CELL PHONE: BLESSING OR A CURSE ?

Though the technology of Cell phone was developed in the Forties of last Century, it was not until the mid-Eighties that they became easily available.  Early devices/instruments were not only heavier; they had the propensity to consume more power.  The available network also could take the load of only a few selected conversations.  Bell Labs was credited to inaugurate the first mobile service in USA on 17.06.1946.  Soon AT&T followed suit.  Calls were set up manually by an operator and the user had to press a button on the handset to talk.  He/she had to release the button to listen.  To begin with, the equipment would weigh 36 kgs and the coverage area too was restricted.  Now it is small enough to carry in a purse or pocket and use anywhere. 

The introduction of cellular technology allowing reuse of frequencies many times in a cluster kind of situation covered by low powered transmitters made widespread adoption of cell phones economically viable. Prior to 1973, mobile technology was limited to phones installed in cars and other vehicles.  Motorola was the first company to produce a hand held mobile phone.  With the passage of time, advance mobile phone system (AMPS) was commercially introduced in USA in October 1983, followed by Israel in 1986 and Australia in 1987. 

Thereafter it was the turn of the 2G system and prepaid mobile phones in the early Nineties.  In 1993, IBM Simon is supposed to have introduced the world’s first smart phone having features, such as, mobile phone, pager, fax, calendar, address book, clock, calculator and a touch screen.

The first internet service through mobile phones was introduced by NTT DoCoMo of Japan in 1999.  The same company went on to launch 3G system in October 2001.

THE INDIAN SCENE

Cell phone came to India with a bang by 1998-99. Underlying, if not all pervasive idea was to facilitate communication when one was away from home or office. The handy, portable and tiny object was expected to free us from any taste or preference. Due to high costs involved (when even incoming calls were charged) in the beginning, it took time to gather momentum. Initially, therefore, it was restricted to a few selected cities catering to the high and mighty. In no time, it began spreading like a virus. AND now we are among the top five nations when it comes to fiddling with the numbers or ‘touching the screen’.

Apart from successive reviews by the Union Government and lowering of rates by the Cell companies with a gigantic market in mind, mobile became a mass product. Its potential to be a golden goose to generate revenue was realised very soon. While cells were instrumental in reducing mental and physical distance, a new breed of white liars, if not the strategic ones, too began emerging on the horizon. False assurances became order of the day apart from encroaching upon one's valuable time as well as privacy. The other person simply does not know most of the time as to when is the right time to converse or disturb. Self interest only matters. If our job is done, we mostly ignore or switch off the set or divert the call, much to the discomfort of the caller at the other end. The tendency not to pick up unknown or unsaved numbers is also picking up rapidly. The impact of the waves emanating from the little wonder on the brain, hand or heart is still a subject matter of research. Interim findings keep surfacing.

 POSITIVE VS.NEGATIVE

No doubt cells help a great deal in emergencies, knowing welfare, giving a quick reaction or in breaking the time and distance barrier. Having vast memory and camera facility in hand is a remarkable asset. The fact, however, remains that at least in India we do not know how to talk less, forget about display of proper manners or etiquettes in a public place. Sometimes, public display of emotions (PDE) also takes place, often leading to noise pollution and unwanted disturbance. As compared to the Landline (as if cell is always off ground) cell also breeds restlessness and creates unnecessary confusions, frictions and rifts.  Use of cell for sending SMSs than resorting to verbal conversations in public places in Japan could be thought of emulation in Indian situation.

The combination of call through cell and short message service, coupled with e-mail is simply unbeatable but the purpose should be and has to be positive. Every now and then their negative uses or connotations hit the headlines, be it bank frauds, kidnappings, smuglings, terrorism or any Cyber crime.

It goes without saying that mobile phones have already had a certain impact on our day to day lives.  It has broken all caste, creed and class barriers.  Who does not have cell, either for personal or business purpose or for the good of the community?.Those who cannot afford otherwise, such as, beggars in Mumbai, too take a recourse to it to avoid harassment by Police and toughies.

