A type of learning that occurred most naturally and one that did not warrant a terminology or introspection itself is now atrophying. Our oral tradition, which for generations have transmitted invaluable knowledge, art, ideas and culture from one generation to another.

 

 

 

Devices have replaced relationships of most kind. And most of all a glaring decline in relationship is the one shared between grandparents and grandchildren. Traditionally, we lived in societies and communities with access to role models around us, even if they weren’t in our family structures as our parents or grandparents or aunts or uncles. Today, however, we have moved on from living in extended families to smaller family units. Societies and communities, formed today, especially by the city-dwelling demographic, too are not conflict-free and harmonious living structures, like they once used to be. These are not support systems with shared values. As city dwelling statistics rise, we inevitably are communities with diversity at its peak and while that would seem like the best attribute of a community to the unassuming, it is also what prompts xenophobia where many perceive diversity as a threat to one's own culture, tradition, practices, diets, language, religion, caste and so on.

The first and most widespread form of human communication — oral tradition — is in areas being hindered by technology. However, paradoxically technology is also credited with fostering intergenerational connectivity. So where are we going wrong? What can we do?

Some of O’s efforts have been using technology to enhance and conserve oral history. While one of the flagship efforts by technocrats is to conserve indigenous and intergenerational knowledge using recording devices and making a repository of it to delve into there are shortcomings. Human to human interactions have dropped drastically. And so, O works with the elderly by organising meaningful and periodic sessions where early learners are exposed to a language rich environment with the ageing population, many of whom are exceptional storytellers.

Although an artificially created environment is designed to bring about intergenerational learning, it does mimic the traditional practice where extended families and large communities existed and role models weren’t inaccessible and mostly celebrities on screens. This helps to squash illusory intimacy and acquaint youngsters with the natural world and keeprs of the natural world.

​