Anupam- The Dreamer

The ongoing Middle East war has engulfed virtually every country of the world into an enduring energy crisis. Although the situation currently is not very grave till now, but still it has entered in some way or the other into our kitchens! The soaring LPG prices and its scarcity given the supply chain constraints imposed by the war are for all to see.  On top of that, the pressure on the crude oil prices can potentially increase the logistics and transportation cost for every sector, which can have spiraling inflationary effects in the economy. So, one thing has been made very clear by this crisis- the “real wealth” is the energy security for our homes and for the country at large, which means crude oil, LPG, PNG etc.

Again, take the example of natural calamities like floods, droughts, cyclones etc. During those times, there is a severe crisis of basic amenities like food products, milk, clean drinking water, fruits and vegetables. Low availability pushes the prices higher. The middle class and rich class are willing to compromise on the luxury items to buy the basic things. Because when a person is hungry, the luxury goods like high-end appliances, cars, lavish clothes, accessories etc. seem to be nothing but a mere façade, as they cannot quench one’s hunger. It can only be done by the foodgrains, water, fruits and vegetables etc. So, the real wealth for any individual, household or even a nation is the food products and water. Only when these are present in adequate quantity, good quality, in an uninterrupted supply, then only can the people think about high-end luxury goods in life! The role of Green and White Revolution in overcoming this food crisis cannot be emphasized more.

Now, take the example of COVID-19 crisis. What was the real wealth during that time? It was good health and immunity. Yes, the medicines like remdesivir, vaccines, and medical oxygen, were also needed. But, even if one didn’t have access to these, then also if general health and immunity were good, most of the people were able to navigate the crisis using desi healthcare solutions. So, the real wealth was good health and immunity, which unfortunately is not a major focus of large number of people. In the leisure times, we tend to ignore health and fitness, and wait for the health crisis like pandemics to shake us out of the slumber. And when the crisis strikes, we don’t get time to react to that, as happened during COVID-19 times. During that time, rich people were even willing to give you all their wealth and gold if you could give them life-saving injections! Because afterall, what will they do of all the money if their precious life could not be saved?

The underlying theme in all these crisis situations is that the real wealth is the one which can sustain human life. You can think of what all basic things you need to live life and sustain it. I am talking about “basic things” and not “luxury things”, because the luxury things are at all not “necessary” to sustain life. Although they make life more beautiful, convenient and lavish, but still they are not necessary to sustain life. You can live without a rolex watch, but cannot live without food and water. You can live without a Ray-Ban google, but cannot live without a LPG cylinder. You can live without a Mercedes car, but you cannot survive without basic clothes and a roof over your head. You can live without a gold accessory, but you cannot live without basic medicines and healthcare. I leave the rest to your imagination….

And if you think that these basic things are always available in our country in plenty, so why to worry about them? Then, think of the situation in Gaza, in Ukraine, in war-torn nations, in civil-war stricken countries, where the people are toiling day and night just to get access to these basic things. They don’t need luxury things, they don’t need silver and gold, they don’t need cars or air travel. The basic things that we take for granted, are “luxury” for not-so-lucky brethren out there. So, if you have these in plenty, then be grateful. And if you don’t have these, then you know what to store as your future wealth. Money, gold, diamond, stocks, shares bla bla is all fine, but when you are hungry and thirsty, then remember you cannot eat these to sustain your life. And what will you do if the farmer who has food in plenty refuses to trade these in lieu of food?

So, all that the façade of wealth needs to puncture itself is a big crisis! Don’t wait for the next one….

Till next time….