COMMUNICATION – HAS IT IMPROVED?

 COMMUNICATION – HAS IT IMPROVED?

Looking back, communication seems to have improved through technology and gadgets; but not in terms of quality. Times were when people used to write letters to friends and relatives, seeking to know their welfare. After a brief holiday in one place as we return to ‘our’ place, there used to be a ‘send off ‘ at the railway station or the bus stand. Women would hold their tears back, concealing the emotion and wave off each other as the train or bus leaves the place. Unfailingly, there used to be a clear loud advice, ‘’please write a letter on your reaching the place and do not miss the weekly ‘oil bath’’. In just around 10 words so much of emotion and bondage were revealed.

Such advice was always paid heed to; yes, every week at least one letter ought to go from either end though not much would have happened. But, writing letters was a habit nurtured and sustained. With nothing much to convey, persons used to narrate every event in the week and if we manage to gather such old letters, it would be a revelation  that the ‘present generation’ does not convey much; it includes the young and old of the present. Greater intimacy prevailed in families, between families, among cousins’, nieces and nephews and among neighbours.

 It may sound odd, when I recall that a neighbor from village would drop into some Chennai address merely by familiarity in the native place. Without an iota of ill will or hatred, [s]he would be entertained and gladly so till the guest completes the purpose of visit to Chennai.

Can it occur to-day? If it does, I am afraid any semblance of relationship may be severed, besides unhealthy utterances between acquaintances. There is an untold rigidity in our exchanges with persons. So to say we stay as islands unconnected. If such ‘entertaining’ of guests, happens in big cities /towns, be sure that persons in such bondage have had a lasting intimacy of several decades in their native town or village.

Slipping down the memory lane, I vividly remember how the elders in small towns or villagers , holding  a postcard would eagerly look for a school boy or girl to scribe a letter to their son/ daughter or son-in –law or daughter-in-law enquiring of their welfare . Yes, postcard was a major carrier of message and the least priced too. The poor state of economy did not permit the luxury of sending a ‘closed’ letter – inland or a cover; [they were expensive]. Despite poverty, regularity of writing letters was sustained. All major events like success in examinations, seeking of alliance/ finalizing of alliance, fixing of wedding /date/ venue everything was through personally written letters. Such solemn events in families are put through platforms like Whatsapp now-a-days. In plain terms, the ‘touch of personal appeal’ is missing, however earnest the message is. The whole process appears to have been mechanized.

Today, the mode of communication has faced a sea-change. Who writes letters? Even official messages are through e-mails/ other platforms. Urgent messages [old mode was telegrams] are interpersonal with no third party intervention. Cell phones/ handsets keep blaring all day and people talk across without communicating. Why do I say so? Just after a call, a new call is initiated to the same person to tell “I forgot to tell you, my son comes next week from USA. Another call goes off to tell ‘only son and his second daughter are coming; all others would come by September/ October next.” The old post card –wielder would have narrated a lot more for far less money.  We speak a lot but communicate very little.

Prof. K. Raman