Dedications

Attended a seminar recently where the title of the seminar was about 'Why privacy is the new currency and and how our personal data is someone else's wealth?'. One of the few seminars amongst the many I attended, where the speaker was dynamic, knowledgeable, thought provoking, educative, informative and also frightening. He was Adv. Murali Neelakantan.

Yes so frightening that I thought I was watching a horror play through his presentation and Halloween had just gone by a few days ago. This speaker even with out any devilish, frightening attire, spooked the excreta out of me. With all the attributes I mentioned about him, forgot to mention that he was also bloody handsome at his age. First time saw a handsome dude who could bloody frighten many in the audience with his knowledge on mobile privacy and how it can misused. 

Knowledge which he broke down so simply with a question repeatedly asked. Will anyone give their house keys or their wallet to stranger? The answer is a no brainer, No! The message was about Aadhar Card and our Mobile nos., which we give away so casually when asked for. Many or maybe few in the audience did not know to the levels this data can be misused and how badly a victim can be abused.

He even went on to confirm that he does not have an Aadhar Card, and yet he manages all the frustrating mazes of govt. enforced rules where you have to give your Aadhar Card and mobile no? So, not just a good looker but even an Intellectual Super Hero too! A man who is doing phenomenally well, renowned Advocate who practiced in UK and India and prosperous and living normal without whatsapp, without giving his mobile no? He does not use any apps like Gpay or delivery services like Blinkit, Swiggy, etc.

What he missed out is that he did not realise that we live in India. Not many are privileged with knowledge and prosperity like him. One of the topics he enlightened the audience was 'Digital Arrest', forgetting that we live under 'Political Arrest'. Politicians decide what we eat, what language we speak, excreta, excreta, I mean etcetera, etcetera. Even if a person has the knowledge he cannot fight the system where he says "I will not give my Aadhar Card for a KYC in a Bank". 

The common educated man is battling survival, where technology is a saviour. If he wants to book a simple outstation train ticket he needs to give his mobile number. He cannot say he will not give and waste a day going to a railway station and booking one. Many who cannot afford maids and with husband and wife working rely on food delivery apps in today's fast paced world, unless he wants them to survive on vadapav. A highly educated man if he applies for a job cannot say he will not give his mobile no. and will only give his email or Twitter id for messaging? He can be hunting for a job all his life.

If my data is someone else's wealth, then it is a bribe the common man has to pay to survive. It's like saying Delhi's air is polluted so I will stop breathing. Corruption pollution cannot be fought. This is where super intellectuals like Adv. Murali Neelakantan should join forces with like minded social activist, like superheroes of Marvel Cinematic League featured in series like Avengers and Justice League. Maybe then there could a microscopic level of hope for justice in India?

An anecdote that was shared was how Shahrukh Khan son was framed in a drug case. Common man do not have fathers like Shahrukh Khan and are frightened citizens, who is not sure if he will reach home alive travelling in Mumbai local train. 

What Adv. Murali shared at the seminar was even more  frightening, to the levels how mobile phone nos., Aadhar card can be misused by criminals. Went home after the seminar being more aware, educated and an informed citizen but even more a frightened one! 

All through the local train journey back home in my mind exclaiming OMG. It was not praying Oh My God, but cursing Oh My Goverment.