When I was young, my father once told me an interesting story

A poor man was sleeping peacefully under a banyan tree, when a businessman happened to pass through the village. He was surprised that the man, who had barely covered his body with a torn cloth, could sleep so peacefully even in daytime.

He awakened the poor man and asked—‘Why are you sleeping? Why don’t you work?’

The poor man questioned the businessman—‘Why should I work?’

‘Well, if you work, you will earn money,’ replied the businessman.

‘Then, what?’ asked the poor man again.

‘Then you can invest the money in business and make more money. So you will have lot of money,’ advised the businessman.

The poor man repeated his question—‘Then?’

‘Then you can enjoy your life,’ said the businessman.

‘But that is what I am doing,’ said the poor man.

And he slept again peacefully.

This story teaches us to live a simple life and avoid working hard.

This story tells us that we can enjoy happiness without having money.

This story projects the rich as foolish people who are running after money and failing to enjoy happiness in their life.

This story teaches us the virtue of being poor.

However, the fact of life is that you must not only earn what you need for today, but also you earn enough for your future.

Today, you can see millions of poor people walking hundreds of kilometres to their hometown because they have no savings to survive even for a few months.

It is heart-breaking to see the desperation of people who are breaking law and risking their lives simply to go back to their homes because they don’t have enough to fill the stomach of their family.

The lock-down has hardly affected the rich and middle class people who have secured jobs or sufficient savings.

The bitter truth of life is that poverty is the greatest curse for any human being.

If you are poor, you can’t live happily and honourably.

The people working hard to earn extra money are neither greedy nor fools.

Don’t get swayed by the one sided wisdom of such moral stories.

Work hard to have enough savings to sail through the difficult periods in your life.

-Awdhesh Singh