You know what Indian families are? They’re basically wildlife documentaries. Except instead of tigers fighting over territory, it’s Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z fighting over the remote. David Attenborough should really narrate our family dinners.
Different Species, Same Habitat
Gen X / Boomers: Born in scarcity. These are the people who iron plastic bags because “kuch kaam aa jayega.” Their idea of happiness? Owning one Bajaj scooter and three suspiciously large steel almirahs.
Millennials: Liberalisation kids. They saw cable TV, malls, and thought life was a Karan Johar movie. They invented EMIs and wanderlust. Their main life skill? Explaining to their parents why “going to Goa” is not a crime.
Gen Z / Alpha: Digital natives. These are kids who don’t believe in jobs, only “passion.” Their dream? To be a “content creator.” Beta, what content? “I’ll review street food, Mumma.” Great. Please also review the electricity bill.
Three species. One jungle. Of course, there’s conflict.
Clash Point 1: Work
Parents: “Why would you leave a stable job?”
Millennial: “Because my boss is toxic.”
Gen Z: “What’s a boss? I’m freelancing on Canva.”
To Gen X, a job is survival. To Millennials, it’s LinkedIn clout. To Gen Z, it’s optional. No wonder half the fights in Indian homes start with “Beta, what do you do all day?”
Clash Point 2: Money
Gen X: “Save. Buy property. Gold is gold.”
Millennials: “Invest. Mutual funds sahi hai.”
Gen Z: “Manifest. The universe will provide.”
Meanwhile, the only universal truth? Nobody wants to pay the electricity bill.
Clash Point 3: Marriage
Boomers: “Shaadi is duty.”
Millennials: “Shaadi after promotion.”
Gen Z: “Shaadi? LOL. Let’s just vibe.”
And this is why every Indian wedding has three kinds of people:
Elders asking, “When will you have kids?”
Cousins asking, “Is the bar free?”
Gen Z asking, “Is there Wi-Fi?”
Clash Point 4: Technology
Parents: “Why are you always on your phone?”
Kid: “Why are you always on my phone?”
For elders, privacy means closing the curtains. For Gen Z, it means locking their Instagram stories from relatives. Same word, completely different trauma.
The Emotional Core
Let’s be honest — the fights aren’t about jobs, money, or shaadi. They’re about control.
Parents: “We suffered, so you should too.”
Kids: “You suffered so I wouldn’t have to.”
Both sides think they’re doing the noble thing. Meanwhile, the Millennial in the middle is just Googling “cheapest therapy near me.”
Why It Never Ends
In the West, kids move out at 18. Fight solved. In India, kids live at home till 30… sometimes 40. Parents co-sign your loans. Grandparents raise your kids. Even the family WhatsApp group has four generations arguing about why nobody replied to “Good Morning.”
So no, this isn’t going away. Generational conflict is India’s favourite reality show. Forget Bigg Boss. Just livestream one joint family dinner. Same drama, fewer Salman Khan monologues.
The Punchline
Generational clashes in India don’t end. They get inherited. Your dad fought with his dad about land. You fight with your dad about Netflix. Your kids will fight with you about AI parenting robots.
The only thing everyone will always agree on?
That the neighbour’s kid is doing better.
