Modern Society – Sympathy, Empathy, Sensitivity and Humanity.

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By Hilda D’silva (Kallianpur)

Twenty first century, an era of rapid progress, advanced technology and scientific environment has brought in its stride, too many socio-cultural changes. Progress in the real sense should bring harmony and peace in the world. Instead true kindness, empathy, love, feeling of brotherhood are replaced by greed, revenge, abuse, killings, murders and wars. Hence the words Sympathy, Empathy, Sensitivity and Humanity crossed my mind with a big question – ‘Where are we heading to….? Do our children have a happy and peaceful environment to live in?’

Sympathy is expressing concern or showing kindness when a person does not directly relate to the experience. It is a temporary feeling of pity without real concern. Sympathy is noticing pain without really experiencing it. Empathy, on the other hand is the ability to really understand and share the feelings of another person by putting oneself in his shoes, creating deep emotional connections.

Sensitivity in a human being is characterised by deep emotions, high empathy and strong intuition. Developing sensitivity fosters kindness and enhances social harmony. Humanity is a strong bond between people, high emotional intelligence, compassion, care and respect to follow human being whether rich or poor.

Coming to modern families in comparison to joint families of the past, Empathy and Sensitivity are replaced by mere sympathy and materialistic tendency. Nuclear families rule the day with children often self centred not willing to even talk to people. A comparison between the families in the past decades and nuclear families of today:

Past

• Respect to people
• Permanent relationships
• Real affection and Adjustment
• Family members happy with basic requirements fulfilled
• Respect for senior citizens and elders
• Families known for values and culture

Present

• Respect for wealth
• Temporary connections
• Relationships, often superficial and lack of adjustment
• Greed to acquire things and money
• Importance to youth and skill
• Families often led by grandeur and external practices

In the words of Brand Henry “Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights. And our comfort when we occasionally falter”. But the reality…?? Avoiding negative analysis if we see the events happening around us it makes us wonder whether we have totally forgotten Sensitivity and Humanity.

Recent reports indicate a disturbing rise in intra-family killings and violent disputes. Partners try to eliminate each other. Property disputes have transformed family members into monsters. In February 2025, a 23 year old man in Thiruvananthapuram allegedly murdered five family members. In June 2025, a woman was arrested for orchestrating the murder of her husband in Meghalaya during the honeymoon. Small children today are capable of violence, aggression, fighting and even murdering.

Our Society – We are all educated, progressive, skilled, innovative and highly intelligent. The circulation of money is rapid. Wealth accumulation is at its peak. Standard of living is very high with adolescents and children enjoying luxuries. But again, the same question …How human and sensitive are we? What is our emotional quotient? Do we live in our neighbourhood as brothers and sisters meeting frequently, enjoying each other’s company with laughter and sharing wide experiences? On the contrary, doors are closed, walls are built, communal divisions culminating in violence. Human beings have become monsters, education not making any difference. A report covering June 2024 to June 2025 recorded 950 hate related incidents in India, 113 incidents of caste atrocities, multiple cases of digital violence, violence against women and minors. Mob violence and death again are common occurrences.

World at large – Did we ever imagine that our world would be a battleground in the 21st century? Our leaders, experienced and enlightened, have turned into agents of mass killing of innocent people. The on-going Russia – Ukraine War, War between Iran and US, Civil conflict with Military factions in Myanmar, Border Conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Rising risks of a China-Taiwan conflict, continued territorial tension between Venezuela and Guyana have transformed the world into living hell.

The time is at hand for us to seriously think and start being empathetic in our little ways. The feeling of empathy in human beings start at home. “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” Prophetic words of Mother Theresa, the saint of the gutters. Accordingly to Henry Drummond, “Strength of character may be learned at work but beauty of character is learned at home.”

So, we elders, we parents are entrusted great responsibility to inculcate kindness and empathy in our children, who take on society tomorrow. It is the love, security, compassion, compromise which parents inculcate in the children go a long way in framing the personality of children. Empathy and humanity therefore begin at home.

Teachers are second parents who can inculcate kindness and empathy in children and adolescents. In the words of Joyce Meyer, “Teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges.” Nobel Prize Awardee Malala Yousafzai gives a meaningful quote on education “One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world”. Dr Abdul Kalam called upon parents and teachers to impart values to children. Let us wake up to the present reality and try to change the society in our own little ways.

It is really heart breaking to observe the so called educated leaders in our society sowing the seeds of communal violence and division based on caste, creed, language and region. Are we really educated or just literates with degrees used to accumulate riches? We elders have to question ourselves regarding the world we are leaving behind to our children. Our elders gave in our hands, a world peaceful and joyful though there were minor struggles and conflicts.

It is time for us to awaken from slumber and blindness and realise that we are human beings first and citizens of countries later. With our rich cultural heritage, it is our duty to preserve harmony and be sensitive to the needs of others. Let the feelings of empathy, sensitivity and harmony prevail.