Akangchila Longchar
Dimapur | September 8
“If Naga parents are under the assumption that sending their children to the best schools their money can afford, then think again,” says a youth referring to the latest headliner news the past month, wherein students from two of the most reputed schools in Dimapur were allegedly involved in a gang fight. “What’s worse about the incident is that, the students were reportedly imitating a Japanese movie,” the youth said.
As family is the cradle of one’s life, it has become all the more important for parental care to play a vital role to protect the growing number of youths from many risky factors. “There is a huge margin of difference in the world that yesterday’s children and today’s children live in, hence the parents’ of today should adapt,” opined another.
Sharing her perspective on parental responsibilities, Imtijungla Longchar, teacher and author of several books including ‘parenting and youth’ felt that there are a lot of children from dysfunctional families. She said that society is reaping from what was sowed and added that “we cannot expect normal teenagers borne out of immorality, alcoholism etc”. However she maintained she has personally met many Naga mothers who are definitely not ‘lazy’ or ‘unbothered’ about their children. But she also says that many parents are ignorant of the content that their children watches and reads making it difficult to streamline their activities.
A student counselor states that the role of parenting is very important for the positive growth of a society. Parents play the most important role to the development of a child in his/her personality. “Today, if we look at Naga society, there is a trend of uncertainty. Because parents are confused… while they want to teach their children the age old traditions and customs, because of the stamp of western influence in the society, they also want to catch up with the modern ways and norms.” Parents too are expected to change with the times, she says and hence the role of being parents becomes more demanding.
The role of parents is definitely complex and today parents are bound to play the role of protector, caregiver, comforter and friend.
“Parents are the first university for the children” stated DABA Counselor, Dr. N. Moa Imsong. He opined that children cannot learn from any university what they will learn from their parents and said that parents have a lot of responsibility, to train, educate on culture and relationships. “Actually parents spent too much time on their professions and garnering wealth and when children grow up, then they realize the importance of giving their time to children after it’s too late,” he said.
We as counselors and social workers should also deal with this issue from the grass-root level because right now we are dealing from secondary level. We need to focus the importance on primary grassroots level,” he mooted. “The role for good parenting in society is to put oneself in their own child’s shoe and understand...that way, there can be harmony and better relationship between parent and children,” says a teacher from a youth institute.
She also says that presently, there is a huge gap in ‘understanding’ between Naga parents and children because of the generation gap. She felt that most of our parents were brought up in villages and also that there is a big education gap and also adding that the parent’s attitude of imposing their children for government job should stop. “Having a government job is not all. Parents should encourage their children to creativity,” she said.
Parents nowadays, invest a lot of money to give the best education assuming that it is enough. But while the best institutions can provide quality education, modern facilities and the skills to survive in life, it is ultimately the development of an all round personality, brought out from growing up in a centered, wholesome, enriching family life, making the children responsible citizens, weaning them against deviant behavior and finally preparing them to face the challenges of life.
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