THE BIRTH OF THE NIGHT BIRDS

The social norms are changing,the working hours are changing,life styles are changing......yes,we know it......as the adage says......transition,change is the way of life.....the worrisome part is, alongside, a very uncanny and warped change is emerging.....and if we don't wake up and see the warning signals,it might become just too late to deal with this new species ,a strange creature............the night bird!!...its characteristics----- in office they busily receive overseas calls and transfer data online in the middle of the night,at home they love to talk,chat,text,read and type in the wee hours of the night,they enjoy a walk or a buffet meal or watch a match when the whole world is asleep....in short,they feel pepped up and high on energy at night.......weird isn't it?

Earlier,we used to work by day and when darkness would creep in,we would switch off all work and sleep....but wait!wait!wait!this is not what the new nocturnal creature from urban India thinks.......for him,when the sun sets,it is no longer the end of day........rather life begins after midnight for him.

The night is no more tranquil and serene.........there's the din of traffic,the sound of machines trying to complete work post midnight,the noise made by party buffs revelling and merry making.........in offices people are discussing important issues at conference meetings,some are exchanging social niceties and sipping cappucchino coffee and yet others are trying to meet the unfinished deadlines..........poor hapless employees........they know ........if they fail,they'll be thrown aside like dead rats........oops!........at home........the kids get hyper active past midnight........they are talking on mobiles,messaging,net surfing or e--mailing........and it is a wonder that parents no more find it odd!?

So you see,we are living in a 24 hour world.........everyone seems to be ticking,power packed and hungry for more..........the BPOs,the shopping malls,hotels and cafeteria's and even the internet hubs are mushrooming,as if to satisfy the night bird's wants.......in fact,I feel all the forces are conniving to lure the people into becoming sleepless zombies.........what with the BPOs giving huge incentives for night shifters,the all- night eateries offering mid- night meals and the internet providers making attractive baits of unlimited downloads at night.

Sadly,the nights are no more dark,quiet and beautiful.........it is as if the rich texture of the black colour has been mutilated by a flood of bright neon lights and polluted by harsh human sounds.........when asked,this breed, unanimously say that working past midnight give them a sense of freedom and space..........so they really don't mind going to bed at three in the night and getting up at nine in the morning.......God,won't they have broken body clocks.........their claim is that they don't require more sleep than that.............however,the million dollar question is if this will give rise to a new clan..............reckless,aggressive and abnormal insomniacs?!? Will they miss the magic and romance of the dark and silent night?can't we do something to give them a normal ,happy human life?Is anyone listening?