Can Robots For Domestic Help Ever Replace Good Old Bai?
Many dream of using robots for domestic help – who do our domestic chores perfectly, without a word of complaint. Can a robot really take the place of a human being? Like millions of women in India who live in mortal fear that their ‘ kaamwali bai’ will take an impromptu 10 day hiatus (just because she can), there is a glimmer of hope in the not so distant future. The hope takes the form of a domesticated robot which comes trained in all household chores, can switch roles to a nanny or a cook and the holiest of holiest – will never take leave. This beautiful creation of man will tirelessly strive to achieve your ideal of a spic and span home with made to order meals and happy babies who are put to sleep by a never ending list of lullabies played on a continuous loop. Sounds too good? Well, hold your breath, the expression ‘best thing since sliced bread’ will soon be amended to ‘best thing since the Bai robot .’ We are in for a ride and though I most...