Even if we are not always on the same page, it is imperative to recognize how truly essential our connection with the generations that came before us is.
Growing up, every Friday played out like a well-rehearsed movie script. The day began with Khichuri with family, the smell of Ghee filling the air at breakfast, followed by a leisurely lunch after Jummah prayers.
In the afternoon, we would gather for a long game of Scrabble, spread out on the floor, while my grandmother sat on a couch telling stories from her youth. However, after the sun set, each member ventured into their own realm.
While my mother continued to watch her favorite shows with her mother-in-law, my father disappeared into the office, captivated by the pages of a recently acquired autobiography. My brother immersed himself in his own cryptic activities behind closed doors, leaving me hours and hours to engage in deep conversation with my friends on the phone—conversations that seemed monumentally important in those fleeting moments.
Five people, in four rooms, physical separation accentuated by tangible brick walls. However, as the years passed, an intangible wall began to make its way between us, which seemed to extend on its own, widening over time.
I can’t tell you how many times “You don’t understand”, “You won’t understand” and “You’re too young/old to know what that means” have been thrown at each other, from both sides, during small arguments. .
Now, as I reflect on these moments, my insightful observation regarding the intangible force that seemed to permeate our home – a topic that has been widely explored, discussed and written about: the generation gap.
According to Oxford Languages, a generation gap is defined as “a difference in attitudes between people of different generations, leading to a lack of understanding.”
These differences, whether related to ethical, moral, technical or political perspectives, have created divisions between several generations, causing the gap to widen over time.
Even though we may not always be on the same page, it is imperative that we recognize how truly indispensable our connection to the generations that came before us is.
Progress takes on a new outfit with each passing generation. What one generation perceives as progress may look completely different, even unrecognizable, to the next generation.
They have experienced their own trenches, some literally, and drawing parallels between the trenches proves unproductive, and belittling everyone’s personal experiences is equally unhelpful.
In recent years, with the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, rapid technological advancements, and natural obstacles such as the global pandemic, the invisible divide has become more apparent than ever.
Whether in their workplace, educational institutions, or even in the comfort of their homes, many have seen their loved ones struggle to smoothly transition from old norms to new ones.
So the next time you see your old professor struggling with online classes, when your mother asks you to show her how to add music to Facebook Stories, when your religious grandfather questions gender fluidity, it will not be a lack of intelligence or ignorance. These are simply new concepts that they haven’t been exposed to like we have been.
Frustration can naturally arise when helping them through these transitions, but without the wars they fought, the stereotypes they broke, the barriers they erected and the society they built , where would we be today?
In a constantly changing world, where generational gaps can sometimes seem insurmountable, we must remember that on days when we feel that we are falling behind in the race of life, it is on their concrete foundations that we can run .
