Digital immortality in the 21st century

The planet earth comprises of about 8.7 million species that we know of. Some of the species swim in the water, some have the ability to fly, some trod on the land and yet one of them has procured the ways to do them all.

Humans in many ways are very similar to other species. Just like other animals, the three main forces still governing our lives are the force to survive, procreate and eat.

But what is it that makes us the most dominant creature on this planet?

There are 12 theories about humans that have evolved. While the scientific community is busy arguing the validity of each, I cannot comprehend my mind on which one is correct. But there is one fact that I can strongly state that the animals who have established dominance over others are not the ones portraying physical strengths. With a body that could be snapped like a twig by an elephant or ripped into shreds by a lion, it is fair to say that we have never been the strongest creature to inhabit this earth.

The battle of dominance has been won because of the complex organ we carry on our shoulders. This miraculous organ has been imperative in shaping our journey from an early man in a cave to a white-collar guy in a corner office. We have come a long way from living in the forests at the mercy of nature to inhabiting the strongest concrete structures. We have learned to create light when there is darkness, create seasons as per our needs, grow our own food and even save lives. And how did we achieve them?

Well, it has been because of our brilliant brains and also two abilities that we have mastered overages. These two fundamental abilities are the ability to adapt and the ability to learn and educate.

1. Ability to Adapt: None can argue against the fact that humans are by far one of the most adaptable species on this planet. We don't know how true the theories of evolution are, but we do know that the man who can adapt is the man who can succeed. In the olden days, the man who could adapt to the drastic changes in nature was the one who would survive. But today, the parameters of adaptation are now no longer limited to environmental factors. The paradigms of adaptation now include the ability to blend in with people of different cultures and races not one of your own. The more comfortable you are with others; the easier it will be to reach the hearts of people.

2. Ability to learn and educate: Imagine what would have happened if the first human who learned to read and write never shared his knowledge? Where would the human race be if we never taught how to plow lands, harvest crops or cook food? Do you know that when Frederick Banting discovered insulin, he refused to put his name on the patent? He sold the patent to the University of Toronto for $1 because he and his co-inventors thought that it was unethical to profit from a discovery that is meant to save human lives.

So, humans are not here today just because they adapted well or they made it through natural selection. We are also here because our ancestors were generous to share their knowledge and discoveries. We are here because people who inhabited this planet before us realized that it is only if they will pass their knowledge, their descendants will live better.

Homo Sapiens Today

Humans have emerged from a meek species to a power to reckon with. We have surpassed all the other living beings on this planet to become an assertive power. But is that it?

Where are we headed next?

With 7.7 billion occupying the planet and 3.4 billion of us still struggling to have access to basic necessities, there is a lot to be done. Many of us have the ability to put food on our plates because we were born in good families. Families that could afford to educate us and raise us. Families where you could sleep peacefully at night knowing that you will not be bombarded. Families where food was always available in plenty.

But not all humans are that lucky. The problems of income disparity, poverty, expensive education, etc. extensively cloud the world that we live in. But these problems cannot be tackled alone. In order to resolve these issues, we need to trace our steps back to history.

In the days when humans had tails, what did we do to protect ourselves? We lived in packs. As we evolved, our packs became tribes. As we move past tribes, we became a race. It has always been our involvement with the community that has given us solace and contentment.

But what has happened to us now? We are deeply engrossed in a world where our existence is defined in lines of code, where an algorithm can predict our personality, where we no longer bow our heads to kings but stoop to the little devices in our hands.

We like to call this world a 'virtual world. '  

While the virtual world has its own positives, it is the negatives that concern me. We are raising a generation who is obsessed with looks and likes. Bullied by people they have not met; they undergo surgeries to look pretty and handsome. The early men sought protection from a ravenous species hunting us down for food, but we seek protection from the strangers judging us across the screen. 

Do you know that according to research, the number of dead users on Facebook could reach at least 1.4 billion or potentially as high as 4.9 billion by the end of the century? This means that while most of us will no longer walk on this planet earth, our lives will still be visible. In a sense, our virtual personalities will become immortal.

But is that what we want? 

To be immortalized in a codebase as a personality with a pretty face and hundreds of friends.

I hope not! Since, there is no point in becoming immortal in a database where you will be eventually lost. A life in which you don't touch other lives. 

So, if you have always wanted to do something. This is the time. Pick up an issue that will impact a larger audience. Take some time out of your 8-hour job and do what you have always wanted. The world is full of problems. 

You have no idea how blessed you are to be born in a community where you are loved. According to the statistics, if you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in your bank, in your wallet or some spare change, you are among the 8% of the world's wealthy. There are still 3 billion people in this world, that cannot even read what you are reading. 

Just imagine the impact that you can create, that we as a community can create. We have always been mortals. Each one of us is going to breathe, eat, love and eventually die. Our bodies will never roam this earth forever nor will our spirits. But what might resonate with others while we are gone is our ideals and our efforts. Your character will continue to be displayed in the lives of every human that you have touched. Your children will be the messages that you will send to the future. Your ideas will come to fruition when a human in some other time, will take action upon them.

The survival guide no longer addresses the issues of how one human has survived. It has shifted its focus to how the ones that are yet to come will survive. You may not be present but if you act today, you will never be gone.

You will be a mortal who has achieved immortality. Literally, figuratively and of-course virtually!