Cyber cafes and cell phones are the two mind-boggling asserts of the modern age. India’s status as a nation is nondescript; neither a developing nor a ‘developed’ country. In such a fluid condition when the poor are getting poorer and vice-versa, she mounts the bandwagon of a nation fitted with the panoply of a progressive country. The two media are progressively becoming cheaper and accessible even to the meanest citizen – to wit, even to a rickshaw puller. Young girls and boys scour the country with dainty or even daintier cell phones hanging like lockets or clutched within dainty fingers of damsels. Cyber-cafes in Kiosks, nooks of thoroughfare markets are investing cities and towns with a new glamour and activity. 

This is just a cross-section of the teaming proliferation of these two sets. They are contributing, no doubt largely, to the health and ambition of today’s forward looking generation. But there’s the rub; the advantage cuts both ways. They bring the outer world closer and provide opportunities to all and sundry that has the go for great things in life, the intelligence and curiosity for knowledge and achievement. In short, these two asserts have cleared the ground that shall have no place for idlers. 

But the other side of the medal looks dismal, a bit. Cell phones are in rampant use in clandestine love affairs, in exam centres. Young boys and girls communicate, ‘date’ their appointments, and get involved in cross relationship, often terminating in murder or suicide. Its functional value, which ostensibly accounts for their owning it, is vitiated by such improper uses. Software knowledge or skill induces young boys and girls to go for ‘quick money’. They desert the traditional course of obtaining a sound education and training before embarking on a career worth the name. The ‘language’ –training gains for them better in ‘call centres’ which is a global phenomenon. Dollar and sterling pound of the first world countries are saved, as they can hire Indian intelligence to serve their ends at much cheaper rates. Thus our boys and girls, whose integral work is no whit inferior to that of the first world countrymen, become morally subdued. It is a sequel to the expanding phenomenon of the educated unemployed youths of our country. Even apart from this economic disparity, the ‘call centres’ that are mostly run at night because of time lag between remotely distant countries, are virtually turning into ‘stress centres’- disastrous socially.

Who are to blame –the devices or we ourselves? Our government has failed and is failing to provide adequate employment opportunities; our schools and colleges are unable to monitor and produce responsible citizens and our family units are running to the seeds. Naturally, the wild rush caused thus by globalization, has changed the entire superstructure of the young generation, who would earn, at whatever cost. Learning, education, self-discipline and moral accountability for deeds and ventures are now relegated. Time alone shall bear out the ultimate consequence. But to blame the devices as ‘ruining’ factor is putting the cart before the horse. The fault is not in them, but in us. Are we mature enough to head forward so fast?