Use of the facility by the vegetables sellers, farmers or petty shop keepers for getting acquainted with comparative prices is a welcome trend. A priest also using the facility for keeping in touch with his patrons amuses.  Whereas, the house wives making use of it for adding value to their regular exchange of experiences and gossip cannot and should not be avoided or ignored.

NEED TO EXERCISE CONTROL

The cell phones also having negative impact on close and durable relationships cannot possibly be ruled out. The phenomenon of doubt multiplies and there is no cure for same in Medical Science. Some of the more dangerous uses could be while driving two/four wheelers or crossing road or railway lines. A number of individuals keep losing their lives in this manner. In the same way, recording conversations on cells without the knowledge of the other person is another emerging negative development. In some instances, it is facilitating suicides and other forms of unnatural deaths. The Internet addiction through Cell too adds to the misery, thanks to the easy availability factor. 

Too much of expectation, courtesy this easy to grab facility results into quick dissatisfaction and a breeding ground for possible jealousy and hatred.  Trust becomes the casualty. Dissemination of negative information or rumour mongering is also at a fast pace vis-a-vis letters or books, if some incidents of recent past are to be taken note of.

OWNER HOLDS THE KEY

The whole thing boils down to the person behind the machine. How one uses, or intends to use. Both desires and wishes need to be controlled. In the non-mobile era also things were happening, rather they were happening in a better and decisive way, perhaps, with less ambition, jealousy and animosity. Let us, therefore, use the facility for easing a process and try to avoid useless chats. Inculcation of a positive attitude should matter in the ultimate analysis.

Passage To Darjeeling

It is always desirable to have some perspective on connectivity in a hill area prior to undertaking a journey. With this factor in mind, if one sees the concrete bridge at Teesta Bazar(55 kms from Siliguri), one gets only partial information relating to breaking of the vital links of Gangtok and Kalimpong more than once with the rest of the country. Januki Chettri, a knowledgeable, affectionate and talkative tea shop owner at the old Teesta Bazar since 1962 had some experiences to share on the region as also life per se. Before I begin gulping fresh vegetable Momos made by her followed by a cup of milkless and sugar free leaf tea, I am informed that upto 1968, an attractive concrete bridge in the genre of the present Coronation bridge at Sevoke was in existence till the devastating floods swept the same away.  Some portions of same could be still seen near the beautiful river bed on the Kalimpong side of the river.

It was nice to see the black & white snaps of all the three bridges along with scenic spots of the bygone era, including of the snowfall in Kalimpong in 1920, displayed prominently in Januki’s shop. The request to be taken note of was-‘photography of the photographs was not permitted’.  The Foot Suspension Bridge (FSB), according to Januki, served the purpose as late as 22^nd 

June, 1996.The FSB was, nevertheless, hard pressed due to its being narrow and weak. The perpetual landslides in the Lekhobir region in the late Eighties and early Nineties would add to its burden. The relocation of bridge had adversely affected the business of the petty shop keepers initially according to her but lately with the rise in tourist inflow to Kalimpong and Darjeeling, same had been compensated to a considerable extent. Left to herself, she had no desire to supplement her income as she was not only getting old day by day but was destined to leave this world some day. It was the turn of her off-springs, therefore, to further improve upon and build her business. A Sapoot (good boy/girl) would be always positive and pro-active, while a Kapoot (bad child) would prove to be a liability , she adds as I prepare to hit the road again to resume my journey up for Darjeeling through Jorebungla.

The narrow, steep road through the lush green forest reminds me of the Jorethang-Zoom road in Sikkim. One gets a panoramic view of the blue captivating colour of the Teesta river. After barely 3 kms, though we had not planned, we have a brief halt at the –“Lovers Point”. One is blessed with a ravishing view of the confluence point of Teesta and Rangeet, two major rivers figuring in the local folk-lore time and again. Though the scenario is somewhat hazy, there is no harm in capturing the beauty, as a number of soft-wares are available nowadays to edit and improve upon the snaps.

