PREAMBLE

This article is part of a series being developed in an attempt to capture the attention of our youth and to acquaint them with our heritage, its message and teachings.

We, who move to settle abroad should neither expect nor force our children to stay away from the main stream of society. Yet there is no reason why they should not be informed of their own inheritance, its cultural and moral values. We should not however, force them to compulsively labor and devote their productive time and energy to its pursuit in the original tongue. Most of them will take up permanent station here and may never like to return to the land which will probably be as foreign to them as this one once was for us.

English language is rapidly acquiring a universal status and has therefore, been chosen as a medium of choice to communicate with the younger generation. It is worthwhile to reflect upon the fact that what is generally thought to be a generation gap, especially in the East, is no such thing. The gap, if there is any, is in our communication. Let us bridge it by talking to our children in the language they are comfortable with.

Ziauddin Ahmed