3 + 1 = 2

The concept of first world and third world countries has always been entertaining to me. First world countries seem to be this evolved place, where things function and life is easier. The basic necessities are covered with ease, but that doesn’t make them free of their own demons. Though ‘first world problems’ makes for an entertaining meme, it is an actual occurrence. Because the countries there have evolved so fast, they’ve become dependent on that technology. They actually find it problematic to deal with disconnection. The effects resemble claustrophobia, where the firewalls seem to be closing in and there’s no one to hear you scream.

But this mass hysteria seems to be spreading around the globe these days. It’s even landed upon the shores of supposed third world countries, like our own. India is still referred to as a third world country, a grimy place with poor people and a mismanaged government. But we really aren’t. India is a second world country. It is third world in many ways, but the people here are trying too hard to become first world citizens. We have these stark contrasts in ideologies and lifestyles that bloom from our ‘00 generation – today’s brand of urban yuppies who can’t wait to grow up. We still have issues with basic necessities, but they find comfort in investing time towards temporary indulgences. The result is a generation that stands on the edge of oxymoronic claustrophobia, that feeling of being crushed by loneliness despite being connected to the entire world.

It’s not all as bad as it sounds though. Open access to the first world has erased a number of our third world issues. We’ve managed to make our lives simpler by growing beyond the limitations of yesterday’s technology. We are slowly growing aware of the power we hold thanks to the first world. We want access to information, even though we may not know what to do with it. Our problems now are a curious mix of first world idiotics and third world challenges. Though the Zero generation seems to be simply thrashing about, there is still hope that time will show them wisdom. Until then we will remain a second world nation, a country that knows the power it holds but does not have means to use it.