I bought my first mobile phone—a Nokia 3100—after my wife’s auto-rickshaw met with a minor accident. I wanted us to stay connected in case of emergencies. I still have the phone, and it might soon be considered a vintage item, though we no longer use it. 

While I’ve never been particularly drawn to television, I had a passion for two-in-one music systems. Whether it was the equipment itself or the music it played, I can’t say, but I was obsessed. Whenever I visited an electronics shop, I admired these systems. Back then, they were mono, with a single speaker. In 1981, I used a loan from the bank to buy a Philips two-in-one. I’m not exaggerating when I say I dreamed about it in the early days. 

Our family enjoyed recording songs together on the system. Ten years later, I upgraded to a stereo. Over time, we bought and sold many models, but the most memorable one was a Sony system gifted by my younger son during his first visit to India. It was massive, with big speakers—a reflection of the era’s style. But when we had it repaired, I was shocked to discover that most of its large frame was empty, with just a small chip inside. 

As for phones, their evolution from simple mobiles to smartphones has been staggering. What started as a handy tool has become a constant companion. The phone, once a slave to our needs, now rules over us. We can’t seem to function without it. 

The worst impact has been on children. They’ve become addicted to screens, spending more time on games, WhatsApp, and social media than playing outdoors. Despite parental controls, there’s no guarantee they aren’t exposed to harmful content. 

We sell these devices with warnings, much like cigarettes: “This can be harmful to your health.” Yet, the market keeps churning out new models, and the addiction grows. Children develop vision problems, back pain, and sore thumbs, all thanks to excessive screen time. 

In my opinion, the only way to prevent this addiction is to either ban these devices for children or lead by example—parents must limit their own use. Once kids grow up, they can decide for themselves. 

God help the modern-day children. 

Contd. 343. Who Devised Me - A Tangent - Part 1