It's a sunny afternoon in Naugaon and there's a lot of merry chirping ; both birds and kids are in full swing. The children who are totally oblivious to the fact that they're now the subject of observation of some stranger are singing songs and running after each other. Some kind of funny game is on, it seems, and as soon as this oblivion breaks, the younger kids shy away where as the older ones invite us to be a part of their amusing trip.
Soiled cloths, some naked feet and pebbles and coins hands, saved as though they're the most precious treasures, it can be both a sight of relief and surprise that these children are away from the tragedy called mobile phones. One can not help but wonder if its unavailability is a tragedyin this case since now the entire world swirls around it.
THE pandemic, as Jahanvi, 9 ,says,has disrupted the classes and given her more time to enjoy with her siblings and the very first smartphone in their house which is strictly meant for educational purposes. Whatsapp is the only link left between the children and the school and the smartphone is a conveyor of the things that their school wants them to know. This one smartphone does not just convey things to Jahanvi but also to Ritu and Baby, her friends who couldn't be as lucky.
(Jahanvi standing on the rightmost side along with her friends)
The children are too busy in playing "sikka-patther" in which they shoot spots with pebbles and coins. "uthal phisal", another thrilling game in which they pull the Buffalo's tail and slide. They have found their own ways to further an adventure. If this adventure is greater than that of playing hifi, heavy shooting games like pubg on a technologically sound smartphone, they wouldn't know.
Rajan, 12 and Priyanshu, 14 quarrel over who would hit the pebbles first in this little game they like to call "Pitthu". To sort things out they delve into another racing competition.But their tug of war comes to an end when Rajan's mother calls him up to look after the cattle and Priyanshu too has to leave for the same piece of work shortly after Rajan goes. The fierce competition in their eyes can make one wonder where these two young men would have been, had they been provided with appropriate opportunities to grow, where these two could've been if they didn't have too much to look after.
(Priyanshu at the left and Rajan arranging stones in an order)
It's a heartening sight to see these kids getting lost in a world that is not made up of black mirrors. When asked if they know about Pub-g ,minecraft and such games or even board games like Monopoly and business, Arjan flaunts about the one time, a cousin who lives in Dehradun had visited him and had made him play pub - g. " I couldn't play properly because internet lags a lot here, but I know how it goes," says Arjan. eight hundred kbps afterall can not be enough for a virtual game, let alone dreams.
(Arjan,left and Satyam)