In the present-day era, where technology has surpassed all the roles which previously elders and the head members of a family used to perform for shaping and grooming their kids to make them well organized, systematized , disciplined and in nutshell to form them into a useful personality; that in the coming days shall render service to society. Formerly, the religious institutions of a society plus elders of a community who then were respected and regarded with great reverence and had the say in a society would transmit to next generation the long lasting values and morals . Those values and morals, used to act as a catalyst for the progress and development of society. Moreover, the offshoots of that society would not only listen carefully to those assistances by their elders but also would imbibe and act up on them dutifully; for the character and demeanor ofthose elderly people back then used to be such that no person in a society would stand and talk against them. This used to act as ahawser, so consequently transmitting and instructing the instructions would go on from generation to generation.
However, the above is story belongs to that period, when internet was not that advanced and had not knocked every door or when people were unfamiliar and did not know what technology meant; back then, one could find the good values among the children or the seniors of a society. But, with the advent of modernism and post-modernism societies changed dastardly, thus the long lasting rich culture swept away from those societies which they were proud of. However, the change didn’t happen overnight it took time, a long time. Earlier, a society used to work as a unit which gradually broke and made joint family into a nuclear. Hence, the change occurred and the subjects of society which were of different category acknowledged it bit by bit. Although, this process took time and a society had to go through different stages and those chapters made society to mend the old ways and accept the new ones without distinguishing whether the change is good for them or not .
Kashmir , which is considered the land of spirituality, the land that taught generations the belief in God– That land, where countless spiritual personalities were born, who then visited innumerable places to deliver the commandments that they had received as a spiritual teaching, alas too lost its value! Now that rich culture is nowhere found among its residents and it seems now the long lasting legacy of spirituality has ceased somewhere and its subjects have derailed from the path that was taught as a subject of life once.
Our society once used to be called the epitome of spiritual-healing, where people from different countries would hit the road to meet theirspiritual gurus who would not only guide them towards metaphysical world but also would tranquilize them by showing them the way towards mental peace lost the grip and failed as a whole in transmuting the coming generation the real meaning and purpose behind life.
Now the children are seen wasting time purposelessly be that on internet or some other activities which yield nothing than volatile pleasure. While surfing ‘YouTube’ one fails to figure out; is it the same valley of saints that was hailed as spiritual hub is now discussing and debating on trivial and meaningless stuffs? Is it the same society that used to worship woman (Devi) and would consider it as the essence of world as per “Rigvida”? Our society is desperately in need of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi who believed in Ahimsa and Satyagraha?
While looking and deeply observing the situation; one deduces that the role of parents has increased now. The society where we live in now days has become worshiper of money and material deeds have taken the toll, for money a throat can be slit without having an iota of rue or guilt for these mere coins. Material deeds have outshined the moral deeds; insensitivity has become a regime, deceit, cheat, dishonesty, perfidy have become the mantras for success; now an honest man is considered a stupid fool who cannot progress in a society and shall remain poor and pitiable throughout his life.
Now the question that nags here is, shall we forget the values and make treachery our hymn to succeed. The answer has to be a big “NO”. Parents must act dutifully and meticulously to inculcate great values among their children and those values, ethics must be taught from the very beginning; as the teaching that a child is taught during its childhood remains with him forever. It becomes the duty of parents now to make their children comprehend the difference between good and bad; otherwise, they may fall prey to bad activities. The children must be acquainted with tomfoolery persons and their tricks of enticing so that they may remain safe from the exploiters who for their mean requirements use many tricks to win their confidence.
I would like to deduce with the saying of my teacher, “When somebody shows too much generosity towards you then start suspecting that person.”
(The Author works in KSA as English Faculty. Email: [email protected])