As literature fades, are we losing our humanity?

ISLAMABAD, Aug 7 (APP)::Imagine a world where people can design intelligent machines but struggle to understand human emotions. A world where Artificial Intelligence writes stories in seconds, yet fewer people read them. As technology transforms education and careers, literature is quietly losing its place in universities. But the decline of literature may represent more than changing academic preferences, it may signal the gradual erosion of empathy, imagination and critical thinking, the very qualities that define our humanity.

Not long ago, many students pursued MA English or MA Urdu. However, undergraduate students no longer choose these subjects. In today’s world, students increasingly prefer for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

According to literary scholar Adam Gage Walker, the mid-twentieth century was the golden age of English departments in U.S. universities. According to The Week, a British news magazine, the number of undergraduates studying English degrees at UK universities dropped by 19 per cent between 2019–20 and 2023–24. Experts attribute this decline to increased screen time, a decline in reading for pleasure and a growing focus on financially rewarding careers. Students no longer wish to study subjects simply for pleasure or satisfaction.

For many students, literature opens doors to diverse academic and professional opportunities. Maria Khan and Noor ul Aain, English literature students at Fazaia Bilquis College of Education for Women, talking to APP said, it is a subject worth recommending. They believe literature nurtures creativity, inspires new writing and keeps classic works alive through fresh readings and interpretations. Their passion for English literature led them to choose the discipline over other fields, proving that it is far from an impractical degree.

Maria Bashir, an English literature graduate from NUML University, Islamabad, views literature as a multidisciplinary field. She believes it allows students to explore psychology, sociology, history and culture through a single discipline, while many scientific fields focus on specialised areas. An author may write one book, she says, but readers interpret it through different psychological, historical, social and cultural lenses. Literary research, therefore, naturally draws upon philosophy, history, sociology, psychology and cultural studies.

Students outside the humanities also recognise literature’s value. Hafsa Mariam, a BS Physics student at IIUI, believes literature strengthens writing, communication, vocabulary and critical thinking while offering insight into human nature and society. Syeda Emaan Aamir, a BS Software Engineering student at CAS, agrees that literature helps people understand society through stories and creativity. She also points to career opportunities for literature graduates in education, journalism, banking, content writing and UX writing.

Javeria Zulfiqar, an English Literature lecturer at Fazaia Bilquis College of Education talking to this agency said students are drawn to literature because of its enduring appeal. Reflecting on her own academic journey, she says she valued literature for its essence rather than merely as a degree. Today, she feels many students focus more on earning qualifications than gaining knowledge. In her view, literature trains students to think more deeply and critically than many other disciplines. Classic works continue to resonate despite changing times because they speak to universal human experiences. She believes literature should be taught at the high school level, as it broadens cultural understanding and encourages students to see the world from different perspectives. More importantly, she says, literature helps shape society by allowing people to learn from the experiences, mistakes and wisdom of others.

Ultimately, literature remains far more than an academic discipline. It offers intellectual depth as well as aesthetic pleasure. As The Oldie, a British magazine, observed, it would be a great tragedy if future generations stopped studying the classics. Every reader approaches a literary work differently, giving it new meaning with every generation.

Professor Ramzan, an MA in English Literature with extensive teaching experience at foreign universities, believes the value of literature cannot be measured by salary alone, but by its ability to shape minds, challenge assumptions and enrich society. In an age driven by technology and financial ambition, he says literature continues to remind us what it means to be human. It nurtures empathy, imagination and critical thinking, qualities that remain essential regardless of one’s profession. Perhaps that is why, despite changing trends and shifting priorities, literature continues to endure.