Of Student Migration, Separation & Lost Cultures

Dilpreet Singh with his Grandmother

Another boy from the neighborhood is going abroad. He is going to study in a far-off country and if things turn in his favour, he’ll probably settle there. Thinly populated countries with a large aging population need an able workforce to bolster their economy. Equally eager are the young to embrace a better quality of life offered by affluent countries. 

Global migration is an undeniable reality. Travel has become easier and so has adaptation to new cultures. But in the wake of it, families are experiencing forced separations. Separations by law as well through gaping economic imbalances in the very competitive new world. In such times, one either floats in the ocean or sinks into oblivion. Much like ‘survival of the fittest’, the younger generation has to grab the opportunity to break the rut arising of a stagnant economy in their country of origin.

When globalization wasn’t as pervasive, families stayed together. Tradition and culture flowed to the younger generations with love and affection. For adolescents in the throes of a tumultuous adulthood, the playful banter of grandparents and aunts and uncles, ironed out the harsh curves of life. The coziness of close relations saved many from getting into bouts of loneliness or inept friendships. But in the foreign lands, the eighteen somethings worry about paying their tuition fees, rent, and groceries. The tender shoulders harden quickly as they carry the weight of expectations.

Culture and tradition also means carefree lazing in the tropical sun amid fragrance of flowers, abuzz with honeybees. It also means gorging on homemade nut and condiment rich jaggery dumplings made by loving hands of grandma. It also means getting connected with religion, the rituals of which are learned by observing the elders at home and in neighborhood. In the far-off land, where culture though welcoming, is inherently strange. In the race to learn the rungs of the survival ladder, the luxury of parental reassurances isn’t close at hand. On the contrary, there could be a burden to repay the education loan taken from parents who themselves might be living in financial adversity, until the proverbial tide turns.

The young adults are left to find their own way. Their stomach ache, a corn on the foot, a toothache and scabies rash is only theirs to deal with. A parent isn’t close at hand to ally their fears and steer them via time-tested guidance. As immigration laws of many countries get tougher, the parents may or may not get a chance of uniting with their offshore kids. Its debatable, if globalization has done more good than harm to the social fabric of close-knit societies. Families have indeed grown apart, whatever the reason.

Arek Socha_Pixabay

Another tradition of caring for one’s own elder too will be lost. The newer generations will know not the affection showered by the elders nor will they know the virtue of the gratitude, kindness, love and care.towards their parents. Sadly, filial piety will be a lost heritage.