languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, and more.
Early Indian newspapers like Bengal Gazette (1780) and Samachar Darpan (1818) were
instrumental in shaping public opinion.
3. Print Culture in Kerala
The first printing press in Kerala was established by Christian missionaries in the early 19th
century at Kottayam.
The CMS Press (Church Missionary Society) in Kottayam, set up in 1821, was among the
earliest. It published books in Malayalam, including the Bible, dictionaries, and educational
materials.
The publication of Malayalam newspapers like Rajyasamacharam (1847) and
Paschimodayam (1847) began in this period.
Early printing also helped in standardizing the Malayalam script and enriching the language.
4. Impact of Print Culture
Knowledge democratization: Books and papers became accessible to more people, reducing
the monopoly of knowledge by elites.
Educational Expansion: The printed word was crucial for modern schooling and secular
education.
Political Awakening: Newspapers and pamphlets spread ideas of nationalism, reform, and
resistance during the colonial period.
Literary Growth: Print culture nurtured regional literature and helped preserve and promote
local languages.
