Hoshiarpur/Daljit Ajnoha:- With the aim of reducing the growing distance between family members in today’s modern and busy lifestyle and reviving the tradition of personal visits and family gatherings, a special meeting of prominent personalities associated with various social organisations and the education sector was held at a local hotel under the chairmanship of Bharat Vikas Parishad president and prominent social worker Sanjeev Arora. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on how to connect the younger generation with the importance of family relationships and strengthen mutual love, respect and a sense of brotherhood in society.
Addressing the meeting, Sanjeev Arora said that nowadays, as soon as holidays begin, many families head to Himachal Pradesh and other tourist destinations. Travelling is a good thing, but it is equally important to preserve the tradition of visiting relatives and spending time with them. Earlier, during summer vacations, children would spend several days at the homes of their maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, maternal uncles and aunts, paternal uncles and aunts, and other relatives. During these visits, they had the opportunity to experience a sense of belonging, learn family values and gain life experiences from family members. He said that in this age of mobile phones and social media, the trend of meeting people personally is declining. If we want future generations to understand the importance of relationships, we must take the initiative ourselves to strengthen communication and the tradition of visiting one another among families.
On the occasion, Agyapal Singh Sahni, president of the Sarbat Da Bhala Society, said that family relationships form the strong foundation of our social system. Regular interaction with relatives strengthens mutual trust and develops a spirit of standing by one another in times of happiness and sorrow. Children should also be introduced to their wider family circle so that they understand relationships not merely through names but through emotional bonds.
Lieutenant General J.S. Dhillon said that the family plays an important role in shaping an individual’s personality and developing values. Spending time with elders helps children gain experience, learn discipline and develop a positive outlook on life. Despite the demands of modern life, we must make time for our family relationships, as strong relationships also strengthen society.
Principal Shailinder Thakur said that the purpose of education is not limited to imparting academic knowledge; it also involves instilling good values and a sense of social responsibility in children. Spending time with elderly family members and relatives helps children develop qualities such as respect, cooperation and sensitivity. Parents should make holidays an opportunity for children to strengthen family bonds as well.
Chander Prakash Saini said that in today’s hectic life, people are increasingly limiting their interactions to phone calls and messages instead of meeting one another. The true warmth of relationships comes from sitting face to face, talking and sharing in one another’s joys and difficulties. In this changing lifestyle, we must once again embrace the traditional practices of visiting and meeting family members.
Other prominent participants at the meeting also stressed the need to strengthen family relationships, connect the younger generation with social and family values, and make festivals, holidays and family functions opportunities for meeting and bonding. During the meeting, it was agreed that alongside tourism and a modern lifestyle, making time for family relationships is equally important. Relationships grow stronger not merely through phone calls or social media messages, but through regular visits, mutual support and emotional connections. If families begin making efforts in this direction today, the traditions of love, respect and brotherhood can be preserved for future generations.
Principal Tarlochan Singh, Ranjit Rana, Avtar Singh, Jagmeet Sethi, Manjit Singh Janda, Rakesh Kumar, Master Gurpreet Singh and other prominent people were present on the occasion.
