Technology has profoundly impacted our lifestyle, ideas, and outlook. Much has changed in the last decade, rues Ruchira – exclusively for Different Truths.
We stepped into the third year of the Millennium’s second decade four months ago. The humongous euphoria at the dawn of the new (shall we say?) Era subsided and
life gradually became hunky-dory. Phew! Then two more decades came and vanished in the wink of an eye.
Looking back, I realised with a start how the last ten years had witnessed a paradigm shift in the lifestyle, ideas, and outlook of the masses across the country. For openings, the iconic telegrams – the lifeline of communication for 163 years, are also silent testimony to the welter of
emotions– took their last bow on a sultry July night in 2013. The yet-unborn generations will never know what a telegram was all about.
The ubiquitous postcards, not forgetting the lovely blue inland letters, have disappeared …
The ubiquitous postcards, not forgetting the lovely blue inland letters, have disappeared (well, almost. I need to check that out). I also miss the aerogrammes,which I would use prolifically to connect with pen pals and relatives overseas. They have wilted and faded away. Nowadays, you may trust emails and WhatsApp to do the same jobs speedily, even before you can say, Jack.
Robinson. As a fallout of this, the workloads of Indian Postal Services have been drastically reduced.
Since mobile phones flooded the markets, the so-called regular cameras have been turning into antique pieces. For the simple reason that film rolls have become extinct, and on top of it, film processing studios are pulling down their shutters. I happen to possess a sleek ‘Canon’. I can’t recall when and where I last took pictures with it. It now rests in utmost serenity in some crevice of a cupboard at home.
The mention of cameras reminds me of how drones made their debut in India within the departed decade.
The mention of cameras reminds me of how drones made their debut in India within the departed decade. Widely applied in multiple fields – photography,search and rescue operations, firefighting, healthcare, and what have you–drones are nothing short of a revolution!
During the decade, I also witnessed a deluge (read glut) of digital /e-books. I am flummoxed to accost individuals from Gen X, Y and Z, who appear rather smug about their near-zero connectivity with ‘leafy’ books.
By any computation, the pandemic ushered in the most potent and far-reaching changes that forced the entire Planet into silence and stupor. However, as the adage goes, “Even the darkest cloud has a silver lining.” So also, the Internet emerged as the lifeline for the human masses. Women with good enough culinary skills turned self-proclaimed master chefs; they opened online cooking channels to upload heaps of recipes from their arsenals. Some of these have been absolute hits, as most of us may be aware.
Likewise, many professional singers and classical dancers launched weekly online classes.
Likewise, many professional singers and classical dancers launched weekly online classes. How successfully the pupils imbibed the knowledge (without physical interactions) is yet to be seen. But sure enough, the tutors raked in much moolah.
On the other hand, several talented upcoming vocal artists gained visibility and mileage via social media, which would have been an uphill task otherwise.
In tandem with digital technology, the pandemic also transmogrified the entertainment industry. Even the most modernistic, state-of-the-art theatres are reeling under the overpowering impact of the OTT phenomenon.
Lastly, my thoughts turn to how, owing to Corona, children born towards the finale of the decade missed out on the agony and ecstasy of toddlers beginning school. Before they got their bearings right, online classes were thrust upon them. A case in point is one of my nephews and a friend’s grandson, who will see the inside of a school for the first time this summer!
Picture design by Anumita Roy
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