The above photos are of three generations of Lilies in our garden two days ago! With the Lilies beginning to bloom, I look forward to more generations of blossoms in the next couple of weeks. The first is that of a Lily in its early stage of blossoming and the third is that of a Lily retreating after its full presence. The second Lily represents the mid- life of a Lily blossom.
I have had my thoughts hovering around the protests in different parts of India against the unfair practices, the Election Commission of India has resorted to in the last three years. The protests have grown into a confrontation between the police and the protestors in New Delhi.
The three generations of Protestors
There are three groups of protestors who assemble in the streets belonging to three age groups- adolescents, young adults and mid- lifers.
According to the theory of the eight stages of psycho-social development, proposed by Erik Erikson (1902-1994), a German-American psychoanalyst, the above three stages of formative years are characterised by some distinct features. According to him, 'During each of the eight stages, there is psychological conflict that must be successfully overcome in order for a child develop into a healthy well-adjusted adult. If the stage is handled well, the person will feel a sense of mastery, which is sometimes referred to as ego strength or ego quality. If the stage is managed poorly the person will emerge with a sense of inadequacy in that aspect of development'.
The adolescents (12-18 years) go through a season of developing social relationships, during which they can encounter discovering their identity failing which they can have a role confusion.
The young adults (19-40 years) grow into developing relationships through experiencing intimacy failing which they experience isolation.
The middle adulthood ( 40-65 years) is a season of engaging in work and parenthood. They grow into generatively or slip into stagnation.
The bulk of protestors are drawn from these three stages of life, while their formative development is still taking place.
The protestors and the antagonists
The police and all the hierarchy above regulating and instructing them, or those framing policies, are people mostly in mid-life. That is the time when they have grown up to be generative. The ethos of generatively is 'the desire and commitment to guide, mentor, and care for future generations, leaving behind a positive impact'. The common expressions of generativity are parenting and family formation, mentoring and teaching, attending to civic and community life, and offering creative and productive output. The benefits of generativity are psychological well being, good physical health, and stronger relationships. The sense of generativity is an unconscious awareness that is instinctual to humans as part of their formative transition. The police, who are involved in monitoring the protests are people in mid- life and hopefully live fulfilled lives. They are in a position to feel concerned about others, their needs and wellness.
The protestors belonging to two younger age groups, the adolescents and young adults, are in different stages of formation, such as finding their identity or discovering the range and depth of relationships. Those in the mid-adulthood, who are in positions of responsibility and authority are able to exert an influence in the formative transition of the adolescents and young adults.
How can those in positions of leadership and authority cease to be antagonists to the protestors? It is by pausing to know who they are and who they are to be becoming psycho-socially visa-vi others who are in their care! They are called upon to receive the adolescents and young adults, who are known to face identity crisis and struggle to be in a web of supportive relationships.
We have different generations in a society, but are co-dependent. I watched the protestors in the streets as those charged with enthusiasm, adventure, persuasion, solidarity, good intentions and bursting with energy. Some behaviours we see in the street suggest that they can be arrogant, self-absorbed and insensitive to how their actions can hurt others.
And yet this generation Z is a community who need to be viewed through the optic of generativity by those in mid-life to help them transition into the next stage in life, for which they need teaching and mentoring.
The social ambience is the cradle of personal formation
Most state governments and the central government have ministers in charge of youth affairs. Those ministers and officials under them, are to be the people who ought to be tuned to sense the 'distress' young people feel and face, which drag them to disappointment and frustration. I am not sure if the officials in the departments of youth affairs are people trained to sense adulthood transitions and support psycho-social formative process of adolescents and young adults.
Let me suggest that the protests that we see in the streets may have been precipitated by the unfair practices in the Election Commission of India. But the disappointments, frustration and anger are towards those whose mentoring they longed for, but was not forthcoming. They felt isolated, rootless and ambiguous about their future, where employment chances have dwindled in the recent years.
The policies framed by government did not appeal to them as inclusive of their aspirations and needs.
I have a suspicion that our homes, where parenting is the anchor for the adolescents, have become weak in its ability to enfold the young people to feel protected, affirmed and valued. The parenting role and process do not seem to be matching the aspirations of those in adolescent season, who are in transition to be young adults. It is seldom that we come across schools who have a full time behavioural psychologist in the high schools to help the adolescents to choose their vocation and support their transition to be a young adult.
The generation Z seems to be sandwiched between inadequate parenting support and weak formative support from 'elders' at work or place of study. The social media, peer models, and the visual media influence them, some of which only add to the ambiguity of identity that is bothering them.
I began this reflection prompted by sighting three generations of lily flowers in the garden.
My reflections on the anatomy of the street protests have taken me thus far. I am still in a searching and reflective stage, yet to be clear for myself the genesis of this breakdown of communication between the policy makers and the youth of India!
As the protests generate more confrontational positioning of the youth and the government, I fear further intensity in an oppositional behaviour which could cause harm!
It is in this context the voice of reason and sense of wisdom ought to take over to lead us out of this cross road!
That can happen only when a 'third force' of peace initiators emerge to influence the government and the protestors to come to a negotiating table!
I have often been reminded from my reading on conflict resolution, that 'we win together or loose together' !
It was a cloudy morning today with the misty cover of the garden, which diminished the view of the garden and beyond.
As I walked further into the garden, I was greeted by the flowers in the cashew tree in the walkway, greeting me with its colour and aliveness!
This is the dual reality- the protests in the streets filter the view of the vibrant India and its youth! But the tiny flowers announce the hope that lingers within us of the fruits awaiting us as we tarry patiently, but vigilantly!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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