Smartphones have come as a great boon for most people. But like all good things, it has also been misused, a colleague rued. Blessed with many features, a smartphone can replace the computer, camera, watch and much more. However, it has also helped create a distance between people, our colleague argued as he narrated an incident at a betel shop in North Delhi. A tipsy lady was creating a scene at the shop as she screamed and abused the shopkeeper, apparently for no reason. She also threatened to tear her clothes. Seeing this commotion, people started gathering around and some tried in vain to intervene. Soon, our colleague noticed some men in the crowd who began filming the scene, apparently enjoying the woman's antics. He then wondered why so much insensitivity prevailed in society. Rather than helping someone, people today are quick to film a person's misery and then put it out on social media. In this context, one is reminded of a video of a Delhi Police personnel, who fell down in the Metro. Somebody shot it and put it on social media, titled, A Drunk Policeman. It hardly took any time to go viral and the cop became the butt of jokes. It transpired later that he was not drunk and it was because of his illness that he fell down. But by then the damage was done.

Take the recent case of noted writer Shobhaa De, who posted a picture of a very fat policeman on Twitter reading, "Heavy police bandobast in Mumbai today". However, it was later revealed that the policeman was suffering from some ailment; he didn't belong to Mumbai Police but Madhya Pradesh Police. Such fake and insensitive information hardly takes time to circulate. Should we then blame the smartphone for propagating insensitivity or should there be some introspection? Surely, people need to press the "Pause" button before putting out such damaging messages.

CHAPPAL CULTURE

Changing social values are reflected in a number of ways, a colleague mused as he narrated how he noticed a group of labourer women teasing one of their mates. It transpired that the woman's slipper had broken and she picked up her footwear and was walking barefoot. Her friends were heard laughing at her and, gesturing with their fingers on their mouths, teased, "Oh! You are so penniless that there is not evena chappal on your feet?" The group then stopped at a cobbler's nearby and got the slipper mended.

Our colleague got to thinking that decades ago, most Indians would walk barefoot. Then wearing of wooden sandals was in vogue, that too in the morning and evening. Poverty was one of the reasons for this. When slippers first appeared in the market some began to use them while others looked at the wearer's feet in awe and would say, "What a time has come that people are wearing chappals!" At that time slippers were considered an item that only the rich could afford. The situation has changed and now one can rarely see people walk barefoot. Rather, if someone is seen walking without any footwear, it is thought that the person is living a life of penury. Verily, transformation of social culture is a continuous process.

TRADITIONAL CURE

With rapid strides made by modern medicine, one has all but forgotten traditional cures and some age-old practices to treat several ailments. A few generations ago, there was a dearth of doctors and people would frequently visit faith healers, who would incant charms and treat minor physical troubles. Surprisingly, those who practise these "traditions" are either little educated or illiterate persons. A colleague recalled one such faith-healing incident.

An acquaintance, a middle-aged man in his 50s, was playing with some children when he felt a shooting pain in his hips. Forced to lie down on the ground, he was unable to get up. People around him helped him up and, thinking that there was some serious problem, took him to the doctor. However, even after a couple of days, there was no relief from the debilitating pain. A lady relative, who visited him, heard out his problem and suggested calling in an old woman to treat him. A car was sent to fetch the old woman and she duly arrived. In her 90s, with walking-stick in hand and wearing highpowered spectacles, she observed the man and then, murmuring something, kicked his back thrice. Then, saying the treatment was over she made her way out. To the utter surprise of all, a little while later, the man stood up and even began to walk. Apart from such incidents of faith-healing ~ which has some rational explanation ~ there is a repertoire of traditional cures that are handed down from one generation to another. Though much of this knowledge has been lost, a lot still survives. The country's traditional system is not yet passé, insisted our colleague.

TAILPIECE

Our inhouse wisecrack feels a Union Territory begins to go downhill the moment it is granted statehood; Central rule is better than petty politics fought in the lanes.

Contributed by: Nurul Sarkar, R V Smith, Rakesh Kumar and Surender Rathi.