Quite alone in a world full of people

Anirudh Dhanda

Knowledge today is being circulated freely to one and all. There is enough and more for all to satisfy their insatiable hunger. Once upon a time, while meeting over drinks, everyone would talk about stories read by all in that morning’s papers or in popular weekly magazines or the latest issue of Reader’s Digest. No more. People are not even sharing jokes. They just forward them. The art of storytelling and ingenuity of the ‘joker’ is dead.

Sanjeev Kapoor is bringing newer recipes to desi kitchens. Many different diet patterns and exercise schedules — all said to have been recommended by experts, approved by the WHO and being used by many in the world — are being sent to you. Art and music abound all households. All are getting entertained. All national and international issues have spiritual answers. Morning walk is not boring anymore — ab nahi sahna padega akelepan ka dard. You can receive God’s words right into your ears, anywhere and anytime. You just have to pull the wires up to your ears and all the useless chirpings of birds, birth of fresh plumes of life on trees and good mornings of fellow walkers are drowned into nothingness.

The globe has further shrunk — to the size of the smartphone. All are connected 24/7. Brothers, sisters, lovers, et al. Each one knows where the other is, in real time. Even information about what he/she ate in the yonder world, continents apart, is at a fingertip’s distance. The world has become the hitherto forgotten village where everyone was for everyone else and everyone’s life the others’ concern. Earlier people loathed that. Today, people love it. All is being told by everyone to everyone else. All respond through beautiful drawings of hands and emojis. The aim of human life seems within reach. No physical material world, you live in the all-encompassing space. You are alone, but not lonely.

The age-old axiom, ignorance is bliss, is real. God bless social media for providing the easy route. Bliss is all pervasive. Students and teachers of political science, who are yet to digest the full import of the Preamble of the Constitution, are debating Article 370 and CAA. Others are busy shouting at them. Advice on financial investments is available even if not asking for it. Medical arena tops the charts. You go to a doctor only for confirmation of diagnosis by Google.

There is a spurt in educated illiterates. They have degrees from colleges and universities, and are now getting actual education online. The most wonderful aspect of social media is that you are a student and a teacher, entertained and entertainer, reader and debater, learner and instructor, all at the same time. You receive and you immediately share. Who could have thought of such prakram in the past?

The grip of the smartphone is strong. No free moment for you… Carry on the responsibility of not being missed, not being late in sharing. And laughing out loud (lol) but alas … alone!

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