I am a born optimist. I always feel our future and the future of our children is bright. We live in an era, where technology is galloping ahead every day. Artificial intelligence is challenging human intelligence every day of our lives.

Let us start with education. The scope of education is limitless today. We have moved much beyond the classical education system. There are multi- disciplinary approaches in every step of the education system.

The schools have multiple approaches to educating a child. The use of technology in education, is enhancing the learning abilities of children. Education is cutting across boundaries of nations and universities. educations institutions are truly turning global, to learn and share their latest research and teaching methods.

If we move to the life of children within homes, it has also developed in a multi dimensional way. Today ,children have access to information and technology ,at their fingertips. They need not walk out of their home, to know the best school across the world ,for any field of education.

Similarly if we take the field of sports, the world is the playground for children. Kids have access ,to the best training and coaches ,across the world. They can learn and train from any part of the world and practise anywhere as per their choice.

If we move to arts, theatre and films, technology has shrunk the time taken to make movies. Today ,kids can learn to make videos and films even on mobile phone and many successful films, have been launched. Access to art museums across the world ,is at the click of a button.

The one area I may be a bit concerned ,is the area of social institutions. The concept of “marriage” and “family” as social institutions ,are breaking down and hence children may not have the social net around them ,to guide and support them in times of crises or need. However, I may be wrong in my assumption and may be other social institutions may take over this role of parents and siblings.

As parents and teachers we need to ensure that children do not become overtly competitive and ambitious, which treads on the sensitive line of human relationships between peers. It is best to compete with oneself rather than with others. We need to inculcate this human value continuously, in our children. This could also result in disappointment where parents and teachers can play a role ,to channelise their ambitions and goals ,in their areas of strength rather than weaknesses, so that they succeed.

The average intelligence of the child today , is multiple fold of the past generations. The learning ability and also the ability to adapt and change ,is also much better than ,what we had experienced in our childhood.

While technology will definitely take us to a brighter tomorrow, we need to guard and ensure ,that the basic human values are instilled on the child. These could be as simple as respect, gratitude, contentment and so on. These values need to instilled by schools and parents, with equal partnership.

We also need to evolve a social and political system in society, which embraces human values and promotes them. If we end up in a highly competitive world ,where human value diminishes, then that may not be the best future for our children.

I see a bright future for our children , and responsibility to create the future ,lies on us. We need to imbibe the best of technology and embed them, with the best of human values, for a happier world tomorrow.

Let us create a future for our children, which is better and happier than what we have today.

S Ramesh Shankar

5th Jan 2024