IT'S ALL THE YOUNG CAN DO FOR THE OLD - TO SHOCK THEM AND TO KEEP THEM UPTO DATE (GEORGE BERNARD SHAW)

IT'S ALL THE YOUNG CAN DO FOR THE OLD -
TO SHOCK THEM AND TO KEEP THEM UPTO DATE
(GEORGE BERNARD SHAW)

Eternal is the generation gap. Conventionally speaking, this connotes all things negative. To a critical analyst, it also means the continuum of change which gets translated into various meanings and implications. To an optimist, it spells out being progressive for the young and old alike. To a pessimist, it is nothing more than an everlasting conflict.

The present topic is born out of the above conglomerate though it must have been recognized long before that. But is the generation gap actually as demeaning as shock or as uplifting as updation? Perhaps both. Take the negative aspect out because it is not deliberate. Inevitable, it is (though unfortunately).

The young are to live their lives just as the old did in their times. Till a particular age, they are influenced by words and actions of the old (parents in this context). Then they outgrow the shadow of their older kin and it is as it should be. Once they move out of the sacrosanct boundaries of the hearth, they naturally grow in accordance with the prevailing situations in the new environ i.e. college, university, job place and social circle. Over the years, this environ would have undergone a sea-change in terms of values, gadgets and open-ness. The ‘now’ atmosphere bears almost no semblance to the one that ‘was’. The old are tuned to the past and the young are inculcating the new philosophy. Both the groups are so well entrenched in the systems that they start finding it difficult to put up together. This incompatibility, though never absolute, becomes apparent only after many upheavals i.e. minor and major shocks for the old. Another dimension gets added to this situation when the young are confident that their stand is correct whereas the old have learnt that if a particular thing is wrong, so it is. What’s needed is an understanding that on the whole anything can be right and anything can be wrong. Over the centuries, it has come to happen that some old and young do attribute to this philosophy. But it does not in a big way curtail the intensity of the shocks, for the question of ‘crossing limits’ does come up at one or the other point of time.

Here, it is to be realized that the young are not doing anything on purpose, though they end up delivering the shocks. It also has to be accepted that the old are almost entrapped between the boundaries of thoughts. This is what makes them shed-shocked. But, they aren’t necessarily ‘outdated’ every time…a lot many notions of the old generation are always applicable in the present, too (though the young find it unpalatable to follow these).

The shocks-wile boils down to non-entities both in frequency and intensity if the young and the old are flexible, rational and amenable to suggestion. Of course this does not happen in a day or en masse. It demands a basic openness of approach and a lot of rationalism throughout the upbringing of kids and subsequent relation of the young with the old. Till then the young remain young, the old remain old and the shocks are shocks.

Now for the updation. In fact, updation is the by-word in almost all spheres of life - now and for all times to come. This is again as it should be. From cycle to motorcycle to motorcar to helicopter to airplane is one example. From hand fan to air conditioner is another. From 286 to 386 to 486 to Pentium 4 is still another. Why do we do it? Actually, we don't do it, we are made to do it. Our inherent nature to move ahead does it. Although in its wake, the updation may bring hurry, intolerance, impatience etc, the advantages far outweigh the problems. This updation needs to be seen in context of a person (one from the old generation) also. Whether a person is ready to update himself with the new knowledge frontiers, ideas, gadgets or not, is his sweet will. Remaining backward is always an option...moving with the times is always a better one. The best part is that the young inadvertently contribute to this change. Even by not doing anything, they do a lot about it. They learn the new things, follow these & make these a part of their daily life. The better lot of the old will follow this through will & way. The reluctant lot of the old will do the obvious though at the cost of stagnation. A third group of the old will learn for fear of not being caught on wrong foot or for fear of not catching their young ones’ mistakes. Except for the reluctant, it is all productive and constructive.

Whichever way, the young do do it for the old. Anyhow, shocks and updation are not necessarily all that the young can do for the old. Certainly not. The other things that happen differ with country, culture, ethnicity, education and development. Respect, service and help also are the attributes of certain tolerant societies; whereas alienation and indifference are the outcome of nuclear families and self-centeredness. Likewise there are many other things the young do for the old (not necessarily parents)-It is not widely off the mark that young do researches for the benefit of the old, that young contribute towards old-age homes and that the young are not averse to the welfare of the senior citizens.

So many words down to title, I will again emphasize that generation differences are bound to exist. Forgetting its unwelcome aspects, a lot of positive outcomes can be highlighted. What the old give to young can help trace the covered journey, while what the young give to old can help visualize the road ahead…provided enough ‘accommodation’ is made available. Ultimately, what we make of these differences remains in our hands.

WRITTEN WITH DAD'S AID
Reema Bansal
2nd year, Psychology Honours
LSRC