HYDERABAD: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday urged parents to lead by example instead of blaming the younger generation, saying many of the challenges children face today stem from adults’ own behaviour.Speaking at a programme on “Motherhood in the Current Era” organised by Vishwa Mangalya Sabha, Bhagwat said Gen Z is emotional, imitative and responds to what it perceives as genuine. He also observed that today’s youth view authority figures as equals or friends, adding that questioning authority has always been a part of adolescence. Families, he said, should encourage teamwork and open communication instead of confrontation.Bhagwat said parents cannot expect children to stay away from social media or mobile phones if they themselves remain glued to their devices. “When we become the right example for them, we can engage in meaningful conversations with them. That is the only solution to the current problems,” he said.He said Indian culture reveres women as goddesses but they should also be recognised as individuals. Describing the idea of confining women to the kitchen as outdated, Bhagwat said society must move beyond such practices. While women often help foster dialogue within families because of their compassion, he said men share equal responsibility. Even when both parents work, families should regularly make time to sit together and talk with their children.Bhagwat also suggested that families set aside time every week to share a home-cooked meal, wear traditional attire and discuss Indian culture and traditions, while stressing that embracing modernity is equally important. In an apparent reference to live-in relationships, he described them as a form of degradation and blind imitation of Western culture, though he said modernity itself is welcome.He also said LGBTQ people are a part of society and should not be looked down upon. Stressing the need for mobile phone discipline among parents, Bhagwat said regular family conversations are essential to answer children’s questions and address family-related issues.
