De-coding the generations
My eyebrows scrunch together, a sign of being bothered. Meera, my wife who has put up with me for 48 years of our marriage, shushes me instantly.
“Let it be, he’s already bothered,” she says, urging me to stay quiet.
“I was just going to suggest him to take EMIs,” I say a little loudly, hoping my voice carries.
“Baba, you really think I don’t know all this?” questions Satish.
“In our times, …” I start. I see Meera shaking her head.
“In your times, vehicles were cheaper. Even EMIs were manageable,” he retorts.
“Arre bala,” I say, “Salaries were lesser too, the ratios are the same,”
I see him fiddling with the laptop. In an irate manner, he pulls his sleepy 8-year-old Ridhu upright in front of it. Ridhu settles down zombie eyed.
Task at hand complete, he quips, “In your times, cars were made locally Baba, you didn’t have to import from anywhere. Obviously, they were not this expensive.”
“Good times, good times, Ford, Hyundai – such good times,” I reminisce, “Senior Automotive Engineer with Tata Motors for 38 years, bala,” I say proudly, my now bony chest swelling with pride.
“And what’s the point of being that today? What did it pay? Where are the jobs?”
Next to us, on the computer table, Ridhu slacks and hits the table with a thump.
“Ridhu, straight up. I am paying huge bucks for this Python coding kiddo, come on!” Ridhu whimpers.
I look at the father pushing his child to learn computer coding at the early age of 8. The answer to his question is right in front of us.
“And whose fault is that?” I murmur under my breath, as I walk back to the rocking chair. Beside me, I watch Meera go from slight reproach to outright rolling-her-eyes.
Every decoding is another encoding,
These are the times whether it’s community or home,Juniors are teaching & preaching the greys….Millennials,Gen Z & now a big ALPHA on its way::))
Very true and with every generation the ideas of what’s the norm and what’s outrageous changes as well. Observing perspectives and responses/reactions from both generations on everyday things is interesting, often enlightening even.
This is sooo relatable Deepa, absolutely in your face and current scenario based 👍👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻. This is what happens in joint families with generation gap and different thinking modes. Although no-one can be considered wrong . It’s all about perspective.
Absolutely! Two different generations will honestly never be able to see eye to eye! Though we do all think we’re right!
Interesting. Every generation pats on their back and next generation makes fun of them. Gen Z already making fun of Millennials.
Well captured. Great Work, Deeps.
So true, the perennial debate between generations of who’s doing it rightly! 🙂 Thanks Ranjit!
And I still wonder if python will be relevant after 10 years… There might be a new reptile till then 😀
The pace at which technology has evolved with our generation, 10 years is too much! 😀
The question rises on parenting as on the whole society where pure learning age is converted to competition with the motive of money making machine to prove it to the world, which in return hardly the anybody in the world is happier is seeing other person growing, be it any field that matter.
Now my take on the generations decoding is like the more educated generations have higher expectations from even grand children as well. That too with the comparison of their own parenting. #nonfiction
A reality is required to our society itself, Are we really giving happy world or letting them be happy any more or pushing them into tough competition for mere monetary gains in life, with hardly any moral values.
so very well said Ruchi! I think as parents, as a society overall – we should probably take a strong hard look – is it really helpful in the long run? or is it like one of those short term satisfactions like an instant sugar rush but harmful in the long run. Children have their entire life to learn technical aspects, why not appreciate childhood, sports, moral values and more now. As it is, seeing a decline in morals and ethics. But then children and teens of today, would be like – ethics? *eyeroll*
Thought provoking Deepa! ‘Our times’ nostalgia. Also i am never in favour of kids learning too much way too soon. All are in a hurry to reach nowhere.
“All are in a hurry to reach nowhere” – bullseye! Love it!
Very interesting. Computer Science is also fading words. Now, it is either Artificial Intelligence or Data Science.
In specific branch outs, I agree. But it’s all from the root of computer science. Ultimately everything related to coding and programming! Sigh, all we need to have in future generations is a laptop and wi-fi. All other problems will automatically resolve themselves I suppose.
Oh so true. We certainly know better don’t we, which is why we’re so relaxed and stress free with no care in the world and with mental issues on the decline with issues starting only close to maybe 60.
This is good writing. You made your point in a short span of words.
Very true indeed. Happens in all households. Plus why teach 5 year olds only coding? Teach them medicine, commerce, ias courses, everything. And snatch their childhood
Past is always beautiful! Every generation uses, ‘ When I was…. ‘ but each generation has its own plus and minuses.. Fabulous writing… A thought provoking topic…