April 11, 2011
Life today is different. It has been hijacked by several technological renovations and inventions. Creativity rules. The new Vodafone ad clearly sums up the spirit of this age – faster, better, smarter.
When I think of one entity that rules life today I cannot but think of a mobile or cell phone. People have embraced and plugged themselves to the world of mobile. Isn’t it one of the most wonderful of inventions in the past one decade? But has it fulfilled its purpose to free people to be mobile (movable) and allow easy access or has it immobilized most of us?
Ten years ago life was different. All of us used landlines, STD or ISD services. Then came coin boxes easing our struggle. But today life itself is different. All depends on how well one knows to use a mobile. It can become a companion or an attachment.
Mobile came as a boon to get easily connected with our friends. But the irony of it is that since its advent many people are becoming unreachable, too busy and pre-occupied. Young people seem to have learnt newer ways of adapting its use. They enjoy having all their four trouser pockets full with four mobiles and sim cards from four different companies. Some even get addicted to new offers of talk-time, never realizing that one does not directly profit by it for long. Some don’t stick to the same mobile even for a week. It all begins with one's confusion in choosing between Vodafone and Airtel, switching over to Aircel, only to find better breath in BSNL, which is not bad as it seems and finally coming to realize that Relying on Reliance may also be too Spice-y.
India is the second largest user of mobiles (70 crore) just second to China in the world. Every month 1 crore people subscribe for a new sim. But our country has toilet facility for only 36 crore people! The newer innovation of the possibility of changing the company but retaining the same number through Mobile Number Portability (MNP) has made things simpler.
Some keep mobiles for status quo or as a showpiece without currency in it. Politicians use it to symbolize their tight schedule. Women use it as a security when they travel back home late from workplace. Some keep it uncharged for days together. Some do not switch of their mobiles even for a minute. Others at least make it a point to keep it switched off when in a church, temple, mosque, gurudwara or a family gathering. It seems absurd to accept that even God is not free to meet his devotee.
For most of us cell phone is of great comfort. It seems to have lost its rightful place. It is true that it has made things easier and quicker. But has it hampered life? Some can't even help being without it, even in the bathroom. Either we are busy with our mobiles or mobiles seem to keep us busy.
Most of my friends have expressed that mobile has become an irritation. Some feel depressed when they don’t receive any SMSs or calls. Others get fed up with unwanted offers and advertisements. Some others are fed up of receiving just missed calls from their pals. While others get angry when they get only hear the monotonous tone from the other end resounding: “The customer you are calling is not reachable. Please try after sometime.”
I know of principals of two famous colleges in Bangalore who manage life without a mobile. So is mobile the only entity with which life goes on? Can it be used so as to promote relationships? We need to ponder over this seriously.
Boon
Mobile is a great boon to all, from a businessmen to the cart puller. It connects with the whole world in an instance at a reasonable price. It helps socialization. It is smart, portable, simple and handy. When one knows not the way to a new place, one can find solace by just carrying a mobile. It has also helped society to locate thieves and murderers. Newer applications, all on a single handset has benefited people of all ages.
Bane
Mobile constrains and restricts the flow of life. One cannot concentrate on one's work without disturbance for a minute. People call you even when you are sleeping or bathing. Many agree with me that ‘One may even forget one's spouse when out in the office but never one’s mobile.’ Some get attached to it and thereby work suffers. Students misuse it; terrorists destroy life and peace with it. Many relationships today become sour because of it, and secret relationships escape the notice of parents due to its use. Some companies flood you with unlimited offers and calls at the wrong time. Sometimes things become sorry when towers are limited in number to provide the required range.
Mobile – a teacher?
Mobile definitely represents life. Mobile teaches us great lessons. It reminds us that life’s battery must be charged often. To benefit the maximum we need to have currency of vigour in it. As we change sims after sims to suit our needs, we need to adapt to the best suitable ways and strategies in life.
Conclusion
But are we ultimately going to be mobile beings or just beings with mobile? I doubt whether ‘What an idea sirji?’ of Abhishekji is realy true. Has mobile become an idea for better mobility in life today? The husband and wife sitting together in a bus seem to be in their own world. The husband is busy calling his secretary and the wife is enjoying chatting with her boss.
All depends on whether we can manage life with or without it, never being attached to it or a be a slave of it. Today’s parents find it a pleasure to give brand new mobiles to their children as soon as he/she completes SSLC, supposing it to be the best gift they can ever offer. Isn’t it bad guidance?
Life has been fractured for most. Even a wife has no time to say more than just, 'hi' to her husband. Today’s husbands just sit in the drawing room and SMS their wives asking them "Is supper ready?" and the wife too finds it cool to respond from the kitchen instantly, "It’s getting ready, dear"
Today mobile has made things ‘faster, better and smarter,' because of 3G. Isn’t it three much Sirji? But what has happened to its foremost purpose of fostering relationships?
Lancy Fernandes - Archives: