Technology has brought the world closer, but it has also alienated the individual. It is really disheartening to see people engrossed in fiddling with their mobile devices even when they are sitting in a group doing a group activity.
It was not always so. I grew up breaking down gadgets and building up things in spare time. Vacations and weekends was a time to join any of the neighbors and participate in a little bit of carpentry or masonry and learn something new. Our technology driven world has made these small pleasures scarce. But not everything is lost.
For me, pure engagement is when you forget about the clock, hours pass without any thought other than what you are engaged in. Doing this activity in a group or a couple of friends creates a bond that is sure to last forever. And nature has a way to ensure that this bond is nurtured over time.
One of such activities, which was common through Maharashtra state was building mock forts during the Diwali vacation – I guess it still is.
The whole activity meant that kids had to plan, design, build and then grapple over how to bring it down. There was also a neighborhood competition to be won, which meant the castle or fort had to be beautiful. The obvious choice was to create a replica of one of the famous Maratha forts in the state. Gathering the right stones, mixing mud to ensure that the stones are held together, and adding the right props kept us all busy through the vacation. The fights, disagreements, and persuasion, all meant we were together all the time and creating lifelong connections.
Not sure if technology is the reason, or if it is just the busy lifestyle, which has made group activities that much more difficult. The long morning walks and a day at the park are not so common anymore. Watching a movie and eating out has become the main weekend activity. But there are alternatives.
Plan a weekend road trip and plan to cook at roadside spot on a grill. Oh, how much do I want to do this. Nature has weird ways of bringing people together. This small activity might just throw up unseen challenges that will make everyone work together. Cooking and eating outdoors can easily become an adventure and involve everyone in the group, working toward one common goal.
No movie, mall, or restaurant can engage you as finding solutions to a problem in the middle of nowhere, disconnected from the world. I have seen people playing a game on their phones in the middle of a movie in the theater. The movie might not have been that great, but still, a game? We really need to find ways to detach ourself for multitasking and be able to give a hundred percent to the task at hand.
I hope Kissan’s Tomato planting and growing challenge will get everyone involved. I am off to Kissanpur ordering my seeds and start a tomato plant that I have been trying for some time now with Kissan’s seeds, and get everyone around involved. What about you?