The Gap

I think that every gap reveals something like continuity or something like discontinuity. It may also tell about the endeavours of something to achieve. The gap may be natural or man-made but is found everywhere. The natural gap, depending upon many factors, may be abridged, but the human-made gaps in humanity control nature and humans’ history of concepts or developments or conflicts. Both types of gaps have common features. They separate. They are also important to give a fillip to think and plan for betterment.

I think that the gap is more evident in human history. I have interacted with at least four generations. I have seen changes. I have listened to the changes. I have heard different stories from my grandparents and learnt about their tough lives. They were physically strong and had faced adversaries. They had time for themselves, relationships and humanity. They were mentally strong also. My parents were in a better position than my grandparents in many aspects but not in terms of the facilities that my generation had.

If we conclude thinking, it becomes evident that every generation thinks of facing more trouble and lesser opportunities than the preceding generation. It may be true but not for every aspect.

Older generations had many things limited and even not easily available. They had less with more satisfaction and were alive to humanity with miserable situations. They had close-knit interdependent societies. Their plights may be known from the study of the literature of their times.

I had seen, in my generation, the first single-lane tar road making in my town in the mid-seventies and electricity in the early eighties. After that, when the economy of our country got a boost, then lives started changing in all fields because of developments. The distance in space and time got reduced from hours, and minutes to seconds. We have a lot from the biggest to nono and pocket-sized technologies. The changes in all aspects of life have affected our generation a lot. Our needs increased manifold in terms of greed. We have gained many things in the form of problems. Our developments have brought comfort and ease in life, along with many conflicts and dissatisfaction. We have lost our peace and our temperament developed regarding questioning the rituals for scientific proof. Even age-old beliefs are doubted. All such activities have made miserable situations for the present generation, giving rise to unnecessary tension.

The present new generation is more informed than older generations but not channelized for stipulated results due to a lack of proper guidance. It has resulted in a thematic approach and sectoral attitudes in social harmony endangering humanity. We do not have sharing attitudes and time for others. We want fast lives and multilane roads with dividers but never try to think of accidents due to hurrying habits. We want everything at once. We are trying to unveil the secrets of the universe but are not ready to learn the meaning of life. We have given control of our lives to various technologies and artificial gadgets and are becoming a slave. Even the mind is guided by others.

We should not forget that despite all developments and self-reliance in many requirements’ fulfilment, every generation has common problems of hunger and basic needs. The brain needs food and the hand needs engagement. Both needs of the physique should be healthy and positive. Above all, our requirements may be assessed as per time and changes in the world for sustainability.

We should have open eyes and agile minds to foresee the future. We should be ready to meet changes and challenges in every generation. We may not always get everything suitable and favourable. We have to be ready to bear the fruits of our actions. We may not follow the pick-and-choose policy. Every second is changing. Developments are continuously ongoing processes. Present-day achievements may be futile in the future.

So every new generation gets more opportunities and more problems and has to be ready to rise to the occasion in absolute terms as a versatile organism, to be acceptable everywhere. In short, a multi-purpose robotic life, controlled from a remote without emotions and reactions, will be hard facts to accept. This may be harmful to the humanity and sustainability of our community.

It is the duty of every generation to have coordination between old and new refined moral values as a guide for humanity, culture and peace in life with modernisation. Amendments in thinking as ingredients for developments are continuous processes to be in a race with time. A risk-taking spirit always pays in every generation.

Now, in the modern context, the worst is being noticed within one generation. There are many types of gaps in every front of life full of conflicts. Many types of pressure are mounting in life. That may cause different types of developments and emanate problems in the human kingdom. The world is changing at a faster speed than earlier and affecting the new generation every moment by modifying established concepts.

Developments and changes in human history are the reasons for differences in generations. It will always happen, but the contributions of every generation in human history should not be overlooked.