Recent years has seen India prospering. It is hitting 9% plus growth rates. There is more work and Indian are enjoying life. But there is a dark side to this rosy picture. In this mad rush for money, Indians are changing.
Gone are the days when old parents lived their sons. According to Helpage, an NGO working for the elderly in India, when they opened old age homes in the country years ago, they were derided as being 'western.' Not today. Old age homes are overflowing. The idea that when parents grow old they should be dumped into these homes is catching fast.
Some of the sons (and to a less extent daughters) feel they do not have the time to look after their parents. The daughter-in-law who in the olden days looked after her ageing in-laws, has changed. There is no time for that. Increased income means increased spending and more enjoyment of life. Old people do not fit into this picture.
Ironically when an Indian family was much poorer in the olden days, though there was little money, parents were looked after. Now there is money but parents are looked upon as a burden.
I am not moralising on this issue. I understand that in today's hectic world it is difficult to find time for looking after ageing parents, but how come there is all the time in the world for one's kids? Parents need and deserve a little of your time too.
Even animals have offsprings. It is a natural instinct amongst all animals to procreate. But no animal looks after its old parents. Except man. Especially the custom is strong in the Indian culture.
The custom makes a lot of sense. Staying together with parents and looking after them is a tremendous source of emotional security, not only for them but for you.
The west yearns now for the tradition of family. They had gone too far on the 'individual is everything' concept. Now they are coming back. Nuclear family is glorified, like the Beckhams and the Cruises. Soon it will be "love your parents and stay with them."
Indians seem to going the other way. Parents are increasing considered a burden. The nuclear family too is facing threat from live-in relationships. It is time we look hard at what is happening in the west and preserve our old way of life. Stay with your parents. It might be a inconvenience, but the rewards outweighs it by a ton.
Gone are the days when old parents lived their sons. According to Helpage, an NGO working for the elderly in India, when they opened old age homes in the country years ago, they were derided as being 'western.' Not today. Old age homes are overflowing. The idea that when parents grow old they should be dumped into these homes is catching fast.
Some of the sons (and to a less extent daughters) feel they do not have the time to look after their parents. The daughter-in-law who in the olden days looked after her ageing in-laws, has changed. There is no time for that. Increased income means increased spending and more enjoyment of life. Old people do not fit into this picture.Ironically when an Indian family was much poorer in the olden days, though there was little money, parents were looked after. Now there is money but parents are looked upon as a burden.
I am not moralising on this issue. I understand that in today's hectic world it is difficult to find time for looking after ageing parents, but how come there is all the time in the world for one's kids? Parents need and deserve a little of your time too.
Even animals have offsprings. It is a natural instinct amongst all animals to procreate. But no animal looks after its old parents. Except man. Especially the custom is strong in the Indian culture.
The custom makes a lot of sense. Staying together with parents and looking after them is a tremendous source of emotional security, not only for them but for you.The west yearns now for the tradition of family. They had gone too far on the 'individual is everything' concept. Now they are coming back. Nuclear family is glorified, like the Beckhams and the Cruises. Soon it will be "love your parents and stay with them."
Indians seem to going the other way. Parents are increasing considered a burden. The nuclear family too is facing threat from live-in relationships. It is time we look hard at what is happening in the west and preserve our old way of life. Stay with your parents. It might be a inconvenience, but the rewards outweighs it by a ton.
