Few days back I made a very strange observation; while sitting with my school friends after a long gap, I noticed that all five of us were not talking to each other despite being on the same table for almost twenty minutes. Not because we were watching TV or we had an argument with each other but the reason was something which we all carry along in our pockets i.e. our very addictive cell phone. We all behave like the “Arnold Schwarzenegger’s” character of the movie “Terminator”, while operating our cell phones, as if we are being controlled by someone from some other planet through this wonderfully infectious device.

Who needs a Cell phone?
Nowadays, we see cell phone with almost everybody irrespective of age, gender, profession or social class. I don’t have problem with people using cell phones but I do have a problem when people abuse it. And if we talk about abusing, the tendency to do the same is with children and younger lot. In my opinion, cell phones have surely catalyzed the process of social evils and it’s a device which we are gifting our young brothers and sisters and it makes it easy for the intruders to communicate with them at any point in time. The special “Night Tariffs” plan offered by almost all cell phone companies is an evident proof of the demand for that time slot. The integration of internet facility has further opened new array of possibilities. Unlike laptops and computers, cell phone being a very portable device in the pocket, the tendency to use it covertly away from the sight of parents is far more feasible for children. 
                          
Mobile Majnoons:
Recently in the blessed month of Ramadan, I came across a strange culture developing in our state. I call it the “Jaanu Culture”. During evening hours when all of us used to go for Tarawih, I noticed a number of young boys (must be in their teens) sitting in the dark inside municipal parks or on our favorite recreational spots i.e. Waane Penje (Read Kashmiri). I wondered as to what kind of worship is it, which makes them sit silently in the dark for hours. First I thought that they are reciting something to earn sawab but when I went a little closer, I was surprised to hear that most of them were talking on cell phones. To who they were talking in the dark, outside their homes, during tarawih is a question I leave to the readers. After all we are public and “Yeh Jo Public hai... Sab janti hai”.

 Develop Manners:
Cell phone Sanskaar has a lot to do with we grown-ups as well. Have you ever observed a passenger sitting in a bus speaking loudly, a person walking on the road abusing someone on the phone, a customer hooked to his cell phone while making payments in the departmental store, a person busy with his cell phone while standing in an ATM queue? We often see people using cell phones while driving, cooking, eating and even in toilets. The worst form of cell phone etiquettes can be seen when someone is addressing us and we are busy checking our emails or SMSs. That shows a total disrespect to the person talking to us. We often make faces when we come across such people but then most of the times we are the ones who behave mannerlessly while operating our cell phones. Let’s change our habits and show some respect to humans instead of showing respect to our cell phones.
FACEBOOK profile is more important than a Ration card!!!
We have taken our real surroundings for granted. A person in front is given less importance than the person who is online for chat on WhatsApp or BBM. We prefer miscalls instead of knocking doors or ringing doorbells. We prefer SMS hugs instead of Eid Hugs. We socialize on social networks and gossip over micro wave towers. We hangout on “Google plus” and celebrate events on “Facebook”. We shout out on “Twitter” and make group decisions through “Con-calls”. We tweet, like, retweet, poke, unfriend, follow users, create pages, join groups, share videos, upload pictures and what not. In the process of this “Technology Torture” we consume energy, deteriorate health, incur cost and most importantly we have forgotten the meaning of cherishing real surroundings like humans.
Please silence your cell phones prior worship. God will not be contacting you via cell phone:
It’s quite unfortunate that even in our Masajid, our Imam Sahib first requests us to switch off our cell phones instead of first telling us to align our rows. Most embarrassing situation comes when someone’s cell phone rings with a peppy Bollywood number like “Sheela Ki Jawani” while in prayers. God knows what happens to the concentration and discipline of the prayers. At least we should avoid putting ourselves in an embarrassing situation of using cell phones inside Masajid. May be people around will ignore you for time being but it’s finally between you and God.

Author Risk Analyst: J&K Bank. Feedback at ejaz.ayoub@gmail.com

Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST