Civil society activist, Kashmir Watcher, Freelancer & President KPC.

In today’s fast-paced and increasingly self-centered world, a painful and disturbing reality is quietly unfolding within families. Parents and elders, once the pillars of households and guiding lights of communities, are increasingly ignored, unheard, isolated, and at times deeply humiliated. This decline in respect is not always expressed through harsh words or open conflict; more often, it appears through silence, indifference, impatience, and emotional neglect. Over time, this attitude weakens family bonds, erodes social discipline, and damages the moral foundation of society itself.
For many elders, this disrespect is endured silently. Old age often brings physical weakness, declining health, emotional sensitivity, and financial dependence. These conditions make elders feel helpless and vulnerable. They hesitate to express pain or disappointment because they fear being labeled a burden. Slowly, a sense of worthlessness creeps in, leaving them isolated even while living under the same roof as their own children. This silent suffering is widespread and deeply damaging.
Respect for parents and elders is not merely a cultural tradition or social formality; it is a moral and civilizational responsibility. Elders represent sacrifice, struggle, and experience. They spent their productive years raising families, building stability, and ensuring a better future for the next generation. The comforts and opportunities enjoyed by today’s youth are rooted in the endurance of those elders who now feel unwanted. Ignoring them is not just ingratitude; it is a serious moral failure.
When elders are repeatedly ignored or dismissed, the family structure weakens. Homes lose warmth and emotional security. Conversations disappear, and relationships become transactional rather than compassionate. Children growing up in such environments silently absorb these behaviors, learning that neglect is normal and disrespect acceptable. Thus, indifference passes from one generation to the next.
This mindset sets a dangerous precedent. Aging is inevitable. Today’s independent youth will one day face physical limitations, emotional dependence, or vulnerability. The way elders are treated today is the lesson being taught for tomorrow. A society that normalizes disrespect toward parents should not expect compassion for itself in the future.
The erosion of respect within families eventually damages society at large. Communities fragment, empathy weakens, and emotional insensitivity grows. Individuals never taught to respect elders often struggle with patience, tolerance, and responsibility. No level of education, technology, or financial success can compensate for the absence of these human values.
The younger generation must reflect deeply. True strength lies not in dominance or material success, but in humility, gratitude, and emotional maturity. Listening to elders enhances wisdom and perspective. Differences of opinion are natural, but disagreement must never become disrespect. Elders may not follow modern trends, but they possess the wisdom of lived experience. For them, attention and affection often matter far more than financial support.
At the same time, elders must also engage in self-reflection. Respect cannot thrive amid constant criticism or emotional rigidity. Times have changed, and guidance must replace domination. Dialogue must replace command. When elders listen as much as they speak, mutual understanding grows naturally.
A society that fails to protect the dignity of its parents and elders slowly loses its moral compass. Progress without compassion is hollow. Development without values is destructive. What is urgently needed today is awareness, not blame; compassion, not confrontation. Youth must be educated not only for careers but for character.
Most importantly, these values must be consciously taught in schools. Education cannot remain limited to textbooks and careers alone. Children must learn respect for parents and elders, gratitude, empathy, and social responsibility from an early age. Such value-based education strengthens families, builds disciplined communities, and creates compassionate societies. Nations do not rise merely on economic strength; they rise on character, values, and respect for human dignity.
A society is not judged by how it treats the powerful, but by how it treats the vulnerable. Elders are not burdens; they are legacies. When we honor them, we honor our past, strengthen our present, and safeguard our future. If respect disappears from our homes, no law or institution can restore it. The change must begin within us today, sincerely, and collectively.

  [Kundan Kashmiri]

Civil society activist, Kashmir Watcher, Freelancer,& President KPC
Mobile No 8802167955
Email — kundankashmiri@gmail.com