One of the toughest challenges today is not traffic, pollution, or even rising blood pressure. It is figuring out whether the government is speaking the truth or performing for the national stage.
Every morning, newspapers announce spectacular achievements. Television anchors shout even louder ones. We are told we have signed historic deals with America, Europe, and practically the entire planet. We are told the economy is strong, growth is unstoppable, and the future is golden.
And yet, many of us wake up with a quiet unease.
Something does not match.
The problem is not lack of news. It is lack of honest news. Most newspapers and channels today are either scared, sympathetic, or owned by government friendly billionaires. Anyone who reports uncomfortable facts is quickly branded anti-national or biased. Foreign agencies that speak about hunger, poverty, or unemployment are dismissed as conspirators with hidden agendas.
Apparently, the whole world is wrong. Only we are right.
So how does an ordinary citizen separate truth from propaganda.
The answer is surprisingly simple. Do not ask politicians. Do not ask television studios.
Ask your rupee note.
Your rupee note never lies. It does not attend press conferences. It does not trend on social media. It quietly tells the truth every time you go shopping.
Think back ten years. What could one hundred rupees buy then? A decent grocery bag. A small family treat. Enough for a modest celebration.
Now try the same experiment today.
The note looks the same. The colour is the same. The face is the same. But its strength has faded. It carries fewer vegetables. It lifts less rice. It collapses faster at the billing counter.
That is reality.
Governments can change definitions. They can rename schemes. They can adjust statistics. They cannot change what your rupee buys.
If we are not moving steadily down the poverty index why does your grocery bill rise?
If jobs are abundant, why are educated youngsters still unemployed?
If we are becoming a superpower, why does the rupee shiver before the dollar?
The rupee has no political ideology. It does not support any party. It does not wear any colour. It simply reflects purchasing power.
In fact, forget Rahul, the rupee is the most reliable opposition voice in the country.
When leaders say everything is wonderful, the rupee quietly replies, ‘not so!’
This is not negativity. This is common sense.
Real patriotism is not cheering every announcement. Real patriotism is wanting citizens to live better lives.
A truly strong nation does not need constant shouting about greatness. Its people feel progress in their kitchens, on their pay slips, and in their opportunities.
So, the next time you hear grand claims of success, do not argue. Do not debate. Do not forward angry messages. Just open your wallet. Take out a rupee note. Look at it.
And ask, ‘how much can you buy today?’
It will tell you everything you need to know!
In a world of lies, the rupee is your simple lie detector...!
The Author conducts an online, eight session Writers and Speakers Course. If you’d like to join, do send a thumbs-up to WhatsApp number 9892572883 or send a message to bobsbanter@gmail.com
