Just-a-Pause : Child Is The Father Of Man

Add as a preferred source on Google

An overworked businessman came home one night, hoping to read the evening paper in peace. But his six-year-old son wanted attention. Tearing into pieces a part of the paper which had a map of the world on it, the father gave it to his son and told him to put the map back together again. In ten minutes his son returned, the task completed. Since the boy had no idea of geography, the businessman wondered how he had done so well. The paper had the picture of the man on the other side. 'All I did", said the little boy, 'was to put the man right. When I did that, the world came out right!"

Yeah! Famous last words alright!! And easier said than done!!!

Let's have a look at some man-made problems: societal levels, caste differences, religious tensions, geographical divisions, etc. We, as lay persons are all but 'the stupid common man" so well labeled by Nasseruddin Shah in the movie 'A Wednesday"; and rightly so.

When there is a bomb blast or flooding due to municipal negligence or communal riots, we immediately call our near and dear ones and once we know that they are safe, we thank God and move on.

To compromise with situations beyond our control, to tolerate violence, has become part and parcel of our life today. In other words, we have no option but to adjust and accept whatever is happening around us. We have almost forgotten the world where it was safe to be human.

And where do our children figure in all of this? On one hand, though most of the time children don't have a clue as to what they are doing, unknowingly they allow us to explore things that we tend to forget as we grow into adulthood – qualities like innocence, purity of soul, ability to love unconditionally, selflessness, etc. On the other hand, they are quick learners and easily pick up from their surroundings, directly or indirectly.

What kind of a flower bed are we giving them to bloom in? A life of stress and peer pressure right from the tender age of 3 – 4 yrs starting with playschool? Oh no…actually no sooner a child is born, he is geared to perform. How often do we hear parents saying, 'My baby can do this, yours can't as yet? Oh that's so sad." There! Just out, and already performing!! How often do we give them money to go to the game parlours just to get them out of our hair and then rant and rave that they are getting too addicted to that and not concentrating on their studies? We allow them to watch Cartoon Network for hours together so that we can entertain friends without the hassle of keeping an eye on them. We gossip about our neighbours, 'supposedly" close friends and relatives in front of our children, little realizing that they are sponges absorbing everything; wondering at the hypocrisy at first and then slowly understanding it as a way of life.

These very same children are going to carry on what we have started. They are going to sit where we are sitting today and when we are gone, attend to those things we thought were important. They are going to move in and take control of our churches, schools, universities, businesses, cities and nation. The fate and future of humanity are in their hands.

We forget that we don't already approve of our own lives as it is today and yet we bring up our kids to live the same way. Our world has gone belly up. An overdose of reality is causing emotional indigestion in our children. Do we want them to enter the same rat race we are already in? Where each one of us, however successful, is still a rat? I'm sure; we would rather like to see our angels develop into beautiful butterflies instead.
So next month, on 14th November, Children's Day, we adults pledge to celebrate children. After all, it is about giving kids the right to enjoy their childhood and grow into healthy and educated citizens of the country; more importantly, in their own time and at their own pace.

And while we are at it, this could be an opportunity for us to re-engage with the long-forgotten child within and pump up the lost energy, curiosity and enthusiasm. Start each day as a new day. Break the rules once in a way and think out of the box. Take a different approach to existing problems. Realize that we do not always get what we want and instead be thankful for what we have. Live in the present and treasure the moment. Take time off to appreciate nature. Let our hearts do the thinking sometimes. And last but not least, love unconditionally.

It is said that man never bends his head, but in front of his child he has to; because Child is the Father of Man.