A few days ago, while I was travelling with a friend, he suddenly expressed how fed up he was with people. “They are just not trustworthy anymore,” he said. “Everyone is greedy, selfish… it is unbearable. I just want to escape this world.”
I looked at him and asked, “What else do you expect from people?”
He fell silent and just stared at me.
The truth is, the world has changed completely. We now live in a time where everything is driven by technology. And in this new system, ethics and basic decency often feel like distant memories. Every time a new invention enters our lives, it does not just change how we work, it changes who we are. We do not always realise this, but technological growth is not just about lines of code on a screen. It is writing codes in our minds as well.
Let me explain.
During the early human era, when people lived as hunters and gatherers, life required cooperation. Some individuals went out to hunt, others gathered food or fetched water, while some stayed back to protect their families and livestock. It was a system built on interdependence. Each person contributed, and together, they survived.
Even during the time of industrialisation, human bonds remained. People still stood by each other. There was community, support, and a sense of shared struggle.
But with the emergence of artificial intelligence and high-speed digital life, everything has shifted. Today, the idea of cooperation has been replaced by competition. Togetherness has been overridden by individualism. Now, the only thing people seem to chase is money.
Just last month, while travelling through Kerala, I noticed something that left a lasting impression. Almost every house had a mango tree or a jackfruit tree. The trees were full of ripe fruits, yet no one was plucking them. Strangely, the same people would buy those very fruits from nearby shops later in the day.
I could not help but think of my childhood. Back then, mangoes and jackfruits were not just seasonal fruits, they were like festivals in small neighbourhoods. Everyone shared, everyone celebrated. There was joy in giving, in feeding others, in those small moments of abundance.
That joy is gone now.
There is no sharing. No caring. No emotional connection.
Even a few years ago, when someone borrowed money, they would feel the weight of that debt. They would stay in touch, show gratitude, and make every effort to repay it. But now, people borrow money and behave as if they have done you a favour by allowing you to help. Some even excuse their debts with the most bizarre logic, as if being in trouble gives them a free pass.
We all shout for justice. But do we ever ask ourselves if we are just with others?
It is strange and sad that we seek things we never offer. We want honesty, loyalty, and empathy, but how often do we give it?
I often include real stories in my blogs, and honestly, I could share dozens here. But let me tell you just two.
The first is about a girl I hired for freelance work. She was from Kerala, very polite and friendly. I try to maintain a good rapport with my team, especially since we are in a creative field. Over time, she started opening up about her financial struggles. She shared that her family was dealing with nearly one crore rupees of debt, and that she was doing multiple jobs to help pay it off. I admired her maturity, especially for her age. She kept me updated about her situation regularly.
But then, one day, out of nowhere, she asked me to settle the entire debt for her.
That moment struck me hard. It confirmed a pattern I have seen many times. People feel no hesitation in asking for large favours, even from someone they barely know. Debt, trouble, and financial distress have almost become behavioural defaults today. And what is more concerning is how easily responsibility is abandoned.
But to be fair, not everyone is like this.
Another friend of mine once borrowed money from me for a medical emergency. I was not even expecting him to return it. But to my surprise, he began transferring five thousand rupees every month without fail. No reminders, no calls, no explanations, just quiet, consistent repayment. That kind of integrity is rare now, but it still exists.
I want to end with a thought, a quote I once wrote:
“We keep two books in our life. One is for ourselves, filled with justifications for our actions. The other is a rulebook we use to judge others.”
Justice, for most people, exists only when they are the victims. When it is about others, the empathy vanishes. It becomes all about receiving, never giving. And what we call justice is nothing but perspective.
Even in a courtroom, it is not truth alone that decides the verdict, it is evidence, interpretation, and sometimes, just luck.
This reminds me of a line from a book I read long ago, “Govardhante Yatrakal.” It speaks about how, for justice to be served, there must be a neck that suits the rope. A haunting idea, but one that reflects the grim irony of our times.
You have stated the realities as it is and my appreciation fir the sane.But as you have cited again the story change at times from person to person. For example I remember you every time when ever I use a dress you have presented to me long back out of love and friendship but do not forget your good deeds ever because you are in my heart as a respected person with kind hearted deeds which lasts for ever. With Lind regards and love to all in the family.