When we talk of forefathers we may include our elders from the very early stages of life. So, if we see the life of the early man and that of ours today, we will have to accept that our lives are much better than the lives of our distant forefather – that is, the early man.
This is because, early man lived like an animal, with hardly any civilized existence. He went in search of food just like animals, lived in caves, wore next to nothing or, at the most leaves covered his body. From this standard of living of the early man we have come a long way into civilization. The comparison between his life and ours can thus hardly be drawn as, these are two types of lives of two extremes. The correct perception and comparison can be drawn, when we delve into lives of our forefather of say 2 or 3 generations back.
For this, I daresay that, life of our forefathers was much better than ours today. To conceptualise real life of the two generations, we have to assess what we really want from life, to call it better or worse. Life can be called good only when there is a balanced admixture of all the ingredients of life, that is, a proper balance of work and entertainment, duty, comfort and hard work. This peculiar and difficult balance could be found to some extent, in the generation that reigned in the middle of the present century.
Today we can, undoubtedly claim to be far ahead of our forefathers in scientific and technological advancement. These have provided for us several gadgets which make life for us very comfortable, and also give us a sea of knowledge. All these benefits did not accrue to our forefathers. They lived very simple lives and also quite comfortable ones, without much of a hullabaloo of fast growth, fast money, fast life and fast death.
Now, let us analyse where this so called modern progress is taking us. Yes, we do get storehouses of knowledge and entertainments at our very doorsteps, but have we ever pondered for a moment as to what all we have had to sacrifice for all this. We have had to give up all social get togethers and family outings which were a treat to the previous generations. So much so that we are in the process of breaking the family links. Each member of the family is busy in his own quest for knowledge, and enjoyment. No one member of the family is aware of what the other members are busy doing. Is this a family? When such families make a society, what can be expected of life.
In our times, the family and the society, the two stalwarts of the Indian nation are giving way under the immeasurable pressure of fast technological growth. Then, where does our generation go to find other necessities of a happy life, like love care and all else? Our forefathers enjoyed the plum pleasure of loving caring families, children who would served them in the evenings of their lives. Where do we go to search for these essentials of life, which make life worth living. These are the pleasures that we of today long for. Regarding society also I’d say that our forefathers enjoyed the pleasure of social gatherings which were meant for celebrating happy occasions in the family and the society. It is not that to –day have become platforms for showing off our all, to all others, than avenues of helping each other, as they were earlier. The family is fast disintegrating with elders having been thrown out of the family ambit. The small children are spending most of their time in crèches and the parents are busy in money brokering. Where are the ties, where is the love, where are the bonds which our forefathers savoured.
This life of so fast a pace is leading this generation to known and unknown maladies, their money spinning keeps them on toes, and they are forever on tenterhooks. Is this the life that we cherish, which is completely devoid of love, care and all that was? The new buzzword of modern life is tension – I say, tension of getting what? Here I would daresay that, this tension is not of getting all we want but, it is the tension of getting all that others have. This attitude was a missing number in the previous generation, and this is exactly what contributed to their high level of happiness, which is missing now. The happiness of the previous generation was I think due to the great gift of ‘satisfaction’ that they had. It is not that they did not try to improve their lot, or they did not want to live better but, they were happy with what they had and at the same time tried to improve their lot. This was a wonderful combination of attitudes, which I feel, kept the previous generation happy.
To-day we find no one, yes, no one at all satisfied with whatever he has. All people seem to want to have just what they do not possess, and all that the others possess. To this attitude I’d say there is no remedy, and it is just this which makes us unhappy in the midst of all amenities and affluence. This an attitude of living in a fool’s paradise, for we must realize that, all of us cannot get everything that all others have. If we keep struggling for all this, it is no wonder, we will always remain tense, and this tension will cause all kinds of ailments. We must remember at this point that our bodies and the minds are one composite whole, very closely effecting each other. If we are mentally disturbed, the physical aspect cannot remain unaffected. So, in this aspect also, our forefathers were better off than us. They worked to improve but, apparently, remained happy with whatever they possessed, and this was the master key to their happy and wholesome existence.
Regarding enjoyment also the irony of this so called progressed generation is that, they have all modes of entertainment, at their beck and call but, where is the time from money spinning. So, may I ask as to what is the use of having things and never being able to enjoy them – is n’t it worse than not having them.
Another thing though inanimate, was enjoyed by our forefathers in great abundance were qualities of honesty sincerity and devotion. These qualities found often in most people in earlier times must have made human relations easier, plainer and happier. Today finding these qualities in people around us is like trying to hold the wind our palms. It is this that makes life difficult and even miserable to most of us. Wherever we go, in whatever sphere we dabble we have to encounter dishonesty insincerity and lack of dignity. With all these negative qualities to be faced every where, where can we of this generation find solace and peace of mind. If we do not fit into the grooves of these disgusing qualities, we find it impossible to function. Here again, our forefathers have taken the cake. Today, life at home, in office and in society is virtual torture where can we claim to be better off than our forefathers.
Summing up the lives of our forefathers and ours, I am of the opinion that the lives of our forefathers were positively better than ours. They were happy and content which I think is the essence of life, no matter what else we have if we miss upon this, our lives are deserted. Today, all the good things that make life livable are missing in our modern pattern of life. Though we have progressed apparently but, the bug of dissatisfaction is grasping our very existence, and making life meaningless and void.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Discipline
These days there is a lot of talk discipline having gone down, and indiscipline being rampant in every feasible sphere of life. This is very true but, let us quite clearly understand what discipline really means. Discipline is in essence, the training of the mind to obey instructions. In the bygone days, this training of the mind to obey was found in all people and in every sphere of functioning but to-day it is missing everywhere, yes, everywhere. Let us now analyse why this has happened and can we find any solution for it, or then consider it a lost cause?
I feel that the reason is mainly in our education. It is a wonder though but it is true that we have started believing that we being intellectuals, need no rules to be laid down for us, and do not need any discipline. The obvious and simple result is that India today is a picture of absolute indiscipline. This is because we think that since we are educated we can do what we know or feel is correct. Here is exactly where we falter, agreed we are educated, modern and a lot more but, just think when every so called educated person does what he/she thinks is correct, the outcome is chaos and here it is. This is a very unhappy misnomer that has crept up in our attitudes that, we do not need to obey or obedience is foolish, or still further we do not need any rules and we need not follow anyone.
