Are Old Parents Are Burden for Modern Social Life?

Dr. Kedar Karki

Old age should not be considered an age of inactivity. Grandparents can look after the
kids in a much better way than the young parents who have little tine to spare.
Pressures of modern living give birth to nuclear families, but disadvantages for
outweigh the comforts and freedom of life with minimum responsibilities. The
concept of family is as old as the civilization itself. It was considered indispensable
for the health and happiness of a 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 grandchildren whose parents were
working. Now, however, the old parents have been marginalized. All thanks to our
telephone electronic media culture, which people feel, can keep them closer to their
parents even if they are not living together.
A household consisting of a husband, a wife and children, each bound by natural
piety, used to be a troubled tines. In such an atmosphere, the joys are doubled and
sympathy of family members halves sorrows and shocks. In case of illness of disaster,
the family proves a sheet anchor of comport. When a man is very ill, battling for life,
it is the wife-even as estranged one-who performs the duty for nursing better than any
professional of 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 ramp ling
upon the age-old tradition of joint-family where everyone lived under one roof.
Nuclear family mode brings a dream world where there are minimum restrictions on
women folk and complete freedom for every individual to grow the way he/she wants
to. Nevertheless, the hard realities of life sooner of later down upon the young
couples. 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 the rise at an alarming rate in the
present time as a couple depends more on friends for advice, which can's be as sincere
as the one coming from parent. People are becoming more status conscious than
before."
The family was stable till the time a woman remained a house wife and was content
with her lot. She gave her best to the family. But with the growing demands of
modern standards of living, single-hand earning has become less sustaining. And once
the woman steps out, she does not want to play the second fiddle i.e. a housewife.
The growing consumerism has further affected one's attitude towards family 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.
Change in the living style and the social behavior of the people has played havoc with
the family system. Old parents have been marginalized And when parent are living
together, they are treated no more better than the servants to look after the kids. The
parents are looked upon as a burden. They are considered to have lived out there life.
But the facts speak otherwise. Old age should not be considered an age of in activity.
They are more experienced than others in worldly wisdom. Grandparents can look
after the kids in a much better way than the young parents who have little time to
spare.
But slowly things are changing. People are realizing the value of a joint family
system. As western society which experienced nuclear fragmented family are now
turning toward joint family hope we in eastern social cultural as always follow the
west as well hope this will provide a vital resource to women activist of in this part of
glob working on women right