If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?
There was a time when billboards were few and were mostly near airports, railway stations, bus depots and prominent tourist spots and marketplaces. Nowadays they are everywhere, there are three at an intersection of my small neighbourhood.
I never paid much attention to them initially, maybe used them as markers along the road in the pre smartphone digital navigation era. But nowadays they are literally unignorable, there are so many things out there and so many people making them, marketing has become a lifeline of selling each and everything. Even if you ignore the ad of a property, but what about your favourite brand launching a new snack? They will get to your eyes.
However, I have known example of their cons long back when my neighbour’s car turned over trying to avoid hitting a car. The less than a second distraction of a billboard had caused quite the mess but thankfully no major injuries.
So, if I had a freeway billboard, it would probably not say anything. Just a plain white colour of emptiness. I have a place to say everything I want to those who may be interested and it’s here.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 
2 responses to “Against the Eyes”
A strikingly thoughtful reflection. What stands out is the quiet courage of choosing silence in a world addicted to noise. The idea of a blank billboard is both ironic and profound—it questions distraction, consumption, and our constant demand for attention without preaching. Your personal observation grounds the piece in reality, while the ending leaves us with a lingering pause, much like that white space you imagine. Subtle, intelligent, and deeply relevant.
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That’s grounding and relatable!
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