We have no understand that all the confusion and chaos we see everywhere is the result of a simple thing-lack of discipline. A society that is really educated, in the true sense, must be a society that is absolutely obedient and thereby absolutely disciplined. However our education has inculcated this awkward feeling within us and, brought us to the lowest ever level of discipline in the end of the 20th century. Let us remember no matter how much we advance in any sphere, how much educated we are if we lack discipline, we are just as indisciplined animals of the jungle, and we can never achieve any progress till we attain a high standard of discipline.
To look for indiscipline now let us move out, yes, on to the roads first. For one thing, just let us consider what the signal lights are fixed for. They are there to tell us to go when the green light comes but we, the modern and educated Indians think that we know better than these lights, and here we jump the red light. Now, just before the red light, there is a row of white lines and the word STOP written in bold letters, but again, disobedient as we are, we always cross the STOP mark and then stand in the middle of road. What does this show about us?
It very clearly indicates that, no matter how small an instruction is given to us we are here to flout it. Is this what we understand about modernity, education and freedom?
From the road, let us go to an office. If the time for office 10’O’ Clock I say that it being a modern office it will never start functioning at least before 11’O’ Clock. Besides, inside the office also, there is no work seen as, the boss is not yet in. this shows we do not work because we have to work or that we are supposed to work, or because we are being paid for working, but we work only when there is someone to see us work, or scold us for not working. Is this what discipline is all about?
Back home, we see the children doing what each one wants to for, after all they are the children of the modern times, children who took their first breath in free India. These children cannot be cowed down to any norms but they have their own ways of thinking and applying their minds, for are they not an enlightened generation?
In the schools, colleges and Universities, we see a wonderful scenario of absolute disobedience and lack of discipline. Let us now analyse why is it that we have just got to be, yes got to be indiscipline? I personally feel that this is all because we have developed in us very wrong notions of education and freedom and modernity. It appears that we believe that being able to do what an individual wants to do at any time, is the true measure of freedom. This may be quite true but, to a very limited extent. For, if we all start doing what each one of us wants to do at any given time we will land us in a state of utter confusion and chaos. This is exactly what has happened to us today, we have reached the zenith of chaos in every sphere of life.
Let us remember my friends that, rules and regulations are made for good governance of any institution, big or small. We do not in any way become small by obeying any rules. It is discipline that can work wonders with any nation. We being a highly disciplined society in the 60s and 70s have degenerated to such an extent that, to-day the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. This is because we seem to believe that each hand has a right to do what it wants, and also a right to its own privacy. This I daresay is taking freedom too far. Such gross indiscipline can take or is rather taking our country to the gates of hell. Indiscipline is a society can break it into smithereens and this is exactly what is happening.
Let us take a new look at our attitudes to discipline. Always remember that discipline makes a home, it makes a society, and it is just this magic that makes a nation. By being discipline, we do not become slaves but we are just being good citizens, the pride of the nation. Let us take a pledge to develop in us the great force that is discipline. It is only this force that can bring us back to the old traditional cultural level which has been lost somewhere on our way in search of freedom. At one time we seemed to have an inbuilt system of obedience, where has it gone and given its place to an inbuilt desire to break rules no matter to what effect. Let us look for that inbuilt mechanism of obedience, and I am sure we will not be far from excelling in every field of existence extent.
I feel that the reason is mainly in our education. It is a wonder though but it is true that we have started believing that we being intellectuals, need no rules to be laid down for us, and do not need any discipline. The obvious and simple result is that India today is a picture of absolute indiscipline. This is because we think that since we are educated we can do what we know or feel is correct. Here is exactly where we falter, agreed we are educated, modern and a lot more but, just think when every so called educated person does what he/she thinks is correct, the outcome is chaos and here it is. This is a very unhappy misnomer that has crept up in our attitudes that, we do not need to obey or obedience is foolish, or still further we do not need any rules and we need not follow anyone.
We have no understand that all the confusion and chaos we see everywhere is the result of a simple thing-lack of discipline. A society that is really educated, in the true sense, must be a society that is absolutely obedient and thereby absolutely disciplined. However our education has inculcated this awkward feeling within us and, brought us to the lowest ever level of discipline in the end of the 20th century. Let us remember no matter how much we advance in any sphere, how much educated we are if we lack discipline, we are just as indisciplined animals of the jungle, and we can never achieve any progress till we attain a high standard of discipline.
To look for indiscipline now let us move out, yes, on to the roads first. For one thing, just let us consider what the signal lights are fixed for. They are there to tell us to go when the green light comes but we, the modern and educated Indians think that we know better than these lights, and here we jump the red light. Now, just before the red light, there is a row of white lines and the word STOP written in bold letters, but again, disobedient as we are, we always cross the STOP mark and then stand in the middle of road. What does this show about us?
It very clearly indicates that, no matter how small an instruction is given to us we are here to flout it. Is this what we understand about modernity, education and freedom?
From the road, let us go to an office. If the time for office 10’O’ Clock I say that it being a modern office it will never start functioning at least before 11’O’ Clock. Besides, inside the office also, there is no work seen as, the boss is not yet in. this shows we do not work because we have to work or that we are supposed to work, or because we are being paid for working, but we work only when there is someone to see us work, or scold us for not working. Is this what discipline is all about?
Back home, we see the children doing what each one wants to for, after all they are the children of the modern times, children who took their first breath in free India. These children cannot be cowed down to any norms but they have their own ways of thinking and applying their minds, for are they not an enlightened generation?
In the schools, colleges and Universities, we see a wonderful scenario of absolute disobedience and lack of discipline. Let us now analyse why is it that we have just got to be, yes got to be indiscipline? I personally feel that this is all because we have developed in us very wrong notions of education and freedom and modernity. It appears that we believe that being able to do what an individual wants to do at any time, is the true measure of freedom. This may be quite true but, to a very limited extent. For, if we all start doing what each one of us wants to do at any given time we will land us in a state of utter confusion and chaos. This is exactly what has happened to us today, we have reached the zenith of chaos in every sphere of life.
Let us remember my friends that, rules and regulations are made for good governance of any institution, big or small. We do not in any way become small by obeying any rules. It is discipline that can work wonders with any nation. We being a highly disciplined society in the 60s and 70s have degenerated to such an extent that, to-day the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. This is because we seem to believe that each hand has a right to do what it wants, and also a right to its own privacy. This I daresay is taking freedom too far. Such gross indiscipline can take or is rather taking our country to the gates of hell. Indiscipline is a society can break it into smithereens and this is exactly what is happening.
