Childhood is being snatched away
When the topic of children of the current generation comes, we are all reminded of our own childhood. How we used to play and study; how we managed to take out time for the entertainment; how we spent time with parents and grandparents listening to the stories with wide-eyed wonderment. We are not so old that we are talking of something that occurred 60-70 years before. Such an atmosphere existed in the houses until 15-40 years before too. There was then the tradition for combined families. Even if the family moved to a different place because their father was transferred, the made several new friends and found elderly people who guided them well. For whatever reason, the present generation has been experiencing tough times – be it carrying heavy bags on their back or facing the enemy in its colorful clothes who has entered every house. The idiot box that telecasted only news and farmer’s programs has progressed to become the new tutor of the current generation and is presenting with too many attractive alternatives. Our children have been robbed of their innocence and childhood.
Today’s children have become slaves of technology
It is not one or two, but there are 300 channels that are available for kids to watch. In addition to this, the electronic generation of today has become enslaved to gadgets like mobile phones, computers, video games, etc and hence prefer to spend their time in isolation rather than with other children. They have in a way become too dependent to technology. They do not have time to spend with their grandparents and others. This is the situation of each town and city. We neither get to see those educational grandma’s stories nor those toys that we played with. Children have moved away from those traditional toys too. It will not be exaggerating if we say that the children have become too hi-tech. when the parents have been smitten by a new technology, it is but logical that the child is also attached to it. That is why, we see that homes have been transformed into offices. Hence, children have also adopted newer technologies at a ripe young age during which they should have been running around and playing with friends and playmates.
Emotional development is being adversely affected
The beautiful childhood of kids has been lost somewhere. The stories and lullabies are almost non-existent. Only things that are present are the cell phones, computers, video games and cartoon shows. The biggest negative effect of all these things has been that the children are maturing before their age. They might look young to see, but their brain is much more developed, sharp and capable of conspiracy and deception. They feel like applying whatever they watch on television in their own lives. According to psychologists, the development of such kids stops causing struggle in both physical and mental planes. Sometimes we see the ill effects in the form of children going astray. Technology has put an end to the sensitive feelings of children. Their life has become too mechanized. Several types of crimes are being committed by children. Could we ever have imagined a teenage boy killing his classmate with his father’s pistol? But such incidents are occurring today. Desire towards sex is being developed much before their age and moreover those desires are finding an outlet through the pornography made available through internet and other channels. This is a very dangerous development. There are other incidents that have happened which imply that if the situation is not handled now, then things may reach out of control. Internet has led to information explosion but at the same time it has the disadvantage that there is no access control to it.
Exploitation in the form of ‘Reality Show’
The other dangerous thing that has started in these days is the concept of ‘reality show’. In the name of the show, the pocket of common man is slowly being plundered through SMSes and the companies are getting benefited. Dance and singing competitions for children are being conducted in various channels at par with those for elders. If there was the concept of developing or recognizing talent, it would have been understood, but all these are becoming very commercial and a means of marketing one’s talent. When a child’s talent is thus marketed and a sense of acute competitiveness developed, the confidence of the child who loses here is completely shattered. Why are the leading people in the society not able to perceive this aspect of the whole thing? With the instances of suicide and schizophrenia mushrooming, the question of where we are leading the lives of our children has to be carefully considered. How justifiable is it to shower big prizes on children and make them perform dances that are very provocating at such an young age? In this who episode, the ambitious parents are also at fault when they want to see their children on the TV at any cost. In reality, the words of the author Suryabala appear to be correct – ‘These TV programs are killing the sensitive emotions of children.’
This is a well-planned conspiracy
In the recent past, the rebuke from the judges in a competitive program had sent a participant all the way to the hospital and the children’s association had expressed its anguish at it. In reality, childhood is being put for sale in the market. A girl by the name Shinjini went into such a deep shock that she lost her voice. Son of a renowned journalist from Delhi refused to go to the hospital because he was to attend the audition of a TV reality show. He somehow convinced his son for treatment but this incident made him think that he had to arrange for some good coaching in music, else the people in TV channels will misguide his son. It is a well-known fact that there have mushroomed music and dance schools in Mumbai and Pune especially focused for performing in TV. Such people are charging huge sums of money which the ambitious parents are happily paying in expectation for social status, money and for boosting their ego.
Let the delicate mind not get bruised
Various types of competitions and tournaments are essential for the overall healthy development of a child’s personality. But it is acceptable when the intelligence and the talent of the child are judged accurately and when it is according to our culture. None of the children at tender ages of less than 10 should be bogged down by either being crowned first, second or third. When small kids perform steps that were done by heroines and are not of their age, it is almost like gambling with the psychology of the child and hindering their overall progress. Though they do not understand the ashleel thinking, it unconsciously enters their tender mind and they begin to mature much before their age.
The so-called judges, when they pass remarks or applaud someone and announce someone as the loser based on votes, they are literally giving a blow to confidence and psyche of the child. According to Madhu Panth, Ex-director of National Bal Bhavan – ‘In the name of popularity, the children are being emotionally exploited. The pressure from the parents and fellow participants is capable of taking the child into depression faster.’ In reality, children are dying of fear and pressure each moment because of these shows. They do not like being insulted among others of their age group and psychologists term this as a grave mistake.
Artificial lifestyle
Dr.Jitendra Nagpal, psychologist of NIMHANS hospital, Delhi has severe opposition to calling these TV programs by the name ‘reality show’. He says – ‘The life led by a common man is what is called reality. But the moment a camera comes in between, it becomes a drama. In this way, these programs become artificial and drama-like.’ Recently, National Childrens council reacted to these situations and came up with a set of rules and regulations by forming a committee that consists of psychologists, social welfare workers, personnel related to the TV channels and other experts. But, what will happen through all these, unless and until the minds of the common man does not wake up from its slumber?
This invasion has encouraged unculturedness
TV channels are resorting to every possible method to increase their TRP ratings of their programs. Children are mere pawns in their hands. We have to respect the talents of the kids, but to keep the ambitions of their parents under control, they have to be trained accordingly. There can be many ways of showcasing talent and using it for general entertainment. There can be competitions organized at school level, at least those will not be as taxing and damaging as the reality shows! The concept of TV entering India; several models becoming easily available; the networks getting developed at equally great speed; availability of movies and other things right in the room all 24 hours of the day has attacked the fundamental principles of Indian culture. This not only has snatched the childhood from our kids, but is also grooming the future generation to become movie artists instead of builders of the Nation. There are no ideals being developed. When the world of theater existed, there was creativity found there. There were dramas for training and grooming the public. There were plays of Harishchandra which made Gandhi tread the path of Satya, but the electronics and technology is steering our children away from us.
Transformation of thought is the only solution
Transformation of thought on the large scale is the only way to bring out society from the present crisis. This poison is so attractive that it destroys the roots of our personality when it enters. All of us have to think of how the society should be in this beginning of 21st century and how can the minds of future citizens of India be made healthy and filled with good samskaras.
Source: Akhand Jyoti Magazine