India is often described as a nation ready for transformation, driven by its youthful population, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurial spirit. Yet, as Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes the global economy, a new and impactful divide is emerging within Indian society.
There is a word we keep using incorrectly. Distracted.
We often claim our phones, social media, and endless feeds distract us. But distraction suggests something accidental, a brief slip in focus. What’s happening to us is neither accidental nor brief. It’s been carefully designed, improved, and spread widely. The better word is trained.
We have been conditioned to act this way.
In Mirzapur, behind a small shoe shop on a street filled with the scent of vegetables and river air, a vegetable vendor spends his mornings reading. He is not scrolling on his phone or watching videos—he is simply reading. His name is Amit Sonkar, a class 12 dropout, and he says he reads not for exams or ambition but “for pleasure.” You can read his full story here. That simple statement should make every state government in India reflect on what a neighbourhood library can do for a community.
There are places you remember not because anything significant happened in them, but because of how they made you feel. A neighbourhood tea stall. A worn-out park bench under a neem tree. The old café, two lanes from your house, where the waiter never asked how long you planned to stay. These were not destinations. They were just — places. Unhurried, undemanding, open to anyone who walked in. Most of them are gone now. Or going. And we have barely noticed.
Saurabh Dwivedi has pledged everything he owns to build 100 libraries in Bundelkhand.
But the real question is not about him; it is about all of us.
If you visit an office, check a college WhatsApp group, or watch a teenager do homework, you’ll see a pattern. People aren’t working through problems themselves. Instead, they type questions into chat boxes, wait for answers, and copy the results, letting machines decide what to say or do next.
AI is rapidly changing jobs worldwide. People who do not learn AI skills are more likely to lose their jobs, have little or no pay increases, and face more unfairness, according to recent data and CEO opinions.
She leaned over her laptop, staring at the bright screen, unsure if she would get good news or another letdown.
Another email blinked into her inbox.
Another curt rejection.
There was no explanation or feedback. Just one short, impersonal sentence:
“We regret to inform you…”
Take a look around. There’s the colleague who proudly talks about getting just five hours of sleep. The student who stays up all night before an exam and calls it dedication. The parent who scrolls on their phone after the kids are asleep, because it’s the only time they have for themselves. We’ve slowly created a culture where being tired is seen as working hard, and sleep is something we only do when everything else is done.
In today’s digital world, many children now scroll rather than play outdoors, read, or engage in conversation during their free time. Short-form video platforms have turned entertainment into a continuous stream of brief content, designed to capture and retain attention. Although these platforms may seem harmless, their long-term effects on children’s productivity, attention span, and well-being are cause for concern.