What's Wrong With India's Gen-X?

chillibreeze writer — Nitin Pahuja

A time for introspection

Amidst the glitter of swanky fashion accessories, toned-up accents and an attitude that can set ice on fire, there is something dangerous that has embraced the student fraternity. Nitin Pahuja explores…

As new academic sessions start in most colleges of the country, it is time to revisit the relationship between a student and a teacher, especially at interaction platforms beyond the school. Aspirations find a platform for expression as the young join these wonderful institutions that have shaped the life of millions.

The happy stories of fantastic college days raise expectations significantly. For students straight out of school, it’s their first date with independence. Right from the liberty of bunking classes and exploring the jazzy markets to the delight of that first-day, first-show movie at the cost of an important but boring seminar, they naturally want to explore it all and do that quickly.

Another very important aspect of this change is the relationship with teachers. It is time to bid goodbye to those dominating teachers of the school and get ready for revenge. More often than not, professors are likely to be labeled by adjectives such as “boring”, “khadoos”, or “chipkuu” in campus conversations. Is it just the vindication of a student’s attitude or the ugly reflection of the inherent value system that we as a generation have imbibed? It is time for some introspection.

We represent a civilization that has shown the path of evolution to the world. It is a thing to be proud of at one level; however, it is just a matter of chance that we do that. We are quite different from our ancestors and our current value system is probably a complete contrast to that of our ancient ethos. Amongst the several casualties that this change has claimed, the teacher-student relationship stands in the forefront.

If you find the term casualty an exaggeration, type 'Professor Sabharwal murder case' on Google, and you'll soon understand the aptness of the expression. And this is not the only case in point. It only stands out as a primary testament to the decadence of the teacher-student relationship.

As attested by prima facie evidence, Professor Sabharwal was murdered by a group of hooligans who needed to commit such a heinous act in order to get heard. Those intellectually deprived souls led by a notorious middle-aged man called Vimal Tomar tried to express their freedom by physically assaulting the Professor, leading to his death.

While the Mahrashtra court acquitted these losers of all charges, it expressed its great disappointment on the inability of the prosecution to follow the case properly. The court ruling is a glaring statement on the ability of the rich and the powerful to commit the most heinous of crimes and get away.

What stands out as a discomforting fact is the lack of courage that we as a society have. The case found many key witnesses turning hostile possibly under pressure of the political clout of the accused. Such cowardly acts should push us to introspect and find out if we truly can lead the world into the future.

Are we good enough to leverage the demographic dividend which, according to the whole world gives us a competitive advantage, as the future unravels its mystery? The quest to answer these questions is painful and probably shameful given the compromises that we make in our daily lives to avoid trouble. But what is really troublesome is the ease with which we get ready to compromise on our ethics and values in order to get that short-term zing.

Students are not the only culprits concerned; teaching has transformed into a profession that goes against its ancient definition of mentoring. Teachers have also been accused and found guilty of misconduct especially with their female students. Cases of punitive corporal punishments, incapacitating children both physically and mentally have often been discussed as the primary reason for the frustration that builds up in the mind of a student against his/her teachers.

With education taking the shape of a full-fledged business, financial exploitation of students has also dented the credibility and trust of this relationship significantly. It is time for the teacher fraternity to realize that while modern methodology is the key to comprehensive development of the pupil, it is the ancient ethos and dedication that can help us salvage some respect for this wonderful relationship.

Let's not end on a note that says 'hope’. Instead, let us end it on the thought that 'we will’ salvage what is ours since eternity. Let us introspect and change all that can help in the resurrection of this bond of knowledge, respect and empowerment.

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Nitin writes for chillibreeze.

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