Let us take a new look at our attitudes to discipline. Always remember that discipline makes a home, it makes a society, and it is just this magic that makes a nation. By being discipline, we do not become slaves but we are just being good citizens, the pride of the nation. Let us take a pledge to develop in us the great force that is discipline. It is only this force that can bring us back to the old traditional cultural level which has been lost somewhere on our way in search of freedom. At one time we seemed to have an inbuilt system of obedience, where has it gone and given its place to an inbuilt desire to break rules no matter to what effect. Let us look for that inbuilt mechanism of obedience, and I am sure we will not be far from excelling in every field of existence extent.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Cause of frustration among the Indian youth
Let us first of all analyse what is meant by the word frustration. Frustration is a deep feeling of defeat that makes home in minds of an individual. Why is this feeling in the young ones when they are expected to be bubbling with enthusiasm and the like? Youth is always the storehouse of energy, enthusiasm and have an inbuilt fire of action burning within them. If this inbuilt fire for activity is not channelised in the proper direction, the same fire can burn the very essence of a living community – the youth.
Aspirations and desires are always the hallmark of the young, which always existed and still exist among the young. This is because they have not seen the world and have their own imaginations about the world and life in it. They have all sorts of ideals of what life should offer to them. This is not at all wrong and nothing peculiar to the young of today. This has always been and is today, and will be tomorrow. If it is nothing so new then why the – never – before – heard frustrations among the young. It is now time to retrospect and ponder over the latest genesis of these frustrations among the youth. The very seeds of these frustrations I feel are sown in early childhood days by the parents themselves, though unknowingly. Quite unwittingly, the way the parents bring up the children, it is imminent that frustration has to be the natural concomitant of the training period of the child. Almost all the parents partner make children feel that the world is for them and they have not much to do for the world in return. This in itself is enough to give a setback to the child, even as he just enters adolescence. The world makes him realize very soon that it is he who is to do something in the world and that he is irrelevant to the world, if he does nothing for it. This is a rude shock to the young mind. For till now he had been brought up to believe that he will get everything from the world but just opposite is the truth for, the world does not care for anyone unless he is something in the world and for the world. In early childhoold it has been seen that the parents dote so much on the child that he naturally starts believing that, he can get anything just heasr for. When this proves to be untrue, he is shocked out of his wits, and loses balance patience.
It is this training of the child in his early days of childhood that prepares the ground for his unhappiness and frustrations in youth. The feeling that he can get anything he first deserve becomes a nightmare for him when he grows a little and realizes the bitter truth that, little does the world care for anyone and that he is not getting all that he wants of demands. At this point of time, his parents and his mentors also start demanding from him, and leave all that doting. This is an additional shock for the young mind.
To give a finishing touch to his home training come the very latest and modern modes of entertainment, the television and the cinema. The glamour seen on these screens makes the still immature child feel that this is real life. This again is bound to discouragement to his mind to get fulfill his expectations from life. Oh! What a crash of his hopes when facts of living standards shatter all his dreams of a glamorous adulthood. This is because, what he sees on the screens by way of riches, lifestyle, love and the like, which he just does not get in real life, his frustrations and disappointments take a hold of him.
Besides the glamour, what adds to his already shattered aspirations is the violence he observes on the screen. He sees that one person – the hero fight away and wins dozens of adversaries. This gives the young mind an idea that, for one, if you are strong you can win, no matter how many adversaries. He also starts believing that violence is a means to an end. Once he is so convinced, he tries it at the first opportunity and he ends up all bashed up and bruised, and even in jail. This gives him a big shock. He is utterly confused and does not understand what the world and life really are. All this together, gives the young child enough cause to be disheartened, disappointed and frustrated with what life really is. This happens because what he had seen on the television and the big screen is nowhere near what he gets, but he has seen others with it, and he himself had also been brought up with the desire for all that he sees. Now, how can this ever end up in a harmonious outlook to life. It is the collection of all these peculiar circumstances enveloping the modern child and youth that are causing frustration in him.
It is an important matter of a very large magnitude that calls for immediate thought and action. Why did the youth of the prevbious time, say the previous generation not feel these pangs? For one thing perhaps, children were never before pampered as they are today. They almost always get whatever they want, or they ask for. This makes them automatically get used to getting all just for the asking. However, this never gets translated in real life. This yawning gap between aspiration and realities is too large for them to bear. In the previous generations, the youth were taught to stay within their means and the means of the family, so they grew up with the art of sacrificing and not getting what they wanted. This is what made them fit to face life as it really is, sometimes kind, and generous, and sometimes very unkind. From the very beginning, they knew that they will not get whatever they want, but what their elders deem fit or what the elders could afford. Besides this, earlier the children were taught to get their targets after working towards it. This is also a quality very difficult to imbibe in the children of today because they see all around them elders resorting to every means to achieve their ends.
Thus the causes of frustration in the modern youth lie within their style of bringing up. The training imparted to them in general, is one of hit and run, snatch your choice and be done with it. Fe we teach them this, we cannot expect a better return. We must be satisfied with the end product of disgruntled youth. If at all we really want to put an end to this wave of frustration among the youth, we must bring them up with full knowledge of what a deal life is. The less they expect of it, the happier they will be. It is not that they should not have ambitions or not do well, but this will prepare them for every failure that life may have to offer.
If the young are brought with a correct perspective of life, they will know how to face discontent without committing suicide or taking to drugs.
Aspirations and desires are always the hallmark of the young, which always existed and still exist among the young. This is because they have not seen the world and have their own imaginations about the world and life in it. They have all sorts of ideals of what life should offer to them. This is not at all wrong and nothing peculiar to the young of today. This has always been and is today, and will be tomorrow. If it is nothing so new then why the – never – before – heard frustrations among the young. It is now time to retrospect and ponder over the latest genesis of these frustrations among the youth. The very seeds of these frustrations I feel are sown in early childhood days by the parents themselves, though unknowingly. Quite unwittingly, the way the parents bring up the children, it is imminent that frustration has to be the natural concomitant of the training period of the child. Almost all the parents partner make children feel that the world is for them and they have not much to do for the world in return. This in itself is enough to give a setback to the child, even as he just enters adolescence. The world makes him realize very soon that it is he who is to do something in the world and that he is irrelevant to the world, if he does nothing for it. This is a rude shock to the young mind. For till now he had been brought up to believe that he will get everything from the world but just opposite is the truth for, the world does not care for anyone unless he is something in the world and for the world. In early childhoold it has been seen that the parents dote so much on the child that he naturally starts believing that, he can get anything just heasr for. When this proves to be untrue, he is shocked out of his wits, and loses balance patience.
