The 1990’s single That don’t impress me much may well be the mantra of 2010 children, says our survey. Seventeen per cent of children between the ages of 8 and 15 reveal that they may ‘like’ Miley Cyrus or find Akon’s rapping pretty cool, but there’s really no one in particular that they elevate to the point of idolising; certainly not from pop culture.
When it came to the Indian turf, celebrities, sportspersons and others, there were no decisive wins, but moderate ones like Shahrukh Khan leading with 20%, followed by Katrina Kaif with 16%; in sports, Sachin Tendulkar got 28% while Sania Mirza got 22%; elsewhere, former president Abdul J Kalam got 28% votes and prime minister Manmohan Singh got 25%. ‘Others’ in these categories hovered around an average 15%.
“There are not many people I can look up to. I don’t want to follow anyone, nor do I want to become like someone; no one really impresses me enough for me to call him/her my idol,” says Dhwani Dalia,13.
Kanika Krimesh Mithaiwala, 11, and Thiren Patel, 13, also do not have specific role models, though when given a wider set of choices, they could select one.
Experts say that children these days are happier being themselves, especially in the age of the media boom when the element of awe has reduced considerably. The general feeling is that they look up to themselves more than to anyone else.
“Children earlier were more naïve and could be influenced. But now, they are much more aware, more sure of themselves and are growing up faster than their age. The element of hero-worship doesn’t exist; instead, self-concept is predominant,” said Avnita Bir, principal, RN Podar School.
Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist, LH Hiranandani Hospital, said students see themselves more as idols and have an exalted view of themselves. “The concept of idol was part of the nostalgic generation, the pre- and post-freedom generation. To see someone as an idol, reverence is essential, which isn’t there today,” he said.
Another reason, says Dr Bharat Shah, psychiatrist, Lilavati Hospital, is that “the cynicism of society, adults and parents percolates down to children,” he said. Add to that the fact that stories of heroes are missing from parents’ and teachers’ narratives, and there is confusion in children’s minds in the “identity-crisis age”.
