Money Matters

Physics and Economics are two subjects which are closest to mankind. While physics delves into the nature and solves its mysteries, economics deals with the monetary part of our lives. Money has become almost as essential as air and water for our survival and existence.
While understand the laws of nature (I being a science student it’s mandatory and binding on me), laws concerned with money are beyond my grasp. Being born into a Gandhabanik (a type of Bengali baniya) family, money and its side effects run in my veins. As the blog progresses, it will unfold how my inclination and expectations from money have changed as I have aged.
When I was a kid, I understood little about money. Once an uncle of mine gave a 20 Rs note and told me to share with my younger brother. I decided to tear it into 2 equal pieces as that was my idea of sharing. My mother saved the note in just at the nick of time. But as the days progressed, my fascination towards money increased. I was feeling its power and even resorted to theft to buy chocolates and ice-candies. But I was soon caught and reprimanded. That brought the Almirah to our home.
In my school days I received only 80 Rs annually, 10 Rs after finishing exams and 20 Rs on Annual Day and Result Day. This also happened after I cried and croaked for about two or three years. My father used to talk about the importance and scarcity of money. I believed it and practiced it. Once, I gave a long lecture to our hapless bus-conductor who had forgotten to buy something with a one-rupee-coin I had given. Thinking of it, I know, I had overreacted over a trivial issue that also when I was just a 12-13 year old boy.
‘A penny saved is a penny earned’. This should be the motto of every sensible individual. But when you do overdo the saving, the only word which can explain you is ‘MISER’. I became the miser of worst kind. These kinds of persons are just pain in the ass and I was nothing less. I wouldn’t spend on myself and neither would allow anyone else to do that as well. If I happened to go for shopping, I would always start with the price-tag! It’s not what my heart wanted to do, but my brain had always a strong control over my heart.
I broke all records in miserliness in my first year of graduation. Whenever my mess used to have an off day, it used to be the same for my stomach. Once, I ate only two meals in two days and ate and drank water during the rest of the time. Aunty (whose mess I used to go) scolded me and stopped giving more off days. When she had to give one off day, she will inform me beforehand so that I could go home. I always travelled in local trains to save money and have received flak from all quarters. But I was a damn determined chap! I would drop dead whenever I had to repair my cycle or buy some gifts on my friends’ birthdays or if somebody talked about going somewhere. I would start fainting even before they reached the expenditure part! On my birthdays, I straightway went home and didn’t turn up for a few days!
In 2nd year, I started teaching tuitions. Miserliness decreased a few notches. For the first time in my life, I gave a party and bought few things as well. I even started eating in roadside eateries and didn’t sleep hungry on mess holidays. But still spending money remained a nightmare.
But in the last few years, my outlook towards money has changed drastically. I have read stories and watched movies concerned with how life is affected by money. And the deadly events occurring around the globe are related to currency notes directly or indirectly. Closer home, the behaviours of my relatives and friends have called for introspection into the whole matter. My relatives remember only when they require money. My friends, whom I knew and cherished for a long period of time, after getting jobs (some even when they were doing engineering) stopped acknowledging and recognizing me even on Orkut! This made me feel disgusted about money. While many will try to accumulate more money and retain their social positions, I have decided to be not bothered by it at all. I am absolutely confident that I will be able to earn enough to support me and my family.
G.B. Shaw once said, ‘Power doesn’t corrupt Man but its Man who corrupts Power’. Money is a power as well and has a corrupting influence if not utilized properly. I have decided to indulge in activities that will provide me with Knowledge, Happiness and Peace. Money for me will just be a tool to attain a decent standard of life for me and my family. I hope God will be on my side in my endeavour. Amen!