I think that children of the last generation listened to their parents. Perhaps, because, previous human race believed in the saying “Spare the rod and spoil the child” (Prov.13:24).
In my slate and pencil days when a child was beaten by teacher in school for some wrong done, the child was made to ask pardon from the teacher for mistakes committed. In those days people believed in — ‘the rule of the rod’ and so students swallowed a strong sense of strictness which is perhaps missing in most modern day children. I am not aware of any psychological effect due to physical punishment on children during those good old days. I can only say this for sure, it was an era when gurus were the boss with the highest authority.
Present generation is more lenient and listen more to their children and the rule of the rod has been completely thrown out; and a new idea of mass promotions in schools is born.
A friend of mine told me this: “Once a child came home from school and burst into tears telling parents that her class teacher had slapped her in the class. The furious mother went to the principal to ask why. The principal called the “culprit” teacher who meekly stated that the child was not doing well in her studies and hence she was only mildly scolded. The teacher denied charges of any physical hit on the child. The principal, just to calm the angry parent demanded an apology from the teacher which the teacher obeyed to save her temporary job. The mother went home satisfied.” This is one of the sea changes in the present educational field compared to the years that have rushed by.
Past politicians were better than the present ones for example, the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, though wealthy; he did not lead a lazy life but instead used his extraordinary talents for the good of the country and became a fearless freedom fighter. Mahatma Gandhi’s values and motivations were noble. He said, “Character is what you do in the dark”.
Nowadays, everyone witnesses what is happening in our country with present politicians who think that what they do and say is final. Some politicians, change sides ‘for the betterment of Goa’ and thus show their wisdom in action like “Jumping Jacks”; and so “make mockery of people’s verdict.”
People have also seen how human beings are being beaten to death and killed for eating meat or food of their choice. In days gone by, murderers and rapists were strictly punished for their crimes against humanity. Today many fear the “majoritarian democracy because the majority might well choose to trample on the rights of the minority”. Democracy appears to have completely failed to provide safety to some people.
We all are squeezed between the generations that have gone by and the one that is moving forward into the future.
Our future changes may be evolution of peaceful conclusion where “Indians could build their new home on the moon”, or could be man-made destruction of environment. Let us wait and see what is still blind in the womb of development.
