The decade that was: 2000-2010

Seems like yesterday when it was Y2K and I had just entered teenage world..Life is still the same in many ways but at times, it feels like a different world altogether..

Teenage to Adult journey: Things that changed our lives..

1. Malls :


Those were the days when Alankar Plaza used to be a Mall..If you are wondering what it is..It used to be a happening place for shopping in Majestic..Yes Majestic..You can imagine how happening it could have been..And food world was 'the destination' for grocessary where one could find brush to beans under same roof..Its been quite sometime since I used these words like Departmental store..

2. IT


2000
Girl: Hi, I work in x IT company.
Aunty in wedding: My son 'Brahmananda' also works in x. Do you know him?
Girl: There are 2 Brahmananda's I know

2010
Girl: Hi, I work in x IT company.
Aunty in wedding: My son 'Brahmananda Joshi' also works in x. Do you know him? (smart aunty adds surname too)
Girl: I know 10 Brahmananda Joshi's..

IT industry growing and still growing..

3. Television


Television was all about educating GenX on Indian mythology, Indian values, Indian family though in the form of Ekta's serials..Now teenage GenX watches shows on MTV,V and Bindass..And some mature GenX (mainly those working) will not have one..Who wants a TV when even cricket matches are live online and soaps are available online even before its telecast?

4. Orkut/Facebook


It was a platform where everyone could befriend
a. girl whom they just shared a smile
b. friend's friend
c. friend's friend's friend
and sometimes if luck permits, even chat with them..It was Orkut initially..It was like an oracle clarifying everything about the person with whom you had no scope to chat with even if the world paused..

5. Size 0


Bollywood divas, our so called fashion goddess were voluptous, out of shape,
Come Firangs and Miss Indias..All in super fit or should I call skinny anorexic bimbos..Bolly stars felt the pinch...Everyone started rigourous fitness regime to save their careers..and Size 0 was IN..

6. Phones


2000: Girl says "My dad has a mobile phone". Other girl in her mind "OMG! Mobile phone"
2010: Milkman,paperman,conductor,driver,housemaid everyone has one..
India's greatest invention in this decade is "missed call". Nowhere in this planet is there a concept called missed call. Its free for everyone-caller, receiver, network provider..no ones at loss..everyones happy

7. Bollywood


Kapoors, Khans, Chopras are still integral in B-town..Its still ruled by Superstars betas,betis,bhanjas,bhanjis..What can be done when there are Uday Chopras and Tusshar Kapoors? Uday Chopra to me epitomises Optimism..Everytime his movie bombs in Box Office, he resurfaces reminding us he still has his bank balance intact..Tusshar Kapoor is atleast bearable when he is dumb..

8. Kids


While walking on streets, kids played games like Lagori, ice-pice, kallu mannu, jootata (sorry i have no translation in other langueses)...These games seem lost in front of XBox, PS3, Laptops..There is sports ofcourse like Tennis, Basketball, Swimming but most of the times it to make the next Federer,Jordan and Phelps..

9. English


From words like 's**t' to 'f**k'..
From Erich Seghal,Paulo Coelho to Chetan Bhagat,Arvind Adiga, Arundathi Roy
From magazines, newspapers to e-news,blogs, twitter, facebook
From just elite angrez people to rickshawala,doodhwala
Its everywhere..

10. This is just for completion..Top 10 sounds way better than Top 9..

At the end of it, things have changed..for better, for worse is a mystery which time will tell..A clear conscience houses a happy soul..Looking forward to changes a decade later when I come back in 2021 i.e if we survive 2012..Have a great year ahead :)
And do drop in your views on what changed your lives in the past 10years..