Bolder, colder: indiscretions increase

Most coffee-time or living-room conversations begin or end on a note of complete frivolity today, what lies in between is not even worth a mention. Rare are the places where one would bump into energetic youth discussing a point heatedly or even for that matter any adults doing the same. At the outset it may seem like the days of yore, when discussions revolved around a cause; a cause that may or may not be of direct consequence to the person endorsing or opposing it. Yet it would churn up a debate of sorts, fire the neurons, and even pump enough adrenalin. But a closer look reveals a strange malaise that is afflicting everyone, not sparing anyone: a malady of decadence in one form or the other.

What seems to be spreading like an uncontrollable virus is the increasing breed of well-toned, well heeled, clinically manicured unisex humans, whose only calling is indulgence. Not for them is any talk of what led to them being a free thinking group of people, not for them issues that would change the world around them, that is for wimps  as per their understanding and any way the world seems to be moving quite fine without them contributing effectively. So what is the hullaballoo about they retort if faced with a question of this kind.

So what then are they all busy doing? Well, indulging in indulgence. Now that certainly sounds strange, but if you check out the day in the life of a common urban teenager or young adult in the country it pans out something like this: wake up to a beep or a ring from some odd stranger or friendly stranger, by way of one of the latest apps on one of the latest glossy contraptions that were meant to help people communicate better, in simple jargon called a phone. Well this phone is way different from the ones we’ve perhaps grown up with, no more walking to a fixed place to attend to such calls as now the phone has come to you in the most seductive of ways. Along with seduction come secrecy and every other indulgence that was meant for a certain time and a certain age, but is now easily accessible.

                 The kiddo or so called unisex creature then slips into the most expensive brands, beginning from the inside to the outside, with no concern about where it all came from; dresses to go to school or college. The only difference if one is a school-going kiddo is that the outward attire certainly tells the gender difference, but in behavior way too many overlaps. One would not mind brushing aside any of this but, it is just the beginning of the mirage.

What seems to be a harmless group of people, are actually wayward, unscrupulous, experimenting beings, whose collective agenda is living in the fast lane. Incidents of over the top scenarios seem to surprise no one any more, least of all parents as they themselves are by and large living a life of indulgence. That it came a little too late for them, but was justifiably well earned, so why not revel in it, is their take. So right in front of the very impressionable youngsters goes the whole role model thing flying out of the window. Then there is a barrage of one to one of, if you can do it why can’t I?

Equality of genders was a war won with great difficulty, meant to address serious issues, and didn’t come easy, had its share of upheavals and tribulations. But, today it is an in your face reaction, based on, if you can do it so can I.

News of school children indulging in things they certainly shouldn’t, not because of any moral pedantic attitude on the part of the adults, but merely to ensure their well-being and protect their childhood is brushed aside by youngsters obviously and treated by adults as a grenade with the pin pulled off. So who really addresses the issue?  This leaves kids floundering in the dark or moving fast in a lane that is thrilling but in the clichéd way killing. Also they are in too much of a hurry to grow up. Not because they want to end up doing too many meaningful things but so that they get a license to lead a life of debauchery.

There is a complete parallel world existing below the surface, one of sleazy decadence. Often times this is blamed on Western culture, ever so lopsidedly though, as no one wants to even acknowledge the independence of these very western teenagers, their ability to work or their attitude in general. But, since double standards are the norm, one is often blaming others for ones inadequacies. This attitude spills over into nearly every aspect of daily life.

Things do not just stop at one off cases, of nearly 100 odd school kids being served liquor in the capital of the country at a birthday party in a public place and no eyebrows being raised; or being let off with a fine as there is no other way to take action. But this culture of school kids willingly walking the tight rope of booze, sex and drugs is panning out into smaller towns as well.  And if you thought it was being controlled by some sick minded stud who headed an equally murky mafia, you are probably completely wrong. For in each home, in each school, in each street, lurks this twisted sick mind, that is allowing the young adults and kids to lead a life of complete depravity, for they have no clue of how to combat this menace which is to a large extent of their own making.

©Copyright Suverchala Kashyap