AT THE age of sixty years, I find myself more occupied than ever before. My morning starts on my computer, my entire day is spent on my computer; I spend my evenings on my computer, and by late evening I am still on my computer. How computer has overtaken my life? It was not always like this.

In my twenties, I got a government job. It was sufficient to take care of the rest of my life. I felt assured and complacent. Smoking, wining and playing cards easily allured me and became my best pastime. However, I was going to be fed up with it someday.

In my forties, I was attracted to yoga and meditation. I would get up early in the morning and practice some running, followed by yoga and meditation. It not only made me fit but also brought me closer to nature. I noticed and appreciated the chirping of birds; the dew drops on the grass, the flowing of the breeze, different shades of greens in the tree leaves, the beauty of the rising Sun, and so on. I had discovered paradise and felt overjoyed. I would carry this freshness to my office and be engrossed in my work. In the evenings, I would attend lectures, discourses, drama, art exhibitions, music or some other public events. I enjoyed this life very well. Although at times it was taxing, I would not have given it up for anything else.

In my fifties, computers came around. I too possessed one and started using it. Computer eased my life in more ways than one. To write my notes, I did not require pen and paper or to consult those bulky dictionaries or to worry about my grammatical and spelling mistakes anymore. The computer kept all my records systematically. It allowed endless use of colours and patterns to create my drawings and paintings. It made my photographs come alive, and my videos edited and readied in no time. It helped me to get all the information I needed: news, views, detailed maps of the world, encyclopedias and other resources rich in literature, music, videos, films, games, etc. at the click of my mouse. It brought me mail in real time. It helped me buy my stuff and pay my bills online. I did not have to go out; it brought everything to my desk.  

The most interesting things on the computer are the social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter etc. These connect people from remotest corners of the world who post their messages and read responses. It has become a big craze. People would remain glued to their computers all the time. With such great interactivity around, I could not resist and jumped on the bandwagon.

My life of yesteryears has been completely overtaken. From the real world I have moved to the virtual world. But, I often wonder if computer has eased my life or ruined it.