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Bhopal youngsters take tech route to spirituality, read holy books on cellphones
Several youths in Bhopal have converted their cellphones into a holy book. There are many others who download various applications to read verses of holy books like Ramayan, Geeta, Bible and Guru Granth Sahib.
In the holy month of Ramazan, one thing engineering student Farhan Khan does forget to carry is his cellphone. For Farhan, it is the only way to communicate with God. Before using his phone, he washes his hands and cleans his phone gently with a clean cloth as it is just like a holy book for him.
Farhan has downloaded a mobile application and reads verses of the holy Quran on his cellphone. He is among the several youths in Bhopal who have converted their cellphones into a holy book. There are many others who are downloading various applications to read verses of holy books like Ramayan, Geeta, Bible and Guru Granth Sahib.
Ramkrishna Chaturvedi, a priest at Hanuman temple, said, “A few weeks ago, a boy who was about 18-19 years old, came to the temple. He cleaned his iPad with a handkerchief and started reading something. For a few minutes, I watched him and then figured out that he was reading Hanuman Chalisa. At that time, it was a new phenomenon for me but now I see that many youths are following this trend.”
Even parents upload different apps in the cellphones of their children to inculcate in them the habit of reading holy books every day. “I have uploaded the Bible in my son’s cellphone to make him spiritual. Nowadays, parents can’t force their children to carry books with them. Mobile applications are the best way to make them cultured and religious,” says Sudheer Prasad, a resident of Bhopal.
However, there is an apprehension regarding authenticity of texts available on mobile applications. Sikh religious organisation Akal Purkh ki Fauj’s state convener Paramveer Singh said there is a need to ensure authenticity of these mobile apps. Otherwise, there are chances of having misconceptions about a religion.
