In an era of global communication, mass media and IT where man has landed on the moon and is exploring planets, it is heart-rending to note that human society is not changing for the better. Family problems have more or less remained the same and are daily getting worse, despite the advice and guidance given through books, sermons, seminars and the media.

Candidly speaking, environment, weather and lifestyles are changing, but mentality is not. In this high-tech age, we are still primitive in mind and attitude. We continue to do a lot of things blindly and badly. We are more educated, more scientific and more rational but, as far as evil practices are concerned, we are uneducated, unscientific and irrational and we are still groping in the dark.

Let’s take a careful look at TV these days, where it is common place to be crude and arrogant. The assault of manner doesn’t just come in the form of comic relief. Witness the abominable display when an athlete/ footballer spits on a referee or overheated hooligans pull down their pants. All this has a negative effect on children. The Internet has the bigger effect where the child is the killer himself. Many children can programme a computer but don’t know how to say “thank you”.

It is sad to note that we do not try to ponder to discard bad habits like alcoholism, prostitution, witchcraft and outdated principles. In reality, domestic violence or family quarrel like the Mahabharat War is still ravaging poor and rich alike. Adultery, child abuse, rape, fraudulent sexual intercouse, abortion, suicide, family break-up and divorce are on the rampage. The thorny problems of mothers-in-law/sisters-in-law v/s daughters-in-law are still separating wives from husbands. Widow’s marriage is still not encouraged. Caste exclusion, expensive marriage without lifelong guarantee and big expenditure on death ceremonies are shaking faith in religion and making life miserable and depressing.

Sacraments and ceremonies, which should help people develop, improve and make life better are eventually inducing them to organise big parties where they indulge in eating, drinking and lustful activities, thus adopting hedonism (pleasure as the chief good or aim of life).

In truth, we have not come out successfully from that degrading situation, despite our heart-earned knowledge and experience. We have as if inherited only vices and evil practices; as a result, we are paying the heavy price. In short, the social clock seems to have stopped. There seems to be no improvement. We are still living in the Mahabharat period where lust, greed and family quarrel reigned supreme and destroyed the Kauraw and Pandav dynasty.

How long will such “dark forces” reign in our families? Is there no solution? If there’s any, why delay? Through knowledge, mutual understanding, insight, experience and strong determination, can’t we improve our family life by eliminating vices and evil practices? Are we so weak that we can’t fulfill this dream? Change or remain stagnant.“The past cannot be changed, the future is still in power.” (Hush-White)

<B>Sookrah BISSESSUR</B>