Lessons from Demonetisation

When any event occurs in our inner/outer life, we tend to analyse its pros and cons too much instead of learning its lessons. There were endless debates on demonetisation too – whether it will work or not. The first lesson it could have taught us is (what is often said in discourses) “This Sansar (external world) is transient and subject to change. And so, are we ready to accept the sudden changes it inflicts in our life at times.” Within hours, many people’s Wealth – quotient dwindled to their utter shock and dismay. Some of the richest were seeking temporary financial help from their servants/staff, as they did not have the lower currency notes. The wealthiest were surviving, as it were, on the equivalent erstwhile pocket money of their youth days. Perhaps, it taught them that they were capable of austerity and living on limited means.

Suddenly, there was a spate in donations/charities. When people realised that their hoarded wealth was not of much use to them, they wanted to gift it away. Alas, this realisation was only circumstantial and not based on an understanding that ultimately excess of wealth beyond a point of need or use was anyways useless, including the wealth we leave behind for our future generations. Why do we insist on permanently crippling and systematically dis-abling our children (in the name of love and concern) by giving them more than what they would digest. Such little faith we have on our own product’s capabilities. Don’t we?

Then, came the lesson that what’s “Fake” (not just the currency) cannot last and can never be the source of our imagined security. For a larger and longer good, are we willing to undergo temporary “tapas” without complaints? Don’t we need this penance in all our chosen spheres (studies, relationships, occupation, evolution) I have seen people standing in longer queues for a longer time to watch a match or in a huge wedding reception. I am reminded of an old Hindi song “Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par, Wo Kahan Hai.” Please Google it for its absolutely amazing lyrics & tune.

Lastly, the source matters, from where the wealth was created. Do we bother to know our own “source” – from where we come, who are we really, where shall we go from here, what is the source of this world, what is the relationship between God, I, World.

How strange that we pass through this whole life without knowing who we are, why we came here, what we did not really come for.  O lord, if we didn’t know our own source then where on earth will we know the source of our wealth. Do these questions ever agitate us?

- Anjan Dangarwala