While growing up in early 1970s and 1980s, we were always amazed by anything new which was introduced to us as kids – be it color television or walkmans or pagers and later in end of 1990s the mobile phones. The technology and communication devices have improved a lot.
We as kids were given enough time to explore life by playing with simple materials in parks and in farms or near the beach for some and there was adequate time for families and friends and community played a greater role. Though there were pressures to study and get more marks and also there was limited jealousy when the neighbor bought a car. However, the difficult times were resolved together by the family and friends and the community at large. There were no malls or gadgets and people mixed with each other.
Having witnessed riots and student agitations and some disasters closely in India – gave me conviction that together as community is always better than individualistic wins.
The last 20-25 years have seen a dramatic rise in availability of technology and comforts (which money can buy). However, in name of development the worrying and noticeable challenges which emerge or remain now include the following:
- The families and friends are more distanced by the technology (rather than bringing them together) – human connect is slowly been taken away by emojis
- The pressure on children in societies like India have increased more
- They are being taught the way we were taught 30-40 years back and still the focus remains on marks – rather than learning (some countries and regions like Europe developed the education systems to suit the learners needs and created advanced and child-friendly learning practices). In countries like India focus has remained on only assessments.
- The materialistic world has taken over the need to have minimalistic or realistic needs
- Greed and fear has transformed humans to become more & more selfish – so much so they widely abused the environment to make “money” (not realizing basic life is getting compromised). People are shown fear of God - rather than showing Love for God.
- The complexities have created more mental diseases (in addition to complex and newer diseases – like Corona virus, HIV etc)
- Gap between poor and rich have been increasing
- For a normal human being –its becoming more difficult to live and survive as life is becoming more complex for them (both technological and societal). Elders struggle with inability of using technologies
- Loneliness is the biggest problem worldwide
- The social media which helped humans – have started exploiting human mind by showing what they want to show and controlling the feelings of human (creating more and more divide among people). It has created so much stress for people rather than helping.
- Politics have become more dirty and complex and the “so-called” democracies still divide people on caste, religion and languages
- Human life is cheapest in some countries and
- Human is still struggling for basics in many societies like clean air, clean water and hygienic food. People are becoming helpless and more and more people die because of pollution in large cities in countries like India (so called 5th economy of world)
- Nature has been widely destroyed without any logic
- Trust, Respect and Love is becoming a rare commodity
- Women & girls still feel unsafe in countries like India
- Religion is still confused with Spirituality
- Developed nations want to sell their arms and ammunition than helping developing countries on improving environment and basic life
It does not mean that nothing good is happening in the world. There are many and many good deeds being done by people – which gets clouded by the media and the negativity shown in social media.
The life which was enjoyed in simplicity and humanity has become complex. The race has taken over the desire to be “ME” rather than “WE”.
I really wish and pray for a better, simpler and loving world where there is mutual trust, respect and love – inspite of differences and diversity. I wish for that simpler world where human connect is better cherished and respected. In 2020, life of more than 40 people should not be lost in a large city like New Delhi by actions and spoken words of weird and shrewd politicians (this is not 18th century). Women and girls should have fearless life of equals.
Artificial intelligence can not help. Smart phones can't help. These are helpful tools - but should not be allowed to control humans.
When I write such articles – people think I am scaring them by showing the dangerous world. However, the intention is to help people and self differentiate by what’s good and what’s not (and choose what to read, listen, hear in social media) – finding true happiness for self; giving joy to others and doing something meaningful – so that the world we leave for our future generation is better !
I am still hopeful !
