Technology Aaj Kal

Technology Aaj Kal

You know, there’s world beyond this little idiot box and it’s beautiful.”

I felt guilty and immediately put my phone aside. I was visiting my mother’s friend-cum-former colleague in Pune. Shalini aunty, aged 83, needed some assistance installing her new television and my mother, in order to prove that she raised me right, volunteered my name without my consent. After the work was done, I decided to stay for lunch and since there was no Wi-Fi available, I started observing other worldly things.

The house was more like a museum and everything inside it felt like a distant memory. There was a real alarm clock, a real phone book and a real calendar. You know something is special is if you’ve to use the word “real” to describe it-- real father, real love and real stupid. I soon realised that Shalini aunty was living in yesterday while the world had moved on to the present day.

I decided to initiate a conversation but before I could begin, aunty started her monologue about the present times.

“I feel bad for your generation”, she began, and I was confused.

“We grew up in simpler times. There were no electronic devices then and therefore, we spent more time outside our houses. Our social circle wasn’t limited to mobile phones, we met people and formed our bonds. There were minimal distractions and therefore, more focus on work, family and relationships. As a result, we were happier.” 

She paused and gave me that ‘I-am-not-done-yet’ look.

“You’re enslaved to this technology   without even realising it. Just answer a few questions and you’ll know,” she continued.

“You use a mobile phone but are always glued to the charger, how different is it from using a landline phone?” 

I can use it in the bathroom, I thought. 

“You wear a fitness tracker to count your steps, but how many of you are really fit?” 

Is that a personal attack?

“You’ve internet to connect you to the world, but how many of you are really connected?”

Says the woman who lives alone. 

“You all have earphones plugged in all the time, then why does the music these days sound like noise?”

Remixes aunty, remixes. 

“You can get food delivered anywhere, then why do you crave homemade food?”

It was a bad idea to stay for lunch. 

Aunty went to check the rice cooker while I picked up my phone again; wrong move. She saw the phone and realised that her words of wisdom were not taken seriously. Thus began the final round of her TED talk.

“I know you’re checking your social media right now. You can’t stay few minutes without seeing if people like your stuff or what other people are up to. Also, your generation has become so addicted to social media that they’re incapable of doing the most basic things without uploading a picture of it first. Get up early, click. Wear shoes, click. Eat breakfast, click. Wear clothes, click. Go outside, click. You seek validation from people who don’t matter, what’s the point of such technology?”

Any other day, I would’ve ignored this provocation. However, the fact that I was sent here against my will and I was getting a lecture instead of the promised lunch triggered me. This was now a boxing match where aunty had finished punching and won the first round. It was my turn now.

“Even I feel bad for your generation,” I made my opening statement and this time, aunty was surprised.

“You call your era simpler times but I see it as the lack of options.  You spent time outside your house because you were required to! No more cash? Run to the bank. Need to pay bills, book travel tickets or watch a movie? Stand in queues for hours. Can’t find your husband? Go check at all bars and restaurants.”

I could see a shocked look on aunty’s face but I was in no mood to relent.

“Yes, we are obsessed with social media but there’s nothing wrong in feeling appreciated. We also take all those selfies for the same reason – self love and appreciation. Also, how is it fair that you’ve refrigerator to store the greens, microwave oven to cook, air conditioner to maintain the room temperature and yet you question our generation for using the electronic gadgets? Moreover, why see internet as the enemy? It helps us in staying updated. If there were chances of heavy rainfall in the evening, would you rather be informed in advance or prefer reading it next day in the newspaper?                                                             Yes, we order things online because we’ve services available at our fingertips and we believe in smart work, not hard work. Frankly, if hard work was the key to success, the donkey would’ve been the king of the jungle.” 

I ended with a quote for extra effect and having clearly offended Shalini aunty, I knew I had won round two.

“Are you calling us a generation of donkeys? Is this your sanskaar? I should call you mother and tell her about this,” aunty delivered a lower blow in the hopes to win.

“You know, there’s world beyond this idiot box and it’s beautiful.” I pointed at her new television set and the colour of her face faded.

“I will make sure to change the settings of your TV so that you can no longer use this piece of technology to binge watch your daily soaps.”  Knockout! Game, set, match.

We stared at each other for a while. Thereafter, I picked up my phone, aunty switched on her TV and we both ate our lunch in silence.

(Sudhanshu Ramteke is a stand-up comedian)

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