How much bad is really bad? Who draws the line? Should the line be drawn at bad or at very bad? Should it only be a line or a full circle covering the slightlybad, about-to-be-bad and notas-bad as well? It is about time the Indian society, which witnessed a churn of sorts recently, prepare itself to answer these questions. The agitation at Jantar Mantar and events that followed, were primarily political in nature. But they also exposed the society in many different ways. Class and crass were open for all to see, examine and comment about. And that churn brought out both ‘Amrit’ and ‘Halahal!’ Some recent comments, in absolute bad taste, against the Prime Minister outraged our nation and rightly so. His age, position and what all he represents deserves nothing but respect and decency, even in criticism. But even if he had been younger, not the Prime Minister and did not represent what he does today, a certain Narendrabhai would have deserved a suitable language when spoken to or about.

 

 

 

As do all others, irrespective of who they are or what they represent, merely by being humans of a civilised society. But cast one good look around. Hear the words spoken on streets, homes, gatherings, friendly and unfriendly societies -- the care for the spoken word is fast losing its grip. Indecent does not attract raised eyebrows and uncouth does not offend the way it should. Social media brings the crassiest of comments even on simplest of observations. People are ready to explode at any time. Some 14 years back, a small boy, around 3 years, playing merrily drew everyone’s attention. Waiting for the lights to turn green, people at the signal could not but notice his innocent play with shock and despair.

 

He had just picked up a dirty, cuss word and was repeating loudly with gay abandon. For the boy, he had learnt something new. For the crowd, he had learnt something he should have absolutely not but the word was around and he had picked up as 3-year-olds do. Listening to something so crude in the soft, sweet voice of a happy child was too glaring, a contrast to be dismissed as a child’s play. But the crowd at the signal could do little but dismiss it. Many perhaps would have cautioned themselves to be more alert in children’s presence but that day that cuss word had already entered the little mind of an innocent boy. Children watch closely, imitate their elders and pick up things from their environment. In forgiving the rogue behaviour against him, the Prime Minister reminded the nation the need is not of punishment but of guidance. The need is also for better role models.

 

The need is also for a protective environment which does not throw foul language and expects youngsters to not imbibe it. Why will youngsters shy away from using foul language against the Prime Minister, when they have seen elders speak, in a harsh language, about leaders – right from the Father of the Nation, to many more from different ideological divides. Shouldn’t we as a society draw boundaries, if only of respectful language, when we dissect history or historical figures; politics and political figures, people we do not see eyeto-eye with? The euphoric clapping, when expletives are used to vilify opponents, also contribute to our Gen Z’s education! I have heard people speaking of ‘sanskar’, of parents’ role, of upbringing, of values. But parents do not man streets, roads, school and college premises and every other corner of the nation including the vast undefined spaces of social media. The larger society has a responsibility too. It is high time it took onus. We knew it when spoken word in the society was turning bad, we allowed it to reach the ‘very bad’, arguing over set of norms and degrees rather than nipping things in the bud. Rather than considering it as a collective duty we have tried to find those who could be blamed. The Gen Z with their outrageous behaviour is the tree, seeds of which we have planted.

 

If we take a sharp U-turn from using foul language (including at places where we think it won’t matter if we are not in our best behaviours, like homes), the coming generations will follow. A lot of harm in the society is done by our looking the other way. Earlier, a sharp glance, a raised eyebrow, a frown was enough to tell a foulmouthed person, that his/her words were not being appreciated. Looking the other way, somehow turned our dislike into acceptance. The high levels of anger that could be seen anywhere and everywhere adds to this culture of behaving outrageously. Right now, rage, over petty issues, has devoured lives, triggered crimes, made our roads unsafe, and civilised behaviour a far cry.

 

The elders who felt outraged at the Gen Z behaviour, also need to find solution to their own rage. As Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev has explained that if you want a plant to grow into a fine tree rooted on solid foundation, you do not keep telling it to behave and grow strong. You add manure to its soil, ensure that its environment is free of pests and it gets enough sunlight and air. If at all we are truly outraged at the behaviour of our Gen Z, we elders must clean our acts first. Use of a better spoken-language, free of cuss words, polite and kind, to begin with..!