Caricatures By Surendra Gandhi

Caricatures

Surendra Gandhi

The shocking revelations by a former chief executive of our nation is not even likely to cause a few insignificant tremors amongst the sexting, texting and self indulging populace. The aphrodisiac of airing all the linens may be responsible for this lack of precaution. No body gives a damn about what any one ate, or defecated, visited or played with or the fruits of the loins produced. The vanity and mendacity overflows on the so called social media. The social media has created a quasi disconnect. People engaging in cyber connect are severely disconnected from the person in the closest proximity. A husband will rather text his wife whose breathing he can hear than talk to her by making an eye contact. All those parents who blab about their kids on social media may be exposing them to unknown perils and that too without the consent of the kids. JUST LIKE REQUIRING PARENTAL CONSENT, IN THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD, A CHILD’S CONSENT SHALL BE REQUIRED BEFORE THE PARENTS CAN BLAB ABOUT A CHILD ON SOCIAL MEDIA. What’s fair is fair. The goose follows the same rules as the gander. Luckily the spying apparatus of our great nation is preoccupied with monitoring bigger prizes like our allies. And that too unbeknown to them.

Like smoking, engaging in cyber activities should be labeled a health hazard by the Surgeon General, of course on the internet. Have you been to see your favorite physician lately? During the visit the doctor’s attention is riveted on the computer monitor and fingers are busy palpating the key board. A minimal eye contact is a rarity. At the conclusion of the visit should the protocol require the patient to thank the doctor or the computer? Lot of businesses are computerized so much so that a human contact has become an endangered event. Pretty soon one will be required to face his or her shadow on the face book. Face your loved ones on the face book. Tweet and meet loved ones. Cocoon yourself and glimpse hermetic existence. May be this will be the way for modern Rishis and Maharishis to practice Tapasya and meditate. Buddha eat your heart out, you toiled under a tree and the harsh weather in search of truth. The modern sage will have all the creature comforts, all the solitude and best seclusion. The question is will that be enough for cloning one like you? Will it produce a TAPASVI like you or a garden variety of a terrorist?

The unchecked excesses of any government ultimately will prove detrimental to democracy. A Snowden here or a whistle blower there will be glossed over, forced in exile or incarcerated because he did not agree with the rules of the game. No wonder we are incessantly bombarded by an edict “ Do what we tell you, not what we do.” A blessing in disguise, it may be, but like anything else technology is a sword, and it cuts. Let the chips fall where they may. No chip Big or small, important or worthless, current or has been is safe. May be the founding fathers should have proclaimed that all chips and swords are created equal but the creating pen will always be mightier than both. Now I know why I am a Pen Poojari and keep writing…..