Generation Gap

Generation gap is an oft-discussed term. The gap between elders and young boys or girls is called the generation gap. The young people are full of vigour and have a modern outlook. The elders are endowed with wisdom, prudence and caution. But their ideas appear to be old-fashioned to the youth. This often leads to clashes between them. This gap between the two generations is not a new phenomenon. It has existed since times immemorial.

The people of the older generation wonder as to what has gone wrong with the younger generation. They think that during their time, young boys and girls were much better and maturer in their behaviour as compared to the youth of the day. They feel that these young people have no respect for their elders. They also feel that the youth is going the wrong way and this would ultimately bring ruin to them. On the other hand, the young feel choked with the old standards of conduct and behaviour that are forced upon them. They feel that they are capable enough to make their own decisions. This gap becomes visible when the young try to go ahead with their novel ideas and plans but the elders try to pull them back.

The main reason for the generation gap is the lack of communication between parents and children. Parents do have no time to spend with their children and share their problems. Moreover, the value system, too, is bound to change with the passage of time. The present system of education is also responsible for widening this gap. It is not relevant to the realities of life. It is not as job-oriented as it should be. As a result of this, the young people are not able to find proper employment for themselves. They feel highly frustrated. This frustration leads to a clash with their elders.

Tradition is still dominant in India. The new ideas are not easily adopted or accepted. This kills the initiative of the younger generation. As a result, the younger generation becomes resentful and starts behaving in a very unconventional manner. Thus, the generation gap has become a very serious problem in our society. In order to bridge this gap, the elders should adopt a sympathetic attitude towards the youth. They should try to understand the emotions, aspirations and the problems of the youth. The youth on their part should develop confidence and respect towards their elders. They should realize that their elders have more experience of life. They should, therefore, value the advice and counsel of their elders. The youth should not reject the old values only because they are old. They must try to weigh the pros and cons of things.

As compared to the western countries, the problem is less serious in India. It is due to the influence of the joint family system prevailing here. With mutual faith and understanding, the old and the young can come closer. They should both try to understand and appreciate each other’s points of view. The generation gap will then be removed to a large extent.