December 28, 2009

Mangalore, the coastal city, the port city,  the city of tender coconuts, neer dosas and chicken curry, boiled rice and the fish fry, of pristine beaches, of swaying  coconut and areca nut groves, huge portico houses with tiled roofs, of enterprising people,  was once a peaceful abode to escape to.

All this has changed over the years. From booming real-estate to rat-packed roads, from mud roads to concretized roads in every nook and corner, from gudangadis (petty shops) to exceptional malls, from local fashion to growing brand conscious among the new generation, this city is evolving in a big way beyond the imagination of all those who have been living in this coastal city and witnessing the transformation. 

The fangs of urbanization have stung the city and now it looks there no escape.   Remember those Hollywood flicks the likes of Hollow Man wherein a certain injection traces itself to every human detail? Sadly that is exactly what is happening to our beloved city.

The generation which has no respect for traditions and values has been responsible for this transformation of Mangalore to the worst.   It is unfortunate such people are still at the helm of affairs. Now another generation is waiting to be heard, to voice its opinion, to break the ground rules and free itself. They have waited enough for the much needed change, they now realize, they are the change.

What do you see around you these days? You see the thirsty youth, hankering for proper guidance, to channelise their energies and become good human beings. Their blood filled with skill and talent but it lacks direction. Most of them have nothing but high ambitions as a result of the expectations of the parents, family and the society.  The youth is a confused lot not knowing what is right and what is wrong. 

With the ongoing clash between the generation of thinkers and thinkers to-be, the questions that comes to my mind often is – Is Mangalore ready to take it all in?

With the youth constantly perturbed by adolescent distractions (if you call it that) and the communal forces trying trick to infuse hatred and violence in the young and impressionable minds - where is this city heading to?

Modernisation is a necessary evil which we can’t t do without. Better colleges, better faculties, better infrastructure, fierce competition among schools and colleges – is in the best interests of students.  It is not enough if students just graduate from these institutions.  They should be modern thinkers imbibing all the necessary qualities that make them good citizesns. .

But what about the present generation that has to pave way for these young thinkers? Can anyone hold them back? Would you call them stuck-up? Or would you just simply tag them as the wiser lot who know what they are doing? 

What I see around me is an evolving pool of urban thinkers, suffocating within the  system, trying to voice their opinion for change, slowly agitating themselves, which may eventually pave the way for the much needed revolution.

I thank the forefathers of this city for shedding their blood, soul and spirit for making Mangalore what it has been.  It is time for the older generation without those tradtions and values to step down, look back and make way for the generation next. You have performed and you have performed well. Now it is our turn as we foresee a bigger stage, for the youngsters who want to contribute their mite to restore Mangalore’s pride.  The youth cannot be stopped now.  They foresee bigger performances, they are the youth, they cannot be stopped.

But wait, stepping down is easy, stepping down as legends – well could you?

More employment opportunities, a complete stop to spreading communal hatred, opening up to present day ideas to suit the modern needs, roping in the big daddies of IT, chalking out a better infrastructure for this city...... is what the youth are looking forwards to in our beloved city of Mangalore. 

Legends or not, I still have faith on the Gen X.