The computer world and grandmothers

Grandchildren, especially boys, are in the forefront in Lanka’s computer world today. They have zoomed to the position of untrained tutors of their grandmothers labouring awkwardly at the cyber machines. What about grandfathers? They just cannot be bothered.

The truth about this topic had dawned on me sometime back, but it struck me hard recently. An acquaintance in her 70s, who imagines herself to be a writer like me had got a letter from her daughter residing in Paris. She had informed of a competition open to elderly women on any topic they fancied.

She brought the piece to me for editing. I felt that there was some “Mismanagement” of the matter and suggested that she change the position of para four to two and para 5 to six and vice versa. Then there would be more sense and coherence. Already she was holding on to her chest. Then asked for a glass of water.

Giving it I said, “Don’t take this too much to heart. After all it is only a competition.

Your health is more important”.

“I know that, dear. But the thing is my grandson is away at Haputale for a Scout Jamboree. He will return only in a week. This has to be sent before that. It is he who guides me in all the computer work. As for reversing and advancing paras I just don't know the technique”.

Tight corner

“Nor do I. It is my own grandson who comes to the rescue when I get into a tight corner. As he does not live with me due to the abolition of the extended family system (I try to laugh). I put in my best effort. Anyway, why don’t you go to an Internet café with this? They are all over”.

“Oh! No. They talk such a strange language, that I cannot understand what they talk”.

I was not aware of new languages entering the island recently though I keep my ears all alert for that kind of topic.

“Cyber language, you mean?” Has it come to that. Have the boys and girls in these cafes evolved a new language mixing the colonial language and the native language? That is rather interesting.”

“I don’t know what that language is. Ten words in English, five, Sinhala…….”

Cyber world

I found further interesting facts about the cyber world of grandmothers when I read this appreciation of a woman departed. Names have been changed and certain details omitted.

“Mrs. Leonora Agnes Meraya Dalpadathu of Chilaw Road, Negombo passed away peacefully. Since all her children are abroad, according to an earlier expressed wish her funeral rites were performed quietly. Mrs. Dalapadatu, was an eminent writer and author of many books including.

“The Rapidly Changing World”. As her writings increased she took to the Internet and became an expert at it.”

When I showed this appreciation to a friend, she said that this is no new matter in an appreciation of the elderly. Usually if they are from an affluent social segment and inclined towards reading and writing, she said, that they become computer savvy and the children and the grandchildren proudly mention the fact in the appreciations.

“What about the Pin Anumodana (Bestowing of merit)?” I ask rather heretically. “Is it mentioned in these hallowed rites?”

“The clergy are not what they were ten years back. If they are told this fact certainly when praising the deceased they would mention this computer proficiency”.

Falling standards

My friend was level headed all right, not the one to sob over falling standards or rising standards. She took everything in its stride. And she was correct in stating that despite being from robes the bhikkus too have to keep parallel with changing tides.

Then I remembered visiting a religious-cum-book centre in the heart of the city on January 1.

Its main noble aim was nationally and internationally disseminating Buddhist texts and they were, I must say, kept in meticulous order, the rows of books interspersed with statues and other venerable objects.

I got overcome with a desire to write on it and told the chief prelate so.

“That is a great thing if you can do so”, he said. “If you can give more publicity to this place it will be used more.”

He ordered a lesser Bhikkhu, probably the media Bhikkhu (never established before), and asked him to take down my E-mail address and post the data to me. No Interview. It is out of fashion.

“What about some photographs, I asked the media Bhikkhu naively.

He looked at me as though I had just come out of the Wanni.

”All that I will send by e mail”.

Sociable prelate

The enterprising and very sociable chief prelate knew me by name. But not this Bhikkhu. He had no anxiety for personal association. He never bothered about it. But he got my e mail address.

I did not ask for the Bhikkhu's e-mail address. Felt rather awkward asking, “Hamuduruwane”, what is your e-mail address?”, especially since he was so nonchalant about it.

So, I am back where I was. The Hamuduruwo in charge of media of that vast complex put up with such zeal by the head Bhikku never contacted me. He had entered my number to his mobile with the deftness of tying a ‘Pirith Noola’ around my wrist on that first day of the year.

And then that was that.

Are the elderly to blame for mixing up things? Can’t they realise that the world is rotating too fast for them and if they try to hang on it somewhere they can risk falling down? Those who still have the bravery to hang on are the ones who are praiseworthy.

From the computer world and grannies to non-sent E-mails? Yes. It is all so mixed.