Role models are increasingly becoming a species on the verge of extinction. Even the millennials felt the urge to look to someone for inspiration and tried to build their life after their real-life idols' models. Ever since the arrival of the Generation Z, things started to change with the small but highly powerful gazette called smartphone taking the youngsters under its overwhelming sway. If the social penetration of this handy tool was yet to be all-pervasive for the Gen Z, the Generation Alpha took full advantage to exploit the power and influence of this device.
They no longer need a role model, they are matured enough ---albeit prematurely---to be more familiar with celebrities and even national crashes. Role models are more or less outdated ideas to these two generations. In the colonial time, anti-British revolutionaries like Masterda Surya Sen, Pritilata Waddedar and other revolutionary nationalists became iconic figures for young people of the undivided India. That was the time when India struggled for freedom and alongside long and arduous political movement for independence of this sub-continent, the youth force took upon itself the task of carrying out armed attacks in order to drive the British rulers out of India.
For not so revolution-minded, there was Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Thakur, Kazi Nazrul Islam and many other stalwarts in different fields of art, science and public life. Beyond the seas, Bertrand Russel, Romain Rolland, Jean-Paul Sartre captivated generations by their critical thinking and intellectual aplomb. There were poets, dramatists, novelists from Britain, France, Russia, Germany and Norway who also illuminated the world of literature and their influences were felt on the shores of the Ganges and the Padma.
However, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels lifted the beacon high on the humanity's hilltop carrying the message for breaking the shackle from all forms of servitude. Up comes Vladimir Lenin to implement the theories the two German philosophers-economists-sociologists combined together propagated into practice. Thus Lenin walked tall and till today proves to be more than a role model in modern history.
Unfortunately, in the smartphone era, the craze over players, stars of the silver screen at times crosses all limits but only to see the other side in no time when things go somewhat go wrong for them. There are, of course, exceptions such as the chemistry between Uttam and Suchitra of the 70's. But they are not role models; rather they symbolize the ultimate romance one can only dream of. Sure enough, athletes and players are often viewed as role models because of the popularity they enjoy and the entertainment they provide while boosting the national ethos and pride.
A Shakib-Al Hasan not only inspired many youngsters to take to cricket but also made the nation proud by reaching the pinnacle of success. A talent of his calibre does not come often to grace a nation. He was the number one all-rounder in the world for long and even when he was not at the top, he was number two or three. To the nation's misfortune, even such a cricketing genius is not only out of limelight but also has been subjected to humiliation. Without judging the merit of this charismatic cricketer, it can be said that his unceremonious departure from national cricket will set a bad example. The role model image has been dealt a body blow.
Now this has been happening here all around and therefore it is a subject of in-depth study. In other countries, great performers in sports, performance art, teachers, social reformers etc.; are still revered even if the youngsters do not fashion their lives after the iconic characters. The problem in this country is that reverence for human qualities has drastically declined so much so that those who deserve to be regarded as the source of inspiration are subjected to scorn. There are few peoples other than the Bangalee race which are so fond of character assassination. This nation is living in limbo with no firm roots for it to spread.
No wonder that today's hero does not take long to become a villain. Such disregard issues mainly from the regular hobnobs or passionate involvement with the small but powerful device. The younger generations consider themselves all-powerful when they find everything they desire for just a click away. What they forget is that the virtual world takes them to a make-believe world dissociated from the hard reality of the practical world. Unless they keep their feet on the ground, their future may be uncertain and imperilled.
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