‘Luxury of poverty’: Thyrocare’s Dr A Velumani compares life in 1960s vs 2020s, says ‘least of money but best of my life’

Life has changed dramatically over the past few decades, with technology and modern comforts transforming everyday routines. But have these conveniences necessarily made people happier? Thyrocare’s Dr A Velumani recently reflected on this question by comparing childhood and life in the 1960s with the lifestyle of people in the 2020s. His post looks at everything from homes and travel to relationships, physical activity and the growing presence of phones and social media.

Dr A Velumani compares life in the 1960s and 2020s

Taking to X, Thyrocare’s Dr A Velumani shared a detailed comparison of what life looked like in the 1960s and how different it has become in the 2020s. Looking back at his childhood, he recalled being born in a village and growing up poor, with homes that had neither bathrooms nor separate bedrooms. Privacy was limited, and there were no phones or Instagram. Yet, according to him, people had something that can feel increasingly difficult to find today: time.

He described the 1960s as a period of having “too much of time”, when families would cook and eat at home. Travelling by bus itself was considered a luxury, while much of everyday life involved walking, running and playing.

‘Strong relationships’ and more time together

For Dr A Velumani, the difference was not only about material possessions. He also highlighted the nature of relationships during his childhood. He recalled a time of strong relationships built around love, affection, trust, respect and peace. Despite having fewer conveniences and less money, he remembers those years as being rich in personal connections and time spent away from screens.

His description stands in sharp contrast to how he views modern urban life.

From ‘too much of time’ to ‘no time’

According to Dr A Velumani, people in the 2020s may have more financial resources and physical comforts but often have less time. He contrasted the village life of the 1960s with today's city lifestyle, describing people as living “rich” in homes with multiple bedrooms and attached bathrooms. Privacy, too, has increased. At the same time, phones and Instagram have become constant companions.

He summed up the shift simply: the earlier generation had “too much of time”, while people today have “no time.” The change can also be seen in food habits. While people once cooked and ate their meals, Dr Velumani pointed to the modern tendency to simply order food and eat.

‘Bus was luxury, Airbus is boring’

Travel was another striking part of his comparison. Dr Velumani recalled a time when “bus was luxury”, reflecting how even ordinary forms of public transport could be considered a major convenience. In contrast, he described air travel in today's world by saying “Airbus is boring.” The comparison highlights how dramatically access to transportation and other conveniences has changed within just a few generations.

From ‘walk, run and play’ to more time in bed

Dr Velumani also drew attention to changes in physical activity. In the 1960s, he recalled people spending more time walking, running and playing. In contrast, he described modern lifestyles as involving “more on bed”, linking this sedentary routine with problems such as back pain and knee pain. His comparison suggests that some of the physical activity that naturally formed part of everyday life in earlier decades has been replaced by more sedentary routines.

‘Strong relationships’ vs loneliness

Perhaps the most striking part of Dr Velumani's post is his comparison of relationships and emotional well-being. While he associated the 1960s with love, affection, trust, respect and peace, he described modern relationships as weaker. He listed loneliness, stress and depression among the problems he associates with life in the 2020s. His post therefore goes beyond nostalgia for simpler homes or slower travel. It raises a broader question about whether material progress and technological convenience have come alongside changes in how people spend their time and connect with one another.

‘50 yrs so much of difference?’

Dr Velumani then posed a question about the scale of this transformation, asking whether “50 yrs” could really bring about such a dramatic difference in the way people live. He took the thought further by asking readers to imagine what the world might look like 500 years from now.

For him, the contrast is also deeply personal. Looking back at his first 20 years, he said he had “least of money but best of my life.” He ended the post with the phrase “Luxury of Poverty”, turning his memories of growing up with fewer material comforts into a reflection on what he considers the richness of that period: time, movement, relationships, affection, trust and peace.