In many European countries, some days are observed as Pollution-free days when people, including office goers, use only either cycles or walk to their workplace. What a beautiful concept!, I used to think.
In a similar thread of thought, I used to wonder if it would be good to have mobile phone free days. People are nowadays attending Vipassana camps which mandate keeping away from electronic gadgets including phones during the tenure of the camps.
Sometimes, technology and the need to feel connected can get into us so much that it takes away our need for personal freedom. How many of us can sincerely keep away from WhatsApp, at least for one day? Sometimes, I wish I could go back to those days when mobile phones were unheard of.
A couple of weeks ago, an unexpected big wave totally immersed my mobile phone when I had only wanted to immerse my feet in the waves of the beach near my home. My ‘not so old' Phone ‘died’ as a result.
Though I was initially saddened as I only had had a glimpse of the pictures I had posed to amidst nature only a few moments back, but which was now lost forever, I told myself, here was my 'Golden Chance' to live without a phone, at least for a few days.
I started a new day as always with my study chanting of the Lord's name. At one point I got stuck . I went to my phone to listen to the downloaded audio file before returning back disappointed to my photocopy and completed my chanting as best as I could manage.
The calling bell chimed. And it was our iron wallah. What did I owe him? I had no clue as I always put that in the notepad on my phone. I had to go out to buy our provisions for the kitchen.. My list again was lost as it was again in the notepad on my phone..
To add to my frustration, the landline was down. It had been down for a few days now, but none of us had bothered for obvious reasons. Could I call someone to lament? No, I didn't have either my cell phone or my land phone now. And all my contacts were stored in my cell phone
OK, let me motivate myself,i thought. Let me make Rash Bora. I had craved eating the sweet for some time now. Yes. OK, so where was the recipe?. Oh no, I had it saved in Pinterest on my phone again. Now I was beginning to become sad.
My new maid, who hadn’t turned up on Saturday, came a few minutes late, and I looked at her menacingly. She started ranting as to how many times she had called me on Saturday and why hadn't I called her back. Definitely, I would have had some missed calls on my phone. I briefly narrated to her the tragedy of my phone.
The calling bell Again. I rushed to see that I had an Amazon delivery. I had ordered a book. Thank God I tell myself now. At least I can read my book in peace.
Can I have the OTP Madam? He says as I'm extending my hand to receive the book. Grinning sheepishly, I briefly narrate the calamity to my phone again.
Chitra, You better browse and see what phone you want, said my husband this morning, to which I bravely replied. Let me be without a phone for a month at least.
Now I wonder, can life go on normally without a cell phone, even for an ordinary soul like me?
I sit with my new book in the Sit out and our dog Omi is scratching away. OK, let me give you a bath. I say to Omi and myself and an hour later, Omi is sleeping blissfully after a refreshing bath and a hot grub. I look at him enviously and think to myself what a fortunate “mobile phone free” life he has!!