The Thumb Impresses

It is a well known and frequently quoted saying that ‘After twenty years, even the dumping ground earns a valuable value’. The change is the name of the game and everything around us from the socio economic environment to the human psychology, the character, the needs and preferences of new generation are experiencing a significant change. Besides some of the major factors, certain minor and simple looking behavioral attitudes have also got amazingly affected.

The thumb until now was considered to be the symbol of ‘good for nothing’. The word ‘Thenga’ or in crude Punjabi ‘Thuth’ perhaps got originated because of such properties of the thumb. To show thenga to someone means ‘nothing for you’.  The thumb is often related to the illiterate people as they are commonly called ‘Angootha tek’. The thumb thus is a tool used by illiterate class. Perhaps it is because of this worthlessness of the thumb that it has not been considered worthy of any decoration. In people of my age and times I have not seen anyone wearing thumb rings. All other fingers get suitably ornamented except the lonely and isolated thumb which like an old man in a family is visibly present but does nothing.

The times have changed now and with the changing environment, the roles also get hued in changed colours. In the age of smart phones, tabs, palmtops, the thumb assumes the role of main operator of all such gadgets. The generation of today can be usually seen extremely busy with their smart phones and the thumbs moving swiftly on their touch screens. The thumb thus owes much to the younger generation which has brought to the limelight its importance and dedication never seen before by the older generation. I often find the young people and now even the people belonging to my age busy with text messaging on Whats app, Twitter, Face book and other social networking sites for hours at a stretch. The poor thumb is made to perform all the functions and that too with the untiring spirit. The tab users field both the thumbs in arena. The fingers have to perform just the ancillary role of providing support to the gadget in use. The thumb which was considered to be the most lethargic amongst fingers has emerged as the swiftest one. Its reflexes, movements and agility on touch screens are seen to be experienced and are enough to generate envious feelings in fingers which have been relegated to the lesser important job of supporting nature only.

Acknowledging the growing importance of thumb in today’s hi tech world, ‘thenga’ has been very smartly substituted by ‘Baba ji ka thullu’ by Kapil in his comedy show.

Only yesterday I found a young girl sitting in my class, wearing a beautiful thumb ring. I got to understand that the younger generation is all set to suitably reward the thumb with all these decorations of which it has been deprived of since ages. Thums up for thumbs belonging to new generation for the new role and renewed recognition. I hope the thumb impression carries the feeling of pride with it and comes clear of the stigma of ‘good for nothing’ attached to it since ages.

DR SANJEEV TRIKHA