my article on the generation gap - for Indore Plus

The “generation gap” is such a hackneyed phrase and so much has been talked and written about it, that sometimes it loses significance and its meaning in entirety is seldom understood. This phenomenon is not only universal, but also is eternal in the truest sense. It has probably been prevalent since time immemorial. Who knows, Adam must’ve looked at Cain and Abel in disbelief, turned to Eve, shrugged and said, “Generation Gap”.

The difference between the attitude, ideology, actions, decisions and way of thinking of two consecutive generations is summed up in these two words. But the question that everyone seems to raise is why does this difference arise? One theory could be that it is one of the consequences of evolution. Surprised? Well, don’t be. Human evolution has transcended mere physical characteristics and living habits into the mind too. Every coming generation is inherently smarter. Soaring IQ levels of 155-160 of Class 5 children today are proof enough. This is the result of the all-so-important requirement to be more and more intelligent to in turn, be more successful. So what has intelligence got to do with conflict in notion with the older generation? A lot, truly. With intelligence, comes the confidence to think on one’s own, listen to oneself and make one’s own decisions. And the more intelligent one is, the sooner one needs to think independently. This is where the catch lies. The older generation is not ready to let go so soon.

Every coming generation is more practical, more experimenting in career, academics and general interests, and more individualistic in more ways than one. And this has been happening all this while. Generation gap is inevitable. The older generation is always in conflict with the younger generation because they can’t come to terms with their attitude towards life, family, their career, etc. They feel that their children or grandchildren are too irresponsible and hence, have this strong urge to educate them before it’s too late. They always feel that it is better that their children learn from their mistakes rather than learning from their own. And very rightly so.

So now that one realizes that the G-word is there to stay, what does one do about it? It all boils down to how one handles it. The younger generation will always want to listen to their heart and act according to their instincts. But listening to your elders and paying heed to them always helps, because believe it or not, they’ve been there and done that, only in a different way. If we today think tattooing and body piercing is cool, even they’ve roamed around on streets with long hair and bell-bottoms chanting “Give Peace a Chance” and “Staying Alive”. What our elders can give is experience, and it will never work against us. At the same time, the elder generation should try to come out of their prejudices and try to be more open to new thoughts and ideas. Possessing a bias towards anything unknown doesn’t always prove to be right. Innovation and lateral thinking has always outshined stereotype. History has proved that out-of-the-box thinking is always dismissed as heresy, rebellion or revolt initially. When parents respect their children’s opinions, listen to what they have to say and discuss with them in a mature manner, even the children feel important and in turn, respect what the parents advise them to do. If a child is rebuked all the time, he grows up to be an immature, defensive and stubborn individual, which widens the gap between the two.

The generation gap has not widened. It never will, but it will always appear in different ways. What is essential is the way in which it is moderated. Rebellion ought to have purpose. One without it is mere obstinacy. If this vital delicate balance can be maintained, one can certainly look forward to a mature and responsible youth and a tolerant older generation.