Ona Saturday evening, a group of strangers gathered at the Cha Bar café in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Among them were government employees, students, and corporate professionals. The oldest was close to 40, the youngest not yet 20. It was an unusual mix, but they shared one thing in common: They were all lonely in the city.
This meetup served as a coping mechanism, allowing them to socialise for a few hours, bonding over books and other interests. None of them had family in Delhi.
With a population of more than 1.4 billion people, India might be the world's most crowded country, but, paradoxically, it is also becoming a lonelier society-mirroring trends seen worldwide.
Though humans have for centuries struggled with loneliness, it is only in recent times that the scale of it has become alarming.
So much so that the World Health Organisation has classified it as a global public health concern. It is tough to quantify loneliness, but some studies have attempted to do so.
The Global State of Social Connections Report 2023 by Meta and American analytics firm Gallup, for instance, has ranked India 36th among 142 countries in terms of self-reported loneliness. According to the report, 30 per cent of Indians feel very lonely or fairly lonely, while 28 per cent feel a little lonely.
Studies also show that loneliness transcends age, affecting everyone from the teenagers to the elderly.
The growing acknowledgment of the issue has given rise to a multi-layered industry.
Ishan Gupta, cofounder of emotional wellness app Clarity, estimates it to be a multi-billion-dollar market that spans startups, apps, and gadgets and gizmos.
Startups that focus on connecting people -whether through friendships or travel buddies are gaining popularity, particularly among the youth. "For travel partners, it is crucial to find a good match in terms of time, preferences, and personal chemistry.
Bu hikaye Business Standard dergisinin September 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Business Standard dergisinin September 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
A singular life in plural India
In India today it is difficult to imagine a period of uninterrupted communal harmony, with reports of lynching, hate speech and bigotry surfacing with rising frequency.
11 dead in fire after LPG tanker crashes into vehicles on Jaipur-Ajmer highway
An LPG tanker collided with a truck on Friday, sparking a massive fireball that turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway into an inferno in which 11 people were killed and 37 vehicles engulfed in flames.
FMCG firms roll out tailored offerings for golden years
Affluent and health conscious, mature consumers are becoming selective about what they buy. Businesses are stepping up to meet their needs
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
New districts are being announced more because of demands by influential groups than empirical studies, usually in the buildup to elections
Accenture Q1 showing a shot in arm for IT stocks
Strong US economy bodes well for Indian IT firms, say analysts
Sun Pharma: Down, but not out
Despite short-term blip, pharma major remains favourite among investors
Mirae Asset MF's AUM crosses ₹2 trn mark
Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) on Friday announced that its mutual fund (MF) assets under management (AUM) has crossed the ₹2 trillion mark on the back of 54 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the past five years.
PIL in HC seeks action against Amfi for 'misleading' ads
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking directions to Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to revoke the permissions granted to mutual fund body Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) for \"misleading\" and \"deceptive\" advertisement campaigns under the investor education and protection measures.
IPO frenzy: Six issues fully subscribed; IGI at 13% premium on listing day
The initial public offerings (IPOs) of DAM Capital Advisors, Sanathan Textiles, Concord Enviro Systems, Mamata Machinery and Transrail Lighting, whose issues are on their penultimate day, were subscribed between 1.24 and 37.75 times.
Debt funds to deliver best show in 4 yrs
Strong performance attributed to bond index inclusion and fiscal prudence, say experts