It is this training of the child in his early days of childhood that prepares the ground for his unhappiness and frustrations in youth. The feeling that he can get anything he first deserve becomes a nightmare for him when he grows a little and realizes the bitter truth that, little does the world care for anyone and that he is not getting all that he wants of demands. At this point of time, his parents and his mentors also start demanding from him, and leave all that doting. This is an additional shock for the young mind.
To give a finishing touch to his home training come the very latest and modern modes of entertainment, the television and the cinema. The glamour seen on these screens makes the still immature child feel that this is real life. This again is bound to discouragement to his mind to get fulfill his expectations from life. Oh! What a crash of his hopes when facts of living standards shatter all his dreams of a glamorous adulthood. This is because, what he sees on the screens by way of riches, lifestyle, love and the like, which he just does not get in real life, his frustrations and disappointments take a hold of him.
Besides the glamour, what adds to his already shattered aspirations is the violence he observes on the screen. He sees that one person – the hero fight away and wins dozens of adversaries. This gives the young mind an idea that, for one, if you are strong you can win, no matter how many adversaries. He also starts believing that violence is a means to an end. Once he is so convinced, he tries it at the first opportunity and he ends up all bashed up and bruised, and even in jail. This gives him a big shock. He is utterly confused and does not understand what the world and life really are. All this together, gives the young child enough cause to be disheartened, disappointed and frustrated with what life really is. This happens because what he had seen on the television and the big screen is nowhere near what he gets, but he has seen others with it, and he himself had also been brought up with the desire for all that he sees. Now, how can this ever end up in a harmonious outlook to life. It is the collection of all these peculiar circumstances enveloping the modern child and youth that are causing frustration in him.
It is an important matter of a very large magnitude that calls for immediate thought and action. Why did the youth of the prevbious time, say the previous generation not feel these pangs? For one thing perhaps, children were never before pampered as they are today. They almost always get whatever they want, or they ask for. This makes them automatically get used to getting all just for the asking. However, this never gets translated in real life. This yawning gap between aspiration and realities is too large for them to bear. In the previous generations, the youth were taught to stay within their means and the means of the family, so they grew up with the art of sacrificing and not getting what they wanted. This is what made them fit to face life as it really is, sometimes kind, and generous, and sometimes very unkind. From the very beginning, they knew that they will not get whatever they want, but what their elders deem fit or what the elders could afford. Besides this, earlier the children were taught to get their targets after working towards it. This is also a quality very difficult to imbibe in the children of today because they see all around them elders resorting to every means to achieve their ends.
Thus the causes of frustration in the modern youth lie within their style of bringing up. The training imparted to them in general, is one of hit and run, snatch your choice and be done with it. Fe we teach them this, we cannot expect a better return. We must be satisfied with the end product of disgruntled youth. If at all we really want to put an end to this wave of frustration among the youth, we must bring them up with full knowledge of what a deal life is. The less they expect of it, the happier they will be. It is not that they should not have ambitions or not do well, but this will prepare them for every failure that life may have to offer.
If the young are brought with a correct perspective of life, they will know how to face discontent without committing suicide or taking to drugs.
Relevance of Gandhian values in the 21st century
Let us first consider what really are values. These are, the general norms we set for ourselves to live our routine lives in the family, in society, in office and in the nation. In all these aspects of life, we all need some guidelines, and it is these guidelines that we set for ourselves that are called values. When we thus talk of values, we mean what are the basic standards of behaviour we have set for our lives, for, without a clear cut pathway it would be difficult to tread.
We are presently here to discuss Gandhian values, and their relevance in the 21st Century. At this juncture, I’d like to say that, there are some values of behaviour that can never become irrelevant, no matter what the scenario, and no matter what the Century. Let us find out what are the basic values which we call as Gandhian. What were these values, which were relevant in the beginning of the 20th Century, and have lost their hue in the 21st century. These values were, simplicity, merging with the common man, non-violence and prayer. As far as these values are concerned not even the hardest of criminals will call any of them bad or irrelevant but, the moot point is that, can we follow these values in today’s scenario? However there should not be any problem in following at least some of these values if not all of them. Now, let us take each of these above mentioned values and try to study their utility in the present century.
Simplicity, well, I daresay that, it is not possible to find a single person who is simple in dress, in manners and behaviour. This is not because we cannot remain in the society if we are simple in thought and deep but, it is that we ourselves do not wish to be simple. This attitude is because we are aping the west in all its entirety. It is not that simple people are not seen or that they are not liked or are shunned by society but, the fact is that they do not become centres of attraction, and, today, we prefer to be centres of attraction rather than be our true selves. This means that we are not simple because we do not want to, and not that it is not possible to exist if we are simple. If we have left the beauty of simplicity because we want to, we cannot say that the value is not relevant, but that we do not cherish the value. However friends, if we want to be centres of attraction, where could we find a greater centre than the Gandhi, the 20th century produced. Wouldn’t we all like to be as attractive as him, would we not like to get his name and fame? All this he managed to get inspite of his extreme simplicity. So, how can we say that this value is not necessary now. Even in later times we have had simple people getting name and fame, people like Vinobha Bhave, Mother Teresa and then, Baba Amte. This goes to prove that centres of attraction are made by other qualities which do not get stopped because people are simple. Thus we can hardly underestimate the value of simplicity. It is this, which may be, gives and individual more time to work on things more substantial, and prove his worth. We can not say that simplicity is not of use now, as there are no simple people, here. I would say that, in a crowd of made up beauties, a simple person would be an oasis in the desert of show and show biz., Once a person is simple he has no qualms in mixing with the lowest of the low and this makes him really well known and popular. Just see the simple Mother Teresa what laurels she got throughout the world, how can we then say that the value of simplicity is redundant now. It is this value of being simple in head and heart, that will always have its monumental importance, no matter what the century.
