Before the start of the wide use of video games and, later, outlets like Facebook among the teenagers, it was the 'out-books' on which they would find themselves hooked. Not all of them, but they comprised a significant section of school-going boys and girls. The term 'out-book' might seem strange to many literate people today. They are, in fact, not that alien and a small number of teenagers still remain engrossed in these books. 'Out-books' are also books, but they are out of the list of textbooks. While the average students keep themselves busy with only the books specified by the school syllabus, the off-the-track teenagers remained glued to the 'out-books' in classes, spread above the textbooks. In a sleight of hand they could also pass the books beneath their textbooks. It was the boys and girls belonging to the classes from V to X who were allowed into 'out-book' groups. The groups were secret fraternities, isolated from both average and brilliant students.
The experience of being in the 'out-book' groups was veritably incomparable with any other pastime. The books ranged from fairy tales or ghost stories, detective novels to hardcore horror or crime thrillers. Upon being immersed in these paranormal worlds, the students eventually began losing interest in their textbooks. With the approach of examinations, the 'bookworms' would, however, turn to their textbooks. But to most of them, it was too late. Only a few of the 'out-book' addicted students could demonstrate the capability to perform brilliantly in the final exams. However, those who came out with mediocre results also proved their worth in many areas of their professional lives later.
According to a section of academics, picking the reading habit early in life continues to pay a person throughout his or her life. With a significant number of people, the reading habit goes on up to maturity. While at school, one might remain stuck to books which do not help at all in their mental growth. The love for books remains intact, but it doesn't branch out to the areas concerning the greater issues of life. Proper guides can play a great role in bringing a fully enlightened person out of someone who nurtures the passion for reading. At the same time, a habitual reader doesn't remain deprived in life. Despite his or her being admirer of reading materials not offering much wisdom and insight, in the long run they get rewarded in one or another way. At least, they can keep themselves free of many earthly temptations.
In the present times, however, featuring scores of outlets confined to the digital pastime, the habit of reading is veritably an anachronism. School and college students do not bother even to know the full name of an otherwise adolescence-level fiction or its writer. They visit Dhaka's largest book fair at the Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy in groups. They are hardly seen buying books; even the best-selling authors do not attract them.
According to seasoned fair-visitors, the teenagers and post-teen youths go to the fair only to watch the crowd, and to have cursory looks at the books on display. They remain busy taking group 'selfies' against the backdrop of book filled pavilions. Isolated gossip sessions fill the fair ground. The subjects centre round the recently seen Hindi multi-starrers or Hollywood sci-fi flicks. Books have no place there. In spite of the murky developments, there are signs of hope. There are lots of readers at the university level. It's them who still read 'out-books', buy them from book fair stalls and borrow them from libraries. The flip side is the number of 'out-book' fans is dwindling fast among the teenage sections in society.
