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ShareThe invitation was sent out en masse, it appeared, or at least a 'limited edition'. Now, this couple are fairly good friends. Not intimate, mind you, but more than acquaintances.And a popular duo on the Delhi social and intellectual circuit.
Initially, I thought this was some kind of joke, the work of a wit-at-large. Besides, I presumed, an electronic invitation probably meant a "virtual" reception. Perhaps, we were all to assemble in the alternate world and raise a toast with "virtual" flutes of champagne and gorge on "virtual" tandoori chicken and taka-taka stuff -- not to speak of "virtual" air kissing and gifts. Guests could even dispatch their holograms to make an appearance at the celebration. The illusion was soon dispelled.
A few days later another collective message on Facebook followed. It informed the large group of invitees -- rather matter-of-factly --that they were not to expect any invitation cards. This was it -- this was the card. The whole shebang of licking stamps and putting addresses on envelopes and then going out to post them is quite unnecessary in our age of instant communication. Especially with flunkies and staff no longer around to do the needful for the freshly retired.
Pragmatism now rules with technology as its handmaiden with a wand. The wedding season is upon us and with it all the hassle of shopping for wedding presents. Not the easiest of tasks in a dug-up Delhi that looks like a mammoth excavation site and traffic that moves at a dead snail's pace. So, the savvy have begun to send electronic gift vouchers.
A few clicks of the mouse and voila the present is dispatched -- no need to even carry the stuff to the wedding reception. However, those at the receiving end will have to take the trouble to venture out and pick up the gifts. Even though the cost of doing so may be greater than what the gift is worth.Canny entrepreneurs may come up with a way for the recipients to electronically send on the unwanted gift to others, like one of those chain mails.
It's a brave new electronic world out there. With all the accelerated connectivity, the age of public intimacy has finally arrived on our shores. Public confessionals are getting to be the order of the day, courtesy Facebook "status" anxiety. An increasing number of Facebookers regularly disgorge their quasi-innermost feelings and insecurities on Facebook. That is when they are not plugging their books, films or themselves -- particularly their sensitive souls and wisdom-sprinkling sound bytes and platitudes.
Whether it's the intimacy bred on social networking sites or on collective all-in-one- stroke emails (or even sms messages), people are nonchalantly stepping over the lakshman rekhas that enforce social proprietary.
Earlier this week a couple sent an e-mail invite (for me and my family) for their 25th wedding anniversary. Not only have I never met (I believe) this couple who are hosting a dinner in Rajasthan, the long message spells out the importance of the occasion. The two had suffered years of hardship and struggle, standing by their "core human values". Finally, they had the financial means to celebrate their success.
Look, I don't mean to be a party pooper. Perhaps these unconventional people are ahead of our times. This may be the shape of things to come. And people like me are dodos, stuck in the warp of convention and the red tape of social etiquette. So, here's an electronic toast to the newlyweds, in true earnestness. And cheers as well to the couple celebrating their silver wedding anniversary.
The writer is a journalist based in Delhi
