Millennials, or Generation Z, are known for their entrepreneurial skills, and their progressive views. Their influence will undoubtedly be felt for years to come. However, there is a flip side to the millennial phenomenon.
Good times are passing us by. And we are only left with a collection of recollections and memories. As time passes, there are many things that Millennials aren’t doing that we, the centennials, are fortunate enough to enjoy. Let’s go back in time to see a few of those.
Pakistani Millennial Characteristics
Some people claim that there is no definitive consensus on the correct time period for defining a millennial. Nevertheless, the most widely accepted answer is anybody born after 1983. They are also the children of the ‘baby boomers, who were born between 1943 and 1960, during the post-World War II and post-Partition era when the post-colonial nation-state was exalted. As for the Pakistani context, a lot of research has been done on the contrasts between the two undefined, especially in terms of how they interact in the workplace. Nevertheless, the social and cultural environment of the country is unique, making the struggles between the two even more complicated.
There is great diversity among every generation of people. Yet, within every cohort, you will find that people are different from one another in many ways. Reportedly Millennials are self-confident because they grow with the phrase “follow your dreams.” Regardless of the truthfulness of that statement, it has become a popular way to describe the mindset of Millennials.
Despite the fact that many of them have been encouraged to believe that they can be whatever they want to be, they are nonetheless often viewed as more optimistic than the Silent Generation about the future of the country. While the helicopter parents may have encouraged the aspirations of their children, a group of parents who were noted for being very encouraging, active, and constantly present, the result has been a generation of young adults who are often unemployed or under-employed, switching jobs far more often than previous generations.
A Collection of Memories
Let’s go through the list of things the millennials are missing.
The iPhone Of The Nineties
In the 1990s, when you wanted a smartphone, you didn’t look for the iPhone. You got a Nokia. This bulky device with a large antenna on its head was every kid’s dream phone.
Consoles from the Past
The tablets of the Golden Era were the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PlayStation, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. They were by far the most “advanced” devices of the time.
To achieve favor, the “cool kids” used to flaunt this equipment. Portable devices have replaced the once-bulky consoles.
Playing Games Along the Highway
At one point in history, the children would gather on the streets after school to play cricket. They would chalk a crease on the floor and large pebbles served as wickets. They commonly used the saying, “Kisi ghar ki chatt pay gai to out.” There were also numerous other activities that girls performed in that area.
Our Very Own Research Facility
Don’t forget the light bulb! Without light, it is impossible to live. If you are reading these words, you probably have a light bulb in your room. Although the water will not harm you much, putting soap in water is harmful. When you mix soap with water, it is destroyed, which makes the water unusable.
Games for 2-Players
Generation Z has been the most competitive generation of all time. We all miss ‘Pinball’, ‘Need for Speed 2000’, and Angelina Jolie’s action movie game Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. However, we were most fortunate to be able to play poker without fear of losing money. We collected and traded cards like crazy. More friendships have been destroyed by games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and Monopoly than by anything else.
Pakistani Millennials – Television Shows
‘Kamolika’ is unknown to this generation! They are not aware who Tulsi Dutt was! What a nightmare! We used to have to wait until Fridays to see Shakalaka Boom Boom, Shararat, and Karishma Ka Karishma, among other dramas. Don’t you think you’re becoming old? Yep. We’ve all been there!
They have no idea how badly we longed to live the “Hannah Montana life.” This generation had no idea how excited we were to join the “Wizards of Waverly Place” family.
Our anger for Mojo Jojo and our fear of King Ramses’ mummy from Courage the Cowardly Dog will be lost on today’s children.
Pakistani Millennials – Connecting with People
Back then, nobody had Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, or Twitter. There wasn’t any Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat. We didn’t even have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat back then. It was MSN, enormous photo books with frames, and balconies for Twitter. Aunts, in addition to the kids, were excellent tweeters.
