This poem is a dialogue between a grandchild and grandparents about the differences between their generations. In the first stanza, the grandchild asks the grandparents about living before modern inventions like air conditioning and communication technologies. In the second stanza, the grandparents respond that while they lived without pollution and stress, they also lived without modern technologies and in ignorance of environmental destruction. The poem highlights the gap between generations due to modernization.

1. HEIR CONDITIONING
Introduction
M SHANmughalingam

2. HEIR
CONDITIONING

3. Grand dad did you breathe
before air cons were
invented
was it hard staying alive
without modern inventions?
Grandma weren’t you
flustered
as you fluttered with paper
fans?
Could you communicate
before faxes and long
distance calls
became basic necessities?

4. Grandchild we lived
before your age. Because
of our ignorance,
we did not know
pollution, stress, traffic
jams
destruction of forests,
streams and hills
we feared God and nature
now nature fears you and
money is your new God.

5. HEIR CONDITIONING
Synopsis
This poem is written in London, May 4,
1995. It talks about issues regarding
different lifestyles and values of two
generations. It also talks about the
generation gap that exists between
grandparents and their
grandchildren. This poem is like a
dialogue between them.

6. HEIR CONDITIONING
 STANZA 1
In the first stanza, the
grandchild asks his grandfather
Stanza 2
In the second stanza, the
grandparents’ answer sets the
two generations apart.

7. HEIR CONDITIONING
Elements
Title
The title implies the transfer of a
generation and highlights the gap that
existed and apparent in societies today.
This gap existed due to development
and modernization.

8. HEIR CONDITIONING
Structure of a poem
There are two stanzas in this poem. It
does not have a fixed rhyme scheme.
Point of view
Written in the first point of view.
Setting
Written in the present time but there
are references made to life in the
past

9. HEIR CONDITIONING
Theme
 Modernisation comes with a price.
Differences in time between two
generations Spirituality vs.
Materialism
 Traditional vs. Modernisation
Wisdom vs. Ignorance

10. LET’S DO SOMETHING!
Activity1: Conditioned Minds
What modern
inventions you
cannot live
without?
Provide your
reasons.

11. LET’S DO SOMETHING!
Activity2: Bare necessities
identify
objects/items
used in the
past and
present

12. LET’S DO SOMETHING!
Activity 3: Past Verses Present
Create and present
a mini dialogue
between a
grandparent and
grandchild based
on the poem.

13. LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST!
Activity 4: Conditioning me
Complete the crossword
puzzles as fast as you can.