I have noticed one curious thing about the ‘good old times’ that people go on and on harping about. They ALWAYS are in the past and never ever in the present. It may be a period 50 years ago, or 30, may be 20 or just a decade or at times even one bally year ago (depending on the age of the ‘harper’), but it has to be behind you at all costs for it to get the ‘golden days’ tag. It seems the present by its very presence is BAD, just the way the Big Bad West is by its mere existence, to many Indians.
Strange, considering that we live in the present how no one finds anything good in it. Listening to these Singers of Past Glories, one would think they had the good fortune to live in some truly golden age and they led a wonderful life that those in the present can only dream of, never mind if those in the present are not in the least bit interested in living that life.
I know a little little secret though.
People are simply confusing nostalgia about their own good personal experiences as ‘golden’ period in time as such. Nothing could be further from the truth. Besides, any time period can be given the ‘golden’ tag only by disinterested and objective observers at some future date, not by subjective longing of those holding fond memories of the same.
Personally I don’t find anything to make a song and dance about the years of the past that I have known. There were authoritarian parents around whose word was law (the norm), women had no voice at all, nobody thought there was anything wrong if the husband abused his wife, children were caned in schools and homes, diarrhea, chicken pox, mumps, measles, and other illnesses were rampant, widows were considered ill-omen and ill-treated, caste system made living hell for a huge section of the population, many sections of society including women did not have any rights at all, communication was difficult with no telephones, once someone left home, you just hoped they reached their destination safely till the snail mail got you news about them weeks later. I could go on and on.
From those days, things have changed a lot for the better in the present. Caning children, domestic violence, caste system, have all been recognised as things we should put an end to. At least some of us have stopped justifying violence. Communication is easier in the present. Women are getting educated, holding jobs, can travel by themselves, have choices. Superstitions do not rule lives as much as before though some educated people are doing their best to keep it alive. The rights of workers and socially backward are recognized. We have a long way to go, but at least we are started and are in a wee bit better way than before.
I agree, the present has its flaws too that need correction. So that’s what we should set about doing. But, was there ever a perfect past except in people’s imagination? I don’t think so. As for me, I’d never want to go back, only forward, because I believe THAT is where better times are.
I couldn’t agree with you more
Highly over-rated — the days of yore
The future’s yet to be
Maybe glum maybe glee
But the joy in the Now is galore!
A kindred soul! 😀
‘As for me, I’d never want to go back, only forward, because I believe THAT is where better times are.’ Absolutely! Couldn’t agree more, Shail. I think people tend to look back at things with rose tinted glasses, all the problems that existed, conveniently forgotten, swept away by the nostalgia.
Agree, Smitha. People seem to have a different set of glasses to look at the past! 🙂
Great post… how strange though… I am just writing one with much the same message! It will probably be ready for Saturday.
I am all eager to read that! In case I don’t come by do please give a nudge! 🙂
Didn’t come out exactly as I had expected, but it’s here: http://thesnailofhappiness.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/a-rosy-view/
Thank you, for posting the link 🙂 I quite enjoyed reading your post and echo your thoughts.
Hmmm…nostalgia mistaken for golden days…true, have to plead guilty here 😛
The only saving grace maybe I don’t consider today or tomorrow to be bad either, trying to follow daughter’s footsteps, most days she says, “today is the best day of my life” 😀
Haha. You are a Gulzar fan. I expect you to plead guilty 😉 😀
Wonderful post Shail..It fills me with optimism.
Thank you, Patiamma 🙂
Well said….the best is yet to come!
Thank you, Madhmama 🙂
Totally agree.
🙂
great post.. but ‘caste system, have all been recognized as things we should put an end to’ – this I find is hardly true.. and is plaguing me at present robbing me of my peace.. 😦 .. loved the post though…
I know, it is true that many have still got to accept that in the true sense. 😦
Yes,when people talk about “golden past”,its only those experiences which made them happy..why is it very difficult for them to understand that the people in the present days may not be interested in such life.? simple as that…
Great post.. 🙂
Thank you, Bhavana. 🙂
Your point regarding people holding on to their most favorite memories and calling those days the golden age is so true. Every generation seems to think that their school and college days were the golden age. The only problem like you state is that it is ‘their’ golden age and not ‘the’ golden age.
Lovely post.
“it is ‘their’ golden age, not ‘the’ golden age”
You nailed it. 🙂
I agree.. today is best..
I don’t think I would have enjoyed being born in the so-called “golden years”
This is the best time – a time of change, of empowerment, of choices…
I shudder to think of the past, even the one I have lived!
Agree completely. Too many people live in the past or/and the future instead of making the most of the present moment.
The past had its own share of pluses and minuses. So does the present , and so will the future.
So right, so will the future too. 🙂
The nostalgia of the past is real for me… perhaps because the circumstances were a lot better in my case… however, exchanging it for the present is most definitely a no-no! All this interaction and learning could never have taken place back then. We wear rose-tinted glasses and enjoy, sometimes masochistically, I believe, when we glorify the past as being this and that!
“We wear rose-tinted glasses and enjoy, sometimes masochistically, I believe.”
I believe so too, though of course I am not talking of myself 😉 😀
I agree. The only thing I miss from the good old days are the good old Doordarshan sitcoms. 🙂
You can watch them on youtube, I guess 🙂 My fav was Dekh Bahi Dekh.