Our Time of Reckoning' 

 Some of the bitter truths of the time we live in or to say, a distilled look at the forces that is shaping our world today.  Wisdom seems scarce, though information is available in abundance in today’s world, thanks to the fast emerging social media platforms or hundreds of news channels available at our finger tips.  We live in times where we see many humans at every nook and corner but not humanity and the genuine human connection appear to be fast declining.  If any unforeseen happens or is happening to any unfortunate, we are ready with our mobile to capture video instead of going ahead to help the victim.   Is it not true?  Speed is the new norm, patience the new luxury.  No one has patience everyone is in a hurry. If anyone has patience, it is becoming a luxury in this fast moving world.

We live in times where the rich have more rooms than children whereas the poor have more children than rooms. Show any bungalow or farmhouse which is full of inhabitants whereas it is an easy sight to see many dwellers in a small thatched hut overflowing out from the room.  Similarly, connection – be it by way of Facebook friends or Instagram followers - is everywhere, but loneliness is prevalent.  People are more digitally connected than ever, yet loneliness, emotional isolation and superficial relationships are widespread.  Technology connects our devices but divides our attention.  We live in times where smart phones bring you closer to those who are far, but distance you from those who are closer.  We can reach anyone instantly, but we struggle to be fully present with the people right in front of us or in our immediate neighborhood.  It is a common sight to see people glued to their devices inconsiderate of people present nearby.  We are globally connected, yet existentially isolated.  We have never been so interlinked, yet many feel profoundly alone as never before.

Now, the situation is such that we know more about the world, but less about ourselves, that is, external awareness is rising, whereas inner awareness is declining.  Choice has exploded, satisfaction has shrunk.  Endless options can paradoxically make decisions harder and happiness more fragile.  It is unfortunate to witness a time where we find a single mother looking after ten children but ten children cannot look after single mother. 

Progress is real and so are its shadows, meaning we have achieved extraordinary breakthroughs in almost every field, but each innovation brings new ethical, social and environmental questions.   We live in times where many know the price of everything but not the value of anything.  This is a time where voices are amplified, but truth is contested.  That is, everyone can speak, but not all voices illuminate.   We live in times where our contact lists are huge but our relationships are poor.  We live in times where the rich walk miles to digest food while the poor walk miles in search for food and water.  We live in time where our possessions are more but our appreciation is less, meaning to say, we are richer in comfort but poorer in contentment.  Unlike yesteryears, life has comparatively fewer physical struggles, yet mental and emotional burdens have drastically grown now.  We chase visibility more than authenticity, that is, being seen has become more important than being known.  

We live in time where we know how to earn a good living but somehow forget how to live a good life.  Deep down, we sense that something essential is slipping away, not because the world is ending, but because we are forgetting how to simply be human.  The trend has become such that a human may wish he be reborn, if at all, not as a human but instead any other kind of birds or animals who seem more peaceful and content than we humans are, it is a different matter that even their lives have been made miserable and dreadful, thanks to us, the Humans.  To conclude, people need to rediscover compassion, meaningful relationships, gratitude and the essence of being human before these qualities are lost amid the pressures of modern life.

Yours truly,

Subbiah Sridhar