Generation gap means lack of understanding and breakdown of communalism, between two categories of people, belonging to different age groups. In other words, it refers to a situation which has arisen in the post war years in which the middle aged and the elderly people on the one hand and the youth of today on the other, find it difficult to work in cooperation with each other and to communicate with each other on vital issues. This situation has arisen on account of diametrically opposite views held by persons belonging to the two age groups.
Formerly family affection acted like the gravitational pull and held everybody in the family in his/her own place. Now that gravitational force has weakened and the balance has been disturbed. The result is that there are planetary collisions so to say. The members of the families are falling apart. Everything has lost its sanctity. Today there is a recurrent clash of interests and egos among the older, the middle and the younger generations. This is change of times. The time is taking its toll with a vengeance.
Among the women—folk we can find the ardent sati worshipers and anti-sati crusaders living in the same family. In theory it is possible to find Sita, Savitri, Anusuya and Pamela Bordes in the same family. In fact, we can see ancient India, medieval India, modern India, as also ultra modern India living under the same roof.
Today the world is changing rapidly. Inventions and ideas of yesterday have become outdated and outmoded today. On the other hand, longevity has increased. Approach and attitude to life of people in sixty plus age group is totally different from the approach of the people in the thirty-forty five age groups.
The youth, on their part, should also show a little more willingness to accept at least that advice which is for their own good. Rashness is bad, smugness undesirable. So let the youth realize that they do not know the last word on everything. Let them understand that there is a lot which can be learnt only through temperance and experience.
Vocabulary
Formerly—earlier
Vengeance—revenge
