India, Dec. 18 -- It is a truth universally acknowledged - though rarely admitted aloud - that the generation born with a smartphone almost fused to its palm is now, quietly and with a hint of mischief, placing a landline on its coffee table. Yes, the same landline once confined to grandparents' homes, complete with coiled cords, dramatic rings, and the uncanny habit of dying during thunderstorms.
In 2025, this technological relic is enjoying an unlikely renaissance, embraced by Gen Z with equal parts irony and intent. When history repeats itself, it seems, it does not ask permission; it simply rings.
At the heart of this revival lies a profound fatigue with hyper-connectivity. Smartphones, once hailed as tools of freedom and empowerment,...