BOOKS have played a vital role in human history, particularly before the revolution led by Caxton’s printing press. In those earlier times, access to books was limited to a small, privileged class. The aristocracy held control over knowledge, aware of its power. Through this monopoly, they were able to dominate and exploit those who remained uneducated. Knowledge, therefore, was not merely a tool of enlightenment but also an instrument of authority and control.
Yet history also shows that certain books broke these barriers and ignited intellectual and social revolutions, leaving an enduring impact across centuries. For instance, Das Kapital by Karl Marx left an indelible mark on the proletariat, exposing the exploitative structures of capitalism and clearly outlining the oppressive nature of the elite class.
Similarly, Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species transformed the intellectual landscape, challenging the authority of the Church and altering the dynamics of religious power by encouraging scientific reasoning among the masses. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin is another striking example of literature influencing history. The novel stirred public sentiment against slavery and is often regarded as one of the catalysts of the American Civil War. It is famously said that when Abraham Lincoln met Stowe, he remarked, “So you are the little lady who started this great war.”
Rousseau’s The Social Contract awakened political consciousness among ordinary people, encouraging them to question authority and demand their rights. Edward Said’s work, particularly Orientalism, critically examined Western perceptions of the East, exposing the biases and ideological constructs that shaped Western thought about Islam and the Orient. Wole Soyinka, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Chinua Achebe, and J. M. Coetzee exposed the destructive logic of the colonial mindset.
Their works illustrate how colonialism reshaped identities, erased indigenous cultures, and justified domination through language, power, and distorted narratives. At the same time, they revealed the human cost of colonialism, portraying the psychological conflicts, resistance, and moral breakdown experienced by both the colonized and the colonizer. History also bears witness to the suppression of knowledge. Around 1195 in Cordoba, many philosophical works of Ibn Rushd (Averroes) were burned, symbolizing a rejection of rational inquiry in favor of rigid orthodoxy. Such acts remind us that the fear of knowledge has often led to its destruction. A poignant image is presented by Lachman Komal, who describes the death of Ibn Rushd: his body was placed on one side of a mule, while his books were loaded on the other to counterbalance it.
Observers wondered which side carried the greater treasure: the lifeless body or the enduring knowledge contained in the books. This powerful metaphor underscores a timeless truth: while human life is transient, ideas preserved in books continue to travel across generations. In today’s digital age, where screens dominate attention, the relevance of books remains undiminished. It is our collective responsibility to remind the younger generation of their importance. Books not only inform but also shape societies, challenge injustices, and preserve the intellectual and cultural heritage of humanity. Without them, civilizations risk losing both their memory and their moral direction. “Yeh Kitabon Sy Ishq Ki Akhri Saddi Nahi”
—The writer is a contributing columnist, based in Hyderabad, Sindh.
