Nineteen to the dozen

Nineteen to the dozen
Stats on the sale of mobiles are out and they just go on to prove that Chennaiites love to talk…
ANUSHA VINCENT- Times News Network

It seems we Chennaiites love to be in touch. How else would you explain the fact that while all other metros have shown a steep decline in the sale of mobile phones, Chennai alone has recorded 4.69 lakh new mobile phone users this year? So, now that it has been clearly established that we are a cell-phone-loving populace, the simple question is…why? “It is mainly because we Tamilians absolutely love talking!” exclaims TV anchor and actress Divyadarshini ( DD), “It’s in our blood. Inherently, we are garrulous and feel restless even if there is a moment’s silence. In this vein, mobile phones are lifelines for most of us as they hold our entire social lives in them!”

And rightly enough, most agree that while meeting over a cuppa and talking about good ol’ times is charming, in today’s hectic world, it makes more sense to have conversations over phone, wherever possible.

“People in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore party to socialise, Chennaiites do so by talking on the phone. In fact, I can say without hesitation that most of us would feel like Tom Hanks in Castaway, without our phones!” DD laughs.

However, socialising isn’t the only reason cell phones have got such giant status. “It would spell professional suicide if you don’t own a mobile phone,” points out model Kenith, “I need to keep wired in throughout the day, to keep in touch with coordinators, or to make appointments. It is laughable to even think you can survive without a mobile, in a world where every minute could be crucial in your life.”

Which brings us to the next point, Chennai has been listed as the city with the most SMS usage. Why this distinction (dubious or otherwise)? “Obviously because messaging is a lot simpler,” pips singer Kavita Thomas, “It is an easy way to have a conversation, even when you are not really free. Besides, it is also psychological. It is easier to get away with things when you type instead of talk.”

While the SMS rage that caught on some years ago has shown no signs of weakening, it is now becoming increasingly common to see school students typing away with lazy efficiency, while their sprightly fingers oblige without complaints. “Children are so intelligent these days and very inquisitive. So it is only natural that they are enamoured by the world of cell-phones where you are connected to the outside world 24/7,” muses Kenith, “However, they don’t know how much is too much. When mobile phones start eating into academic space, it is bound to become an issue.”

And then there are those who effortlessly juggle more than one mobile phone. A survey has found that the number of mobile phone subscribers as a percentage of the city’s population is the highest in Chennai, at 111 percent. This means that a sizeable chunk of the population has more than one mobile phone. Most of them are, of course, celebrities, but it isn’t strictly only them. Don’t be surprised if you notice the girl next door, swinging down the road, one phone in either hand. The reasons range from showing-off to, “I need to have two phones; my post paid connection doesn’t have free messaging, so I have another one just for the free messages,” as law student Deepika explains. And it isn’t only city students like her. Chennai has a floating population of more than one million. And for those in this category, it is imperative to own a mobile phone so that they can be in constant touch with family back home.

But while many feel that the mobile phone is one of the best things to have ever happened, there are those who see only its cons. Lecturer Ravishankar P is one among them. He concludes crisply, “We have reached a point where, given an option between human company and a mobile phone, we choose the latter. These instruments are perhaps isolating us more then we realise.”