An Open Letter on Children’s Day published on Half Baked Beans:
Dear Children-of-today,
On this day, I am writing this letter with a heavy heart. I am not only sad, but I am pained, horrified and numb at what you all go through these days. I should be excited about Children’s Day as a mother. Now I have all the more to celebrate with my daughter, surprisingly, I am not as happy as I should be.
I am baffled and bewildered at the emotional quotient of children today and how vulnerable they have become. With recent incidents of homicide, child abuse, mental depression, I am really scared for you all.
I know your childhood is very different from ours, but where and when did the innocence and simplicity of being a child fade away? Today, you know so much more, you do so much more, and you can do so much more. So, does that mean you are progressing?
I really don’t know the answer to this question.
You all are like budding flowers, but today we want you to bloom faster. And, in an attempt to make you advanced and progressive, we are polluting your mind, saturating your brains and infecting your heart.
Why are you Pradyuman’s killer if you are a child yourself?
Why are you a victim of Blue Whale Challenge if you are so technologically advanced?
Why do you fall prey to sexual predators?
Why do you commit suicide if anyone mocks you?
Why are you forced to embrace terrorism? And, why are not spared of hatred?
Why are you made to work under an inhumane condition, when you should be studying?
Why are you married off, when you should be playing?
Well, these questions remain unanswered to both of us.
I know that you want to ask so much, but we are ashamed that we cannot answer. It’s NOT YOUR fault, its Ours.
Don’t just celebrate this Children’s Day with good food, fun and games.
Celebrate with a promise to get your questions answered.
Celebrate with a promise to be strong when required.
Celebrate with a promise to open up regarding abuse, even if it is at your home.
Celebrate with a promise not to tolerate being bullied, just because you are a child.
Celebrate with a promise to use technology in the right way. And…
Celebrate with a promise to be a GOOD HUMAN BEING, above all.
I am writing this letter to you all with a ray of hope. A hope to see the children of today grow into responsible adults of tomorrow.
And, I promise to be with YOU, always. So, speak up, discuss, ask for help, interact and DON’T HIDE.
Wishing all of you out there a very HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY and many more to come.
And Society, this is for you – Don’t let the child in them die a premature death. A bud blooms to a beautiful flower in its own time, and not forcibly. Don’t ruin their TODAY to give them a false promise of a better TOMORROW!
Yours truly,
Someone lucky to have a childhood like it WAS
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Giving Words to Emotions 