Wake up

A newborn baby was found dead on a Srinagar road. Reports suggested that the baby had been abandoned. People expressed shock, and condemned the persons responsible for the dastardly act. But this is not the first time when people have resorted to such brutality. The one time abode of saints has changed. The rot that the society has undergone is quite evident. Last year, `illegal’ abortions evoked heated discussions but as the time passed the issue was forgotten. The results are obvious. People have to wake up now. The parents have to keep watch on their children. If children carry a costly cell phone, parents must ask how they got it. Parents must also pay occasional visits to the educational institutions and enquire about the conduct of their wards. Un-authorised absence from the class or tuition centres must be taken note of. Some quarters have, on many occasions,  blamed some secret agencies for promoting waywardness in Kashmir. This, they suspect is carried out with a purpose. Without contesting the veracity of such claims, it needs to be made clear that the upbringing plays a vital role in character building. If children are left on their own, they will do what no parent would approve of. Freedom is good but unlimited freedom is an evil. In the name of modernity, parents cannot, rather should not forget their responsibilities. No agency shall succeed in polluting the minds of children unless parents wittingly or unwittingly allow it. The so-called modern parents teach their children how to dance, sometimes to vulgar tunes. It has become a fashion now and most of the parents feel elated when their wards indulge in such things. And when the child grows up, he does not see anything wrong in such acts. It encourages a certain mindset that doesn’t go well with our societal values. The upshot of the matter is that people have to be very careful in upbringing their children.