If ever we as an individual, family, society or a nation have to choose a mantra for living an enriched life, the proverb 'healthy, wealthy and wise' ought to be embraced not just as a common saying or belief but as a value system. The saying, 'early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise' should not be treated as out of date or as just another nursery rhyme, taught to children. It has currency for people of all age, race or time. Even the slogan of peace and development, trumpeted about by governments, can find a more meaningful success if we can have a basis for nuturing the above two goals through the simplicity of leading a healthy, hardworking and thoughtful life. We need to look beyond our conventional models of peace and development. Can Nagaland lead the way in developing such a policy that will lead to enriched lives? This calls for a paradigm shift in the way our current system functions, including our society, government and politics.
Consider the fact that we spent considerable amount of our wealth and resource looking for cure and treatment. Readers will perhaps recall this popular life lesson. The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, he said: “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” This quote from the Dalai Lama will hopefully strike a note and that wisdom will not slip away when it comes to seeking healthy lifestyles in our lives. Very often, government policies do not give priority towards health promotion. There is a need to promote a positive attitude to health and wellbeing.
Along with a healthy lifestyle, we need to also improve the material wellbeing of our people. To be wealthy and financially secure is by no means a sin. Gain by honest means is a wonderful thing to emulate and teach to our children. For this, we need to give our support and encouragement to hard, diligent work instead of glorifying easy money and corrupt practices. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship in our society is the need of the hour. In fact, the United Nations has a definition of what it calls 'inclusive wealth', which includes the sum of natural, human and physical assets. Wealth is not just about money in your bank account. It includes natural resource and its proper utilization; human capital such as people's education and skills and physical capital like infrastructure.
If we look closely our social, religious and political landscape is besot with all kinds of problem--physical illness or disease; corruption and moral decay; misunderstanding and loss of trust leading to violence, killing and civil unrest. If we are unable to contain the stated problems, the wellbeing of our people is at stake. A unhealthy population means less productivity; corruption will further widen the gulf between the haves and have-nots; division and conflict as a result of poor judgment or unwise action only makes it difficult to nurture a peaceful and prosperous society. We are going to pay a heavy price if we continue to be as we are. To begin with we can revisit the sound doctrine of living a life of joy, balance and contentment based on good health, prosperity and wisdom. It should not be just seen as an uplifting proverb but should uplift our lives through appropriate government policy and societal intervention.
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