A legacy, that is loosing its shade...

Gone are the days when a conversation with a stranger was considered harmless.

“Is the seat beside you empty or is someone coming?” asked an elderly woman who wore a charismatic smile along with her silk saree. “Nobody is coming.” I replied and smiled back at her. I was watching a classical dance performance which was part of the Margazhi festival. Her head bobbed mechanically coinciding with the captivating mirdhangam beats which filled the auditorium.

As I hummed the song she asked me if I was a dancer as well and thus began our light-hearted conversation. We continued to talk in the tiny breaks when we could hear each other’s voice. At the end of the show, as I got up to leave she held my hand and wished me good luck with another one of her trademark smiles.

I was mesmerised. How often do we go out of the way to engage in a conversation with someone we meet in a train, offer popcorn to a stranger in a cinema hall, wish a stranger on her/his birthday when we see them celebrating or compliment someone who is not an acquaintance? Gone are the days when random conversations (not chatroom conversations!) with total strangers were considered harmless and necessary as part of the socialising process.

Nowadays everybody is being treated and is treating everybody with a cold shoulder and an innocent smile is considered “creepy”. At times, we fail to engage in a conversation even with people who mean a lot to us. As we are constantly socialising in social networking sites, we look through the people who are right beside us!

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/nxg/stereotyped-strangers/article5605774.ece

Gone are those good old days when people had the habit of talking. Those were supposed to be considered as the golden age of mankind because people respected emotions and valued others. Children were mesmerized by the creative stories told by their grandmother. People in the family met together for food and discussed their day's event. People engaging themself in conversation during travels. Festivals, Birthdays, Anniversaries, events all had people gatherd around and wishing one other in person. All above actions had one thing in common - Conversation.

Though these days people hardly speak to strangers, there are few who still follow the practice. Once i found a very good stranger while travelling in the train. I never knew his background and he too was not so intentional to know mine. Even then our conversation went briskly for the whole 9 hours. We can never judge a person by his mere looks or speech.It all rest with us, being cautious and at the same time being interactive to the extent which we feel is fine. If so then for sure the legacy that is loosing it's shade will regain those beautiful colours.

Also on the other hand the world has completly changed with new gadgets flowing into the market everyday. There was a time when possesing a Personal Computer was considered to be a family's pride. But now we all have the PC's in our pocket. Modernization or Technological Development, the term though had a significant change in our life also taking away a part of ourself. It is nothing but "Bonding" among people. Of course you can justify by telling that compared to past people are bonded with anyone around the world. I agree to it but on the other side it took away our habit of conversing. For any occasion we wish our deared ones or any stranger who is celebrating some occasion just by a single click on the "Share" or "Post" button therby thinking that we are in touch with them. This practice can somewhat be changed slowly only if people come forward.

Note : I am not against the technological development but what i felt was verbal conversation with anyone or everyone would be appreciable.