Veteran Actor Tauseeq Haider reflects on Gen Z, masculinity and marriage
From the start, Haider set the tone for a conversation that was neither defensive nor nostalgic. "I don't want to be that old person who has a problem with everything new," he said, making clear that his observations come from curiosity rather than criticism.
Much of the discussion focused on Gen Z. Rather than dismiss the younger generation, Haider expressed admiration for their emotional range and digital literacy. "They make memes, they cry also. They do everything. They are not emotionless." He acknowledged the pressures young people face, including climate anxiety, economic insecurity, and social fragmentation. "The youth today feels very intensely," he said. "They are expressing themselves. They are speaking. They are not just silent."
Haider emphasized that he chooses to learn from Gen Z rather than lecture them. "I have left people my age. I am with Gen Z." He praised platforms like TikTok, not just for entertainment but as sources of education. "From TikTok I am learning astronomy, I am learning history, I am learning about religion." It was a striking departure from common narratives around technology and youth culture, particularly from someone of his generation.
The conversation then turned toward masculinity and emotional repression. Haider spoke of how men are raised to suppress vulnerability. "Men are taught that their emotions don't matter." He traced the emotional disconnect in many marriages to this early conditioning. "When their wife or partner wants emotional support, they are not able to give it. Because they don't know how." He did not frame this as a flaw in men's character but as a systemic failure. "Nobody taught them that emotions are valid."
On the topic of marriage, Haider spoke plainly. "Marriage is not a war. It does not mean one person ruling over another." He advocated for listening, respect, and emotional presence. "You should understand the person. Marriage means understanding." He pushed back against dominant models of control or submission. "Do not impose. Do not dictate. Listen."
Haider also pushed back against the idea that having children is necessary to secure support in old age. 'I think this is a strange question,' he said.
'First of all, you are giving birth to a child to support you in old age, so this is a very selfish approach. Second thing is, you are determining that the one who doesn't have children, their old age will deteriorate. So I can tell you about a lot of people whose old age deteriorated despite having grandchildren.' He emphasized that while children are a great source of joy, they are not the only source. 'To attribute children to old age or old age happiness is a very stupid thing. It is true that if you don't have children, then children are the biggest happiness in life, but it is not the only happiness. So to be happy, you need a lot of blessings from God, which you should be thankful for, and with that happiness you should spend your old age."
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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
From mantras to meditation apps
Spirituality is no longer considered only for the old. Photo: DW Rohit Singh was born into a Hindu family, but he doesn't identify as religious. The 24-year-old does, however, occasionally go to the local temple as well as gurudwara, a place of worship and assembly in Sikhism. Singh also believes in astrology, and this month joined his cousins on the Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage of devotees of Lord Shiva, one of the three major Hindu deities revered in India. "I am not religious, I am spiritual," he told DW. "I don't go to the temple as frequently as my parents, I go sometimes for the calm and peaceful vibe. I started going when I was unable to find a job and my mental health was at its worst." The resident of Gurugram, a tech and finance hub just outside the capital, New Delhi, still hasn't found a job. But he says his spirituality has helped his mental health. "A lot of my friends are like me. We just want some solace," he says. Interest in religion is declining worldwide. A study by Pew Research Center showed that religious affiliation fell globally by 1 per cent in the decade spanning 2010 to 2020. In the same period, the percentage of people who showed no religious affiliation grew from 23 to 24.2 per cent. But in India, it's a different story. Spirituality to cope In the same Pew study, the global population of Hindus — 95 per cent of whom live in India, where they form 80 per cent of the population — held steady, whereas the number of Muslims, who represent more than 14 per cent of Indians, grew. Unlike many around the world, India's youth, which makes up 65 per cent of its population, seem to be reconnecting with religion and spirituality. But they are doing it in their own way. A YouGov-Mint survey showed 53 per cent of India's Gen Z — which refers to people born roughly between 1997 and 2012 — believe religion is important and 62 per cent of them pray regularly. An MTV Youth Study in 2021 found that 62 per cent of India's Gen Z believe spirituality helps them gain clarity. Almost 70 per cent said they felt more confident after prayer. "Gen Z has a lot of different vocabulary that they can lean on to explain what they are feeling, which is different from previous generations," counselling psychologist Manavi Khurana told DW. "Terms like healing, grounding, getting in touch with the self. Spirituality, religion, wellness and well-being all get mixed up, though they have intersections as well," Khurana added. She is the founder of the mental health organization Karma Care in Delhi, which has a mix of Millennial (people who were born roughly between 1981 and 1996) and Gen Z clients. "There's also a lot of people connecting to Hinduism given the current political climate," Khurana said. "A lot of people find solace in religion. If they have absolutely lost hope, they find religion or some mantras or beliefs that help them find that hope. They may not have a lot of other support systems at this time," she explained. "If spirituality leads to extremism, it's not the best scenario. But if someone uses it as a way to get in touch with themselves and as a coping mechanism, it