Book: The Great Indian Phone Book
Apr. 13th, 2014 04:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smittenbyuI took some time off, as daddy and daughter were happily coexisting under one roof. We had a fabulous morning with D & her friends running all over our local park and playground and company of parents where we talked about parenting, politics, climate, college savings, and bollywood dancing. It was a beautiful day!
I did a dangerous thing. Alone without worrying about D, not that I have to, ventured into the library in search of a next read. She loves being there and is very cooperative in my browsing and looking for things as she expects the same in return when it's her turn. But it's even more risky when I am alone. I pick up so many books and so many that sound interesting!
So, I picked this up today, The Great Indian Phone Book by Assa Doron and Robin Jeffrey. I have been visiting home, India since 1991. Sometimes every year and some times with a gap of two or three years. The biggest and most obvious change is definitely the prevalence of cell phones. Initially in the 90s it was the prevalence of STD booths. No, not the sexually transmitted diseases but phone booths that allow for regional & ISD calls (international calls). Why? Because getting a fixed line takes forever! I remember my grandmother struggling to get a line in her home took years! So, mobile phones were really a great breakthrough.
Today the STD booths have turned into internet centers. But the cell phone has done wonders for so many. When I was staying with my parents in Bangalore, I even noticed parents' maid had TWO cell phones and their previous driver had a better phone than my parents did. It has been a technology that really has broken past barriers of caste, religion, and socio-economic status. It brought everyone to a leveling field. No other technology has permeated the way mobile phones have in India.
So, am looking forward to reading this book.
And I made myself to stick in the non-fiction section and still came home with a handful of books! I will have to return the others and have them join the queue.
