Pankaj Tripathi wants kids to develop a personality beyond gadgets

I try to ensure my daughter isn’t constantly using our phone. We want to protect her as much as possible and want help her figure out her personality beyond gadgets. PANKAJ TRIPATHI, ACTOR

Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who won a special mention at the 65th National Film Awards for his performance in Newton (2017), is known not only for his acting skills, but for his interest in social issues as well. The actor lent his support to the Swachh Bharat initiative in his home town of Gopalganj, Bihar, to ensure the end of open defecation in the town, and he has often voiced his opinions on social matters.

Tripathi is of the opinion that the current generation of children is forgoing social interaction in favour of technology. To prevent that, Tripathi makes sure to encourage his 12-year-old daughter, Aashi, to enrol in various vocational courses. He also advises his daughter’s friends to avoid being overly dependent on technology, as he worries that they may not only lack the social skills to survive, but may also lose their innocence.

The Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) actor says, “I think technology can be both good and bad. Nowadays, kids don’t seem to step out to play or interact with their friends or read a book. So, I make it a point to wake up Aashi every morning to see the sunrise. She goes swimming, learns dancing, and my wife and I try to ensure she isn’t constantly using our phone. We want to protect her as much as possible and want help her figure out her personality beyond gadgets. That’s my dream for my daughter: to allow her to build her personality outside the purview of technology so that gadgets aren’t a handicap but an instrument that helps an already confident personality. Innocence in children is the most beautiful thing. Why put technology in their hands and steal that from them?”