I am a product of the mid-20th century, entering the world right in the middle of the 1900 hundreds. My views here can be termed as “old –fashioned” since we are almost touching the first quarter of the 21st century. Nevertheless, I like to put down a few thoughts that are all of my own.
In the good ‘old’ days, life was slow-paced, easy going – it seemed like school life would never end, but we had never heard the word ‘stress’.
Our main entertainment was the Radio, placed somewhere high up so that adults had the control of switching it off or on. Music was mostly lyrical and romantic, which we can sing even today. It was not noisy. Blaring or non-stop chatter.
I can’t remember the radio being on during meal times. That was when all were present at the table. Grace was said before and after meals. It was an occasion for discussions, sibling disputes, complaints about school and if you did not keep your eyes on your plate, one cutlet would surely disappear. Life was uncomplicated, as I recall it.
Television came into our lives; first black & white, and then coloured. A kind of excitement emerged with people reaching home after work, finishing dinner, postponing the rosary, to sit before the TV to view serials like “Buniyaad”. With more & more channels & serials, the buniyaad of our Christian practices began to wobble and has now taken a backseat.
Before the turn of the century – the New Millennium – computers, Internet and .com changed the face of the world! A whole new learning process began for all of us, be it at school, at work or at home. For me in 1987 it was learning the word processor – a typewriter inside the computer. I had a CPU that was like a small steel cupboard 3 ft wide x 4 ft high x 1 ½ ft deep. Any errors and delays that happened were blamed on the computer.
Before we knew it, the CPU, screen, keyboard & floppy disc started getting smaller & smaller, till it reached the size of our hand – THE MOBILE! Let’s face it, it’s the best thing that has happened to every person, from the Pope, Presidents and Kings to the vegetable vendor.
There is so much one can write to appreciate or criticize this new gadget – not the technology. I like to dwell on the blessings of the mobile without denying the dangers involved. To appreciate its use, one has to be in a hospital, face a breakdown on the highway, try to trace family & friends at the railway station or airport, stay connected with those out late at night, enjoy free delivery of medicines & food and of course if the housewife suddenly remembers there is no salt, sugar, chili powder etc., what a relief to pick the phone and order her husband to get it.
The speed of communication is awesome. In the 50’s and 60’s the telephone was the basic means which mostly doctors, nurses (special category), and those who could afford, used it. In case of necessity one had to request the neighbour for its use and be as brief as possible. When the phone did enter our home, one incoming call (those in the room were all ears) 3 persons would rush to answer and the whole family would know the reason and the subject. Secrecy was not possible. To-day the mobile is on silent or buzzer and conversations by the youth are whispered or texting is the alternative. Parents have no control on them except to trust them 100% or confiscate the phone.
Today we are receiving calls from across the world, from the aero plane, holding conference calls, video calling, accepting / rejecting / returning calls, sending messages and pictures as the event is happening. In the good old days we depended on birthday cards, letters and aerogrammes to keep in touch (trunk calls were expensive). It was such a delight to receive these. I wonder, is it better to hear someone’s voice or read someone’s letter – which of the two lingers?
What touches my heart is to see the 2 or 3 year olds posing for pics or swiping the phone. It’s the 7 or 8 year old who say “No nana, not like that….” or just take the phone – tap, tap, tap and return to Nana without a word. Problem solved but Nana still confused!
I’m reminded of the words of a song sung by Louis Armstrong … “I hear babies cry, I watch them grow, they’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know…and I think to myself ‘what a wonderful world’.
On this our Parish Feast while we cook and entertain, you know who will be very busy? – Your mobile!
J. Rodrigues