Regarding the value of non-violence, I daresay that, even to-day, if all of us, yes, all of us decide to become non-violent because others are violent. Let us ponder for a moment, are we succeeding in returning violence for violence? The net result is an increase in violence the next thing we must analyse is, are we achieving any worthy ends by being violent? I’m sure all of you will agree that, violence only begets violence and it ends there, bearing no fruit at all. Then it is for us to understand that violence is only an experiment in futility, resulting only in death and disaster. We should try to find out ways and means to stop the existing vilolence instead of, joining the bandwagon of violent people saying that, we have to be so because others are violent, this is no practical approach to the problem of violence. I an sure that, even to day if we all decide to remain non-violent, we will all be happier and we will understand that these values of Gandhiji are not for any one period of away their utility. Such sterling qualities will always be relevant but with a rejoinder that, all of us follow them just as meticulously as we are following the present qualities of degradation.
We are presently here to discuss Gandhian values, and their relevance in the 21st Century. At this juncture, I’d like to say that, there are some values of behaviour that can never become irrelevant, no matter what the scenario, and no matter what the Century. Let us find out what are the basic values which we call as Gandhian. What were these values, which were relevant in the beginning of the 20th Century, and have lost their hue in the 21st century. These values were, simplicity, merging with the common man, non-violence and prayer. As far as these values are concerned not even the hardest of criminals will call any of them bad or irrelevant but, the moot point is that, can we follow these values in today’s scenario? However there should not be any problem in following at least some of these values if not all of them. Now, let us take each of these above mentioned values and try to study their utility in the present century.
Simplicity, well, I daresay that, it is not possible to find a single person who is simple in dress, in manners and behaviour. This is not because we cannot remain in the society if we are simple in thought and deep but, it is that we ourselves do not wish to be simple. This attitude is because we are aping the west in all its entirety. It is not that simple people are not seen or that they are not liked or are shunned by society but, the fact is that they do not become centres of attraction, and, today, we prefer to be centres of attraction rather than be our true selves. This means that we are not simple because we do not want to, and not that it is not possible to exist if we are simple. If we have left the beauty of simplicity because we want to, we cannot say that the value is not relevant, but that we do not cherish the value. However friends, if we want to be centres of attraction, where could we find a greater centre than the Gandhi, the 20th century produced. Wouldn’t we all like to be as attractive as him, would we not like to get his name and fame? All this he managed to get inspite of his extreme simplicity. So, how can we say that this value is not necessary now. Even in later times we have had simple people getting name and fame, people like Vinobha Bhave, Mother Teresa and then, Baba Amte. This goes to prove that centres of attraction are made by other qualities which do not get stopped because people are simple. Thus we can hardly underestimate the value of simplicity. It is this, which may be, gives and individual more time to work on things more substantial, and prove his worth. We can not say that simplicity is not of use now, as there are no simple people, here. I would say that, in a crowd of made up beauties, a simple person would be an oasis in the desert of show and show biz., Once a person is simple he has no qualms in mixing with the lowest of the low and this makes him really well known and popular. Just see the simple Mother Teresa what laurels she got throughout the world, how can we then say that the value of simplicity is redundant now. It is this value of being simple in head and heart, that will always have its monumental importance, no matter what the century.
Regarding the value of non-violence, I daresay that, even to-day, if all of us, yes, all of us decide to become non-violent because others are violent. Let us ponder for a moment, are we succeeding in returning violence for violence? The net result is an increase in violence the next thing we must analyse is, are we achieving any worthy ends by being violent? I’m sure all of you will agree that, violence only begets violence and it ends there, bearing no fruit at all. Then it is for us to understand that violence is only an experiment in futility, resulting only in death and disaster. We should try to find out ways and means to stop the existing vilolence instead of, joining the bandwagon of violent people saying that, we have to be so because others are violent, this is no practical approach to the problem of violence. I an sure that, even to day if we all decide to remain non-violent, we will all be happier and we will understand that these values of Gandhiji are not for any one period of away their utility. Such sterling qualities will always be relevant but with a rejoinder that, all of us follow them just as meticulously as we are following the present qualities of degradation.
Traditional social system of India
Through the ages past India has been very well known throughout the world for its strong social bonds. We have for long been the envy of several far off countries for this very tradition of social bonds.
When we consider a society, the first tier we have to consider and look upon, is the smallest unit of a society, i.e. the family. In India, the family was the nucleus of the social structure. This included more often than not, at least three generations of a family living together, unde one roof, and sharing all that came their way together. These three generations were the grand parents, the parents and the children of the family, and this constituted the much talked of joint family of India. This system prevailed in India very successfully, and was a topic for the world to talk about. This single large joining family was as though a grand fete always, and there was much of fun and frolic all the time for the family. However, this system also had its inherent flaws as, all members had to adjust a lot to each other at each step, and the liberty of an individual was as though choked. Absolute obedience had to be given by all members to the eldest, whether they liked it or not. This must have even been torture at times specially when we see it all, keeping in mind the attitudes of freedom and adjustment today. However, this system inspite of all its defects had great inbuilt advantages for all the members. In times of stress there was never any loneliness as, the family was always together. This advantage can be understood in the context of life today when we in trouble are absolutely alone to face the stress and strain, as there is no one in whom we can confide, as the concept of the joint family of Indian tradition has now given way to the single unit family.
Next to the family comes the hierarchy of the social building, the society itself. What is society? This is just the conglomeration of a number of families. This again in the tradition of India presented a wonderful oneness of pattern. People could count on friends and relatives, and other members of the family in times of need. This has also been destroyed in the present scenario, as, at least in big cities and towns, even next door neighbours do not know each other, they do not care to meet each other or help each other.
The social fabric of the India of traditions was a remarkably well knit system, with all people for all others in the family or in the community. This has been curiously exchanged for an absolutely opposite system evolved by the influence of the West.
The next item of the tradition of the Indian social system is the much talked of Caste System. This was a system of obvious occupation being handed over from one generation to the next. This was the original of the Caste System as, children always followed the traditional occupation of the father. This was the system as it was meant to be and see what an ugly shape of separationism it has taken today. Though even today, is it not true that the sons usually follow the occupation of the father, this is because they find it easier, and they are adept to all its methodologies. The son of a farmer becomes a farmer, the son of a judge studies law, the son of an actor becomes an actor, what is wrong in this scheme of things? This is just an extension of the original caste system into the 20th century and beyond. Thus we see that, the traditional social system of India was a very well knit, well organized system that brought closeness among all its members.
