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Sunday Column 20-08-2023

It has been said that man (This is a general term. I should use the term, human, to avoid protest by the fair sex group.) or rather human being, is a social animal. He is very adept at forming groups. There is always a single person who starts this movement. Then others join him.

Most easily “formable” groups these days are the school and college re-union groups. Someone starts looking for old friends, say from old school groups. Social media platform is the best place to start. Within a few days, most of the old school mates are found. All are contacted. Next step is to fix the date and venue for the re-union.

On the designated day, the group meets. Everyone, of course, has aged. You recognise some, while you cannot place someone else. There is lot of fanfare, lot of joy. Some have changed completely, while some others are the same as they were, years ago. Slowly everyone starts recollecting the good old days. Anecdotes are exchanged. Somewhere in the group is your old flame, a first crush maybe. He/she has changed somewhat. Old memories are re-kindled.

Someone takes charge of the podium. Starts re-introducing friends. Each one comes forward, recounts what he/she did over the years and is doing currently. There are lots of ooh’s and aha’s and everyone is having fun. Introductions over, someone starts singing. Others join in.

After lunch, phone numbers are exchanged. A WhatsApp group is formed. People are now chatting in small groups. After tea, people start dispersing, with a promise to stay in touch and to meet again soon.

But what happens to the group after a couple of years is more interesting.

Initially, there is lot of enthusiasm. Messages are exchanged regularly. Old photos are searched and posted. Then unwanted forwards start appearing. Political views are expressed, not liked by everyone, of course. Jokes are integral part of such groups. Spiritual messages are not far behind.

Not everyone in the group is the same. Some are “better” than others. Now this leads to conflicts in the groups. Egos start playing up. Things are said which should not have been said in such groups. Splinters appear.

One would expect grown up people to be more mature, to be more reasonable and to be more balanced in their approach to things. Alas, that is never the case. Once a coherent group is now divided into small factions.

Some doggedly remain in the group. Others voice their feelings and quit. Mind you, this happens to all the groups, without exception.

To gossip is human nature. Once I heard a joke. A group of ladies meet regularly in a garden. They are the most talkative. But one fine day, the group is unusually quiet. When asked, one lady replies, today all the members are present.

But not everything is bad about such groups. Lot of hidden talent surfaces. Some sing well, others write nice poems, still others write good meaningful blogs. You get to know about the current life styles of your old friends. Birthdays are celebrated. Get togethers are organised. You have great fun on a short picnic. In emergencies, people rush to help each other.

As I said at the outset, man is a social animal. He only thrives in a group.
Long live WhatsApp !!!!

Shashank Purandare 20/08/2023