Ritika Chandra, a 31-year-old HR professional, shares her unique journey of resisting the digital payment revolution in a UPI-dominated Delhi. Her story highlights the challenges of a cash-only lifestyle in a rapidly digitizing world, offering a fascinating perspective on the human side of technological change.
Chandra's resistance to UPI began with a preference for cash and a healthy dose of skepticism. While her father, a retail store owner, embraced UPI early on, she stuck to cash and debit cards for smaller payments and net banking for larger transactions. This approach allowed her to maintain a sense of control and independence, free from the perceived convenience of digital wallets.
However, the tide turned around 2021 as UPI became increasingly prevalent. Her peers' adoption of UPI for bill settlements and the growing number of businesses accepting only UPI began to chip away at her cash-only lifestyle. The convenience of not carrying cash, the ease of paying for cabs and food deliveries, and the growing acceptance of UPI across the city made it increasingly difficult to resist.
Chandra's strategy to manage expenses with friends and colleagues using Splitwise was a clever workaround, but it couldn't mask the broader shift towards digital payments. The increasing number of businesses refusing to accept cash and the growing reliance on QR codes for payments created a sense of embarrassment and dependency on others for UPI transactions.
The turning point came in September 2025 when Chandra finally downloaded a UPI app, drawn by the convenience it offered in solving everyday cash hassles. She admits to overspending, a consequence of the ease of online payments. To rein in her spending, she now takes a break from UPI every alternate weekend, a testament to the power of personal discipline in the face of technological convenience.
Chandra's story is a fascinating exploration of the human relationship with technology, highlighting the challenges of adapting to change and the emotional attachment to traditional methods. It raises questions about the balance between convenience and control, and the potential consequences of a rapidly digitizing society on individual autonomy and financial management.