Another important tradition of the Indian society that we can not leave out of our purview is the famous Dowry System. This was a very well thought of system for the well being of daughters in a family. This system was the giving of some jewels and other household goods and cash to the daughter at her wedding. This was very sensible at that point of time, because in the past, girls were not educated, and would not be able to fend for themselves in the event of a tragedy. So, this money given to her at the wedding held her in good stead in times of emergency. Besides, the girls had no right in the father’s property, so, in this way, the parents would be able to give her some part of their assets as her share in their property.
The system as envisaged at that time was very appropriate in the scheme of things at that time. However, now, the same dowry system has become a convenient tool in the hands of the boy and his family to earn a dowry, and pester the girl continuously for more and more, throughout her life. Not only this, if more dowry is not forthcoming the girl is even killed.
Thus we see that, the traditional social system was woven neatly in a compact and well considered system which is now giving way under the weight of the infiltration of the customs of the West and so called modern living. By and by all the pillars of the traditional social system of India are giving way to a newly founded modern and western system of social upbringing and living. Joint families have given way to small nuclear families, and the very concept of a large family is altogether blown to the winds. The neat and well organized Caste System has taken an ugly shape due to the ugly designs of people at the helm of affairs in India for the last 50 years. This genuine caste system has been distorted and multilated to a point of no return.
It would be nice at this juncture, to retrospect at what our society was, and what it has become now in the so called progressing country that India is becoming. If we see with an open eye and an open mind and compare the society that was and the society that is, it may help us now to mend our ways before it is too late, and the loss in well nigh complete.
When we consider a society, the first tier we have to consider and look upon, is the smallest unit of a society, i.e. the family. In India, the family was the nucleus of the social structure. This included more often than not, at least three generations of a family living together, unde one roof, and sharing all that came their way together. These three generations were the grand parents, the parents and the children of the family, and this constituted the much talked of joint family of India. This system prevailed in India very successfully, and was a topic for the world to talk about. This single large joining family was as though a grand fete always, and there was much of fun and frolic all the time for the family. However, this system also had its inherent flaws as, all members had to adjust a lot to each other at each step, and the liberty of an individual was as though choked. Absolute obedience had to be given by all members to the eldest, whether they liked it or not. This must have even been torture at times specially when we see it all, keeping in mind the attitudes of freedom and adjustment today. However, this system inspite of all its defects had great inbuilt advantages for all the members. In times of stress there was never any loneliness as, the family was always together. This advantage can be understood in the context of life today when we in trouble are absolutely alone to face the stress and strain, as there is no one in whom we can confide, as the concept of the joint family of Indian tradition has now given way to the single unit family.
Next to the family comes the hierarchy of the social building, the society itself. What is society? This is just the conglomeration of a number of families. This again in the tradition of India presented a wonderful oneness of pattern. People could count on friends and relatives, and other members of the family in times of need. This has also been destroyed in the present scenario, as, at least in big cities and towns, even next door neighbours do not know each other, they do not care to meet each other or help each other.
The social fabric of the India of traditions was a remarkably well knit system, with all people for all others in the family or in the community. This has been curiously exchanged for an absolutely opposite system evolved by the influence of the West.
The next item of the tradition of the Indian social system is the much talked of Caste System. This was a system of obvious occupation being handed over from one generation to the next. This was the original of the Caste System as, children always followed the traditional occupation of the father. This was the system as it was meant to be and see what an ugly shape of separationism it has taken today. Though even today, is it not true that the sons usually follow the occupation of the father, this is because they find it easier, and they are adept to all its methodologies. The son of a farmer becomes a farmer, the son of a judge studies law, the son of an actor becomes an actor, what is wrong in this scheme of things? This is just an extension of the original caste system into the 20th century and beyond. Thus we see that, the traditional social system of India was a very well knit, well organized system that brought closeness among all its members.
Another important tradition of the Indian society that we can not leave out of our purview is the famous Dowry System. This was a very well thought of system for the well being of daughters in a family. This system was the giving of some jewels and other household goods and cash to the daughter at her wedding. This was very sensible at that point of time, because in the past, girls were not educated, and would not be able to fend for themselves in the event of a tragedy. So, this money given to her at the wedding held her in good stead in times of emergency. Besides, the girls had no right in the father’s property, so, in this way, the parents would be able to give her some part of their assets as her share in their property.
The system as envisaged at that time was very appropriate in the scheme of things at that time. However, now, the same dowry system has become a convenient tool in the hands of the boy and his family to earn a dowry, and pester the girl continuously for more and more, throughout her life. Not only this, if more dowry is not forthcoming the girl is even killed.
Thus we see that, the traditional social system was woven neatly in a compact and well considered system which is now giving way under the weight of the infiltration of the customs of the West and so called modern living. By and by all the pillars of the traditional social system of India are giving way to a newly founded modern and western system of social upbringing and living. Joint families have given way to small nuclear families, and the very concept of a large family is altogether blown to the winds. The neat and well organized Caste System has taken an ugly shape due to the ugly designs of people at the helm of affairs in India for the last 50 years. This genuine caste system has been distorted and multilated to a point of no return.
It would be nice at this juncture, to retrospect at what our society was, and what it has become now in the so called progressing country that India is becoming. If we see with an open eye and an open mind and compare the society that was and the society that is, it may help us now to mend our ways before it is too late, and the loss in well nigh complete.
Decline of the Indian society in the modern era
Indian Society from times immemorial has been praised and praised by the world. However, with a variety of influences specially from the west, the Indian society is facing a downhill march. The pillars of the erstwhile Indian society, the family, the society, the caster, are all found to be breaking under different pressures. The conglomerate of Indian families termed as the Indian society, I daresay hardly exists now, it is all crumbling into single family units, hardly even known to each other most of the time.
The family which at one time consisted of a strong bond of all brothers, their wives and all the children, has now become a single unit with only the father, the mother and the child. Even this miniature family is further seen to be losing the feel of a family. This is because now, women being educated, found to be working on jobs, so even for this little bit of a family, the women have no time, so the home, the husband, the child all suffer from lack of cohesion, love and care. This fragmentation of the one time joint family is not at all a fair omen for the country. This is because, it is the home where the next generation is made, and if this very institution moves towards breaking, what would be at the end of the road is certainly not very inspiring.
