Lessons to learn from India ?

In response to my describing how , when I was teaching kids in a deprived area of London, their only goal in life appeared to be getting as much money as possible. They couldn't answer the following question; to which a friend of mine responded:

‘Why do we want money?’ is a good question.

I have just returned from a short tour of India.

Here one can see an interesting case study of what happens when population is allowed to go unchecked.

It was very educational. Some pictures to follow!

What is interesting is that despite being exceedingly poor, there is no over-riding unhappiness or despair, despite no welfare state, no free healthcare and no compensation if you can’t work.

The government does provide free schooling, which comes with a free uniform and a daily meal.

Our guide was telling about land owners who have accumulated wealth but have stayed in the same house and maintained exactly the same simple way of life as before.

The power of religious belief can be seen everywhere. One attractive feature, particularly of the Hindu religion, is respect for life.

This is all a lot nicer than other poor countries which have people fighting over every last scrap, and being pretty nasty to each other.

India is a case study in how chaos can be made to work.

Travelling by road is a nightmare for a European – no discernible rules. Do what you like as long as you don’t hit anyone else. All you hear are horns to warn other vehicles that you are about to do something stupid that might result in hitting them. Surprisingly, there are few accidents and no road-rage.

There are many learning points for us here. One is that you can be happy with what you have got.

The American drive to earn cash at all costs looks very futile and hollow from Delhi.

Interestingly, We took a 6 hour train journey on a train as good as Virgin Rail can provide, which included a free 3 course meal.

It cost £10.

Why do we want money? I think it is a Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs thing.

Once you have access to food, shelter and love, the rest is probably optional and unnecessary.

There is another thing though and that is the drive that people have to find personal achievement/fulfillment.

For me it is a case of thinking, ‘There must be some reason for me being put on this earth. The least I can do is the best I can to live up to someone’s faith in me.’

Often money is one reward for striving to be better.

But then it isn’t all bad because you then have a greater choice about how you can use that money to continue to be a good person.

So money, I say !

Why all the fuss!