This is in fact worth worrying that many adolescents of current times, particularly those from the so-called upper class of Dhaka’s society, are infatuated with a completely peculiar and distorted lifestyle. They, though not all, are found indecent in manners lacking the least sense of respect for the elders. Rather than doing hard work for a better and shimmering future of prosperity, they prefer forming different groups within their surroundings to exercise power and show supremacy over others. They form gangs to have themselves involved in different anarchic activities like eve teasing, showdown with arms, taking drugs, hysterical motorbike racing, voicing gender discriminating words to girls and women, and threatening one another.
Their uncontrolled lifestyle carries a bad portent for the next generation of Bangladesh. For sure, a juvenile subculture is slowly developing on the back of us. One should ask oneself as to where actually the problems lie.
Very naturally, children are fond of imitating. In society, underage children are surrounded by many influential things which, in psychology, are called models such as parents within the family, characters on television screens they see, friends within their peer groups and teachers at schools. They work as examples of behaviour to observe and influence to imitate. One’s behaviour in front of children, people whom children are having friendship with, and TV channels which they are accustomed to seeing – all play key roles in shaping children’s behaviour. On the other hand, because of a busy professional life, parents spend a little time with children, letting them be exposed to different harmful behaviours.
We must not let it continue any longer. Therefore, the combat should begin from within the family. Strong familial bonds can best heal this social disease to prevent it from setting roots in society. Furthermore, the defects in the present education system, which deter imparting proper lessons to young learners, should be removed. In our surroundings, we extremely feel the lack of practice and patronising of our own culture. Everywhere in society, people are leaning towards questionable tastes. To save the young generation from self-degradation and juvenile subculture, libraries, arts and music schools, theatres should be promoted more. We should lead our youths to places which represent our own culture.
After all, an ‘alien’ culture, followed for its temporary enticement, cannot do any good to a different society, for example ours one, but ensures an irrecoverable damage to it only. Only through teaching values and bringing discipline in youths’ life, we can hope for a better harmonious society for generations to come.
