Digital Distraction: The Dajjalian Threat

Using the metaphor of the false messiah, Jaihoon argued that the pull of digital devices is a creative distraction.

Athavanad, Kerala – On October 17, 2025, the campus of Sayyid Muhammed Ali Shihab Thangal Memorial Arts and Science Women’s College, Athavanad, buzzed with anticipation as renowned Indian author and activist, Mujeeb Jaihoon, graced the institution as the Chief Guest for a special event. Jaihoon delivered a compelling address that resonated deeply with the students, advocating for a critical review of their digital engagement as the key to fostering creativity.

Attended by management committee members, the Principal, and Heads of Departments, the session focused on the essential, yet often neglected, ingredients of a thriving creative life in the modern age.

The Dare to Disconnect

The central theme of Jaihoon’s speech was the urgent need to disconnect from the digital world to foster genuine creativity and presence. He illustrated his point by sharing the now-famous example of US scientist Dr. Fred Ramsdell.
“When the Nobel Committee was trying to reach him with news of his immense scientific achievement,” Jaihoon recounted, “Dr. Ramsdell was hiking with his wife, Laura O’Neill, and their two dogs. His phone was on airplane mode.”

Jaihoon used this anecdote as a powerful metaphor for prioritizing real-life experiences over digital availability. “If a great immunologist can dare to switch to flight mode while hiking with his wife, how can we afford to hesitate from turning away from the screen as we build our creative life?” he challenged the attentive audience. His message was clear: making time for meaningful, non-digital activities is not just a luxury, but a necessity for intellectual and creative flourishing.

Love, Patience, and the Apple Store Paradox

The author then turned his attention to the widespread complaint of ‘lack of time,’ especially in the context of consuming content that requires more than the conventional 90-second digital template. He highlighted a striking paradox he had observed that clearly illustrates where people place their value.

“Even as people complain about lack of time and refrain from enjoying useful content beyond the conventional 90 seconds template, I saw huge crowds at the Apple store,” Jaihoon noted. “They came there after dragging through congested traffic, patiently waiting for their turn at the parking lot, and then waiting obediently in the store queue to purchase their favorite device.”
He noted the underlying truth: people can wait for as much time for what they ‘love’. He asserted that this capacity for patience is driven by deep affection. “Love can make anyone patient,” he stated, suggesting that if students can channel that same intensity of ‘love’ towards their creative pursuits, academic goals, or intellectual growth, the perceived lack of time would dissolve.

Writing: A Pact with Pain

Transitioning from the theme of digital detox to the grit required for creative mastery, Jaihoon spoke candidly about the arduous process of writing. He offered a sobering perspective on the sacrifices inherent in any serious creative endeavour.
“Writing is not for those who fear shaking hands with pain and tears,” he asserted. He underscored that true artistry and creation are rarely born from comfort or ease. Instead, they require resilience, an unflinching gaze at difficult truths, and a willingness to confront personal and emotional challenges.

The Dajjalian Threat

In a stark warning, Mujeeb Jaihoon identified the most significant threat to the students’ generation of creators.
He warned the audience directly: “Digital Distraction is the Dajjalian threat to human creativity.” By invoking the Islamic eschatological figure of the Dajjal, or false messiah, Jaihoon equated the seductive pull of digital screens with a spiritual and creative deception, one that promises connection and information but ultimately leads to a crippling loss of focus and the inability to achieve meaningful, deep work.

Following his powerful address, Mujeeb Jaihoon was given a special tour of the college’s book exhibition, which featured a diverse collection of books donated by the students themselves. The tour offered intellectual curiosity and reading culture that the students are actively cultivating, providing a positive counter-narrative to the digital distractions he had warned against.
Jaihoon’s visit served as a potent reminder to the aspiring young women of the Athavanad college that their greatest asset is their ability to focus, to choose patience, and to disconnect when necessary.