Following a steep drive of 8 kms, one sees the first Tea Garden next to a school with bright yellow sunflowers of medium size giving company. Less of constructions over here as compared to Sikkim looks more pleasing. After all, it could be good for preserving the environment in the ultimate analysis. It is a bright, sunny day and definitely less colder than my abode in Pine dominated locale of Gangtok. While the gradient rises, less of water is seen flowing on the sides. Now the attractive Marigolds are there to dominate the scenario on both the sides. A couple of small and clean hamlets appear every now and then. While the women are seen enjoying the sunshine, children are noticed rushing to schools in their clean dresses. Tiny Chortens too appear on the fringes reminding one of the Buddhist impact. Soon we notice red flowers on the highway against the backdrop of another tea garden. A photo opportunity was not to be missed here.

By the time it is 9 am and barely half of distance was found covered, we decide to hurry up or else we would be late for the 10.50 am Diamond Jubilee Function of the HMI. The milestone displays that Jorebungla was still 18 kms. Another tiny village surfaces. Nice and clean tea shops and convenient & eco friendly Ekra houses having lovely flower pots on their windows and balconies convey a different tale than what one sees in the plains. No apparent struggle for life is visible. Populace in general looks contented and satisfied.

Another halt point comes near a steep gradient. One never knew that Lopchu, famous for its Peda and tea by the same name had come. A bunch of pink flowers, may or may not be orchid, was simply stealing the show in the close vicinity of a newly constructed Nepal style temple and a carved house under construction. All said and done, very few houses were found added compared to my last visit in 2006. Appearance of tourist vehicles and way side amenities would point out that tourism was booming further.

When the watch shows 9.25 am, nice, tall pine trees together with Utish appear on both the sides of the steep and isolated highway. Sunlight in a filtered form impresses. Soon the gradient improves. Though the visibility is better on this side, in neighbouring Sikkim nothing can be seen. A big blue gate put up by GREF welcomes us to Lamahatta, a quiet but soothing tourist point having tea joints, pay toilets and home stays. A number of Ekra houses dot the line again and there is no visible or felt sign of pollution. The boys wearing maroon sweaters are seen going to their nearby schools. Two boards put up by the State PWD make a loud and wanted statement-Don’t use mobile while driving and Don’t play with the life of a passenger. Ferns and Marigolds begin appearing on the sides as we move forward. Number of vehicles coming back from Darjeeling now rises. Road too gains in width. It is nice to spot monkeys at this height, playing and running after each other.

At Tukdah (6^th Mile), a Safai Abhiyan presumably initiated by the Forest Dept. is in full swing. Participation of the villagers is prominent. Soon the vegetation changes. It is a sign of getting closer to our destination. At 8 km point, a resting place for the tourists is discovered. We too halt for a while and complete the breakfast. The bottled water tastes cold due to rise in altitude. We pick up momentum and manage to reach Simkuna Bazar or the 3rd Mile. Jorbangla is now 4 kms. away. Next a sleepy hamlet and a township emerge from fog and cloud. Despite greenery all around, it is painful to see water being collected and taken to the main town in tankers. In the meanwhile, road becomes bumpy but the parapets are nicely white-washed. When we are 1 km short of Jorebangla, lovely houses appear on the other side of the hillock. There is no congestion, however.

Jorebangla town looks cramped up, does not inspire, though we did not have time to feel and roam around, either. Jalpahar Cantt. is also located here. The historic Himalayan Railway making a foray from Kurseong takes a sharp turn here to move towards Darjeeling, barely 9 kms away. My memories of the legendary movies-Jhuk Gaya Aasman, Aradhana, Parineeta etc. are refreshed when I see the toy railway criss crossing the now narrow highway.

Approaching the Ghoom Railway Station at 8000' was quite a delight. Built in 1861 it was the highest station in the World till 2006.Its heritage structure deserves better maintenance. The Batasia Loop attracts a large number of tourists. One can see the Ghoom Monastery and some places in West and South Sikkim from a viewpoint. The golden statue of Guru Padmasambhava at Namchi is also visible by a binocular in the clear weather.

While we drive down for Darjeeling, people are seen walking for work but the shops are yet to roll up their shutters. The railway line changes sides every now and then. Weather is also not very clear to pep up enthusiasm. The British era houses are seen blending well with the new constructions. The famous tea companies-Margret Hope, Goodriche, Golden Tips, Nathmulls, Orange Valley, all are seen now competing with each other through impressive hoardings. For Margret Hope of Kurseong, it is a moment of tremendous joy, as this biggest tea garden of the area is on the verge of celebrating its 150th anniversary. 

