Technology pulling us away from nature!

There are times when I wonder if we are being pulled away from nature by technology? This feeling is getting stronger and stronger whenever I get an opportunity to travel in any direction by any means with family or friends. (Very little chance to travel with family!)

I have noticed that during these travel opportunities my companions almost always (99.9 per cent) remained glued to their cell phones. Hardly making calls! But deeply engrossed with social sites, mainly 'Facebook' or the less popular but more practical Twitter or other such sites, which I am not much aware about, or playing those 'crazy'games!

Those who are not sucked in the whirlpool of their smart phones are usually found sinking in the quagmire of their lap-top computers whether they are flying, travelling by train, bus or even in a car as a passenger.

For me it is interesting to watch their emotions and expressions. They are happy and burst in laughter one moment and the next they are frowning, gritting their teeth, muttering 'abuses'. Or, suddenly they are distressed, gleeful, grinning or appreciative.

They hardly look through the front screen or the side windows at the beautiful scenery, the wild animals, beautiful birds, enchanting streams, brooks, waterfalls, foliage, flowers, trees, sun light, moon light, shining stars in the sky on clear night, rain. Even when it is snowing it is an exception for a very short while and then everyone would grab one's cell phone (smart phone) and start taking pictures!

When I was young and my father or mother, may Allah bless their souls, use to take us for a visit to the ancestral village or for that matter any journey in which we have to travel by a bus, I would sit by the window. If it is not available, I would prefer to sit in mother's lap throughout the journey, with my face plastered to the windowpane. Many a times I even hurt my nose badly!

I had set my own landmarks on the route. The cluster of giant ancient maple trees near Mandra, the beautiful pond with big white ducks floating in it near Sohawa, the deep ravines with rich red soil will tell me we are nearing Dina, the overhead bridge near Jhelum, the Jhelum river, the big canal past Sira'ay Alamgir, the sprawling fields immediately after crossing the railway crossing near Lala Musa, river Chenab, another ancient, towering Maple tree near Wazirabad Railway, the sugarcane (in winter holidays) and paddy fields (in summer) between Wazirabad and Gujranwala, 'garam anday', 'khillan-maroonday', 'khat-mithi golian' 'kala chooran', 'roti-pakooray', 'cha'ay garam', 'sharbat thanda thar', 'chooay maar golian - goli andar thay chooa Jalandar'!

Well, well, well! Those used to be the landmarks and attractions during travelling.

The point is that the technology has methodically destroyed the nature. First the industrial technology and now the information technology!

All of us talk about environmental issues but at the same time we have stopped enjoying nature and appreciate its beauty and benefits as we have been drawn away by technology. When we stop enjoying and appreciating anything, it leads first to neglect and gradually to damage which keeps deteriorating with the passage of time.

I am not criticizing or blaming anybody please! It just happened that the other day we had an opportunity to travel to Murree and while returning to Islamabad we found this view absolutely fascinating with thick dark clouds hanging low, the lights shimmering in clear air and the beams from the setting sun way down in Islamabad created this scene. I stopped to savour the sight for a while despite this being very cold to stand out of car. No other motorist bothered. Because the drivers were focusing on the road and the passengers were busy with their smart phones!

— Mobarik A. Virk