Nomophobia was coined in 2010 by a study commissioned by the Post Office in the United Kingdom. The term is an abbreviation for No-Mobile Phone phobia; and it connotes the irrational fear of being unable to communicate through a mobile phone in modern times. Whether we are having a conversation, working, partying, playing we would always like to have our smartphones within easy reach. It has become the alpha and omega of our existence. To truly understand this phenomena you only have to look into the economics of this technology. FAANGs (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) market cap is US$3.5 trillion. India’s GDP is US$2.5 trillion. One third of Japanese households consists of just one person, which in Japan is called ‘Ohitisam’ or “on your own”. In South Korea singlehood comes with its own dictionary & the latest entry is ‘Honjok’ or a term for people who undertake activities alone.
India is a community and cultural driven society, so one would conclude that nomophobia is more prevalent in Far Eastern societies like Japan and South Korea and not in our own. Recently the singing Diva, Asha Bhonsle, had twitted a picture of herself with her four friends around a coffee table, very cozy and in close proximity, but all four of them were looking at and busy on their smart phones with the Diva staring vacantly into space. The caption said “Such good company but no one to talk”.
Studies in the west have come up with a ‘Gold fish syndrome’ the concentration level of the world has come down 15% from the last century. Mobile phones have connected mankind in magical ways but its excessive and slavish use has brought negative implications, headaches, eyestrain, thumb and shoulder pain, earaches, accidents, mental disintegration, loss of job and livelihood. “Mobile phone and smart phone usage is not only habit forming, it is addictive the biggest non-alcoholic, non-drug addiction of the 21st. Century”. An ignorant as an Engineering Professor, teaching International studies in Kolkata was suspended because he compared “A virgin to a sealed bottle”; on his social media. If he is dismissed what will he do in a country where jobs are so difficult to come by?
Most of us addicts or addicts-in-the-making suffer from this syndrome. Have I personally communicated in such random manner? I, indeed, have. I vividly remember a recent nomophobia moment. On my flight back to Mumbai from Goa, I was at the waiting lounge in the airport when the announcement came that my flight is delayed for a good 90 minutes. I went to my favourite haunt, the airport bookshop, there were quite a few new titles and also the latest issues of glossaries, but I made a mental note check and decided there was nothing more seductive than what was available on my Netflix app., went back to my waiting lounge, and before opening my Netflix app, I sent an impulsive message to my house help to prepare a de-toxifying meal; a bitter gourd (karela) and bread made of coarse grain (bajra), to be prepared without oil.
