Every time I open my facebook wall, somebody is traveling to an exotic location, somebody has just clicked a photograph with a celebrity , somebody is missing India from foreign lands , and somebody is just feeling "bored" or "angry". I want to make clear here that, this doesn't invoke sentiments of jealousy inside me , but this twitter and facebook generation is increasingly making dent on the fundamental values and morals on which my younger life was built upon.
When i started understanding things, simplicity was considered to be a virtue, however bigger than life a person is, he was measured on the scale of humility and humbleness. Our idols used to be Shashtrijee and mantra used to be "Simple Living, High thinking". With the increase in the aspirational quotient of society, there is also a tectonic shift in the socially desirable traits. There was a general feeling in yester years that you should downplay your achievements, but now a days, it is more about letting each and every person on this universe know about how awesome you are!!!
I am not trying to give a value judgement here, whether materialism is wrong or right, but the fact is that we as a society are continuously and rapidly getting engulfed in the sea of materialism. Although materialism can be termed as bad on the face, because there is nothing wrong in flaunting something which we have acquired legitimately and deservedly. But does really this makes us a better human being?? If we are sitting on an airport, what does the purpose serves to put it on the social media, only the likes, which come as disguised envious sentiments. Are our locus of control has became so external, that we seek approval of others in order to termed as successful and happy. Does not our pics of anniversaries and birthdays at best of places not an veiled attempt to display "how happy we are, all of you better make a note"
May be i am saying this because i am starting to believe that i am getting day by day out of sync with the present generation. I fully agree that we should not be "apologetic" about our achievements but i still believe that humility and magnanimity are still the timeless virtues which certainly makes a person better. People may argue that my rant is due to lack of any significant achievement, which i also accept, because true test of my character would be judged my behavior when i will achieve something significant, but i still disapprove " Feeling bored" as something so significant that it has to get attention from all and sundry.
I firmly believe that spirit of competition is necessary for growth of individual, society and nation as a whole, but in its pursuit, we should always remember that values like empathy, consideration and spirituality are also required for our holistic growth. For me , its the positive difference which we can bring in somebody Else's life, which still remains the most cherished achievement for a person. The shoe of materialism, still doesn't fit for me !!
