Retired Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Friday asked people to understand and engage with the younger generation rather than dismissing their view.
He said that Gen Z may have a different way of looking at things but that does not make them wrong.
“Each generation is different. “That is no longer the philosophy now. Now you change cars every five years, does that mean you are a bad person? “They don’t want harm to befall the country, they also think that what they are doing is for the betterment, for the good. So let’s understand them rather than just scolding them. It is very easy to scold someone. They are our own children, and if there is something wrong in a child’s thinking, it is our responsibility to help remove it.
Speaking about Gen Z , Naravane, who came to limelight earlier this year after his unpublished memoir raised a debate in the Lok Sabha , said every generation evolves differently and that the older generation needs to understand what drives young people and channel their energy constructively. In our generation, for example, you bought a car and lived with that car throughout your life,” he told ANI. No, but that is the way, you know, things have evolved,” he said. Naravane said young people do not intend to harm the country and believe that their actions are aimed at bringing about positive change. Otherwise, what are we elders for?” he said. Former Army chief and Mizoram governor general VK Singh said criticism of the armed forces should be based on facts rather than emotion or sweeping allegations. He called the incident a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of soldiers and said disrespecting them was wrong.
Back in February, Naravane’s unpublished memoir Four Stars of Destiny led to a heated exchange in the Lok Sabha after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi referred to excerpts from its typescript while countering the BJP’s accusations about Congress’ patriotism. This then led to a confrontation between the opposition and treasury benches. The House was later adjourned.
Gandhi’s reference to “Chinese tanks in Doklam” led to Union defence minister Rajnath Singh to intervene.
