Mahatma Gandhi once said:
“I am not against machinery as such, but I am against its craze. I am against it because it makes us dependent on others and it concentrates wealth in the hands of a few.”
“If a machine saves labour for all, I would welcome it. But if it helps a few exploit the many, I will resist it.”
These words, written over a century ago, resonate deeply in today’s AI/ML era.
The Question We Face Today
Are we truly masters of machines, or slowly becoming dependent on them?
Are our children learning the art of asking the right questions, or simply finding ready-made answers on Google and ChatGPT?
Every industrial or technological revolution comes with advantages and disadvantages. The challenge is to innovate responsibly and ensure that technology empowers rather than exploits.
Digital Growth and Its Dark Side
India’s digital transformation is extraordinary. From mobile banking to UPI, even a tea vendor selling a ?10 cup now accepts digital payments via QR code.
But with progress comes risk:
Cybercrime complaints rose from 4.5 lakh in 2021 to over 22 lakh in 2024. Financial losses touched an alarming ?22,845 crore in 2024 alone. A majority of cases involve phishing, fake apps, identity theft, and online scams.
This dual reality reminds us of Gandhi’s caution: machines (or technology) should serve all, not just a few.
Cybersecurity Awareness: A Must
Tips for Businesses
Audit Trail: Use ERP systems with audit trail features (mandated by the Companies Act) so that every entry is traceable.
Background Checks: Verify employees, especially those handling payments.
Automated Processes: Implement host-to-host payments and bank reconciliations to avoid manual errors.
Segregation of Duties: Prevent one person from controlling all aspects of payment processing.
Threshold Alerts: Set up automated alerts for unusual or large transactions.
Tips for Individuals
Never share OTP with anyone.
Keep international card usage disabled unless you are traveling. Set daily transaction limits on cards.
Choose banks with strong fraud detection systems (e.g., proactive card blocking, verification calls).
Don’t panic on scam calls claiming your card is blocked — never share PAN/Aadhaar.
The Way Forward
Technology is not the enemy. Just as Gandhi advocated for the charkha as a symbol of self-reliance, we must treat modern technology — AI, ML, digital banking — as tools that serve humanity.
The real question is:
Will we use machines to empower everyone, or let them become instruments of exploitation and fraud?
Final Thoughts
Gandhi’s timeless wisdom offers us a guiding principle:
“Machines are tools — it’s how we use them that matters.”
As we celebrate Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti, let’s pledge to embrace technology responsibly, with innovation balanced by trust, awareness, and ethical use.
