Thursday, March 18, 2010

An Interview with Future (Widening of Relationship gap between Parents And their Offspring)


What comes to our mind when we come across these 2 word "youth" and "Elderly". Some would relate former with Energy, Aggression, Rebel, Revolution, Unrest etc and later with Experience, Orthodox thinking, Narrow minded, Resisting changes, Slow decision making, Unorganized, Rigidness. If we observe with the passage of time as western culture is becoming popular and popular now a days, relationship gap between youth and elders is increasing day by day. It is resulting in Nuclear families and several problems for Elderly people (Whom as per our Indian culture even in dreams we cant think of disrespecting them?)


Today my friends & I, visited a NGO, under a project given to us in Management communication 3.There we met Mr.Allan who is running a NGO called "THE GOOD SHEPHERD HOME" which is promoting a social cause and that is "Promoting Relationship between youth and the elderly". He clearly specified to us that his NGO is not "Promoting Old age Home".

At first meeting I didn't get the objective clearly and took it lightly. But I realized its importance on the next day When we conducted a Interview of his team.
His team comprises of 10-15 old age persons, Who conduct programs in schools and promote this social cause of reducing the relationship gap between the elderly and youth.

We first Interviewed MR. A.K Sapru. He is a Visiting lecturer. He is 82 year old.But I was amazed to see the level of zeal and enthusiasm with which he was talking to us.Really these people are full of real life experiences. He shared several pearls of wisdom with us.

"If some elderly in your family is not able to contribute financially, it doesn't mean that he is useless".

The second interview we conducted of a lady (around 75 year of age)who was left at an ashram when she most needed her family. Her son left her, when she was suffering from paralysis. Presently, she is in much better condition (Thanks to Allan sir). But I pity on her family.

At first sight, it was hard to believe that these things can also happen in country like India. But now it seems common, every now and than Newspaper is full of News that an old man has committed suicide under depression and loneliness or Elderly people leaving their homes etc.


Reason of widening of relationship gap:-
1.Promotion of western culture
2.Popularity of Nuclear family
3.Extra work pressure
4.No time for family

Message to youngistaan:-
1.Treat Elders as Human
2.We should not forget the cause of humanity
3.Old man are not a burden on society, Treat them as a normal human being
4.Experiences of Elderly people should be used for the betterment of the society
5.Don't use human as "junk" of any age
6.Indian culture should be followed and taught to next generation

If such a treatment is continued, Elderly people would be lost, and country's future would be on large stake. Elderly people are the strongest pillar of the society. Society can work efficiently in their absence. Youth should understand that there is a give and take policy system. The way they treat their elders.Their child Will treat them in the same way. Now it is in the hands of youth to decide.

I invite your suggestions to How to reduce this relationship gap.

Thank you for reading!!!

14 comments:

  1. A fantastic topic selected by you !! very nicely written. :-)

    My leaning
    1.Elder people are not just human being they should be treated like gods.
    2.we should always respect our parents because "jaisi karni waise barni" if we don't respect them tomorrow the same would be done to us by our children

    I think western culture is not responsible for the gap it's the view point of seeing the thinks & generation is becoming more more more fast.

    Thank You for sharing wonderful insights :) keep blogging.

    KUNAL R.PURSNANI

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  2. Hi Jitu;
    I pretty much agree with you. As the generation is going deeper into workoholicness, the youth is getting another reason to avoid with the interaction so very important with the elderly. At times, I visit an NGO, and I find elderlies their so happy for which I have very few words to explain. I am happy that you raised such a critical issue.

    Good and keep up the good work.

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  3. ya you doing good job and really just , you have time so take visit form old age home and just see the person live its life and some old people has own home but Evan living this old age home just it want company nothing other

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  4. Dear Jitendra,

    I am sure the people who have left their parents at old age home have never visited one. Its almost unimaginable for most of us. I think this is one of the best experiences you must have ever had.

    Regards,
    Shoaib Qureshi
    http://soyasays.blogspot.com/

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  5. Ultimate one...!!!
    Only one thing to say....never call a social cause as PROJECT...it seems u were bounded to do this...Call it a MISSION...that u had to experience some ground realities which are curse to the society...n in future if u can contribute for it...!!!

    ..............The Only..............

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  6. dear jitu,,
    this is one of the amazing blog, its very important to make people aware that how important an elder is in the family.
    but it is not the point to think that, what wrong you did with them will happen to u after but it is the point to think, the love they given us, the pain they took for us,now its our high time to love them back, take pain for them.
    really nice blog...
    keep blogging.

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  7. Hi Jitu,it's really true.You have choosen the subject which is close to my heart.
    Your style of writing is simple and nice,you analyzed the things well.
    Good job done brother.
    Keep it up.

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  8. Jitu -
    It is a good topic and you are correct in stating the problems that are being faced by the elderly.

    We should understand that they have led there life on certain rules/ principles/ believes and we cannot change those at this age. May be they don't fit in the present world, but they were good during their times.

    We should remember that what is new today will become old tomorrow. Britishers (or Americans, not sure) have made a very good word in English - Empathy. We should always put ourselves into others' shoes and then take decisions. This way, we would know that we are not hurting anybody's feelings.

    Way to Go Jitu!!!

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  9. Dear Jitendra,
    Wonderful topic you have come up with.
    Thanks for sharing beautiful experience.
    Rightly described now a days people want freedom,they want more space due to which such steps are taken which is wrong,it is deteriorating our Indian Culture.

    Good Job done
    keep blogging
    Regards
    Neha Fatehchandani

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  10. Dear jittu,
    nice blog written by you. I appreciate your simplicity by which you wrote the blog. Nice selection of words. Good topic.its really good that you share all these things with us. keep it up.

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  11. Sir ji nicely written. It was another good blog. After reading your blog I feel upset because I didn't take this project seriously but now I'll do as much I can do best for any NGO and take it seriously.
    Thanks Bro..

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  12. Dear Jitendra,
    A wonderful topic chosen & intellectually written, and thanks for sharing your experience with us.
    Yes I do agree that society is changing, may be it is changing for the good of economy, but not for the good of society, we are forgetting our values & our culture this has resulted in such elderly disrespect problem, our society has become so selfish that people forget the sacrifices made by there parents for betterment of there children, we have just forgeton the teaching of Ramayana “respect that Shri Ram was having for his father Dasaratha, for respecting his father’s pledge Shri Ram went to exile of fourteen years ” this is what our culture is, & today children are sending there parents to exile, what is this ?
    We need to rise the level of values & ethics of our people, we again need to go back & learn from our culture, we must follow our Dharma, and there no bigger Dharma then Pitru Sava.
    Keep up the good work

    Regards
    Sujay Bhonsle

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  13. Good topic as everybody said...I was impressed to see that all the comments came from young generation and hope that they really mean what they commented. On your article I want to differ a bit on the ground that this article is only showing sympathy to the older generation.My ecxperience says that when one partner goes away the other partner looses the company. Children are so busy with their work ( can't blame them too because of prevailing competition)that they are unable to give sufficient time to the elders and hence the result is loneliness. What we youngsters can do is have some good old age home with all facilities and respect so that these elders are not left alone in home instead they have similar age people around to enjoy their life and they can come home to their children in weekends and spend some gala time with them too. this way they will not feel lonely and will be well connected to the family too. Please think of this option not from sympathy but from self respect angle and you will see some substance in this suggestion...

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  14. Thanks Lipi for the feedback and forcing me to think from the other perspective. But I wrote this blog as an eye opener for youth.
    The "old age home" trend which you are suggesting, I don't agree with that.
    Parents are inseparable part of our life.

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