FADING RELATIONSHIPS

Few days ago, I called up a friend. Her husband answered the phone. On asking about my friend, he told me that she is disappointed with me and is not interested in talking to me. He said that she believes I consider myself superior to her.

I was shocked to hear this as it was not easy for me to take. I began introspecting and probing to myself, if I was actually what I am blamed for. I usually stay connected with my pals. Also, I never considered myself superior to any friend ever. 

I was really concerned, so I decided to meet her in personal and ask her to explain me in detail that what led her to believe this way. What she told me really surprised me.  I christened that feeling of hers towards me as ‘Digital Ego’.

She complained that during the last few months, I never "Liked" her posts on Facebook, and Instagram. I never appreciated her efforts of forwarding the posts on "WhatsApp".

All these things made her believe that I had developed a superiority complex. I recalled and realized, I had considerably reduced my presence on social media as I was occupied in accomplishing the tasks assigned to me.

I couldn’t get a clue of this discovery, but add on suddenly brought a ray of smile on my face. I didn’t google it for the apt meaning nor referred to Webster since the word was my baby. Anyways, "Digital Ego", for me, is the Ego influenced by our digital activity using tools like Facebook, Instagram, twitter etc. Isn’t it exciting and worth pondering!!!!

With the introduction of Internet and phones, our reel lives have become sunny, but our real life has lost its shine. Our friends and relatives feel offended if their post or pictures are not liked or commented and perhaps develop more respect for you, if they find you liking or commenting their post.   

I think our society has undergone a tremendous change. We are always over concerned of the speed of INTERNET but have forgotten about INNERNET which is the need of the time. Our real world relationships are being guided by our digital ego. We lack in the signals of Innernet. Let them become strong so that digital ego finds no room in our lives. Perhaps if we don't change, we will lose whatever real world relationships we have. Let me know your thoughts on this subject.

KAMINI S HALDHAR
TEACHER
THE MANN SCHOOL

NEED OF THE HOUR-LET’S EDUCATE OUR SONS TO RESPECT WOMEN

Why are Indian women denied the freedom of walking on the streets of their own city fearlessly - broad daylight or not! Can they not use their own judgment of appropriate dressing when stepping out of the house - not one stipulated by our narrow-minded society? What would it take to let a girl enjoy her own personal space in a crowded marketplace - without being rubbed against, pinched or felt up? This is the 21st century and in this day and age, to read something as horrific as the molestation incident at many places leaves you in despair about the state of the country. It is not important whether the girl was drinking or not - no one has the right to hurt and brutally humiliate another human being. Clearly, education has not taught the key instigators even the basic principles of life, while the law seems able only to react, not prevent. The world will not change for our daughters until we make a change in our sons.

As mothers, there are things we can do, some simple steps to make that change. If we call ourselves a generation of empowered women and informed mothers, surely the least we can do is to ensure our sons are not the ones responsible for a woman's discomfort at any level in the future. This is now a global movement, one from which India cannot afford to be left alone.

"Mothers need to wipe out gender stereotypes completely. These stereotypes are the first indicators to children that boys and girls are not equal and as they grow up, they will take this gender imbalance in status and power as a given,” A simple first step is to sensitise children that household chores have nothing to do with gender. Housework is work too and needs to be valued and respected just like any other work.

There is a need for creating an environment where both men and women can opt for professions of their choice freely. "Traditional roles of women as homemakers and men as breadwinners imposed by society have only reinforced the gender imbalance. A man may prefer to take on the role of a homemaker and he should be able to make his life choices without hesitation. You may not realise the impact today, but imagine the positives of a whole generation of young men who don't believe in any kind of gender discrimination."

Mr Dheeraj Kumar

Dayanand House