Bollywood wasn’t always this loud, flashy, and painfully unrealistic. There was a time when Indian cinema stood as a reflection of its people—rooted in family values, cultural depth, and stories that resonated beyond mere spectacle. The Golden Age of Bollywood, spanning from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, saw films crafted by an educated elite who embraced their identity rather than chasing commercial success. These movies weren’t just entertainment; they were a mirror to a nation rebuilding itself after colonial rule, a nation that valued substance over style.

So what changed? What can we learn from it? Here’s my perspective

Facebook is a glaring example of corporate greed in the modern era. What has now evolved into Meta was once a cherished platform, deeply personal to its users—a space for genuine connection and community. Its transformation over the years highlights how competition in the tech industry, when driven solely by profit, can become detrimental to society.

I’m a self-proclaimed history enthusiast. I’ve spent countless evenings immersed in books and documentaries that delve into the stories of our past. History reveals who we are and how we’ve evolved into the societies we inhabit today.

Throughout history, we can trace the rise and fall of altruistic values, many of which likely influenced the survival and flourishing of the altruistic gene. In fact, the very concept of civilization may have been a catalyst for nurturing altruism. At its core, civilization is built on systems that discourage harmful behavior—punishing murder with the death penalty or social ostracism, for example. While agriculture and shelter offered practical reasons for settling down, they wouldn’t have sufficed if people had war mongering within the community.

Ancient civilizations recognized this need for order and introduced both justice systems and moral frameworks. Almost universally, they implemented some form of reward-and-punishment belief system. In the West and the Middle East, this often manifested as moral codes tied to divine approval or wrath. In the East, the concept of karma emerged, where actions inevitably led to reciprocal outcomes.

These systems not only kept societies functional but also reinforced the value of altruistic behavior, shaping the moral and social fabric we still navigate today.