I shuttle between Chennai and Bangalore quite often. These days if I have to book a train ticket, do you know how far I go? Nowhere. Ditto with Cinema tickets, tickets for concerts, air tickets etc. I simply have to use the Internet and find a way out. It is amazing how things have changed for better. I’m sure that the usage of internet is much more than what I know it can do.
I remember the days when we had to settle for the local
kirana shops for anything that we needed to buy for home, right? These days, We step into a
mall and buy more than what we actually want!
Mobile phone was a distant dream about seven years ago. I carry a phone now. Not only that, I feel restless if I don’t have it with me except when I’m asleep.Its like my detachable sixth finger!!
The penetration of mobile phone is so high that it has become fashionable not having a mobile now!
This incident happened about five years ago. I accompanied my mom to the local bank to withdraw some cash. I initiated a conversation with one of the officer and I was checking if he can give me a credit card application form (I used to work in a private bank then), I was startled when the officer asked me if I knew what a credit card was!These days a Gold
Credit Card is just phone calls away – that too a life time free card with credit limits that I can never repay at one go if I use them fully!
By the way, you must know that I have never gone to the bank where my salary gets credited. The face of the bank to me is the Internet banking, Telephone banking and the ATMs. If I’m too fond of seeing the bank where I have an account, I have to shell out 100 bucks per entry. Unbelievable? Huh!
Gone are the days when every arterial road in a city had an ATM. These days every street or a lane has more than one ATM. Or if you prefer, the ATM will come near you. Thanks to the Mobile ATMs.
If you work for a company in a grade where you are eligible for II AC train ticket for all your official travel, I’m sure you must have got an intimation from your HR that from now on all your official travel will be by air because the train fare is expensive!. These days, all flights go choc-o-block and the Airports are no less than a fish market. Buddy - welcome to the
world of low-cost air travel.
There are many more instances and changes that amaze me - The sophistication that we as consumers have got, the technology that facilitates turning dream to reality.
I wonder about people in my Country who have no access to all that I have mentioned.
I wonder about people who have little in hand to even survive.
While we go to ATMs and Malls and Airports - what about people who are there just outside begging for their livelihood.
I wonder if I can live without these.
I wonder what more I should expect.
I Wonder.