Amit Chawla DotNet: All and Sundry

This dates back to the years when everything seemed to come in limited quantities. This was before the world was hit with so called Affluenza. When little was more. Or at least, enough.

In the lane outside our home, mum used to light the charcoal clay cooker (angeethi) early in the morning. Often, my brother and I would sit next to her and lazily watch the smoke twirl upwards and the angeethi slowly come into its own. The soulful fragrance of the burning coal and clay still evokes memories that I can relate with only one thing.  Simplicity. 

As kids, we hardly understood money [not that I do now]. All we knew was that it came in limited quantity. We had money. It might have been little, but, was more than enough. We went to great schools, had material possessions, holidays, monthly allowances, toys, the works. We never seemed to need more…

Today people seem busier. Working hard. Out to prove a point or two. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, though, at certain costs.

Just the other day when my toddler son was throwing a tantrum, I asked him: Where will you get your favourite toy you just tossed? Sheepishly, he said: From the mall…

Young people in today’s world are a lot smarter. They seem to be on the ball all the time. Their negotiating skills are often as good as that of a management graduate. They are just as competitive as their senior counterparts.

Although, the dynamics have somewhat changed. What you know matters little. What you have matters more. It’s: My iPod is better than yours! As opposed to: I can solve that problem in two steps less than you!

Seemingly, today:

Little is Very Little. And More, Isn’t Enough…

Filed under: Philosophy