is very important," Khurana said. Young Indians don't seem to be shying away from religion — they are reinventing and customising it. Fewer rituals Surya, 27, is a solo traveller and influencer with more than 290,000 followers on Instagram. Many of her trips are spiritually inclined. Surya has travelled to a number of major Hindu pilgrimage sites and festivals, including the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj this year, Kedarnath and the Haridwar Kumbh in 2021. She says while social media platforms and influencers have made religion more accessible to younger generations, there's more to it than that. "Spirituality is no longer seen as 'boring' or only for the old. It's becoming a way to find peace in a chaotic modern life," she told DW. "Today's youth aren't following blindly. They're asking why, exploring how, and embracing what resonates personally. Instead of attending temples because they 'have to,' they may visit Varanasi, Rishikesh, or Isha (Foundation) to feel something real," she added. During an address to the parliament this year, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the youth are "embracing their traditions, faith, and beliefs with pride, reflecting a strong connection to India's cultural heritage." He was speaking before the Maha Kumbh Mela, which was held from January to February this year and saw thousands of younger attendees. Modi's right-wing, Hindu nationalist government has pumped funds into developing and promoting important religious sites such as Ayodhya. The states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have also announced plans to revamp sites of religious, historical and mythological significance. Spiritual content on social media With social media playing such an important role in young people's interest in and engagement with spirituality, some critics say these public platforms make the experience less authentic or performative. Psychologist Khurana says that while there may be an element of truth to this, that does not make the youth's relationship with religion or spirituality inauthentic. "Just because a lot of Gen Z communicate via Instagram or the internet and that is their way of community, we can't totally write it off as performative," she said, pointing out that young people have been "brought up around phones and raised by technology." Yoga, meditation, astrology and even spiritual leaders and speakers using relatable language all appeal to the country's youth. According to a 2023 survey by OMTV, a spiritual storytelling app, 80 per cent of Indians aged 18 to 30 engage with spiritual or religious content online. "Gen Z's world is noisier and faster than any before. So, their entry points to spirituality look different. They may not read entire scriptures, but they'll listen to a 60-sec clip of Gita wisdom. They might not sit in a temple for hours, but they'll do a 10-minute guided meditation at night. That doesn't make it less real, just modern," Surya said.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Express Tribune
Veteran Actor Tauseeq Haider reflects on Gen Z, masculinity and marriage
On Monday, Veteran broadcaster Tauseeq Haider sat down with Ahmed Fozan on the Ahmed Fozan Podcast for an open conversation that moved seamlessly between generational divides, gender expectations, and emotional literacy. From the start, Haider set the tone for a conversation that was neither defensive nor nostalgic. "I don't want to be that old person who has a problem with everything new," he said, making clear that his observations come from curiosity rather than criticism. Much of the discussion focused on Gen Z. Rather than dismiss the younger generation, Haider expressed admiration for their emotional range and digital literacy. "They make memes, they cry also. They do everything. They are not emotionless." He acknowledged the pressures young people face, including climate anxiety, economic insecurity, and social fragmentation. "The youth today feels very intensely," he said. "They are expressing themselves. They are speaking. They are not just silent." Haider emphasized that he chooses to learn from Gen Z rather than lecture them. "I have left people my age. I am with Gen Z." He praised platforms like TikTok, not just for entertainment but as sources of education. "From TikTok I am learning astronomy, I am learning history, I am learning about religion." It was a striking departure from common narratives around technology and youth culture, particularly from someone of his generation. The conversation then turned toward masculinity and emotional repression. Haider spoke of how men are raised to suppress vulnerability. "Men are taught that their emotions don't matter." He traced the emotional disconnect in many marriages to this early conditioning. "When their wife or partner wants emotional support, they are not able to give it. Because they don't know how." He did not frame this as a flaw in men's character but as a systemic failure. "Nobody taught them that emotions are valid." On the topic of marriage, Haider spoke plainly. "Marriage is not a war. It does not mean one person ruling over another." He advocated for listening, respect, and emotional presence. "You should understand the person. Marriage means understanding." He pushed back against dominant models of control or submission. "Do not impose. Do not dictate. Listen." Haider also pushed back against the idea that having children is necessary to secure support in old age. 'I think this is a strange question,' he said. 'First of all, you are giving birth to a child to support you in old age, so this is a very selfish approach. Second thing is, you are determining that the one who doesn't have children, their old age will deteriorate. So I can tell you about a lot of people whose old age deteriorated despite having grandchildren.' He emphasized that while children are a great source of joy, they are not the only source. 'To attribute children to old age or old age happiness is a very stupid thing. It is true that if you don't have children, then children are the biggest happiness in life, but it is not the only happiness. So to be happy, you need a lot of blessings from God, which you should be thankful for, and with that happiness you should spend your old age."