Margaret Hope, once called Bara Ringtone was reported to be linked to a tragedy concerning its manager's daughter at the onset of 20th Century. Margaret, the daughter, having come from Britain, fell in love with the beauty of these slopes so much so that she decided to settle down here for good. But she had to return with her mother. Luck was not on her side when she was indisposed during her four month long journey and ultimately expired aboard. Mr. Bangdon, her father while walking through the tea estate would remember how Margaret had 'hoped', she would live, therein. It is supposed to have inspired him to rechristen the estate "Margaret's Hope".  One further learns that as a polite gesture and recognition for hard work with low wages (four Annas to Rs 7/-a day), rendered by 98 year old Purney Subba, the company has decided to honour his contribution by naming a variety of tea after him. Do we say -'Slow and steady wins the race'?

Being engrossed in tea tale, we miss a part of first few significant views of the vast hill station of Darjeeling. A large Monastery complex is not to be missed, rather we pass next to it after some time on the famous Hill Cart Road. More tourist taxis are seen now. Hoardings and buses of the famous Darjeeling schools too are occupying the limited space on the highway. More and more of traffic means slow movement of vehicles. As a result, we are supposedly behind schedule. The place feels colder than Gangtok, maybe, being about 1200 feet higher. While one feels happy again on seeing the Safai Abhiyan here as well, nothing brings more joy than the sight of the Darjeeling Railway Station. Imagine hearing Chuk Chuk at this height.I am reminded of my last visit in 2006 when Ankoor was still alive and kicking.

One passes through the Planters Club roundabout, Hotel Elgin, Hotel Mayfair, Raj Bhawan and Padmaja Naidu Zoo to reach HMI 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Mountaineers, trekkers, trainers, officers, staff and the immaculately dressed Sherpa community members (reduced to 55,000 in the Dist) add another feather to the cap of the famous institution, which was a brainchild of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Delay caused in the arrival of the chief guest did not kill the bonhomie, nor it dampened the high spirits of the organisers. On my part, in addition to rubbing shoulders with old pals, it was good to see the Suite number 1 at Dzongrila, once occupied by Mrs.Indira Gandhi, as P.M. and President of the HMI.I too had used it with my family in 2006.Apart from being given the opportunity to present my books on Sikkim Tourism and the Biodiversity of Sikkim to the HMI library with a view to disseminate knowledge, I had the pleasure and privilege to be declared as the Special Guest during the impressive cultural evening. The Pre-Dinner Camp Fire too cannot be forgotten easily. The show begun on 13th November 1954 had to move ahead with more vigour and vitality and the trainees had to climb peak after peak by remembering the tough struggles of the legendary Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. 

Barber Needs To Be Taken Care Of

Barber is an indispensable service provider. He is needed on a day today basis mostly for hair-cut. Till recently one would go to him for shave as well. In good old days, when life was simple and distances were short, he would pay a visit to a house to undertake shave and offer a head & neck massage on the one hand and back & feet on the other. While for a 'cut', a visit to a Barber's shop is a must, shaving has become a self performed activity and for any pain or ache, one takes recourse to the pain killers, prescribed or self-medicated.

Barber or Thakur or Hajjam has been and will be an integral part of the birth, Upanayan (sacred thread ritual), marriage and death ceremonies in a religious minded and tradition bound Hindu family set up. Apart from playing second fiddle to the more respect commanding Brahmin priest, he tries to cajole the head of a family to provide him additional 'tips' vis-a-vis his usual ‘entitlement’. He also expects to receive patronage if the basic tenets of age old Jajmani system are to be invoked in letter and spirit.

While the priests confine themselves to their own households and temples, a Barber, on an average, is in a position to set up his own shop or sit on foot-path to earn his livelihood. When we were still predominantly rural economy, they would move from house to house to perform various rituals. In the changed circumstances, they are mostly in a position to supplement their normal income by doing facials and dyeing of hair. It goes without saying that a Barber's place is synonymous with gossip and rumour mongering.