Yum! the Snacks
Did you ever want to go back to the simpler times of yore? You could do so with these snacks if you wish. They’re super, as well as crispy and toasty, chocki, toffee-spacin’, bearin’ down on your taste buds. They were the times!
Floppies, Walkmans, and Cassettes
Do you remember having the times when cassettes must be manually rewound? To have toned biceps and triceps, we didn’t need to visit the gym. We had cassette tapes on hand. It was a real struggle!
If you are wondering what Walkman is, you can find out more about it here. If you are wondering what USB is, you can learn about it here.
Pakistani Millennials – Cool Email Addresses
No doubt, we’re all accused of it! Everyones just like princess.mahi@hotmail.com, k3wl ali@yahoo.com, stylish.john@hotmail.com, 2cool4u@hotmail.com, and more like addresses! We’re also just like princess.mahi@hotmail.com, k3wl ali@yahoo.com, stylish.john@hotmail.com, 2cool4u@hotmail.com, and more like addresses! It’s something we’re all accused of, though. Don’t we just love how “kewl” we were?
Rewinding old movies and Plays
The allure of old movies, recollections, and nostalgia’s existential therapy. Reversing the voices of old movies was a pain, but it was quite fun when the words changed.
Read More: The Missionary Musician Par Excellence – Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Ainak Wala Jin
One of the reasons why this show was so successful was because of its hilarious plot. It was an imaginary story about a boy named Ainak who always wanted to be a superhero. He lived in a village called ‘Pind Dadan Khan’ where he had lots of friends. The show was very popular among kids, but the makers never expected it to have a big audience, especially among adults.
Read More: Top 10 Heroes of Pakistan Every Pakistani Must Know About
Moin Akhtar
While most people in Pakistan are aware of Moin Akhtar’s accomplishments, many are unaware of his early life, especially the fact that he grew up in Karachi. His work and legacy are a testament to his life.
Pakistani Millennials Songs
Ustad Nusrat Sahab Khan was one of the finest qawwals of his time. The relationship between India and Pakistan has always been fraught with tension. This is not the first time that artists from both countries have come together to celebrate the Indian cultural tradition. From Pakistani musicians to Bollywood stars, beautiful music has always been appreciated on both sides of the border.
Dil Dil Pakistan
It took 32 years for the first-ever single to become the country’s official national anthem. Its introduction (da da da dil, dil dil…) wasn’t planned. Rather, the song grew in popularity because of its echoes of Javed Jaffery’s vocal introduction (dill dil, dil dil) to their 1982 song, ‘Dil Dil Mera Naam.’ In the past 32 years, the song has been played on Pakistani radio stations. It’s become an unofficial national anthem of the country.
Pakistani Millennials – Big Phone Directory
You’re probably not surprised that you’ve never used a phone book in at least 20 years. We’re talking about a time when people didn’t even keep phone numbers in their address books anymore. That’s right — long before mobile phones and email came along, people had to resort to a physical directory to look up a number or address.
Telefun Melody
Of course, I’m sure that those terrible Telefun melodies are still stuck in your head somewhere. By the way, it’s been more than two decades since it happened! I am not sure if it was the repetition of the ad, the melody, or the dancing telephone on our TVs, but this ad has stuck with us no matter how old we get. However, Telefun might not have been a commercial success, but they did become sentimental parts of our lives, introducing us to the jingles.
1992 Cricket World Cup
Finally, it’s been almost 28 years since Pakistan won the 1992 Cricket World Cup, my fellow Pakistani millennials!
In many ways, the 1992 World Cup signaled the end of one era and the start of another for fifty-over international cricket. It was the first edition to include white balls, day-night contests, black sightscreens, and colored clothes, the latter of which provided a sense of uniformity, both figuratively and literally, since all of the players wore the same sort of kit but in various colors. The shirts have maintained a certain level of appeal among cricket enthusiasts.
Do you have a nostalgic feeling? Do these things make you long for them? We certainly do, and we sincerely hope that this new generation will be able to appreciate and value the things that we previously did.