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Vacuum blimps-
The real world. Such a deeply philosophical phrase. The real world obliterated itself a decade ago. I remember the real world. There was sense and sensibility back then. There were wild flowers, and hornets clinging to clothes as we walked through the brambles in the wilderness. There were children and there was their childhood. There were Family Picnics, splashing through rain puddles, Pakodas and steaming cups of hot tea in corner shops. There were small, cozy bookstores with kindly owners- who let us sit atop a tall 3-legged stool and let the magic of the words from the pages enter our souls. There were parents and best friends- sharing and caring, duties and obligations, happily fulfilled. There were letters and postcards, and hopefuls swinging-on-gates awaiting the friendly, busy postmen delivering them. There were chirping sparrows, woodpeckers drilling holes in trees, brilliant blue-breasted kingfishers, wild geese and the drone of the bumblebee as it watched zillions of dragonflies and butterflies buzzing around busily.
I remember lying curled up on a sofa, with a plate of hot finger chips (NOT French fries) by my side- reading a Georgette Heyer romance or a Perry Mason detective novel, and listening to the croaking frogs playing games in the pouring rain. There was acceptance and understanding, discipline and dignity. There were values and honour- and chivalry used to be a part of the reality that went around. And then there was Family- the magical unit of the civilized world, that was warmth, comfort, dependence, security and love- all rolled into one. There was the radio, and later the idiot-box, which brought the family together through quiet evenings. There was the family-outing- to the market, a friend/relative’s home, a film show. There was a dining table, where grandparents, parents and children all gathered- and talked about their day and its happenings.
And then came the Technology Invasion. First it was the cordless phones, and later the mobile revolution- which revolutionized the revolution of evolution. It broke the umbilical cord that bound families tightly together. One by one, the mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, friend and foe- threw away all-of-the-above, and moved away into their own busy spaces. Then came more technology- taking the place of the rainbows, butterflies, sparrows- love, warmth, togetherness, belonging, sharing, and caring. And the human race began its race towards extinction. In its place, there were millions of busy, scurrying, hurrying assembly-line zombies- who recognized what technology showed them- neatly packaged empty spaces- babies that suddenly became young people, parents that suddenly became tormenters, teachers and schools that became the means-to-an-end, homes that became digital dens, and computers- that destroyed that last link to real communication.
Yes- I have seen it all. I admit- I love the small world that technology has shrunk into the palm of my hand. I love “knowing” strangers in the cyber world. I admire the ease with which the youngsters of the day flaunt their wares. The glamour, the colour, the brilliance and the shine is faultlessly perfect. But is any of it REAL? The diamond versus the artificial brilliance of the zircon.
But still- I miss the humans. I miss their values and traditions. I miss the cords of love that bound even strangers. I miss the lost childhood in today’s young people. I miss the maternal and paternal love and commitment. I miss the aunts and uncles, cousins and “best” friends who held so much meaning once. I miss Life- the real life. Not these empty, hollow vacuum blimps floating inside and outside all of us- that we call Life.
I miss the sounds of nature. I miss the softness and mellowness inside people. Suddenly the world has turned into tiny islands. Everyone is alone and lost inside their own. I suppose some of my generation finds it easy to slip into the shallow flow- but I don’t. I very definitely do not. And I flow along the shallow murky waves too- and hold on tightly to my belief in those faded, extinct, mythological creatures- human beings …..and their magic wand of love- that may somehow bring the world back into existence once more.
