Old Age Life in Isolation &Our Responsibility

The concept of Family is as old as the civilization itself. it was considered indispensable for the health and happiness of civilized society. No relationship can be as intimate and Fulfilling as in a family. As in the words of a social activist, 'family acted as a complete security check to the family and to the grand-children whose parents were working". The old parents have been marginalized. All thanks to our telephone culture, which people feel can keep them closer to their parents even if they are not living together" A household consisting of husband, wife and children each bound by natural piety, used to be a little heaven even in the midst of troubled times. in such an atmosphere, the joys are doubled and sorrows and shocks get halved, by the love and sympathy of family members. In case of illness or disaster, the family proves a sheet anchor of comfort and heart-upliftment. When a man is very ill, battling for life, it is the wife – even an estranged or unfavorable one, who performs the duty of nursing and watching much better than any professional the nurse or other paramedical staff. Sociologists have found that even an unlettered mother – with her naturally over-flowing love and affection bring up children much better than any professional agency with all correct Medicare following all the rules in the book. However, the institution of the family got somewhat shaken under the impact of western culture and under circumstances which compelled the family members to migrate to distant towns and even to foreign countries, to seek their fortunes. And, with the passage of time, the tradition of joint family has given way to nuclear family. People in search of a better future with fewer responsibilities do not mind trampling upon the age-old tradition of joint-family where everyone lived under one roof. However, the institution of the family got somewhat shaken under the impact of western culture and under circumstances which compelled the family members to migrate to distant towns and even to foreign countries, to seek their fortunes. And, with the passage of time, the tradition of joint family has given way to nuclear family. People in search of a better future with less responsibilities do not mind trampling upon the age-old tradition of joint-family where everyone lived under one roof. Nuclear family mode bring with itself a dream world minimum restriction on the women folk, and complete freedom for every individual to grow the way he she wants to. Nevertheless, the hard realities of life sooner or later dawn upon the young couples. The children are being ignored since both parents are working. According to sociologist Imtiaz Ahmad, 'joint family acted as the psychotherapy unit, by resolving the internal conflicts in the family. Unlike today, earlier nobody could think of a divorce, which is on increase at an alarming rate in the present time as a couple depends more on friends for advice, which can't be as sincere as the one coming from parents. Moreover, growth of the nuclear families. People are becoming more status conscious than before". The family was stable till the time a woman remained a housewife and was contented with her lot. She gave her best to the family. But with the growing demands of modern standard of living, single hand earning has become less sustaining. And once the women steps out, she does not want to play the second fiddle i.e. a housewife." Unfortunately, often the working woman is not able to strike a balance between her work and children. Her inclination towards work leaves the child neglected. This negligence leads to unaccepted social behaviors of the children. Their dependency on drugs is one of the alarming demerits of nuclear family," Nuclear family mode brings dream world with minimum restriction on the women folk, and completes freedom for every individual to grow the way he / she want to. The growing consumerism has further affected one's attitude towards family life which, in many ways, is leading to the weakening of family bonds. The relations in a nuclear family are often acrimonious in the absence of the warmth in the relationships. "In order to overcome their guilt of their negligent attitude towards the children, parent don't mind splurging money and fulfilling their materialistic demands, and are least bothered about their emotional needs", observes Imtiaz. According to him, when the children have no relation with their grand parent, their cultural continuity breaks, hampering their cultural growth. There is no inculcation of moral ethics in the child, due to which he feels completely detached. Change in the living style and the social behavior of the people has played havoc with the family system. People now find it difficult to share their earnings among the family. They are more individualistic and choosy in their approach and want complete freedom with minimum of responsibilities. 'Moreover, the old parent has been marginalized. All thanks to our telephone culture, which people feel, can keep them closer to their parents if they are not living together. And when parent are living together, they are treated no more better than the servants to look after the kids", laments Imtiaz. The parents are looked upon as a burden. They are considered to have limed out there life. But the facts speak otherwise. Old age should not be considered as an age of inactivity. In fact, it is an age when a person is at his best of mental faculties. He is gentle with the fault of being antagonistic understanding instead of being antagonistic. Grand parents can look after the kids in a much better way than the young parent who have little time to spare. However, of late, the old moral values are staging a comeback and the institution of marriage, which has come under the onslaught of all round degeneration in values, may get a receive a massive dose of oxygen to survive.

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