We have stolen the childhood of our children

There is always nostalgia associated with the good old days. Our fathers and grandfathers used to talk about their good old days, we talk about ours and, when our children grow up, they will also talk about theirs. Only – our children will blame us of stealing their childhoods away from them on several pretexts – most important one being ambition.
Right now, it is ambition that is driving the world – the ambition to be the Number One in whatever sphere he or she chooses. And, the kids are goaded on by their parents who want to see the children not just prosper but remain on top.
In the bargain, there are those painful suicides when the child is unable to come up to the expectation of their parents. When we hear such news, we curse the education plans of today, we curse the load of books that the kids have to carry to school and back, we curse the parents who send their kids to coaching classes expecting them to perform miracles. The subject is heavily debated in TV forums, in kitty parties, in the bus while on the way to office and even during lunch breaks. We shed crocodile tears and, forget about it once the novelty wears off.
It is the children and their childhood that take the beating.

Let us turn to the topic of outdoor games that kids of today play. Cricket will undoubtedly come out on top, thanks to the aggressive promotion of the game through every possible media. The dream of every schoolboy is to become another Sachin Tendulkar who came to the international scene when he was only 14.
Even though there cannot ever be another Sachin, there is no harm in dreaming because dreams are what makes life worth living. Hence, we see cricket being played at all levels in lanes and by lanes hoping that some Achrekar Sir will come across some child and groom him for the future. Al the children cannot participate because only a selected number can play at a time – eleven in each team. Obviously, there is immense competition to get into the team and, over a period of time, graduate in to the league of seniors.
There will be heartbreaks, and disappointments and kids have to learn to live with these factors negatives of life.
(to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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