By Padma Bhargav
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Gujarat, India-"Mummy, mummy look at that bhayya, he is kissing that girl." This comment from my four-year-old son was nothing less than a shock for me but the couple was carefree in spite of being aware of this reaction. Well, I tried to divert his mind and we moved ahead. But, this question made me ponder as to why this culture is growing day by day. This is a common site not only in Vadodara but in several other cities as well. Couples sharing intimate moments at parks, public places, cinema halls or hanging out is nothing unusual these days. People also seem to have got habituated to such scenes and do not wish to react.
But, the question is if such open-mindedness is favorable for the society? There is a need to understand that open romance is well-accepted in a liberal society, where the entire population is educated and aware of the consequences or responsible for their actions. But india is not advanced to that level. There is lot of illiteracy and the society is not mature enough to accept this kind of openness. It has serious impact on the minds of people, which gradually affects their psychology and they try to prove that he or she is bold, fearless and totally without bother. Romance is a private affair and should be restricted to one's bedroom or four walls. It is not an act of bravery that needs to be displayed openly in front of everybody. Sometimes it could also turn out to be a trap for different kinds of crimes, sexual exploitation, human trafficking etc., and such incidences are not uncommon in our society.
What is the psychology behind open expression of love? Dr. Gautam A. Amin, a leading Psychiatrist of the city says, "Many times the person involved in such openness wants to prove himself or herself in front of everybody, it could be a school going child who wants to impress his class mate and therefore does what is not expected from a child of that age."
This is a growing trend and children as young as 11 or 12 years of age are getting into this psychology. The reasons are many, firstly the films, internet, and television programs are the biggest medium that encourage and provoke the young minds. The children and youngsters try to repeat it and gain importance without taking note of the consequences.
Secondly, the tolerance level of parents has also increased, which is not a healthy sign for the society as such. According to Dr. Amin, the parents are to some extent accepting the fact that it is just a passing phase and will be overcome with time. But, they fail to understand that if it is not nipped in the bud, then it could have serious implications in the long run. It could turn into a habit and become uncontrollable.
Thirdly, nowadays the majority of people live in nuclear families. The child tries to find company at other places or with friends, more so if both the parents are working. The parents are unable to give sufficient time to the children and hence they get this kind of negative exposure. Apart from this, the single-child concept is increasing in our families due to various reasons. Such children lack company and can be a very important reason for getting attracted towards such acts.
The parents have an important role to play. They should educate and make their children aware of the seriousness of such habits. Probably the management rule of 'Carrot and Stick' applies in this context as well, and if it is a question of the child's future and tendencies, then there is no harm in applying it also. Strict measures are required from the administration as well. A strict watch in such areas and immediate punishment other than penalty should be implemented. The people indulging in such acts should be made to feel sorry and repent for their deeds. It will act as the biggest lesson of their lives and stop them from repeating it. Freedom is necessary, but with certain limits. Man, afterall is a social animal.
Padma Bhargav is a freelance journalist and can be reached at e-mail: padma.bhargav@gmail.com
Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2024 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2024 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement