“Stone to Phone”: History of mass communication

Mass communication is one of the biggest industries nowadays. Have you ever wondered where it started? What was the first time when someone exchanged information? Why is it so important nowadays?

Mass communication is a process of communicating with the mass, it includes conveying all the information in the world, which might be helpful for them in any aspect. In Today's era we have a lot of options and sources of information, but let's get back to the time when the passing of information just started. From the stone era to the internet era information is a key to success.

In the stone age era if you know where you can find your prey you can fill your stomach. Nowadays, If you know about your opponent you can win over them easily. During the stone era people used different sounds to exchange information as per need for food or to get alert for any danger. Then in vedic period people used woods and leaves to write information and exchange with others and we can see those in our museums as well. Then as civilization happened the people started using clothes to write the information. After a few centuries paper was introduced and this goes for a very long era. Then people started communicating to different countries and kingdoms through it by sending them through horses or carts. Then the era of newspapers came and it spread its roots to all over the place including the rural to urban places everyone uses it and became a major source of information.

Then the technology improved a little bit and telegraph was introduced and it made communication faster than before. It was used in many different wars and in government offices as well. Then the beautiful era of the telephone came. People who are born in the 80's and 90’s might have lots of memories related to it. The time when you have waited for hours,days and sometimes even for months just to hear the voice of your loved ones for a few seconds or minutes. Those calls on STD after paying 1 and 2 rupee coins were so beautiful and memorable. Radio was introduced in the early 1920’s and in India on 16th of may 1924. The era of world war, when many people used to take war updates through it. The radio shows like How Rich You Are were very interesting. The whole village used to listen to the news and music through one radio at chock or tea stall. Those speeches of politicians and freedom fighters still feel like it's in our veins.

Time flies, the first black and white T.V. was introduced in India in 1972 and soon it started spreading its roots. It took a little bit of time but it started showing progress in it. And ofcourse we all know the legendary “Ramayan '' show directed by Ramanand sagar ji which was loved by every community and person of India and was re - telecasted during the covid pandemic. Those old advertisements of Amul were so nostalgic.Then the movies, news, music, sports and serials were also introduced. Then the unbreakable Nokia phones were introduced in the market and in the flash of time those phones became thinner and wider with touch screens and more features and these smartphones nowadays replaced more than 50 other things. But the race of progress is still in the process and many other mind blowing gadgets are also introduced like Smart lens by Mojo and Apple Vision pro. The race for progress will go on and will continue in future as well but do you really think that we want more of it? Because anything in excess is harmful no matter what it is.