The Fruits of Progress: Despair, Ego clash, Suicides & Killings

  •   Tue, Apr 21 2026
  •   By Perdita Hilda D'Silva

April 21, 2026

A senior citizen with decades of experience in teaching, a mother and grandmother myself, am perplexed by the turn of events in our society. Waiting for real transformation in society through the medium of education, the end result in me is panic and disappointment, thanking the One above for my age and early exit from this world. Science and Technology have brought in revolutionary changes with Artificial Intelligence replacing human initiative and creativity. Instant communication tools such as social media and video conferencing allow people to connect across continents. Access to education is possible through digital platforms to people young and old, in all corners of the world. Scientific advancement has led to increasing productivity, accumulation of wealth and new diversified employment opportunities.

With 66% of our population below the age of 35 years, India has the world's largest youth population so important for progress and success of the nation. According to Nelson Mandela, a great leader, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In the present society, our youth have global opportunities to connect, learn and gain employment. Pay packets are attractive with wide exposure to travel and enjoy. Despite prosperity, many opportunities to grow and be self-sufficient, why is there an atmosphere of gloom prevailing in our families? Where are we heading to? To a society positive and happy or negative and filled with despair?

Definitely not being negative, but with deep sadness over social evils which could be easily mitigated here, is a glimpse of some tragic events. 

  • Statistics show that in India, every 155 minutes, a child under 16 years of age is raped. 
  • 53% of children have faced one or more types of abuse according to AarambhIndia.com. There are monsters who sexually abuse toddlers, the so called guardians of children turning into monsters forever destroying the innocence and faith of little children.
  • Child suicide in India is a critical public health crisis with over 10,000 children under 18 dying by suicide annually. This situation amounts to failure of elders and society, calling for deeper scrutiny. As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), “family problems”, ” love affairs”, “failure in examinations” are the leading causes of suicides. 
  • Another complex problem which really shakes the very fabric of society is social media use among children. Social media and Technology have led to rapid progress and exposure to real knowledge among children. Sadly the negative effects are increased anxiety, depression, body image issues, low self esteem due to social comparisons. Cyber bullying and harassment, life threatening games have led to loss of young lives.
  • “Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself” - meaningful words of John Dewey. Today do these beautiful words apply to the lives of young educated couples? There was a time when wives, uneducated and helpless with 10 to 12 children in poverty ridden families used to raise children with sound moral values. Facing problems with courage, they were instrumental in keeping the family relationships well knit and strong.

Today our youngsters have multiple degrees, fat pay packets, super ego, multiple awards in professional lives but very low emotional quotient. Often we are confused between literacy and real education. Therefore young educated couples, sorry, literate couples are driven to divorce due to rising personal expectations, economic independence, super ego and changing social norms. Degree holders without real wisdom or value based education.

  • Another very disturbing factor is family suicides, instant and impulsive, the husband or wife ending lives not only of themselves but young innocent children. Do they have any right to end the lives of their children? Young mothers who are supposed to be protectors and guardians of their children turn into killers and murderers. 
  • A serious and gloomy trend in modern India is romantic relationships, illicit affairs and sexual relationships leading to brutal murders often driven by jealousy, obsession and betrayal. Some examples- “January 2026 - Navy technician in Visakhapatnam murders his mistress, chopped her body, burnt parts to destroy evidence after she threatened to expose their affair. 
  • April 2026 - In Agra a woman murdered her husband with the help of her lover, highlighting increasing cases of spouses plotting deaths. 
  • Feberuary 2026 - In UP in a landmark verdiect a couple was sentenced to death for the sexual assault of 33 children, demonstrating extreme violence in society
  • June 2025 - Honeymoon murder case involving 24 year old Sonam who conspired with her boyfriend to murder her husband Raja Rahuvarshe 
  • December 2025 - A man was hacked to death in Bangalore by his lover's husband who had discovered the long-term relationship of his wife with the lover. 

With all these complex issues and problems, can we assert that we live in a progressive civilised society? Accumulation of wealth, very high standard of living, Palatial hours, vehicles, gold and silver if not instrumental in bringing joy and happiness are practically insignificant and useless. Can they ever replace true affection, peace and joy?. Have we seriously given a thought to the major events happening in our society? Is any solution in view to sow the seeds of affection, empathy, sensitivity and high emotional quotient?

Analysing the problems which we face today, a small beginning to mitigate them will go a long way to create a peaceful society.

Family: Family is the cornerstone of our lives, the foundation upon which we build our identities, families are a source of unconditional love and support. Mother Therea’s quote “ The way you help heal the world is you start with your own family”. Dr. Abdul Kalam expressed his opinion about family and mothers' lap as the solution to all the problems and violence in society. 

Here are a few questions to parents and elders- Are our children secure and happy at home?

Do they find parents with sound values?

Is there real communication between parents and children?

Do we elders inculcate discipline in our children?

Are we scared to set boundaries?

Children and youth from families filled with affection, values, discipline and security tend to grow up into balanced individuals. They become real assets to society. No amount of punishment can change a person unless he/she can distinguish between right and wrong. Therefore the real need today is of parents and home who can shape the personalities of children. 

School -Teacher -Education: As stated earlier educated youth today, instead of crating a peaceful society are instrumental in creating violence, sexual harassment and killing. Hence the distinction between literacy and education. Einstein explains true education in the following words “ Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. Real education is what children see in teachers who impart education to students.” The purpose of education is to make good human beings with skill and expertise.Enlightened human beings can be created by teachers' words. Let our teachers, therefore, wake up to their responsibilities. A small mission by our teachers towards creating humanity in students in the place of commercialization of education will definitely go a long way in minimising the evils in society.

Elders and Leaders: Our elders placed a world with lesser evil in our hands. Is it not a great responsibility on the shoulders of elders and leaders today, to create a world filled with peace and human values and place it in the hands of our children? Self introspection by elders and leaders is the need of the hour. Often we senior citizens and leaders sow the seed of violence and communalism in the minds of our youth instead of being people with nobility and empathy. Our leaders, elders poison the youth with divide and rule policy. 

  • On a positive note let us thank the One above for so much progress all around us. Let this optimism about progress prompt all of us to live noble, value based lives, for our youth to emulate and strive to create a peaceful value centric society. Let us conclude with the words of Helen Keller  who lived without sight or hearing    “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched -they must be felt with the heart” Let hearts filed with empathy and sensitivity be ours to bring reform in society, infested by violence, crime and unhappiness.

 

 

 
By Perdita Hilda D'Silva
Perdita Hilda D'Silva is a retired professor of Milagres College.
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Title: The Fruits of Progress: Despair, Ego clash, Suicides & Killings



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