A Beauty Parlour perhaps could be termed as the latest, rather the upgraded version of a Barber's shop. Two differences, however, are noticeable-both men and women avail of services and there is no longer a caste bar on the person holding a scissor. An individual of any caste or class could be trained and perform functions of a beautician and the bar or taboo on women to have a hair-cut, facial, eye-brow make-up, pedicure or manicure is no longer there.

Coming to the experiences of the self, my visits to a Barber's shop are once in three months. That too merely for a cut of the grey hair that has managed to survive. Years ago when hair was dense and jet black, one would que up for a cut once in one and a half or two months. One did not have any fancy for a particular style as such. When multi-star movies began dominating the spectrum in the Seventies, one would not mind having long hair of Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar or Sunil Dutt kind. For women, Sadhna cut will always be in fashion or style.

Jai Jawan,Jai Kisan Saloon in a prominent street of Main Road ,Ranchi had an 'expert' hair cutter cum dresser by the name of Ranjit. He would also pursue his Graduate studies, side by side. Being a student himself, he would easily strike a chord with the young generation and earn a sizeable sum for his family. One had all the time in the world to wait for two to three hours in order to have a 'crowning glory' of choice, courtesy him.

Two of my recent visits to a Barber's shop have prompted me to pen these lines. The first was in Bagdogra in West Bengal when I needed to shave my long beard after a gap of 11 days during the Shradh or Pitripaksh period. Ramprasad, the old, unassuming man in his late fifties offered me three kinds of services-Rs. 10/- for shave by soap, Rs.15/- by ordinary cream and Rs.20/- by the best cream at his disposal. Not to take any risk on the health front, I settled for the last one. He spared full twenty minutes and did his job nicely. I was having a shave in a shop after a long time and it was worth it. While the act was on, he did not pose any questions. However, my own queries revealed that with his meagre income of Rs.13,000/- a month, he had to support a large family. Being a resident of a suburban area, he of course had to pay relatively a low rent but 'business' per se, too was not lucrative all the time. Usual tale of irresponsible sons and duty bound & educated daughters were heard. Only career option for the latter was to 'push' them unwillingly into marriage at a relatively young age.

My last interface at a Barber's shop was perhaps more interesting. I visited Md.Mohsin at Tibet Road, Gangtok for the second time in four months. When I had visited last, I had faint memories of having got my first haircut of Gangtok at his very shop way back in September,1986. He confirmed during the course of congenial conversation that he was running his business at the same place for 40 years or so. From a modest rent of Rs.300/- per month, he was now required to cough up Rs.5,000/-. Apart from the sharp rise ,he appeared concerned about having no fixed periodicity for an enhancement. Mostly nowadays, same would happen once a year or at an interval of 18 months. Another issue according to him was lack of legal support to the petty tenants like him as compared to his brethren in West Bengal or Bihar, wherein they could not be evicted easily.

On the family front, he had married off his two daughters, while his eldest son not trained as a Barber but as a Welder in Delhi, was waiting at Mumbai to grab a high income job opportunity in the lucrative pockets of the Middle East. His other two sons were in the 9th and 6th Class respectively at a village in Muzaffarpur Dist. of Bihar. It is a common practice in all such families that the head earns a hard living away from home while the wife keeps the home fire burning by looking  after the children and the sub-divided and fragmented pieces of agricultural land, all alone.

My being born in Muzaffarpur led Mohsin to perform his act with more care and interest. In a package of Rs.50/-, as compared to Rs. 30/- at Bagdogra, he trimmed my moustache in addition to the hair-cut, Nonetheless, I decided to pay him additionally for the latter, having discovered a separate rate.

When I was leaving his shop after feeling fresh and relieved, it had turned dark and cold. Street was no longer abuzz with activity. While exchanging Bye Bye and Thank You, Mohsin did ask about my off-springs, When he heard that the only one which I had ,was already lost 3.5 years ago, he felt a pain deep in his heart. Expressing his fatherly instincts subsequent to a silence of few seconds, he uttered- "Whatever the Maalik (God) gives, we have to accept". I could not possibly disagree with him.