Regarding Society, the one piece society of the olden times has been broken into small incoherent groups. These groups of like minded people only get together to break other groups of like minded people, and this is what our society consists of to-day. A look at the big cities and towns is very very frustrating. Most of us do not even know who our neighbours are, and neither we care to know who they are. This results is an extreme callousness of the people towards each other, no matter how close to each other they may be living physically. A worse appearance of the Indian society could never have been envisaged. The society that was once a strong bond of love and care is now crumbling to dust and even vision to see each other is getting blurred.
Our society can be seen hiijaced from its original gradeur by aping the West. Education of women which should be considered as an asset for the country is becoming an eyesore, and creating more problems in the social scenario. The women working out of the home now have no to the time for family, no consideration for the family, and I daresay not even love for the family. This is because she has now a career to make, which can not be done unless she gives all her time and interest to it. This single aspect has contributed heavily to the loosening the bonds if any in the family and the society.
To cap it all, the deterioration of the Indian society is near complete by our complete lack of values that are essential to a togetherness in a living. We have completely lost our inherent and traditional values, all these we have staked on the altar of money. Money earning money and earning more money is now our only prime concern, and in our search for this, we have lost track of all else.
If this situation continues to stay it will be no wonder to see that India has lost all sense and love for its traditions and values. In our society of to-day another section that faces a crisis is the section of the senior citizens. This is also because of the break up of the ties of love that were in a family. Now the children do not at all love their parents and neither do they feel obliged to the parents for all they have done for them. This is making the senior citizens a category of left outs, uncared for and unhappy.
If this trend continues for long the greatest treasure of India, its social fabric is sure to get dessimated.
The family which at one time consisted of a strong bond of all brothers, their wives and all the children, has now become a single unit with only the father, the mother and the child. Even this miniature family is further seen to be losing the feel of a family. This is because now, women being educated, found to be working on jobs, so even for this little bit of a family, the women have no time, so the home, the husband, the child all suffer from lack of cohesion, love and care. This fragmentation of the one time joint family is not at all a fair omen for the country. This is because, it is the home where the next generation is made, and if this very institution moves towards breaking, what would be at the end of the road is certainly not very inspiring.
Regarding Society, the one piece society of the olden times has been broken into small incoherent groups. These groups of like minded people only get together to break other groups of like minded people, and this is what our society consists of to-day. A look at the big cities and towns is very very frustrating. Most of us do not even know who our neighbours are, and neither we care to know who they are. This results is an extreme callousness of the people towards each other, no matter how close to each other they may be living physically. A worse appearance of the Indian society could never have been envisaged. The society that was once a strong bond of love and care is now crumbling to dust and even vision to see each other is getting blurred.
Our society can be seen hiijaced from its original gradeur by aping the West. Education of women which should be considered as an asset for the country is becoming an eyesore, and creating more problems in the social scenario. The women working out of the home now have no to the time for family, no consideration for the family, and I daresay not even love for the family. This is because she has now a career to make, which can not be done unless she gives all her time and interest to it. This single aspect has contributed heavily to the loosening the bonds if any in the family and the society.
To cap it all, the deterioration of the Indian society is near complete by our complete lack of values that are essential to a togetherness in a living. We have completely lost our inherent and traditional values, all these we have staked on the altar of money. Money earning money and earning more money is now our only prime concern, and in our search for this, we have lost track of all else.
If this situation continues to stay it will be no wonder to see that India has lost all sense and love for its traditions and values. In our society of to-day another section that faces a crisis is the section of the senior citizens. This is also because of the break up of the ties of love that were in a family. Now the children do not at all love their parents and neither do they feel obliged to the parents for all they have done for them. This is making the senior citizens a category of left outs, uncared for and unhappy.
If this trend continues for long the greatest treasure of India, its social fabric is sure to get dessimated.
Joint Family
A joint family was a phenomena found only in India of the bygone days. This really meant that, the parents with all their children and grandchildren stayed together under one single roof.
This system could prevail for decades for several reasons. First and foremost, all the children stayed in the same town as, no one went out of the town to another distant town in search of a job. This made it possible for all children to remain in town, and that also in the same house. Secondly, and more importantly, the sons and daughters-in-law were all treated as one family, and all these members were obliged to listen to the dictates of the elders. This made them succumb into staying with the parents, even if they did not like the idea. This system of joint family continued in India till the advent of the British Raj with which came the British culture. Now, the culture of single unit families was borrowed by India from their British counterparts. At that time, little realizing that single unit families started evolving in India. This happened in the middle of the current century. There is nothing in the world without advantages and disadvantages, it remains to be true of the joint family system also. The system had its flaws and great advantages too.
The joint family has a great advantage in the gift of the feeing of unity among all the members of the family, no matter how large it may have been. Each member felt part, yes, an integral part of the whole, and so never felt alone. In days of celebrations and in times of despair, the whole joint family was together in any eventuality to enjoy or fret. The children of the family were the children of the family, and not the children of any one couple in the family, so there could be no differentiation between the children of one brother and those of another. It was not possible that the children of one brother studied in a public school and the children of another brother studied in a municipal school, just because their fathers were of different financial standards. This might have been very good for the family as a whole, but it had its own drawbacks. The children and if not they, at least their mothers could have felt that their children were suffering at the hands of the system, and it could even be justified, for, if it was not for equal distribution of earnings, her children could be given more. There was a fair point in this, but the level of toleration and understanding was so very high that not a single member dared to raise an objection to the system. The system did give advantage to one at the cost of another, but does this not happen in every system. An old adage depicts this so truly that, “one man’s food is another man’s poison”. From the present standards of great extent, but still, the system of joint family was not without its advantages. In times of despair and tragedy specially, the system must have been a boon. An individual was never left alone to cry and die alone, and with this, the horros of a tragedy were minimized.
Besides, all the members of the family lived together, cared for each other and the children all grew together. This was a special asset for the children who always had the pleasure of company of their equals in size to play with, and a lot of elders to cherish them. All the children of the family knew each other from their childhood and never felt a difference between cousins and their real brothers and sisters.
The burden of housekeeping was shared by all the men and women and no one individual was made to feel burdened with the load of domestic tasks, which were shared and managed easily. In this system the elders had the finest share of it all. They were never lonely, they were given their due respect and regard by each member of the family. Above all, it was the dictates of the elders that always prevailed in the family. The cares of housekeeping were not their liability. All this gave them a very comfortable living in the evening of their lives. They felt wanted and cared for. I feel that, the greatest advantage of the joint family system accrued to the elders of the family. They had no cares and they were very well looked after, so they got a handsome return for all their labour during youth. On the contrary, the single unit families of today, are a singular curse for the elders more than anyone else in the hierarchy of the family. This is a curse to elders more than to anyone else. Now, they are neglected, unwanted and more often than not, even removed from the family.
