Young Kolkata Believes in the Institution of Family

Source : The Times of India  2 Jan, 2007 2313hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Some Khushi For Gum Brigade

RIDDHIMA SEAL

Even as a CT poll shows Young Kolkata giving its thumbs up to livein relationships and stressing on the importance of family. Charitable? Or confused?

Some Khushi for ‘Gum’ brigade. And do we take credit for this? Simply swipe your plastic for answers. For better or for worse, Young Kolkata is married to its credit cards. We do everything with them, and it doesn’t take unanticipated medical bills or a job loss to entice us to abuse credit.

Our list of charges may include picking up that slinky dress for the New Year’s Eve party, getting our teeth cleaned, or paying for a round of drinks during happy hour at our favourite rendezvous spot.

Having credit, the ability to get something now and pay for it later, is a good thing. If we had to fork over all the money at once to buy a house or car, we might be living in tents and riding bicycles. Yes, credit is a wonderful thing, but as with a box of Godiva chocolates, you can overdo it. But are we raising a Generation Debt? More importantly, what do men and women want in Year 2007?

In a survey conducted among 200 between the ages 21-30, it has been revealed that even as money figures high on the list of priorities, what was interesting was the reaffirmation of Young Kolkata’s beliefs in the institution of the family. The percentage has significantly gone up by a good 15 per cent for both sexes from what it was last year. The desire stems from the fact that they have seen too many broken families of late. “Staying in a joint family does not essentially mean interference. Just as money power does not mean we should forget the basis of our existence,” says 25-yearold banker Tathagata Roy.

The demand for a more open society also figured high what with a new-found openness with the acceptance of live-in relationships. Statistics revel a growth of 10 per cent for men and 15 per cent of women preferring live-in to a walk down the aisle. Says Ritu Sehgal, a management trainee at a MNC, “Live-in relations have moved out of its days when it was viewed as an easy way to have sex. It is hasslefree and gives individuals much more space and time to evaluate the quality of a relationship.” While comfortable living continues to dominate well into the next year and Young Kolkata prefers to hang out in swank malls and watching movies in multiplexes, there is certainly a shift in the kind of movies they would like to watch. The demand for originality in terms of both movies and music is stratospheric.

“We are tired of watching poor reproductions, remakes and the like. This year, we should certainly have more originality. Whether it is in terms of mushy romances or thrillers. And certainly, no more of Himesh Reshammiya,” bemoans 25-year-old IT professional Aditya Roy. Analysing the results of the survey, sociologist Prasanta Roy says, “This go-getter generation certainly knows where they are headed. While they are liberal, it is a very good sign that the institution of family stands reinforced. If this indeed turns out to be the trend for the new year, it will certainly help the pillars of society from crumbling.”