The recent gruesome murder of a young woman in a public place in Chennai prompted me to write this. I am a mother of two and I hope my views will find an echo in the minds of similarly placed parents.
The advances in technology, with cellphones seemingly becoming a part of one’s self rather than being a useful accessory, Facebook, chat groups, WhatsApp and so on, have done more harm than good, for society as a whole and young people in particular. These devices have created a tendency in most people to always look at them longingly for some call or message, which will keep them entertained or occupied for some time — till the next one comes along. This distracts them so much that they forget their sense and purpose in life, which is to study well, serve family and society by undertaking gainful and useful pursuits. Youngsters are so carried away by these devices and what they bring to them that they are most of the time living in an illusory world. If anyone tries to bring them back to reality, be it a parent or teacher or someone else, they appear to them as enemies and unwanted appendages to their life. This is despite the fact that it is the very same people who help them live their lives well and fund their fantasies.
The students and young people of the present age are fed fancy ideas by our film-makers, who vie with each other to infuse their films with gory ideas that promote rowdyism, stalking, getting rich by whatever means and in general promoting unethical ideas and showing them the way to achieve them. Cinema, having become a religion to all the gullible minds, leads people astray. For example, drinking is being promoted actively by almost every film-maker, making it appear that it is an indispensable part of life. Similarly, they demean the character of women, showing all sorts of grey shades in them, while virtually glorifying eve-teasing, forcible abduction of women and getting what they want at any cost and by any means, as a standard operating procedure for men. It is an irony that the very same film-makers are opposed to love marriages in their own families, while vociferously promoting it in their films. Such double standards do not seem to bother our young people, who always want more and more fantasy, to escape reality, I suppose.
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It beats me to see this craze for boys and girls to have friendship with many people, all at the same time, often more with members of the opposite sex. The young should limit their circle of friends and choose them with due care. A girl or boy should draw the line clearly right at the beginning of a friendship, so that unpleasant and undesirable consequences are avoided. If someone tries to cross the boundaries, they should seek the help of their peers and stop matters from escalating. The role of the mentor in these situations is best played by parents, but unfortunately youngsters scarcely listen to their parents nowadays. This leads to consequences and tragedies, affecting so many people.
The recent incident should serve as a wake-up call for all youngsters. They should use the technological tools intelligently and choose their friends carefully. They should remain on guard forever and not give rise to situations in which they get embroiled, hurting them for life. They should listen to their parents and elders instead of being misled by movies and other distractions and regulate themselves, for a better life and future.
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