How time changes and perception of generations follows suit

At a time when the Generation Z or popularly known as Gen Z is making media splashes all across the globe, there are reasons to be inquisitive about what its preceding or post-generations stood for. Its immediately preceding generation is Generation Y or Millennials born between 1980 and 1994. The Millennials made quite a stir in several Middle-east countries but their 'Arab Spring' fizzled out at some point. Born between the years 2010 and 2024, the Generation Alpha is now dominated by children and teenagers. The Generation Beta has just announced its arrival. But it was the Generation Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, who radically changed the world order. The Gen Z seems to be carrying the DNA of the Baby Boomers. In between the two, the Generation X born in years staring from 1965 to 1980 did not initiate any movement of their own although they were witness to some earth-shaking events across the world.

Clearly, the Gen Z shows great promise not just in the socio-political areas but also in matters of science and technology. This generation's love for the digital knowledge is insatiable. Whether the Alpha will take it to another level is yet to be known but the artificial intelligence (AI) about to take the centre stage has already started threatening the power of mental probity in mathematics. When the press of buttons yields results of complicated arithmetic, why should one feel the need for brain work? A lazy brain is also likely to take advantage of Chatbot or DeepSeek to complete an assignment or PhD dissertation. Students may lose their power of creativity.

This technological advancement has its numerous merits, no doubt. In health sector, in particular, its application can revolutionise treatment of complicated diseases. In agriculture also, it can make cultivation of crops highly cost-effective. Succeeding generations are more likely to make the cutting-edge technology more sophisticated and proportionately beneficial.

Against all such positive developments in science and technology, something quite simple and natural goes missing. What is that? It is the childhoods of successive generations. The Silent Generation born between 1928 and 1945 was a witness to the World War II and the Great Depression. Life was not very rosy because some of the modern gadgets that now seem to be integral to today's living standard were yet to be invented. Moreover, the fallouts of the two great wars made life full of struggles. There were great upheavals over the occupation of colonies by Western powers. This generation was responsible for cementing the broken parts of society and economy together against overwhelming odds. So the members of this generation could not enjoy their childhood. They were the builders and the generation following them really got an extended childhood.

The most important point here is that the Baby Boomers were blessed with some of the mass inoculation programmes like vaccine against small pox or treatment of malaria. Mass installation of tube-wells or introduction of sealed latrines, however, was still a long way off. Yet these Baby Boomers were lucky to build on the good works of their preceding generation and enjoy their childhood most. With sanity restored in society, people started sending their children to schools and they learnt for the first time how to use soap after defecation. Yet cholera broke out on a mass scale because of want of safe drinking water.

Admittedly, this is the first educated generation that attended educational institutions at a far greater number than before. This generation is either today's senior citizens or in their terminal age. Many have died by this time. Those who are still living become nostalgic about their childhood. It was indeed a wonderful time when they could interact with Nature in a way incomprehensible today. They did not want to dominate Nature; rather nestled in its lap, they tried to discover the many splendorous sights and sounds all around. Birds, squirrels, hedgehogs, aquatic lives dominated by fishes made almost every village a mini-edition of safari park. They outnumbered the human species by miles.

People were simple and did not rush for grabbing as much wealth as can be possible like their descendants today. Consumerism was not this atrocious and therefore corruption in society was conspicuous by its absence. Many of the entertainments of today did not gatecrash their drawing rooms if there were any. In fact, in place of a drawing room, they had a 'kachari' an outhouse where the senior members of a family made all their business transactions or welcomed their visitors.

The pristine beauty of woodlands in the neighbourhood was captivating. Birds chirped there and even jackals announced their presence after darkness had enveloped the surrounding. So there was an unwritten agreement of co-habiting within their respective precincts. However, jackals or fishing cats at times stealthily pounced on ducks or chickens whenever there was an opportunity. Life has changed so much that it is impossible to give the succeeding generations an idea or feeling of the simple life of that time.