“The Children of Today…” A Timeless Complaint of Every Generation…
By Dr. Sunil S. Rana
“Every old man complains of the growing depravity of the world, of the petulance and insolence of the rising generation.”
-Samuel Johnson, 1750
Centuries change, empires rise and fall, civilizations evolve -
but one sentiment remains eternal:
“Today’s youth don’t listen.”
From the wisdom of the Greek philosophers to the lament of 18th-century English writers, and now to 21st-century Indian homes, parents have echoed the same cry.
So, is this truly a “modern generation problem”?
Or an age-old reflection of human evolution and parental imbalance?
A Complaint Older than Civilization:
Long before mobile phones and social media, the elders of ancient Greece were already worried about the same thing.
Hesiod (8th Century BC) wrote:
“I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for when I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful…”
Socrates (470 BC) lamented:
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders…”
Aristotle (4th Century BC) observed:
“The young think they know everything and are always quite sure about it; this is why they overdo everything.”
Fast forward to Samuel Johnson (1750), who wrote in The Rambler that the world was losing its civility because “confusion has broken in upon the world.”
And now, in the 21st century, we still complain about “Gen Z” and “Gen Alpha.”
The conclusion is undeniable -
The problem is not new. It is human.
Why Every Generation Thinks the Next Is Worse:
1. Psychological and Biological Roots:
Human evolution demands that youth question authority.
It is nature’s mechanism to bring change and innovation.
If every generation simply obeyed the previous one, humanity would have stagnated.
The rebellion of youth is not a breakdown - it is an upgrade process.
2. Parenting Paradigm Shift - From Authority to Overvaluation:
The modern world has produced a new kind of parenting, which psychological research identifies as Parental Overvaluation.
A 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine (NIH) titled
“The Apple of Daddy’s Eye: Parental Overvaluation Links the Narcissistic Traits of Father and Child”
reveals that excessive praise and overprotection create a false sense of superiority in children.
When children are constantly told, “You’re special, you’re perfect, you can’t be wrong,”
they grow up intolerant of criticism and authority.
This generation doesn’t lack intelligence - it lacks boundaries.
As one modern writer from Tweak India questioned,
“Are parents facing a pandemic of undisciplined kids?”
And the answer, more often than not, is yes - created unintentionally by excessive indulgence.
3. Comfort Without Struggle:
Previous generations earned through hardship.
Today’s youth inherit comfort without the context of struggle.
Character, however, grows only through resistance - not luxury.
Hence, when discipline or discomfort appears, rebellion replaces resilience.
Indian Wisdom: Understanding the Balance:
India’s ancient texts and thinkers anticipated this dilemma long ago.
Chanakya’s Formula of Parenting:
“Treat your child like a beloved for the first five years,
like a servant for the next ten years,
and like a friend after sixteen.”
Meaning:
• Love and affection in early years
• Discipline and structure in adolescence
• Friendship and trust in adulthood
Today’s parenting often reverses this - friendship first, discipline later - resulting in chaos.
The Bhagavad Gita: A Divine Dialogue:
Arjuna questioned Lord Krishna on the battlefield - and Krishna did not silence him.
He explained, reasoned, and guided.
That is the model of ideal parenting - not domination, but direction.
“Parenting is not about control, it is about cultivation.”
The Mahabharata’s Warning:
Dhritarashtra’s blind love for Duryodhana is a timeless lesson.
He mistook affection for wisdom, and overindulgence for love.
The result was destruction - personal and societal.
Uncontrolled affection without discipline breeds ruin.
Manusmriti’s Insight:
“Parents who do not educate their children are their first enemies.”
Education, here, doesn’t mean academic degrees -
It means instilling dharma, humility, self-restraint, and compassion.
So, Who Is at Fault?
The honest answer lies between the generations:
• The youth are energetic but lack direction.
• The parents are loving but lack balance.
• The society glorifies comfort but forgets values.
The result?
A cultural imbalance - too much privilege, too little perspective.
Reclaiming the Lost Balance:
For Parents
• Be affectionate, not overindulgent.
• Praise effort, not entitlement.
• Set boundaries early.
• Model the behavior you expect.
For the Youth:
• Question with respect.
• Value experience.
• Seek wisdom, not validation.
• Remember: freedom without discipline is self-destruction.
The Eternal Truth:
Every father thinks his son is disobedient.
Every son believes his father is outdated.
And yet, both love each other deeply -
Bound by time, clashing by design.
As the Bhagavad Gita reminds us:
“Parivartan hi sansaar ka niyam hai - Change is the law of the universe.”
Each generation must evolve, but wisdom lies in evolving without losing respect.
Final Reflection:
The problem of youth and parent conflict is not of this century - it is of civilization itself.
The only cure is balanced parenting, grounded culture, and conscious communication.
Let us not complain that the youth are lost.
Let us guide them back to values, not through sermons, but through example.
Because, ultimately -
“Children may not obey what you say,
but they will never fail to imitate what you do.”
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