Anuj is very happy as he got placement in a renowned US company from his campus interview. He belongs to a village named Bhagatpur in Rajasthan. His father is a farmer and mother is a house wife. He has a young brother who is in XIth class.His name is Sanju
Anuj’s father never allowed his son to enter in to the fields, though he wanted to help his father in his field work. His mother too wanted him only to concentrate on studies. They always tried their best not to include their sons in any household work or in any serious family discussions or concerns. They wished their son to succeed in his academic life. The struggle and sacrifice of the parents made Anuj more attached, responsible and emotional to them. He decided that he will also do something big for their parents and will make them rid of their hard work.
During the college Anuj use to visit his home after the end of every semester exam. But this time he is not able to make it as the date of joining was very near. Also he thought he will go USA little early to get familiar with the place and people there. Here in the home the parents and brother was also very happy and encouraged him to move and not to bother about the home.
Anuj got properly settled in the USA. Every Sunday he calls home and talk with his parents and brother. In every call his mother asks to care of his food and health. Whenever Anuj asks about their health, they always say that everything is fine here and not to worry about here. You concentrate on your job and do well.
After 3 months, Anuj transferred some money to home and asked his brother to purchase a laptop and take internet connection. From here, Anuj used to chat with his brother on almost every day and gets the information about parents through him. Sometimes they use to chat with cam with parents around.
After six months of job, Anuj asked for leave from his manager but due to some project deadlines that was not approved. His mother fell ill and she got hospitalized for some days but his brother Sanju did not let him know. During this time he somehow avoided his mother to come in front of the cam.
Anuj again applied for leave. This time he got the leave. He was coming to home after 1.5 years. His brother and father received him on the station. His heart got filled when he saw his father. On the way his brother asks many things about USA and his father was listening silently. The moment Anuj reached home, he was shocked to see his mother standing on the door to receive hm. There was plaster on the left hand of his mother and a cotton cloth was there between her neck and elbow. He looked towards his brother. Sanju understood the reason and lowered his face. His mother smiled and said “come inside”.
He came to know that she slipped in the kitchen and her hands got fractured and they decided not to inform him as this will deviate him from his work. Listening this, his heart was filled and eyes got wet. Next day Anuj was sitting with his parents and brother and he disclosed that some 2 to 3 times he also felt sick but it was only minor so he did not inform them.
In the night, he was laying on the bed but he was not getting the sleep. He was thinking about his mother’s struggle and love for him. Again after a very long time he saw his father working in the field. He followed his father to the field without knowing him and he saw him working from far. Anuj thinks what if he would have told his mother that he was hospitalized in the USA, very seriously for 10 days. No one came to look except the doctor and the nurses. His memory went back to his school days. Once he met with an accident and was hospitalized for 2 days. Within 2 days, so many persons from his school, neighbor and family came to see him. Even when he was released from the hospital, he was surrounded by so many around his bed till he recovered completely.
He has money and living in the most developed country of the world but he is missing the warmth and affection of his mother, home and village. He thinks that only he was hiding the worse from his parents. He never came under the impression that his parents will also hide the worse from him. He feels that this online chat has fooled him and his parents. He would have surely sensed his mother worse condition and his mother would have sensed his conditions if they would have continued their conversation through phone.
He thinks that this online world is not real. This is virtual and somewhat illusionary. This is preplanned and predesigned approach of communication. Basic dishonesty is natural in such type of communication. Again, he starts thinking how to settle his father before leaving for the USA…thinking all this….he got sleep.
The above story and all the characters in it are fictitious and resemblance to anyone is purely coincidental.
Yes, the above story is fictitious, but I am sure that such story is definitely true with many in one or another way.
Technology progressed, we made progress. We made our world shrink on our lap or desk within a room.
With the rapid advancement of the technology, the life style of the people got changed drastically. In urban India most of the people spend their most of the time in front of the plugged in Desktop or Laptop. They remain connected throughout the world and do their most of the daily activities like newspaper, booking movie ticket, shopping , watching movie, chatting with friends or family is done either sitting on the sofa/chair or laying on the bed with laptop in front. Even in the office we are connected with the world. The gap between mental and physical activity gets wider and wider.
But is it that the online world will completely replace the offline world. Talking with friends, family will be replaced by online chat and emoticons will take the place of all Human emotions and expression…? Offline Groups, associations or organization are going to be replaced by online community or groups of orkut and facebook…..?
On the other side,
We use internet and technology for most of our works which saves a lot of time but most of us are always running short of time. We always say “very busy, no time to meet family, friends etc. Most of our times are occupied in mental activities only.
We make friends very easily on orkut , facebook etc but still people do not know their neighbours in his/her apartment or society.
Today people give beautiful presentations, write lovely emails, talk very politely and professionally with their team members but on another side the count of divorces, nuclear families are increasing. Old parents are left to the Old Age Care Centers.
Have good professional team spirit but family spirit is on decline.
Today’s kids spend time playing computer games and compete with other kids for maximum score. When they come to real playground they are tired soon.
The conclusion is we have to move with both the online and offline. Both are very much needed for our mental, physical and materialistic progress. Tilting extremely on one side may lead to dissatisfaction or repentance in life, sooner or later. A balance is required between them. How and how much is each individual’s decision.