Express Tribune
29-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Thailand's roaring lion business
Behind a car repair business on a nondescript Thai street are the cherished pets of a rising TikTok animal influencer: two lions and a 200-kilogram lion-tiger hybrid called "Big George." Lion ownership is legal in Thailand, and Tharnuwarht Plengkemratch is an enthusiastic advocate, posting updates on his feline companions to nearly three million followers. "They're playful and affectionate, just like dogs or cats," he told AFP from inside their cage complex at his home in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Thailand's captive lion population has exploded in recent years, with nearly 500 registered in zoos, breeding farms, petting cafes and homes. Experts warn the trend endangers animals and humans, stretches authorities and likely fuels illicit trade domestically and abroad. "It's absolute madness," said Tom Taylor, chief operating officer of conservation group Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. "It's terrifying to imagine, if the laws aren't changed, what the situation is going to be in 10 years." The boom is fuelled by social media, where owners like Tharnuwarht post light-hearted content and glamour shots with lions. "I wanted to show people... that lions can actually bond well with humans," he said, insisting he plays regularly with his pets. He entered Big George's enclosure tentatively though, spending just a few minutes being batted by the tawny striped liger's hefty paws before retreating behind a fence. Since 2022, Thai law has required owners to register and microchip lions, and inform authorities before moving them. But there are no breeding caps, few enclosure or welfare requirements, and no controls on liger or tigon hybrids. Births of protected native species like tigers must be reported within 24 hours. Lion owners have 60 days. "That is a huge window," said Taylor. "What could be done with a litter of cubs in those 60 days? Anything." Illicit trade Taylor and his colleagues have tracked the rise in lion ownership with on-site visits and by trawling social media. They recorded around 130 in 2018, and nearly 450 by 2024. But nearly 350 more lions they encountered were "lost to follow-up" after their whereabouts could not be confirmed for a year. That could indicate unreported deaths, an animal removed from display or "worst-case scenarios", said Taylor. "We have interviewed traders (in the region) who have given us prices for live and dead lions and have told us they can take them over the border." As a vulnerable species, lions and their parts can only be sold internationally with so-called CITES permits. But there is circumstantial evidence of illicit trade, several experts told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid angering authorities. Media reports and social media have documented lions, including cubs, in Cambodia multiple times in recent years, though CITES shows no registered imports since 2003. There is also growing evidence that captive lion numbers in Laos exceed CITES import licences. In Thailand, meanwhile, imports of lion parts like bones, skins and teeth have dropped in recent years, though demand remains, raising questions about how parts are now being sourced. Thai trader Pathamawadee Janpithak started in the crocodile business, but pivoted to lions as prices for the reptiles declined. "It gradually became a full-fledged business that I couldn't step away from," the gregarious 32-year-old told AFP in front of a row of caged cubs. She sells one-month-olds for around 500,000 baht (USD15,500), down from a peak of 800,000 baht as breeding operations like hers increase supply. Captive lions are generally fed around two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of chicken carcasses a day, and can produce litters of two to six cubs, once or twice a year. Pathamawadee's three facilities house around 80 lions, from a stately full-maned nine-year-old to a sickly pair of eight-day-olds being bottle-fed around the clock. They are white because of a genetic mutation, and the smaller pool of white lions means inbreeding and sickness are common. Sometimes wrongly considered a "threatened" subspecies, they are popular in Thailand, but a month-old white cub being reared alongside the newborns has been sick almost since birth. It has attracted no buyers so far and will be unbreedable, Pathamawadee said. She lamented the increasing difficulty of finding buyers willing to comply with ownership rules. "In the past, people could just put down money and walk away with a lion... Everything has become more complicated." Legal review Pathamawadee sells around half of the 90 cubs she breeds each year, often to other breeders, who are increasingly opening "lion cafes" where customers pose with and pet young lions. Outside Chiang Mai, a handler roused a cub from a nap to play with a group of squealing Chinese tourists. Staff let AFP film the interaction, but like all lion cafes contacted, declined interviews. Pathamawadee no longer sells to cafes, which tend to offload cubs within weeks as they grow. She said several were returned to her traumatised and no longer suitable for breeding. The growing lion population is a problem for Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), admitted wildlife protection director Sadudee Punpugdee. "But private ownership has existed for a long time... so we're taking a gradual approach," he told AFP. That includes limiting lion imports so breeders are forced to rely on the domestic population. "With inbreeding on the rise, the quality of the lions is also declining and we believe that demand will decrease as a result," Sadudee said. Already stretched authorities face difficult choices on enforcing regulations, as confiscated animals become their responsibility, said Penthai Siriwat, illegal wildlife trade specialist at WWF Thailand. "There is a great deal of deliberation before intervening... considering the substantial costs," she told AFP. Owners like Tharnuwarht often evoke conservation to justify their pets, but Thailand's captive lions will never live in the wild. Two-year-olds Khanom and Khanun live in a DNP sanctuary after being confiscated from a cafe and private owner over improper paperwork. They could survive another decade or more, and require specialised keepers, food and care. Sanctuary chief vet Natanon Panpeth treads carefully while discussing the lion trade, warning only that the "well-being of the animals should always come first". Big cat ownership has been banned in the United States and United Arab Emirates in recent years, and Thailand's wildlife rules are soon up for review. Sadudee is hopeful some provisions may be tightened, though a ban is unlikely for now. He has his own advice for would-be owners: "Wild animals belong in the wild. There are plenty of other animals we can keep as pets."
