Value degradation of youth is an important problem of contemporary world. Although its seed were rooted in long past. At that time, the problem was not as acute as it is found in today’s world. There are so many reasons of value degradation among which realization of social values has been playing a crucial role. In addition, ongoing social problems have significant imprint in increasing value degradation of youth. In past social organization of the then society played responsible role in framing and implementing value based moral responsibilities. But society at present has been experiencing conflict regarding value-based moral degradation particularly of youth and in reality, it cannot, be denied that there is no ideology in the society which can bring them a value-based livelihood. Thus, value degradation is becoming complex gradually and demands agenda of discussion. There is no chance for today’s youth to realize patriotism or nationalism by which respect to others as well as self-respect may be developed. History reveals that, youth played significant contribution in social development. The movement for Indian freedom, the movement for Italian freedom etc. bears the leading role in this regard. Apart from this, there was significant role of youth in establishing peace making process of eastern Europe. But unfortunately, it has to be mentioned that today’s youth despite belonging to different political organizations never follow their own ideology, side by side, the political parties motivate them to do violence and terror in places to fulfill their interest. This has directly been bringing both moral degradation of youth and social deterioration as well. Values shape the personality of an individual. They enhance the finer side of his potential. They help him to live harmoniously and graciously which when kindles with torch of learning would make him realize the responsibility he owes to society. They are linked to the behaviour that exposes the inner life of nation. Values are concepts that conserve, comfort and promote and protect life. They foster peace, order, dignity, beauty, grace and delight. Some values are considered to be higher than others. On the basis of few investigations, it may be said that knowing the individuals value hierarchy, we may know and assess the individual better as a person. Theoretically one’s value must constitute an important source of behaviour motivation. Values form an important part of culture of a society. Values account for the stability of the social order. The value of society provides goals or end for its members. To aim for these ends are to be persuaded in different content and situations, if the dominant value is present in any person then it expects all the individuals to become successful at school, at works, at sports and life in general. According to Steel and Harman (1983), “Values are organized into hierarchical structures. The emerging value system has a rank ordering of values along a continuum which reflects the relative importance of the values, therefore, each value relates to a series of higher values. We have today the knowledge of science without the wisdom of soul. We have conquered outer space without control of our inner space. We have gained material prosperity without our mind. We have education without personal character and professional training without any social commitment. Hence the whole society suffers from value crisis which is the root cause of all social evils. Values are criteria that help people on assessing their daily lives, arranging their priorities, measuring alternate course of action.
Human beings everywhere in the present age are passing through difficult times and our society is no exception to this. The young generation is constantly being influenced by the changes that occur here and there. Young adolescents in the institutions of higher learning are influenced, and they are the persons who set patterns through their interest, pleasures, performance, duties, desires, aversions and many other modalities of selective orientation. In fact, a new value system has emerged with the young generation. Therefore, psychologists have to explore the field, Values from different perspectives so as to arrive at definite conclusions. Today we are at such a stage of human civilization where the importance of adequate value orientation has become extremely necessary. But on the other hand, this importance receives a jolt because of the clash of opposing economic, technological, political, cultural and sociological factors. In our age with all its material boons, we find a serious crisis of values in human life. As a result of quick economic growth, influence of western culture, over mechanisation, urbanisation and craving for materialistic life, there has been a loss of values and of the value system at the individual level and in the country as a whole. Materialistic needs and never-ending lust to earn more and more by putting in less and less efforts, therefore have to be balanced by a value-based life and by inculcation of an attitude that earning money is for leading a respectable life and for helping others who are disadvantaged. Schools in democratic societies have traditionally been expected to reinforce the basic values of societies and to initiate young people into traditions of critical thought. In the modern globalized society, there have been continuous and radical changes in the field of behaviour and values of youth which reflect important and high esteem in the society where they live, if properly maintained and applied. Thus, value education is essential to rejuvenate the moral degradation of youth to bring orderly sequence, security and progress of the youth with society. These impressions determine the positive behaviour to a given situation, which ultimately build the character, both individually and collectively. Therefore, the problem related to human value should be re-established in a long-lasting way so that moral degradation of youth in particular and society in general is checked.
(The author is Research fellow at United Nations World Peace Institute. Views are exclusively his own)
[email protected]
