'Irritating And Ignorant': William Dalrymple slams ‘The Guardian’ for claiming most Indians don’t read for pleasure

The British daily claimed that India does not have a great book-reading tradition.

A debate erupted on social media after historian and author William Dalrymple fiercely criticised British daily, ‘The Guardian’, for their article on the reading habits of Indians.

Dalrymple, co-founder of Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), took on X and called out the publication for being “irritating and ignorant.”

The controversy began after the publication, ran a report asking why India hosts over 100 literary festivals when it allegedly has low levels of “reading for pleasure.” It claimed that India “does not have a great book-reading tradition.” It further added that for most people, a book festival is a “social and cultural” experience where “books are the background, not the main event,” quoting Priyanka Malhotra, CEO of Full Circle Publishing and owner of Cafe Turtle book store in Delhi. According to the publication, despite the significant rise in literacy rates in India, there is a gap between “the ability to read and the habit of reading for pleasure.”

However, the write-up drew widespread criticism from various individuals, including Indian readers and literary figures, who argued that the article misrepresented the country’s vibrant book culture.

The historian strongly dismissed the claims made by the publications, and reiterated that the JLF sessions are “massively crowded with passionate, nerdy young readers” and added that the authors at the festival often report having the “longest signing queues of their careers.”

Dalrymple, in his X post, stated that in five days of the 19th edition of the JLF, held in 2026, they sold over 44,000 books. He added that JLF attracts a cross-section of society, from rickshaw drivers and school-teachers to students and office workers. “Come along next time and hear writers ranging from Booker and Nobel Prize winners to Dalit poets and Rajasthani bhopas – all for free,” he said, replying to a tweet, which claimed that JLF “is for elite people.”

Not only did Dalrymple find the article lacking in facts and logic, but several individuals pointed out the “condescending” claims by the publication. A user wrote, “Only the Guardian could see 100 literary festivals as a bad thing.”

Another person tweeted, “I was incredibly surprised by the assumption in it. India does have a reading habit, although it is in pockets.”

Another user pointed out the fact that India has so many literature festivals, and that itself proves the reading habits.” The very fact that India has so many literature festivals and all of them sponsored, is precisely because our readership base is burgeoning. I don’t understand the logic presented in the article,” the user said.