“I’m not a girl, not yet a woman...,” goes a famous song that perfectly captures the dilemma of young adults. Misunderstood and judged by the world yet raring to live life on their own terms, Aakriti Bhardwaj peeks into the psyche of the current generation…
The year was 1980, Anil was playing cricket with his friends in a park in Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi. His coach, quite impressed with his wicket-keeping, asked his father if Anil could join the state team. But Anil's father wanted him to join the family business, and Anil complied. In those times, what parents said was the last word; your life’s decisions were taken by them…
Thirty years later, Anil’s daughter, Aliya, graduated and
started working. She didn’t face any pressure from her family, nor was there a need for her to work, she chose to do so of her own free will. Like her job, all other aspects of her life, from what to wear, what to eat, where to party were all her choice. Her earnings were spent on eating-out, shopping, recreation etc and little on household expenses or any major investments. Now at 23, responsibilities haven't cast even the slightest shadow on her life. Settling down is a distant probability... She’s supported completely by her parents – be it for food, a roof, or even the extra pocket money. Such is the world of ‘twixters’, people in the age bracket of 18 to 30, who are no more adolescents yet not close to being adults. They are ready to go out and experiment with their lives. Marriage is not on their mind till they reach late-twenties. To adults these youngsters might sound confused, aloof, irresponsible, but perhaps the truth is that they are preparing themselves for the bigger responsibilities and challenges of life.
Dr Sanjay Chugh, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, says, “The youth today is not keen on following trends. They are looking at careers, life partners whom they can relate to. In the pursuit of such goals, there usually is a certain amount of experimentation involved. However, this does not mean that the definition of stability has gone awry. They are clear that stability is when they can take care of their responsibilities in a consistent manner. The youth today is also witnessing a major transition in the value system of the nation. Divorces, extra-marital relationships etc. are becoming increasingly common. The youth may consciously delay entering adulthood because they can see what a mess they might make as an adult.”
But like Aliya, there are several other youngsters who are well into their twenties and are happy postponing ‘settling down’, making many elders accuse them of trying to dodge the responsibilities that come with adulthood. Twenty-five-year-old Kriti Dogra, who is pursuing Masters in Human Development, speaks the mind of the current generation, “I don’t think adulthood is delayed, it’s just that earlier, quarter-life (life between adolescence and adulthood) was mistaken as adulthood. It (adulthood) was always later in life. I think the best age to take on the responsibility of marriage is when one would understand the seriousness of the relationship and when one is clear about their goals in life.”
The year was 1980, Anil was playing cricket with his friends in a park in Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi. His coach, quite impressed with his wicket-keeping, asked his father if Anil could join the state team. But Anil's father wanted him to join the family business, and Anil complied. In those times, what parents said was the last word; your life’s decisions were taken by them…
Thirty years later, Anil’s daughter, Aliya, graduated and
started working. She didn’t face any pressure from her family, nor was there a need for her to work, she chose to do so of her own free will. Like her job, all other aspects of her life, from what to wear, what to eat, where to party were all her choice. Her earnings were spent on eating-out, shopping, recreation etc and little on household expenses or any major investments. Now at 23, responsibilities haven't cast even the slightest shadow on her life. Settling down is a distant probability... She’s supported completely by her parents – be it for food, a roof, or even the extra pocket money. Such is the world of ‘twixters’, people in the age bracket of 18 to 30, who are no more adolescents yet not close to being adults. They are ready to go out and experiment with their lives. Marriage is not on their mind till they reach late-twenties. To adults these youngsters might sound confused, aloof, irresponsible, but perhaps the truth is that they are preparing themselves for the bigger responsibilities and challenges of life.Dr Sanjay Chugh, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, says, “The youth today is not keen on following trends. They are looking at careers, life partners whom they can relate to. In the pursuit of such goals, there usually is a certain amount of experimentation involved. However, this does not mean that the definition of stability has gone awry. They are clear that stability is when they can take care of their responsibilities in a consistent manner. The youth today is also witnessing a major transition in the value system of the nation. Divorces, extra-marital relationships etc. are becoming increasingly common. The youth may consciously delay entering adulthood because they can see what a mess they might make as an adult.”
But like Aliya, there are several other youngsters who are well into their twenties and are happy postponing ‘settling down’, making many elders accuse them of trying to dodge the responsibilities that come with adulthood. Twenty-five-year-old Kriti Dogra, who is pursuing Masters in Human Development, speaks the mind of the current generation, “I don’t think adulthood is delayed, it’s just that earlier, quarter-life (life between adolescence and adulthood) was mistaken as adulthood. It (adulthood) was always later in life. I think the best age to take on the responsibility of marriage is when one would understand the seriousness of the relationship and when one is clear about their goals in life.”
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