By Ayaan Saroori
In the era of smart gadgets, which are used for entertainment, humor, and knowledge, we have lost touch with the true gems of our families—our grandparents. Our region has a strong history of family values, where discussions led by family elders were highly valued. However, this culture is fading. From the very beginning, grandparents were seen as the apple of the eye of their families. They played a vital role in preserving cultural, religious, and decision-making traditions. Unfortunately, with time, due to our busy schedules and digital distractions, many grandparents are left unheard and their wisdom remains silent. While many young people feel bored listening to their tales, they enjoy scrolling instead. Why don’t we dedicate an hour to celebrate time with our grandparents?
Due to the acute stage of mobile addiction, where entertainment is easily available and knowledge is free of cost, many employed people are busy handling their work. This leads us to a gradual loss of family connection. Once, during breakfast or dinner, we would hear tales and stories recited by the grandparents of our parents. These tales also signified their moral and emotional values. Many of their habits were transferred to our parents. Hence, a popular saying about a person’s surroundings fits distinctly. In the region of J&K, many of our parents recall their youth and their attachment to their grandparents. They often share memories of their nature and golden words. While time remains the same, we have become seekers of smart gadgets and lost those precious moments. The fading of family discussions and the decrease in communication at homes have worsened the situation. We must hold social media and smartphones responsible for this change.
Parental Influence: The Root of the Communication Gap
Young people and teenagers feel excited to talk to their friends but not to their parents or grandparents. This is harsh to bear, but it is currently happening in our society. School-going students do not want to be held accountable by their parents regarding pocket money or academic matters. How can a grandparent be a third wheel if a parent is not valued? As mentioned above, screen addiction is responsible for the problem, but this trend has only emerged in recent years. Many of us have grandparents, yet they are lonely, and none of us is willing to listen to them or discuss our matters with them. The whole trend begins with the parents and reaches the children. If parents do not prefer talking with their elderly parents, how can their children engage with their grandparents? Gradually, this will cut off communication with both grandparents and parents. Thus, a chain started by the parents will end with them.
A couple of weeks ago, senior doctors and lawyers from the valley openly discussed the cons of rising digital addiction. While many individuals use screens for productive purposes, many others use them to overcome stress, relax, or for entertainment. Meanwhile, family discussions with grandparents and parents remain untouched. For both users, a family discussion should be a priority. Conversations with grandparents inspire a person and foster better ways of speaking, managing stress, and dealing with other matters logically. Though many grandparents may be uneducated, they know the struggles of life and respond patiently to emergencies. This is the pearl we need to uncover, but finding it requires discussion and open communication.
In these tough times, where screens have become our source of pleasure and we have signed off from society, open communication is necessary to revive it. These discussions remind us of the struggles of our grandparents, their moral values, and the challenges they faced in terms of education and economic hardships. They need our love through humble conversation. For how long will screens make us happy?
- The author is a freelance writer and columnist
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