At the first glance, it may seem like an instance of whopping generation gap, but it is something more than that. This issue is very particular to India, unlike generation gap, which has affected families all over the world. The modern India and its new-generation citizens are constantly waging a cold war against many of the age-old traditional values and beliefs of the country which is deep rooted in the bygone era of myths, mysteries and history. With the economic and political development of the country, the social outlook also evolved in terms with the changing times but still the next-gen population, which is mainly youngsters and teenagers, finds it very difficult to go in flow with the traditional Indian values and culture. The modern generation of India has a lot of global exposure, in terms of education and indulgence of latest technology in everyday life. They embrace many foreign customs which are in tune with their modern lifestyle. However, their parents, who have spent a major share of their lives without the influence of globalization, find it hard to imbibe somebody else’s culture, because they associate it with identity. One major domain where the young Indians find it difficult to agree with their parents is on marriage and sex. They usually fail to find a justification to their blind adherence to these issues. The educated youngsters have their own perspective on each and every thing that crosses their life. They have clear and valid points and have the power to decide between right and wrong. So, it is very obvious that their perspective on marriage and sex is very liberal. To be more specific, most of them are not willing to enter a marriage through ‘arranged’ route. They question how somebody can choose to live their entire life with someone they don’t really know. Besides, the young are ready to experiment with their lives, because that’s the only way to learn they know. This is why live-in relationships are on the rise. Arranged marriages are just one among the many traditions on which the new-gen differs. The others like live-ins, LGBT attitude, awareness and equality in personal as well as professional life etc. follow the course. With strong winds of change blowing across the Indian society, there is more freedom of choice for the educated and economically independent young generation. In the past, it may have been a taboo for a girl and a boy to sit together freely, talk and be friends in India, but now it’s a very common sight. But one cannot say that the roots of Indian cultures and traditions have weakened in this while. Instead, the tree has flourished all the more, and now bears sweet fruits. Instead of worrying unnecessarily thinking India is embracing modern and foreign values without eliminating her own culture. It is an appreciation for the broadminded Indian mindset which has left enough and justified space for modern ideologies too.
