Remembrance

Ever wondered why the Gen X or the 35 plus generation is so different from the millennial? What makes us that weird lot, who gets on everyone’s nerves by badgering them with questions? How we accept change so swiftly, trying out newer technologies, brands, food; travelling to places unknown and always sporting a heady attitude towards taking risks? What makes us distinct, crazy and often the outlaw? The answer lies in our growing years, the 80s and the 90s. How should I put it, we have seen the best of both worlds. We have enjoyed the lull before the storm, as well as the spin at breakneck speed through the spiral of technological innovations. We waited for trunk calls from our cousins living overseas at our neighbor’s house and also made free calls through viber. We have seen our black-and-white TV sets locked in a cabinet and also bought a high-definition LED TV complete with a console. We were the first bitten by the video game bug thinking Mario is a cool guy and also adop...

Wonder why Indian consumers never ask these questions? Why these never cross the mind of any self-appointed tech-guru or auto-critic? Why the Government as usual remain inert towards these issues? Why as people of this country, we never question our own motives? Why not probe ourselves: Why am I paying double the amount of money for buying the same phone that my western counterparts can buy for dime-a-dozen? Plus, why am I also not complaining about half the features that do not run on my mobile, restricting access because of my country of residence? What makes us not blink an eye for shelling out half a lakh to buy a smartphone on EMI but turns us into stingy Scrooge and grumpy Grinch while buying vegetables from saabzi walas , haggling for auto fares, protesting against hike in school fees? Why are the auto majors dumping their outdated oil guzzling machines in India and the Indian consumers lapping them by willingly paying a premium? Why we never think of the next petrol price h...