Ugliness Amidst Beauty

Spending time in nature is a great stress buster. We in Chandigarh (North India) enjoy walking in parks that are a unique feature of the topography of our city. Passionate caregivers, painstakingly manicure the lawns, flower beds, bushes and shrubs to create visual magic. One such exceptionally beautiful park, had birds chirping, babies giggling and adults chit-chatting, galore.

I often noticed young mothers walking there, while their babies played on the swings and slides taking care to not step on each other’s toes. Playing in the park is a healthy pastime for toddlers and ensures that they live close to nature and appreciate it. But is it always a pleasant experience?

A few days back, a lady who had just returned after completing the last rites of her father, was  walking in the park with her son, to alleviate her mood. Others were walking too. A juvenile boy was seated on a bench in a corner, watching a video on his phone. He was laughing out loud, thumping his thigh in excitement, shouting the choicest of Punjabi abuses and expressions, embarrassing everyone in hearing range.

The bereaved lady was unnerved, at the loud oratory of abuses, each time they crossed the boy. The young son accompanying his mother said to the juvenile, “You can’t sit here and abuse like this. If you want to watch crap, go home and do it.” The offender glared at him and said, “Why? Don’t you watch this stuff on your phone? Everyone does. Why shouldn’t I?” The son said, “That’s not the point. You cannot do this in a public space, especially when there are women around. If you want to watch this stuff, go home.” The juvenile said, “Why? Does this park belong to you?” The son replied, “It doesn’t belong to me; neither to you. It’s public property and you have to behave yourself here.” The lady sensed that things could take an ugly turn. She told the juvenile, “Son, I think you should go home.” Barely were the words out of her mouth; the youngster swept the sexagenarian off her feet and threw her on the concrete walking track! Thudddd! Excruciating pain enveloped her. Her back was injured. Her son tried to grab the offender but he fled. The lady was not able to move even a centimetre. Painkillers had to be injected in the park itself, before she was moved home.

This happens when misguided or unguided youngsters are given free access to internet, where they have access to pornography, violence, etc.

The offender it seems, works as a domestic help in the locality. A youngster, who has the audacity to lift an elderly lady off her feet and throw her onto a concrete path, such that she suffers a fracture in her lumber-spinal area, will sooner or later become an offender of a higher order. If he has the audacity to watch pornography, sitting in a public space and behaving as he did, it would be no surprise if his behaviour is even uglier in future.

The offenders in the Nirbhaya case or in the RJ Kar case too, had track records of being involved in similar situations. Should youngsters be given free access to internet to watch whatever they fancy? Should they be given more freedom than they can handle?

We as a society, need to look into this unwarranted freedom. When someone is wronged and we look the other way, the chances are, we are next on the list to be harmed. We often hear parents say that their children do not listen to them. It’s important to sit up and take notice before we reach a point of no return.

Children need to be disciplined. They should know their limits. The present day parenting lays a lot of stress on encouraging a child and making him/her believe that he/she is the best. Along with this comes self-aggrandisement that further leads to ego and the habit of never being able to take a, “No.” Such spoilt children may further acquire bad habits. Obedience and discipline take a back seat. If reprimanded, they revolt or go into depression. It’s a vicious circle that needs to be nipped in the bud before the circle gets completed.

The value of character can never be undermined. Our children are the future of our nation; let’s watch them closely. Let’s make them responsible, accountable and respectful. Sri Sathya Sai Baba has put it beautifully, “WATCH means: Watch you Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character and Heart!”