Ramesh K Raina
It takes me back to nostalgic memories of life when my teacher used to teach a lesson in English on “Prodigal son’’. Although I do not have any idea of the lesson as of now but the word prodigal still strikes my mind which has relevance in todays content.
Our society is passing through an evolutionary phase of transition in which economic system has switched over from Agrarian to industrial one. This has altogether changed the whole scenario of our society during last two decades. The problem with this change is that it has come abruptly and a paradigm shift has taken place. Had it been a gradual process, people of our society could have acclamitized themselves to this changing atmosphere. By gradually adopting themselves people could have assimilated this alien economic culture which is associated with modern scientific education, business management, legal management, scientific accounting and so many such aspects.
Concept of capitalistic economic system is an alien feature for the people of our society as people are conversant with deep rooted socialistic structure of economy. People have not as yet understood the concept fully. People are adapted to a mode of living in which religion, tradition, fatalistic view and many other aspects are predominant. But the fact of the matter is that it is the spirit which is behind the growth of capitalistic economy. It is the spirit of hard work, careful spending, frugal mode of living and reinvesting profit in productive ventures. Here it is pertinent to make a mention of noted German sociologist ‘’Max weber’’ who has attributed growth of capitalism in the western society to protestant ethics which is respected till date by all academicism.
People in Indian society have taken growth of capitalism in a superficial way. Their thinking, feelings and actions have been moulded by material wealth. Common people are under the influence of reverse thinking. Common people are under the impression that money can change their course of fate. Their feeling is that money can buy career for their children, money can buy health and everything they want. As such people believe that wealth has to be accumulated by any means which may or may not fall within social ethical codes. People are under the concept of ‘‘ill got, ill spent’’. People spend lavishly and are following a hedonic philosophy in which pleasure is the only motto.
In this context, younger generation have become spoiled future of society. Parents spend lavishly on the life style of their children without knowing about its adverse effects on the fragile psyche of their children. Both parents and children have become ambitious, socially biased and market oriented. In todays age of advertisements parents are lured by attractive ads and want to buy quality education for their children. They take arbitrary decisions about their career and force them to choose the subjects which are not compatible with the capacities and tendencies of their children. They arrange vehicles for their children to reach tuition centres in time and provide all facilities to see them come with flying colours in the examinations. But the poor parents do not know anything about the psychological disposition of their children. The result is that when their children do not show desired results, they start beating the breast.
Student generation of today are, in general, living in a world of fantasies. They are obsessed with enjoyment and pseudo status symbol. They believe in high standard of attiring, dining and driving and so many other modes of living. Students make long duration calls to their fellow mates and pay a handsome telephone bill. They spend lavishly on fuelling their motor cycles. They consume junk food which is expensive without any nutrient value. Parents have no time to make them accountable. If, however,parents do try to seek explanation from their children, they have to face dire consequences. There is a growing tendency of delinquent behaviour in children.
What adds to the problem is that students spend a lot of time in surfing computers in cyber cafes. Boy friend girl friend culture has shown a phenomenal increase. Students are seen spending a lot of time in pubs consuming alcohol. So an adverse ambience has been created in which there can not be an overall development of children.
Parents have lost track and are not following the principle of caring and sharing. Children need love, care and proper handling. Parents of today do not nurture the nursery plants for themselves. Instead they hire somebody else to look after the saplings. Parents have no time to attend to daily requirements of their children. Parents never attend schools and interact with the teachers. They do not find time to attend parents meet and to enquire about the welfare of their children. They provide those facilities to their children which are mechanical in nature. However, children need emotional support and proper caring but at the same time strict watch over their activities.
Parents have given undesirable freedom to their children in every sphere of their life. Although giving freedom has a healthy influence on the future development of children, yet it becomes detrimental when it transcends a limit. Excess of freedom has had an adverse influence on the growth of budding children.
What has further worsened the scenario is that marketisation and commodification have penetrated in every sphere of life. This has driven both parents and children in an undesirable directions. Private players have become intlligent to exploit low taste of children and attract them to make a quick buck.
Let it be concluded on a positive note that better late than never. Parents shall have to understand philosophy of work culture, frugal mode of living which are the true spirits behind the present economic culture. Parents should imbibe a philosophy of self discipline, hard work, dedication in their children to build their career. Children should be inculcated a philosophy of enterpreneurship in their children so that they can become leaders in business management rather than parasites on the society. Parents have to play a constructive note and have to inculcate in their children new values based on rationality, morality and on ethical grounds.
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