Loneliness

 Loneliness.

I was unoccupied with any work yesterday. Randomly watching a YouTube Vlog of a recently married Indian girl shifted to Switzerland.
She was showing the beautiful, very clean,orderly Switzerland.
It was enchanting.
Then she said" Western world is very beautiful. But here,nobody approaches you Randomly. In India, you never feel lonely. But here,you are left alone as nobody disturbs you."

Loneliness.

Before Mobile ,Social media like X,YouTube, and OTT platforms entered our lives.....
India was a place where people loved to interact Randomly.

You are traveling alone in the train.There would always be a nosy Uncle / Aunty who would Randomly enquire where you were from,why are you traveling alone as a young girl in this long train journey, are you married or single......
Today's generation calls this conversation " Invasion of Privacy".

But we never found it irritating. Instead,we would strike a conversation too.The long train journey would be full of stories from both ends.Some more co passengers would join in the conversation.
And......
We would never realise how soon destination has reached....and 16hr train travel over.

Sometimes, you are eating alone in a busy restaurant. Suddenly a group occupies the vacant seat around you.

Today's generation calls this " Invasion of Space".

But we never minded this.
We enjoyed the company around and many times,we too got included into that group .Food and conversation both shared.

Loneliness never was felt in India.
Random strangers would strike conversation and exchange notes,experiences and even food.
Some got connected while some though lost but at least the time we were alone.....got company.

Staying alone in an apartment or PG in a new place away from family....there would always be a talkative neighbor - An elderly person or a homemaker.....who would love enquiring about your work,your day ,family....etc etc.....and sometimes send you dish experimented....or invite you for tea and even lunch...
Today's generation calls this " Intrusion of Personal Life".

But we loved this.If that neighbor wasn't seen at her usual morning time while collecting the milk packet for many days.....we would get concerned and knock at her doors to enquire.

Today, everyone is immersed in their Smart Phones and busy spending most times on Screens.
Whether at work, travel, restaurants and home.
There is no interaction with anyone. Even with family and friends around us.
Any conversation or concern is termed Invasion and Intrusion......

Every one wants be left alone.

But dear Friends,
Loneliness is the main reason for increasing numbers of mental health issues in today's generation.
Anxiety, Depression and Mental Stress is result of ever being into ourselves with sharing any conversation or thoughts with people around us.

We no  longer know our neighbors, room mates,colleagues,class mates....or people traveling with us.....or not bothered to interact with person sitting next to us.....
We don't react anymore to anything happening around us.
Lost completely in our own space.

But ,in a long period of time....the Personal Space turns Lonely.

Loneliness segregates and Separates us from others.
India is a diverse country.
Indians are friendly people.

Bring back our " Friendly" attitude back.
Western culture of privacy and space is not healthy.It results in Loneliness.
Let's come out of our Screens.....and say Good morning to that elderly person out there in our Apartment.
Let's forget online shopping.Go out to buy groceries and daily veggies,fruits from that roadside vendor....Strike random conversation and exchange jokes....share laughter.
Humans are social animals  We love company.
Start being "Physically" around ourselves.

- Dr Tripti Milind Galgali.
Hubli.