TUG OF WAR

Ferrero rocher. Pringles. Paalak Paneer. Veena. Carnatic music. Punk rock. Salsa and jive. Bharathnatyam. India’s youth has it all at its fingertips. Truly, as you can imagine, this has resulted in a most uniquely hybrid society of youth with varied and mind boggling talents. Surely, an ideal situation which takes the best of both the societies since it produces a brand of smart, successful people. But are these confident people really happy?

You might say yes and I’m sure many would agree with you, but what is the current trend in the “happiness” scale? A fat paycheck? An apple ipod? A laptop? What I’m talking about however, is the bone deep satisfaction that comes from being happy with who we really are, the essence. And I’m left wondering, are we truly happy?

So, where do we learn the rules of society? From the westerns who we try desperately to copy in order to achieve a sense of sophisticated veneer of glamour; or from our very native culture which seems to be old fashioned to today’s ‘hip’ youth? Gone are the days when simple pleasures or entertainment was sought after. I, for one, often felt being pulled here and then there. Like a tug of war, both sides equally strong.

Our generation indeed has the best opportunities; more than ever before. But the merging of these two varied societies has not been a smooth one. I’ve seen the confusion behind the façade of many a happy confident; the arrogance of the over confident. It is like giving unlimited chocolate to a person without any warning of cholesterol and obesity, which are the sure consequences of over indulgence. During the forging of this elevated chocolate generation, who draws the line and where? What in fact, are the side effects?

An interesting fact struck me when I sat down to really think about this turbulent society. It was how the Indian democracy took the cream of capitalism and socialism, trying to come up with the ideal ‘mixed democracy’ solution, only to end up getting stuck with new, worse problems like corruption, red tape etc. Ironic isn’t it? Unlike the Japanese however, who’ve worked this new problem of corruption into the system to create a different balance, we’re still wondering what we did wrong.

With both parents working in the urban nuclear-family home; with too much money, too much time and too little love, most of the youth are in the search of direction in life. They court success as if it would make up for the love they didn’t get, or they search for the same in the wrong direction. A prime example I can think of is teenage romance and relationships, half of them I believe born out of a need for love and approval of their peers. Copying other societies in this makes no sense because we have a mixed system which gives importance to commitment. Besides which, the youth here are not so self assured or self realized to carry on despite anything thrown their way and continue to be proud of who they are. To whether the storm, so to speak, when it does hit. And to be the best that they can be.

This I’ve not written to point out the negative aspects of our emerging society, for I am well aware that every thing has pros and cons. And our generation is too dynamic and turbulent to really predict the direction it will take. I do however wish to make people aware of the kind of submerged currents in our generation. To let my generation know that you are definitely not alone when you stand confused whether to take that extra helping of chocolate. All I ask is to love yourself, know your options, as well as to go ahead with your decisions and above all be there for yourself. No matter what side you choose in the tug of war, or indeed if you choose to stay in the middle, give it your best shot, and go be the best that you can be!