Songsoptok
TALKING WITH BULU
GENERATION GAP IN THE AGE OF
GLOBALISATION
SONGSOPTOK:To which
generation do you belong? To which generations do the members of your immediate
family belong?
BULU: Baby Boomers(myself) Millenials (my daughter)
SONGSOPTOK: In your opinion,
is generation gap a myth or a reality? How would you define generation gap?
BULU: Generation gap is the difference in mindset that the members of
two generations feel to be existing between them.
SONGSOPTOK:Have you
personally had problems with your previous generations? In which domains
specifically?How did you react to it then?
BULU: No I didn’t have any problem with my previous generation.
SONGSOPTOK: Have you ever
heard “You won’t understand” from the next generation? Do you remember the
specific situations when you heard it? How do you react? And do you remember saying
the same words to your parents / elders? In what context?
BULU:: The next generation usually speaks like that regarding e-media
and about being e-savvy. No I didn’t have to say this to my parents.
SONGSOPTOK: In a globalized
world all generations dress alike, eat alike, dream alike – is it still
possible for generation gap to exist? Or do the reasons for the famous gap lie
elsewhere?
BULU: Reasons for generation gap lies in the incapability to open up.
It isn’t dress or lifestyle which matters
but the main factor is to be able to reach out.
SONGSOPTOK:Given that in
this age of connectivity, it is easier for parents or guardians to keep
connected with their children or wards (keep track of their activities through Face
book, Whatsap or whatever) – also make them aware of their own interests and
individualities - do you think “generation gap” still exists? If yes, why do
you feel so? If no, could you please share with our readers on the ways that
you remain connected and how does that help you overcome the gap.
BULU: It is not technical connectivity that matters but it is mental
closeness which can wipe out the problems of generation gap
SONGSOPTOK: What do you
think – is generation gap a gap between two individuals of different age groups
or is it really between two generations across individuals? In this context,
what role can the parents / elders play to bridge the gap if it exists?
BULU: Generation gap is not about age but about ego problems and not
giving space to the other individual, the parents have to treat the younger
people as the complete individual with their own opinion and they should
respect each other,
SONGSOPTOK:Do you ever face
troubles created by generation gap outside your family? Especially in office,
educational institutions, market etc.? How do you react to that?
BULU: As a teacher at an undergraduate college I often face the
problems created by generation gap which I try to solve by counseling
SONGSOPTOK: We feel that
generation gap starts creeping in as we age – on one side we try to acquire new
things from changed times and on the other – we try to cling to our own inheritances.
Do you agree? What would be your advice on how one can overcome this
contradiction, if at all?
BULU: Age is not actually the problem as grandchildren remain close
to their grandparents even when they are adults. The actual problem lies in the
mental set up and ego of the elders and young ones,
SONGSOPTOK: Please leave
some parting words for the next generation, your generation and the previous
generation that reflect your thoughts on this topic.
BULU: The solution lies in the ability to open up, to communicate, to
share and to respect each other irrespective of age.
BULU MUKHOPADHYAY : A professor of English in an
undergraduate college in Kolkata , West Bengal, India.
We sincerely thank you
for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
AparajitaSen
(Editor:
Songsoptok)
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