In Defence of Midnight's Grand children
In a Sunday Hindu - Magazine article (19-8- 2012), V. Nagaswami, one of mid-night's children
(born in the decade or so after Independence: age 40+ ) writes in support of Midnight’s grandchildren (those born towards the end of the last century: age <40>:
the link to the article in the web is:
http://www.thehindu.com/
(born in the decade or so after Independence: age 40+ ) writes in support of Midnight’s grandchildren (those born towards the end of the last century: age <40>:
the link to the article in the web is:
http://www.thehindu.com/
Two extracts from the article, with my comment at the end:
Over the last decade or so, we have witnessed extraordinary changes in our social environment, and at an astonishingly rapid pace at that, flying in the face of classical social science teaching that social change takes place extremely gradually, over centuries than decades.
The India of two decades ago and the one we live in today are distinctly different on a variety of
parameters. The popular belief has been that these changes have been wrought by the
shameless imitation of western mores and lifestyles, owing to exposure through globalisation,
television and the Internet. The implication is that all the changes taking place are only superficial, transitory and that sooner than later we will get back to our “old Indian ways”. This is what midnight’s children (I use this term to refer loosely to people born in the decade or so after Independence) would like to believe. However, I (also a midnight’s child by the above definition) would not be foolhardy to assume that the changes we see around us are superficial. For, they are not. I believe that they are intrinsic, organic and reflect a much deeper change in belief systems than we would like to imagine.
Midnight’s grandchildren (those born towards the end of the last century) are conspicuously different and bear little resemblance to midnight’s children.
The India of two decades ago and the one we live in today are distinctly different on a variety of
parameters. The popular belief has been that these changes have been wrought by the
shameless imitation of western mores and lifestyles, owing to exposure through globalisation,
television and the Internet. The implication is that all the changes taking place are only superficial, transitory and that sooner than later we will get back to our “old Indian ways”. This is what midnight’s children (I use this term to refer loosely to people born in the decade or so after Independence) would like to believe. However, I (also a midnight’s child by the above definition) would not be foolhardy to assume that the changes we see around us are superficial. For, they are not. I believe that they are intrinsic, organic and reflect a much deeper change in belief systems than we would like to imagine.
Midnight’s grandchildren (those born towards the end of the last century) are conspicuously different and bear little resemblance to midnight’s children.
Midnight’s grandchildren take criticism about India in their stride. Unlike their parents who constantly want everybody to acknowledge the supremacy of ancient Indian culture and feel slighted when harsh comments are made about India, they are perfectly aware of what ails the country and do not feel the need to defend the indefensible, such as coming up with pointless socio-historical explanations of why people defecate on the streets.
They have neither the need nor the time to extol Indian culture; they are too busy living it.
To me it appears that their greatest strength is that they don’t see themselves as the defenders of their culture. They are perfectly willing to tweak it and enjoy it. They use Indian culture as a stepping stone than as an albatross around their necks.
They have neither the need nor the time to extol Indian culture; they are too busy living it.
To me it appears that their greatest strength is that they don’t see themselves as the defenders of their culture. They are perfectly willing to tweak it and enjoy it. They use Indian culture as a stepping stone than as an albatross around their necks.
As I understand the article, the message seems to be:
We ( >40) may try to influence/moderate/accept the inevitable change but not seek to
resist it and restore the past, realising that evolution involving change is an ever-present, unstoppable process of Nature.
We ( >40) may try to influence/moderate/accept the inevitable change but not seek to
resist it and restore the past, realising that evolution involving change is an ever-present, unstoppable process of Nature.
The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulfills himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world. (Tennyson)
And God fulfills himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world. (Tennyson)
May be, instead of succumbing to grief or impotent anger, we should pray:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and
Wisdom to know the difference. (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Courage to change the things I can, and
Wisdom to know the difference. (Alcoholics Anonymous)
The message seems to be similar to the combined import of the advise in our scriptures:
yat yat bhavyam bhavatu bhagavan (Que sara sara)
karmanyeva adhikaaraste (You are responsible for the consequences of your actions)
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