Change, we are told, is the only constant. Rapid advances in technology, particularly over the past few decades have changed our lives for the better, empowering us in ways unthinkable barely a generation ago. This has also led to changes in the way we work, play and interact with each other. Gone are the days when one could drop in on friends and relatives without warning for a cup of tea, and knew the family history of most of our neighbours. Gone are the days when one stayed in a job till you retired, not needing to constantly worry about staying relevant. Our urban sprawls may have brought us closer physically, but they have also made us increasingly insular. Overwhelmed by the frenetic pace of change, many sections of our society have started pining for the simpler, slower days of yesterday. When the world was far more predictable.
Now we all know that to bring back the past is impossible. But that hasn’t stopped people from trying. The Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, wants to do just that. So do most of the people who voted Donald Trump to power. During confusing times, it is easier to cling furiously to ancient social norms, mores and practices, and vehemently reject those that don’t ‘fit in’. Politicians who tap into that mood are more than happy to exploit it, promising to protect us from these predatory ‘outsiders’.
Which is why our global village is growing increasingly xenophobic. This is not a pessimistic view, or a lament for days of yore. Because one cannot halt progress, and those who can’t adapt must inevitably perish. “I know we’ve come a long way, changing day to day, but tell me, where do the children play..?” asked American folk singer Cat Stevens way back in 1970, before he changed his name to Yousuf Islam. As doormats and signs saying ‘Suswagatham’ or ‘Welcome’ are increasingly replaced by ones that say ‘Beware of Dog,’ that is perhaps a question we all need to ask ourselves.