Yesterday, a notification on my phone jolted me. It was my screen time report. I was shocked to see I had spent four hours staring at my mobile, with my monthly average being a staggering three hours per day. What am I even doing with that time? The usual suspects: endlessly scrolling through Reels, checking emails and WhatsApp messages, playing games, falling down YouTube rabbit holes, and scanning news headlines. The list goes on.
Today is the 15th of August, our Independence Day. This day always takes me back to my school years. I loved the celebrations—the patriotic songs, all of us standing in neat queues, and the power of full feeling of singing the national anthem in unison. It’s the same electrifying feeling you get when an entire cricket stadium sings the anthem before a match against Pakistan.
It got me thinking: before 1947, when we were under British rule, how did people spend their days? Today, many people like me invest their most valuable time in a mobile screen. Surely, back then, people must have been engaged in more creative and communal pursuits. Let’s explore that.
Socializing and Communication
- 2025: The Age of Digital Connection
In 2025, we primarily connect with friends and family through WhatsApp and social media. It’s common to have over a thousand “friends” online, yet we find ourselves constantly distracted by a barrage of notifications. The irony is that even if a friend lives just 100 meters away, we often choose to connect with them digitally instead of meeting them in person. - 1947: The Era of Face-to-Face Community
In 1947, social life was rooted in genuine, face-to-face community interaction. Think of scenes from shows like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, where friends gather at the local soda shop to unwind and share the day’s stories. That was the reality. People would congregate at the local naka(corner), chabutra (communal platform), or kirana shop to exchange thoughts, news, and gossip, building real-world connections.
Entertainment
- 2025: On-Demand and Endless
Our entertainment is now dominated by on-demand platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and the infinitely scrolling Reels. We have access to more content than we could ever consume, all available at our fingertips. - 1947: Immersive and Communal
Entertainment in 1947 was a more immersive and shared experience. The stories told by grandparents were more captivating than any film, sparking a child’s imagination to visualize all the characters. Live bhajans in temples, local theatre, roadside nautanki (folk performances), and religious festivals were the primary sources of amusement. It’s wonderful that some of these traditions are still alive, even if they now attract smaller crowds.
Games
- 2025: Digital Dominance
Digital games like PUBG, Ludo King, and Candy Crush dominate our leisure time. Thankfully, the recent emergence of “turf culture” has provided dedicated spaces for cricket and football, which is crucial as open grounds have become a rarity in our cities, leaving little space for children to play outdoors. - 1947: The Power of Imagination
In contrast, 1947 offered a playground of countless traditional games like Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, and Hide-and-Seek. Many games were spontaneously invented by people themselves, using minimal resources and a great deal of imagination.
Learning
- 2025: Learning from a Screen
Today, digital platforms have become our primary source for learning almost everything. From academic courses to DIY projects, knowledge is just a click away. - 1947: Learning from a Master
In 1947, learning was deeply experiential. It meant physically going to a place and learning a skill directly from the masters of the craft, gaining practical, hands-on knowledge and wisdom.
Conclusion
I am not suggesting that we should completely abandon digital media; in today’s world, that’s simply not possible. However, we must cultivate an awareness of how we are using these tools and how much of our precious time is being consumed by a screen.
In an age where physical and mental fitness are more important than ever, we should make a conscious effort to engage in outdoor activities. Let’s try to meet at least one friend or family member in person every week, or at the very least, once a month.
We gained our freedom from the British in 1947. But today, we must ask ourselves a critical question: Are we becoming enslaved once more, this time to the digital world?
Let’s not allow our lives, interests, and thoughts to be dominated by the technology in our hands.
