THE AGE OF INNOCENCE !

 THE AGE OF INNOCENCE!!

The post colonial period aroused us from our stupor induced by our bondage . We Indians shook ourselves and gradually  plunged into diverse realms of hectic activity .
From agriculture to academics to aviation the progress was phenomenal. However,  that was the era of untainted innocent youngsters infused with the quest for knowledge combined with ethics .They dared to now dream of better futures and their nascent dreams coupled with their diligence did give them rich dividends which was in the larger interest of the developing nation .
Today we are still a developing nation , vigourously engaged in a  frenetic pace of heightened activity striving to carve  a niche in various capacities and to realise our Big  dreams. But alas in the midst of all this we have somehow lost our earlier innocence which  has now been replaced with an aggressiveness as we are in a frantic hurry to fulfil our goals.

Reminiscing about yesteryears if we look back at the time when ladies were not professionally inclined or career - oriented due to lack of initiative also avenues and more importantly mindsets that restricted their lives within the precincts of their abodes ....some of their counterparts had stepped into the  aviation sector which provided job opportunities to a select few  as  gradually the aviation sector was coming alive with international travel opening up. It was this that brought to the forefront our dignified  ,    elegant   gorgeous and chic airhostesses  , well- groomed    well-bred  and adept in their field . The charm and poise that they exuded through their graceful swan- like  saris and their gentle demeanour was indeed captivating for the  fortunate flyers .
This envious lot though sometimes condescended by the chauvinistic then orthodox temperaments were however  the first of the female professionals ....one of the first career women of their times. Though progressive  and forward - thinking this  charismatic glamorous sect for whom even the skies were not the limit but who  were very much on terra firma achieved great success in assaying their challenging roles .
Although the western influences had begun to encroach into our traditional social fabric with the  hippy culture and the hip hop songs of The Beatles being played on our gramophones much to the chagrin of the elders , yet there was an element of innocence  and simplicity . With no or hardly any media hype ....privacy was respected and preferred in stark contrast to the present trend of hogging the limelight and craving for publicity. That helped in a way of retaining this innocence and simplicity . There was less of manoeuvring , manipulation  , connivance and conspiracy...life was less complex and more peaceful.
The television ushered in more career  opportunities for women. A new genre of women journalists and  news readers /news reporters    entered our living rooms updating  us about happenings across the country and abroad .Their simple and sober on-  screen appearance in their dignified saris   , their  calm , composed and controlled well-modulated voices during news readings even if they were enumerating disastrous and ignominous incidents , had a  fulfilling impact on the viewers. Never did we see them agitated or loud ...rather they wore  a gentle smile on their pleasant faces which somehow was very soothing for the audiences  as compared to our new-age female brigade of  stylishly  -clad -in -Western Wear journalists  ,  with all due regards to this  laborious and energetic breed  , are so emphatically  aggressive, appear ,so stressed and an anxious lot with  their high - pitched agitated  voices  , almost fanatical ,provocative and instigative  tone that listening to them becomes painful and one turns off the Idiot Box in disgust ! 
That  earlier sauveness and sangfroid is sadly missing  and  that chastity and impeccability is drowned in the roar of their almost  hostile and abominable  articulate presentations .
To imagine a return of bygone times is wishful thinking . The Age of Innocence can  just be  cherished as precious memories. We can only keep our hopes alive for a revival of that pristine purity , unpretentiousness and salubrity!


.