bhaskar saikia

We live in an age of dazzling technology. Satellites beam information across the globe in seconds, medical machines peer inside the human body with astonishing precision, and almost anyone can speak face-to-face with someone thousands of miles away with a simple tap on a screen. If judged only by our inventions, the present seems like the brightest chapter in human history.

And yet, beneath this shine, the cracks are hard to ignore. Poverty and hunger, problems we have long had the means to solve, continue to scar humanity. Wars and conflicts rage on in different corners of the world, while the threat of global war looms like an unshaken shadow. Climate change conferences come and go, but the planet continues to choke on pollution and greed.

The truth is uncomfortable: despite our progress, the world hasn’t really changed for the better.

The Mirage of Prosperity

We often mistake consumer-driven growth for true prosperity. Easy credit and endless EMI schemes create the illusion of abundance, but this “progress” is fragile. From the crash of 1987 to the dot-com bubble of 2000, and the global recession of 2008, the story has been the same — greed at the top, suffering at the bottom. The cycle repeats because the ingredients never change.

Meanwhile, global military spending soars, enough to feed and educate generations if redirected. Instead of investing in peace, nations continue to fuel the machinery of war.

Technology Without Contentment

Yes, technology has advanced. But has it made us happier, kinder, or more connected in a meaningful way? Social media, with its constant demand for attention, often leaves us lonelier than before. Birthdays become photo-ops for likes rather than moments of shared joy. Human interaction is increasingly filtered through screens, reducing genuine connection to a digital performance.

Healthcare innovations haven’t stopped millions from dying of preventable causes. Lifestyle advancements haven’t freed us from discontent. Even space exploration, for all its promise, hasn’t brought us closer to a safer, more peaceful world.

The Illusion of a Great Era

Media narratives often paint today as a golden age. After all, happiness sells — it fuels consumption, debt, and economic activity. But perhaps we are living in one of the most restless, distracted, and disconnected phases of history, mistaking progress in gadgets for progress in life itself.

So, Where Do We Go From Here?

If the past few decades have shown us anything, it’s that technology alone cannot heal the fractures of the human spirit. We don’t just need smarter machines; we need wiser hearts. Real progress will come not from the next app or gadget, but from rethinking our values — placing peace over war, community over isolation, sustainability over greed, and human connection over digital applause.

Until then, the uncomfortable truth remains: the world, for all its advancements, is still no better.