Daily Times

Let’s have a closer look of life of the two generations – old and new with the perspectives ofever changing lifestyles, priorities, and ideals. The two generations seem standing on opposite poles especially in terms oftheir outlook and lifestyle.

The past generation is often found critical about the lifestyle of the present generation. While making the comparison, they are getting nostalgic, for idealizing the past life, and wishing nothing but to reversethe-good-old-days.

The joint family systemis an ideal setup for teaching social values, cultural rituals, religious doctrines, and unwritten code of social conductto the younger generationat the very early stage. Throughout I felt myself standing at the crossroad between the two generations.

However, the closer look at them brings nothing but a huge ‘generation gap’. Time and again, this gap creates misunderstanding and clash of interest between the two generations. The old criticizes the young for failing to understand the real essence of life while the later criticizes the former for failing to understand the needs of modern times.

Actually the fault lies with none of them but with the rapid changing scenario. The time changed, lifestyle changed, eating habits changed, sleeping hours changed, social interaction changed (real to virtual), living standards changed, sources of entertainment changed, sources of income changed, andthe needs of time changed. Thus the entire generation changedto a great deal from past to present. Some may blame the forces of globalization, others technological advancementand some may criticize,the human nature of adaptability – the survival of the fittest.

It seems that the present generation has lost more than what they have achieved. They get pleasure in savings and planning for future. But who knows about future and the future of savings.The generation failed to satiate the greed of accumulating wealth which had made them more materialistic than futuristic. The approach of thinking and working only for personal wellbeing has created ageneration who are living but only for themselves. Greed has poisoned the souls of new generation. They think too much and feel too little.

The older generation used to get pleasure in sharing of their sustenance,worries, problems and moments of joys. They lived in and lived for present time – of which they were sure of without thinking for future and future planning. Probably, they have understood the true meaning of life.

My father who was born in the early 20^th century remained a staunch conformist, adhered to social and cultural conventions and attached to one political ideology throughout his life. He believed in collective wellbeing, social connectedness, caring and loving nature of human beings. He used to be happy, satisfy, grateful, steadfast, and courageous even in the worst of human conditions. Without having lust for power, a bank account for savings, he made his life beautiful and a wonderful adventure.

The 21^st century generation is being faced with tense situation due to competition and race in life. The running from post to pillar from dawn to dusk hascreated nothing but tension in abundance.Working too much, working against the nature, living in polluted environment, and eating artificial food, had made the life span shortened. The lust for power, wealth, fame, prosper future, westernized lifestyle, unnecessary needs (artificially created needs) has made life full of tension besides giving birth to social evils and psychological disorders.

The rapid technological changes in the last two decades had brought about drastic changes in Pakistani society and its people’s life style. The population of the country whose major portion is consisted of youth is more obsessed with the use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp etc.), talk shows, and virtual realities. Replicating digitalization as contemporary phenomenon, everybody seems in hurry, short of time, and wants to make things done in the least possible time.

The abuse of technology, which is getting common these days, has made human life more risky, world more dangerous and deaths easier than before. The excessive use of machines has created machines – human robots that are deprived of human emotions.

The generation seems to have forgotten the essence of life – to socialize, sacrifice, help, facilitate, contribute, and protect the planet, its beauty, and the human race. The people need to review the modern ways of life and to adopt a kind of lifestyle which is more compatible with their history, geography, tradition, and biology.

The author is journalist and freelance columnist based in Islamabad.