The single most element that has come to rule urban living is convenience. Be it in communication, travel, food, clothing and even parenting, people do certain things as it is the most convenient thing to do and makes life simple and easy. A brief research is presented here as to how modern day lifestyle is increasingly governed by convenience.
This was the idea I had thought of writing for a publication. The newspaper had even approved it but it never got published. I found this piece recently and felt like putting this atleast on my blog. Hope you have a good read.
Increasingly life in a metro seems to be governed by one single factor and it points out to ‘convenience’. Every aspect of our living has come to be engulfed by this major factor as it is perceived to makes life easy. People do not mind going heavier on the pocket to adopt a convenient lifestyle. Whether it shopping, travel, clothing, household chores or for that matter even parenting has embraced convenient living. Either it is to save time or lead relaxed life or it is believed that convenience is luxury affordable. Is it that people want to do anything to be stress free or are there more things to be done than ever before, hence convenience is the obvious answer to modern day living?
City bred people have found ease of life in concepts like supermarkets, malls, satellite channels as each one of them promised convenience more than anything for the hectic lifestyle of urban living. If one were to understand, people believe this is something that is become next to our daily routine just as we eat drink or breathe. Be it gadgets, utility elements or routines; modern day lifestyle has made urbanites seek convenience in every form.
Using one’s own vehicle is perceived to be better than public transport as it saves time and is handy even though it may turn to be expensive. Even the role of a homemaker has changed with companies churning out innovative appliances every day to make her life easy.
The simple mode of communicating with each other has been taken over by fancy tools obviously as newer gadgets are convenient. Right from mobiles to Internet and palmtops traditional modes of communication like snail mails have become rarity as it is far more inconvenient in usage than modern technologies. Says Kauser Khan, Etiquette and grooming consultant, “ For me, technologies that have absolutely enhanced convenience are e-mail and cell phones. Whether it is for a professional or a personal need, even to keep track my children, these gadgets have turned to be the need of the time. They are precise and save considerable amount of time and it is easy for me to do more number of things in life.”
It is not just gadgets that people have started feeling that it has made life simple. Services that make sure utility products are at doorstep are a way of enhancing convenience. Says Vani Mahesh, Proprietor, Easylib.com, “ Starting an online library way back in 2001 was only to cater to an audience that understands convenience using technology. It is true that something like Internet has amazingly become as part of daily life like kitchen appliances. In our case getting books delivered home using technology or as part of premium service is only because Internet is no longer expensive and highly reliable.”
Affordability, rising incomes, improving standard of living has made people opt for services or usage of technologies that is perceived to enhance convenience. It may sound good to many but presenting slightly different viewpoint is Dr. Ali Khwaja, Career counselor, “ In the race of rushing against time and improving our standard of living I feel we are getting competitive, insecure and generally a sense of losing control over life. Hence, any gadget or activity that promises quick relief, flexibility, convenience, is being grabbed whatever may be the cost.”
Adding further he mentions, “Yet I do understand that the younger generation considers gadgetry as essential to their basic living, because they have never lived without it. I personally feel that the younger generation should be given an opportunity to know what it means to live without electronics and electricity, something like gadget free days to show that life can be led with much ease even without gadgets.”
For a young mother of two kids Shruthi Tripathi, “Convenience has embraced every aspect of our life and it is no surprise motherhood can be left behind. With women getting to work faster post motherhood, this phase of life has adopted many things to make the role of mother easier right from bottles to pacifiers and prams amongst host of other utility items.”
Obviously convenience is perceived differently by different people. Yet the rise in incomes, belief that it saves time and helps in happier living has made urbanites look for the c word in everything.
BY RESHMA KRISHNAMURTHY SHARMA