Vijay Hashia
In the early to mid-20th century, communication was a rich experience, reminiscent of epic poetry, rather than just tapping and swiping on screens. The act of carrying letters might seem outdated today amidst our advanced technology and the sensory appeal of emojis. Making a phone call often required a trek to a friend’s house or the local post office to send a telegram, while postcards and inland letters would meander through the postal system at a snail’s pace.
The 60s, 70s, and 80s marked the age of analog communication. Using a rotary phone involved the careful spinning of a small wheel, each turn reminiscent of winding a clock of fate. A single misdial could send you back to the start—a Sisyphean ordeal that truly tested one’s patience. By the 1970s, brightly colored rotary phones brought some color to homes, though their design was as cumbersome as a Soviet tank.
Then came the Dutch button phones, representing a leap in convenience akin to a knight trading heavy armor for lighter chainmail. The late 80s and 90s saw the rise of the Motorola handset, with its push buttons—a revolutionary device that felt like having your own personal robot. These handsets evolved from simple tools to milestones in the history of communication.
At that time, communication was largely governed by the Post and Telegraphs Department (P&T), now Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Access was limited; securing a landline could take ages, making telephones a luxury rather than a necessity. Though acquiring a local connection eventually became easier, obtaining a Subscriber Trunk Dialing (STD) line for long-distance calls remained a privilege for the affluent. Connecting with a friend or family member in another city, whether from Srinagar to Solan or Jammu to Jaipur, often involved a trek to the telephone exchange or waiting at a booth, with STD calls commanding hefty fees.
Fast forward a few years, and the mobile phone revolution emerged like a divine intervention, instantly reshaping communication. Suddenly, the world felt smaller. The days of nervously pacing by a payphone or interpreting cryptic messages were over. During the 1990s, Nokia and Motorola led the way with robust handsets that were as durable as bricks, introducing basic texting features and heralding a new era in communication.
Today, mobile phones are woven into the fabric of daily life, as essential as soap and water. Whether resting on a kitchen counter, gracing the bathroom, or glued to our hands, our phones accompany us through all moments. From social media updates to work emails, they allow every corner of our homes to serve as a hub for work and play.
Initially, text messages maintained a semblance of linguistic decorum, but that soon changed. “How are you?” shrank to “hru,” and “okay” became “k.” Our conversations compressed into clever abbreviations, with phrases like “Oh my God” evolving into “OMG” and “Let me know” simplifying to “LMK,” as if we were spies exchanging coded messages.
Mobile phones have become extensions of ourselves, akin to a fifth limb. WhatsApp groups proliferate like mushrooms, each boasting unique themes and styles. Women’s groups include charming names like “Lipstick Mafia,” “Girl Gang Goals,” “Caffeine Queens,” and “Laughter Therapy Gang.” Men also form their own circles, such as “Suits, Ties, and High Fives,” “Macho Men and Mimosas,” and “Battle Buddies.” For humor, groups like “Meme Team” and “Kitchen Funnies” provide a light-hearted reprieve. Specialized interests are served by niche groups like “The Art of Medicinal Mushrooms” or “Wisdom Warriors.”
Each morning, we are showered with good-morning messages featuring sunrises, flowers, and sometimes strangely edited images. These messages reveal our human quirks, from touching poems to dubious health tips regarding turmeric and ghee. Sharing messages, photos, and videos often leads to amusement or frustration. I once received a text suggesting, “Let’s have a fu. at the resort.” Confused, I inquired, “What’s a fu?” It turned out he meant “fun,” highlighting how vowels seem to be disappearing from our language. Absurdity has seeped into our social interactions, such as when I received a message reporting, “We lost our fry,” only to discover he meant “friend.”
In today’s world, the mobile phone is no longer just a communication device; it’s a carnival. Videos, often manipulated, spread like wildfire. One day, you’re engrossed in a motivational speech; the next, you stumble into a conspiracy theory about extraterrestrial cucumbers. Memes, GIFs, and viral challenges bombard us, transforming our attention into confetti.
Yet, for all its wonders, modern communication often feels paradoxically disconnected. We send countless messages daily but rarely take the time to genuinely inquire about someone’s well-being. Instead, we fixate on curating the ideal selfie or debating the merits of pineapple on pizza in a group chat.
So, the next time your phone alerts you with a WhatsApp message, take a moment to appreciate the absurd beauty of it all. We’ve come a long way from walking miles for a conversation to carrying the world in our pockets. Who knows what the future holds? Perhaps telepathic texting is on the horizon! Until then, keep texting, keep laughing, and, above all, keep connecting through both silent conversations and vibrant screens.
