IPOD
As I was cleaning my cupboard, I chanced upon something I had carefully tucked away to the corner, may be years ago. That was the Ipod, then in its gleaming, now in its faded leather case. What a precious possession it was. Even after enduring the neglect for years, it has not completely lost its beauty and elegance. Still, I was confused as what will I do with this now. Dispose or preserve? As the poet said, “ A thing of beauty is a joy for ever”.
I ,basically belong to the tape-recorder age. Initially, like most of you, I too had my portable tape recorder with few, but precious cassettes. I had roughly ten cassettes which could carry around 100 songs. Nevertheless, how many times I must have heard those songs- rewinding, forwarding and replaying. Wherever I went the tape recorder and the cassettes followed, definitely with a bit of inconvenience. Later, the portable tape recorder gave way to a bigger record player and obviously the number of cassettes increased. Needless to say it provided with a better range of songs. Then came the amazing invention called the walk-man. Hitherto, who had imagined that music can actually walk along with you by just slipping in a palm sized instrument inside your trouser pockets. Though costly for an normal person like me, I saved every penny to own one of that magnificent invention. That much can be sacrificed for music. I cant imagine how much relief it gave to my otherwise tumultuous younger days. The amount of vigor and energy it had provided during those years is unimaginable. Fortunately, even a wide range of cassettes became available at affordable price. That was when I thought that I have finally arrived at the paradise of music, experiencing its melody and melancholy , as it reveals its beautiful soul, like the blossoming of the petals of a flower. I never knew science had more surprises for me in store.
Meanwhile, at home I had bought my first music system, which was bit expensive. That was my first such purchases after I started earning decent amount. Many, including my family, failed to understand why we need to spend so much on an item just to listen to music. Only music lovers will understand how difficult it is to make someone understand the nuances of music if that person is completely devoid of musical sense. For them every note will sound the same. Only a music enthusiast can experience how such a wonderful music system can bring even the minutest timbre to the fore.
The walkman accompanied me wherever I went though the music system remained at home, faithfully. Over the years we had developed a significant bond between us. I had a good collection of cassettes and walkman had to work overtime to satiate my thirst for music. That was when the technology erupted. Compact discs and ,later pendrives, made cassettes obsolete. Suddenly walkman and even the music system became outdated. Giving away those cassettes were unimaginable. I held on to it by buying a dual music system in which I could play both cassettes and CD. I still remember those grateful glances of the cassettes when they realized that I am not going to throw them out. Honestly, I could not hold on for a long time. On one hand they were consuming the expensive space of my 1000 sq. ft flat, and on the other technology was in a hurry to come out with new innovations almost every week.
That is when that sleek beauty walked into my life. Who can resist its ravishing splendour? In fact it was gifted by my cousin. While handing over that precious gift she said, “ I know you will fall in love with it.” Indeed I did.
Even in my wildest imagination I never thought that, if we could compress all the music in the world into something, it can be so breathtaking. It was like music springing as streams from every possible pores of the nature. I exhibited my priceless prize, shamelessly. Looking back how awkward it was for me to flaunt that slender beauty whenever I got an opportunity to do so. In fact, I tried very hard to create such opportunities.
Like nature uncovering its abundance during spring, that lustrous magnificence opened up the magical world of music. You could invoke music from every corner of the world and assimilate into that technological wonder. It was like, at your command, by just rubbing the magical lamp, the genie plays your favourite music for you. In those days I flirted with that exquisite blend of art and science with wanton abundance.
However, like all beautiful things in the world, that too started losing its charm. Human brain had better things to offer.
I am not surprised that just a glance of that ipod evoked so much emotions in me. Even while the higher intellect of ours will continue discovering better gadgets, IPOD will always remain as my first love when it comes to music.
Today I don’t need any separate gadget to enjoy my music. The smart phone is too many things rolled into one. But as a music lover, walkman and ipod had supplemented a lot in enhancing my musical taste. Nevertheless, of the two IPOD will always have a special place in my mind. It enabled me to explore many shores of music which were alien to me till then. That piece of aesthetic elegance had almost become a part of my body.
While I held it in my hand all these thoughts flooded to my mind. This companion of mine for so many years was abandoned mercilessly. From that neglect rose a piercing sorrow. I never ceased from enjoying music. As and when the market provided me with the best mode of enjoying the music, I deserted the old ones. Even one of the most elegant innovations , which I thought will remain with me through out my life, was discarded pitilessly. As I held it in my palm, I could feel its distressed throb. I could hear its silent sobs.
Again that Hamletian dilemma started haunting me. Now what will I do with this beauty? Lead it to its grave or preserve it for as long as I can? I have better options to enjoy my music now. This gorgeous thing is devoid of any music today. At present this IPOD is languishing between the corner of my cupboard and the dustbin. This thing of beauty, unfortunately is, not a” joy for ever”. It reminds me that all the man made beauty can be transient, while whatever is natural will remain eternal. This IPOD will eventually reach the dustbin, whereas music will remain perennial. Nevertheless, till the time I make my decision , this “ once love of my life” will remain in suspended animation.
