There was a time when the father, the mother and the children sat together during the evening and talked to their heart’s content. There was a time when the word family stood for love, happiness, trust and unity. There was a time when the parents knew what their children thought and felt. And there was a time when the children thought that their parents were angels straight from heaven who could put anything right and pull them out of the worst scrapes.

But today the situation has changed. In this busy world, there is no time to love. There is no time for mere conversation and there is no value for virtue. The world is running a race, a race to secure money and position. In such a fight there is no space for moral values. Children live in a world of their own to which parents have no entry. Parents who look after the material comforts of their children never look into their hearts and supply the only thing all children yearn for, love.

This has led to a grave problem of the generation gap.

The number of suicides is increasing by the day. One of the major reasons for this terrible deed is generation gap. Many youngsters do not know their parents with whom they have been living for years. Many parents have still not delved into the natures of their children. There is no communication or exchange of ideas. This leads to friction and unrest in the family. When a person faces a problem the only thing that can bring him out of the terrible misery is the support of his family. When his family turns against him and does not try to understand or sympathise with him, things become unbearable and he is not willing and is not strong enough to face the situation. Soon he is at the brink of suicide. Suicide is one of the most ghastly effects of generation gap. There are several other after effects like depression, lack of communication skills, uncontrolled anger and passion and a feeling of worthlessness. It is from such isolated families that the most dangerous criminals of the world emerge. And the most sorrowful part is that after this big and furious race for power and wealth there is no victor. All that each person has with him is a broken life. When the generation gap is harmful for the young generation, it is equally bad for the senior citizens of the world. The children who are brought up without love do not know how to return it. Thus there are more and more parents who die a miserable death in old age homes. When they realise that they were failures in family life, they also realise that it is too late to patch up the relationship.

Each of us has to take this issue and deal with it in an effective manner. Parents should always encourage their children to confide in them. A bond of trust and mutual understanding should be developed in the family at a very early period. Love should be the keenest moto in every family. The child learns from the examples set by his parents. Many parents of the present generation feel that their child should be shielded from all poverty and the dreary side of the world. This absolutely spoils the child and he never values the finer points of life. Every child should be aware of the struggles through which his parents are passing. This helps the child to become more broad-minded, more unselfish and to understand and appreciate all that his parents are doing for him. A special hour should be dedicated for the whole family to come together, share their day’s happenings, joke, have fun and unburden their hearts of all the sorrow. Every child should try to be more considerate, and understanding. He should treat his parents with respect, deference and love. If every single person realises that his family is the most valuable treasure that he has got on this earth, soon an effective stop will be put to this grave problem of generation gap. And I rejoice in the fact that the time is near when the old and the young will be merry and will sit together under one great roof. I rejoice in the fact that soon the present generation and the senior citizens will realise the full meaning of the most beautiful word “family”. And I rejoice in the fact that both the young and the new will hold hands like comrades. When the world rises up to this level, a seal will be placed on all the families, a seal of pure love.