The term generation could be defined as ‘all persons born around the same time,’ and the ‘average time in which children are ready to replace parents.’ The definition, by itself owes to the seeds of rift, chasm, cleft, call it by whatever abstract nouns, it translates instantly into some generation gap.
Not only does it establish a definite group of contemporaries, but also states categorically that the said group would replace predecessors-and none would like to be replaced? Hence the gap!
From this definition, we come across two aspects of generation gap-the chronological and the psychological. The chronological gap between two successive generations is an irrefutable fact of life that stakes us, like adolescence and menopause.
It was to happen and it would happen. And given the mortality of men, it is natural that since one must grow old and some day ceases to be, there must be someone following to take over, who should we hand over-the baton. It need not be some replacement, but the inheritance, even if the inheritors don’t follow the footsteps of predecessors, but walk along the road.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The life artd times of two generations seldom remain identical or even similar, thanks to modern research, progress in science, faster and easier communication, besides some distasteful things, like inflation and population explosion.
All these factors ensure the world we live in to have grown a new skin every few years. These changes in due course would certainly affect our thinking and influence our attitudes, expectations, behavioral patterns and values. These influences do, of course, work on mankind, but have the greatest impact on that section of society, which is on the threshold of discovery-discovery of the self, of life and of living.
Therefore, some change is a must for society to survive, whether we accept it, as part of God’s will. The new entity must replace the old. It need not mean that those used to an earlier life style should sink. There is no ultimatum involved. Ideally, the best of the old and the new ought to be integrated for the true and smooth evolution of mankind.