The "Indian Idol" Generation

For long I have maintained that the more recent crops of graduating Indian population is swimming in an imaginary sea of lofty living standards and materialistic ambitions. I do not mean all of them. But a significant percentage. I cannot put a number to that. But yes, significant enough to be alarming.

This new generation wants to flash cellphones, go to the flashiest places, be seen at "do"s, wear a lot of bling and a lot more. The list is endless. Well, maybe all this was ok. But certainly not the attitude. Most of them have a huge attitude problem too. Why... you may ask. There are lots of reasons to attribute this massive change to.

1. BPO jobs. And that means... helluva lot of disposable income to flaunt their riches. And the cultural mismatch that they practice.
2. Get-rich-and-famous-quickly syndrome. A la "Indian Idol".
3. Independance. Monetary, Ideological, Sexual etc.
4. Impressionable.
5. Consumerism. (May I also add "Americanisation"?)

No longer does the generation believe that good studies, good virtues and good character lead to sustained success in life. All these are passé thoughts. Virtues and character have literally gone to the deepest stygian pits, if they are already at their worst point. Thanks to programs like "Indian Idol" that create the huge make-believe world that people can succeed in lives by singing and dancing alone. And making a commercial enterprise out of that is even bigger despicable thing. Even KBC was a rags-to-riches game. But you had to have some good level of General Knowledge to win real good money.

The sad aspect is that there seems to be no awakening kind of thing happening among this generation. Materialism is rampant. There is barely any shred of spiritual consciousness. I cannot say much about righteousness, because that would need a lot more research. Everything is being commoditized. The younger lot believes that if they have the money, they can get it all. Sadly, that is not true. Overall, they are just a muddled lot.

The Hindu : Open Page : Our muddled generation

Ok, after having mouthed all the above, I do not want to be labelled as Culture Police. I am NOT as snobbish and hysterical as those. Neither do I want to be called an elderly as most of my outpouring are atypical of them. My laments are more focussed on the lost credibility to virtues, importance of studies and diminished value of money.

I pray that the generation awakens and realises that it is going the wrong way. I only hope that it is not too late.