Insights: CLASSICS ALWAYS REMAIN

Today we live in a rapidly changing world. Everything from fashion to music, electronic and other consumer goods, e.t.c., is changing at a very rapid pace. Every year practically a new model of a phone or computer is introduced with some changes and additions over the previous one. The designs of clothes in vogue also changes very fast. Before a person has time to wear a dress to his or heart’s content, the fashion changes and then the person is in a fix whether to wear it or not? Same is happening with music and art. One buys and enjoys a popular number, when suddenly very soon he realizes that this is outdated and a new form of music or artist is more popular now and this one is outdated. This trend becomes baffling for many people. They want to be with the, “in thing,” but find it difficult to keep pace with the trend. Seeing others they start thinking that it is something important which they have not procured so far. Another aspect to this is that people are much influenced by the lucrative advertisements launched by the companies for marketing. So many advantages of the new article are shown that majority of the people start thinking that maybe their life will change for better with the new product. The average income of families is rising as more and more women are getting educated and joining the work force. In this scenario it is tempting for people to buy anything which takes their fancy or is new, immediately. Thus a sort of unhealthy competition is created in the society, dividing people in to 2 categories, and one those with the latest product and those without it. One may not be able to buy the new product immediately. There may be constraint of time and money both. This leaves many people feeling dissatisfied and frustrated. It has become a source of anxiety and depression for many individuals around the world. It is also a cause for many physical ailments like hypertension and cardiac problems. There is an old saying, fashions come and go but classics remain forever. This is applicable to everything available in the market. There may be new designs and material coming for clothes every time, but the traditional designs and material in any country still remain the choice to be worn for formal occasions. Similarly regarding electronic items new items are coming constantly in the market but the old ones still work. I had a very old model of mobile phone that was working very well till it was stolen 3 months ago. I found that to be more handy and convenient as compared to the smaller sleeker model I have at present. Other old models of whether a radio or refrigerator or television still work very well (people still possess them) unless there has been a break down. Worse still, because of so many models changing, in case of a break down it becomes difficult to find necessary spare parts for repairing. Then one is left with no other alternative but to buy another thing. I personally feel there is no need for buying things unnecessarily. It is a waste of both precious time and money. If a new product has been launched, one should review whether it is absolutely necessary for him/her or one can do without it. If absolutely necessary, then only it should be purchased. It should be used carefully and discarded only after being used well or if it breaks down. Many do not agree with my view and consider it old fashioned. But wisdom dictates that one looks around to see the effect of crass commercialism. This trend of buy, use and throw started from western countries and is spreading to other countries as well. But before copying them blindly, one should see how badly the people and the national economies there suffered during the economic recession. This is not against progress and development. Development is appreciated and should continue. But public should know how to use the products of development judiciously. E-mail-rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk

Lifestyle

Insights: CLASSICS ALWAYS REMAIN