Indians today lead much more fast-paced everyday lives than the generations before them ever did. With our attention being pulled in various directions, with the advancement of technology and with the population going up, life today might be easier in many aspects but also has a whole new set of challenges. The little everyday stressors might not seem like a big deal, but in the grand scheme of things they have the potential to cage us in.
This Independence Day, we took a different approach to freedom and asked cross generational Indians about the personal shackles and everyday challenges they would like to break free from.
What they had to say went the whole spectrum, from digital detox to an unhealthy love for cola.
Prateek Tomar, 36, pre-sales executive and cricket ground owner
Prateek Tomar works on a job from 5am to noon, and is also the co-owner of two cricket fields in Gurgaon. Although his smartwatch updates him about calls, the time and other social media notifications, it also reminds him to keep prioritising his health. Sometimes, however, the watch is more a hindrance than help. “I know health is important but I am already playing cricket and working almost the entire day. I don’t have to complete my step goals every day!”
His “nightmare” began right after he received the watch and set it up. Caught up in the excitement, he signed up for numerous apps, including a health one. “Now I have to drink water every hour? Where do I get a glass of water while I am driving on the highway? Padosi se?” he chuckles.
So, why not just disable the notifications? “Yes, I know it is as simple as that but I always think I’ll do it later, and then I forget until I am reminded again. With such long working hours and something or the other coming up I always look at it like a task I can delay. It’s a vicious cycle,” he says.
Pallavi Bhattacharya, 20, Masters student in the UK
What is one thing most students might not want to do? Their university assignments. Pallavi Bhattacharya’s straight up answer was, “I want to give them up.” She understands the importance behind assignments and dissertations but the time and effort that goes into it is a lot. “Once it’s over you have that overwhelming good feeling, but the time before that is stressful. Especially for someone like me who is a serial procrastinator,” she says. Sometimes, the load of assignments can mean that she has to plan out when she can get up to have a glass of water.
Other than being a student, she also has an interest in dentistry and had a part-time job in one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants. Balancing everything with the load of assignments, made her want to be free of the latter. “I know I am a student and I actually can’t and won’t give up my assignments, but this is all about having the chance to!” she says. So, what would Pallavi be doing in the spare time she would receive from being free from her assignments? “I would probably take up dentistry in a more serious manner.”
Joydeb Nayyar, 65, driver
Joydeb Nayyar has been driving different generations of the same family for years. Given his long-time career, it wasn’t surprising when his answer to what he wanted freedom from was “traffic jams”. Back in his days, roads would be smooth and open unlike today, he laments. “There was a thrill in driving a car. I didn’t have one of my own but when I took my boss’s car out, it was always a breeze.”
Now, he thinks, there is no space to drive, and things are so cluttered that you always have to account for 30 minutes of extra time on your hands to make it anywhere on time. “Even with the people driving, everyone wants to be in the front of the line but no one wants to move,” he says. Now his best way to commute is his bicycle. Thankfully, being fit means can comfortably cycle his way around, and even goes to the market on his cycle. It is not without its hazards though, he says. “You have to be careful because you never know from where a car can swerve you off the road.”
Sneha Gupta, 28, employee at an NGO
After working hard through her college and now her career, there has been one thing that has remained a constant for Sneha Gupta — Thums Up. The fizzy drink was something to sip on when she studied and you’ll always find it in her fridge. Thums Up accompanies her during most of her activities. “With biryani, I’ll have Thums Up, while reading my Kindle streaming something as well. It’s a subconscious activity for me now,” she says.
It isn’t the drink she wants freedom from, but her overt love for it. “The taste, the fizz — it just makes everything taste better. Having a Thums Up with a really spicy dish also neutralises the heat. Well, for me it does,” she says. On asking her if she would replace Thums Up with anything else, she said she was keen to do it but knew that nothing would make for an apt replacement.
Sweta Sen, 33, runs an NGO for dogs
Most of Sweta Sen’s day goes into taking care of dogs, including her own babies, Chola and Barfi. While chilling with your dogs can feel like a major stressbuster, doing the same without her phone would be ideal for her. “Everything is on your phone (now). People would not know where to find you if you didn’t have it on you. And that is something I wish I could make happen every other day,” she says.
Freedom from your phone means no unwanted callers, no work messages, no impulse buying, and in many ways complete detachment from the world outside. However, with life moving at such a fast pace, getting freedom from your phone is not always possible. For her, it is uncomfortable relaxing and watching a show if her phone keeps going off, and her dogs get divided attention as well. “I’m chilling with my dogs at home, watching something and my phone keeps pinging. You can’t ignore all the calls because some of them are from work.”
