When-romance-gets-kicked-off-on cellphone..

Observation is a great way to spend time. Try to observe things around you and chances are you will find something interesting. If you put that interesting thing for analysis in your brain, you may find some pattern, correlation or deviation. Have you ever observed the role played by cellphone in the life of people whose marriage gets fixed or arranged by their parents or guardians ? I have. These observations have been collated over a number of years seeing my friends, relatives, office colleagues & flatmates.

As soon as people get fixed (pardon me for using the word 'fixed', but this word is used so freely) cellphone gets a new life in their life. They get hooked to their cellphones like never before. Their time gets divided into two parts. One in doing things and other in reporting those things over phone. The romance gets kicked off on cellphone and 24 hours become less in a day. The people for whom cellphone will be the last accessory to carry when they leave for office, may forget to wear their underwear but can no longer be separated from their cellphones. Many a times a person has to buy a separate phone and a service plan to keep that hot line always alive, uncluttered and/or cheap . Cellphone no longer remains 'Single'. Yes, it's a bit ironical that the cellphone loses its Single' status and get a companion before its possessor. The person will now have two cellphones, two numbers and of course two bills. I remember about that reliance phone handset which became a symbol of 'committed' status. Similarly there are other behavioral patterns one can easily imagine.

I wonder why telecoms operators fighting so hard for market share in India don't have any plans to cater to needs of people who are about to get married ( If they have one then i am ignorant ). May be they can tie up with matrimonial websites and launch some attractive offers and plans and also consider spamming our mailbox. May be the parents or guardians can consider giving a cellphone and some talk-time to their children once the deal (again sorry for the word ) is done. A advertisement on theme of arranged couple would certainly look nice for a service provider.

P.S. I am not yet married

Handwriting - The obsolete skill

I remember when i was allowed to write in pen as a consequence of coming in fourth standard in school, my teachers, parents & friends advised me to use fountain pen & not ball point pen for first few years. They had a reason that this will improve my handwriting. I believed them though i am still not sure of any scientific reason behind this theory. I got very conscious of this fact because handwriting was such an important aspect of your personality. There used to be a term called Calligraphy. Parents used to boast about their children penmanship. So i also wanted to transit from poor handwriting to good handwriting as i transit from pencil to pen.

In couple of years I improved my handwriting to an extent that i started receiving compliments from friends & teachers. They would say even my rough work is better than their fair work. The rough work i used to do in sidelines of exams copy used to be so clear that teachers could make out very easily that i calculated 17 X 8 there since i don't remember the table of 17. Even girls used to compliment my handwriting though I always considered good handwriting a domain area of girls at school.

I used to feel proud of a skill capable enough to impress others, even girls. Unfortunately, not anymore. Damn these computers. Now i hardly use pen ( don't even keep one). Even when i have to sign, i often have to beg for a pen. Sometimes I wonder why they made me labor in cursive writing in school ? Now everyone has same handwriting ( yes, may be different fonts). Gone are the days when we use to crack the joke in class that one may get 1 out of 10 and that too for good hand writing. I don't know how seriously the art or science & business of graphology is affected? I remember once one girl, who knew some rules of graphology, told me I am good at maths because i make letter 'g' similar to number '8'. I cannot tell you how much i believed & loved that.

Computers have taken away the skill of penmanship from humans. Yes, people with not so good handwriting may say Computer together with internet is a great leveler. But people with good handwriting feels less skilled. Last 20 years has made many things antiques so quickly. There are many things to feel nostalgic for. Handwriting is one of those.

P.S. The irony of the situation is i wanted to write more and more on blog this new year but didn't thought whether it would be in pen or in electronic fonts.