The single unit family has come into being mainly because now, young men of the family are going out of their homes in search of better jobs so, their staying under one roof becomes impossible. When this happens, none of the individual son is willing to accept the responsibility of the old parents. So in this change over of the family system, the most hard hit are the elders of each family. To add to the separation due to the job hunting of the men, coming out the women also to work has given the final death blow to the joint family. What to talk of a joint family, in this scenario, even a single unit family hardly remains a family in its true sense. When the woman goes out to work, there has to be a lock outside the house, and, not only the physical lock but, a lock is put to nearness, familiarity and friendship amongst the members of the family. Even the children of working mothers suffer due to lack of affection and care so, who else can be looked after in such a family. The children from the age of two or even earlier, are put into crèches and learn whatever is available to them. In such a high dry scenario, where is the scope for elders to be attended to when children cannot get the attention they well deserve.
It is undoubtedly true that now everyone is free to do what ever he or she wants to do, without the shackles of a joint family but, at the same time, each individual is lonely and forlorn, as, there is no one to talk to no shoulders to rest upon and cry one’s woes, and no one who can help or would even care to help. The children who, in a joint family grew together, today, do not even know the names of their cousins. Just imagine when these children grow up, they will have no friends and no colleagues in the family, and will surely be very very lonely.
Both the family systems have their advantages and disadvantages, but wherever possible, brothers and their families and the parents should live together, it will certainly mean some sacrifice from all members but it will not be without an ample return, in the form of a feeling of security and belongingness. Above all the new problem that we have created regarding our senior citizens will also vanish, for they will be looked after by the young.
This system could prevail for decades for several reasons. First and foremost, all the children stayed in the same town as, no one went out of the town to another distant town in search of a job. This made it possible for all children to remain in town, and that also in the same house. Secondly, and more importantly, the sons and daughters-in-law were all treated as one family, and all these members were obliged to listen to the dictates of the elders. This made them succumb into staying with the parents, even if they did not like the idea. This system of joint family continued in India till the advent of the British Raj with which came the British culture. Now, the culture of single unit families was borrowed by India from their British counterparts. At that time, little realizing that single unit families started evolving in India. This happened in the middle of the current century. There is nothing in the world without advantages and disadvantages, it remains to be true of the joint family system also. The system had its flaws and great advantages too.
The joint family has a great advantage in the gift of the feeing of unity among all the members of the family, no matter how large it may have been. Each member felt part, yes, an integral part of the whole, and so never felt alone. In days of celebrations and in times of despair, the whole joint family was together in any eventuality to enjoy or fret. The children of the family were the children of the family, and not the children of any one couple in the family, so there could be no differentiation between the children of one brother and those of another. It was not possible that the children of one brother studied in a public school and the children of another brother studied in a municipal school, just because their fathers were of different financial standards. This might have been very good for the family as a whole, but it had its own drawbacks. The children and if not they, at least their mothers could have felt that their children were suffering at the hands of the system, and it could even be justified, for, if it was not for equal distribution of earnings, her children could be given more. There was a fair point in this, but the level of toleration and understanding was so very high that not a single member dared to raise an objection to the system. The system did give advantage to one at the cost of another, but does this not happen in every system. An old adage depicts this so truly that, “one man’s food is another man’s poison”. From the present standards of great extent, but still, the system of joint family was not without its advantages. In times of despair and tragedy specially, the system must have been a boon. An individual was never left alone to cry and die alone, and with this, the horros of a tragedy were minimized.
Besides, all the members of the family lived together, cared for each other and the children all grew together. This was a special asset for the children who always had the pleasure of company of their equals in size to play with, and a lot of elders to cherish them. All the children of the family knew each other from their childhood and never felt a difference between cousins and their real brothers and sisters.
The burden of housekeeping was shared by all the men and women and no one individual was made to feel burdened with the load of domestic tasks, which were shared and managed easily. In this system the elders had the finest share of it all. They were never lonely, they were given their due respect and regard by each member of the family. Above all, it was the dictates of the elders that always prevailed in the family. The cares of housekeeping were not their liability. All this gave them a very comfortable living in the evening of their lives. They felt wanted and cared for. I feel that, the greatest advantage of the joint family system accrued to the elders of the family. They had no cares and they were very well looked after, so they got a handsome return for all their labour during youth. On the contrary, the single unit families of today, are a singular curse for the elders more than anyone else in the hierarchy of the family. This is a curse to elders more than to anyone else. Now, they are neglected, unwanted and more often than not, even removed from the family.
The single unit family has come into being mainly because now, young men of the family are going out of their homes in search of better jobs so, their staying under one roof becomes impossible. When this happens, none of the individual son is willing to accept the responsibility of the old parents. So in this change over of the family system, the most hard hit are the elders of each family. To add to the separation due to the job hunting of the men, coming out the women also to work has given the final death blow to the joint family. What to talk of a joint family, in this scenario, even a single unit family hardly remains a family in its true sense. When the woman goes out to work, there has to be a lock outside the house, and, not only the physical lock but, a lock is put to nearness, familiarity and friendship amongst the members of the family. Even the children of working mothers suffer due to lack of affection and care so, who else can be looked after in such a family. The children from the age of two or even earlier, are put into crèches and learn whatever is available to them. In such a high dry scenario, where is the scope for elders to be attended to when children cannot get the attention they well deserve.
It is undoubtedly true that now everyone is free to do what ever he or she wants to do, without the shackles of a joint family but, at the same time, each individual is lonely and forlorn, as, there is no one to talk to no shoulders to rest upon and cry one’s woes, and no one who can help or would even care to help. The children who, in a joint family grew together, today, do not even know the names of their cousins. Just imagine when these children grow up, they will have no friends and no colleagues in the family, and will surely be very very lonely.
Both the family systems have their advantages and disadvantages, but wherever possible, brothers and their families and the parents should live together, it will certainly mean some sacrifice from all members but it will not be without an ample return, in the form of a feeling of security and belongingness. Above all the new problem that we have created regarding our senior citizens will also vanish, for they will be looked after by the young.
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