The bane of mammon

Curse me if you like. Or call me naive. I stick to my guns that money (material wealth) is the bane of existence. At least an indulgence or excessive importance given to the accumulation of money most definitely is. I have, for years now, noticed how Indian society in particular seems to judge people only by the amount of wealth he/she possesses and care very little for any other personality traits. First question when some random person meets you or your family member at some gathering: What's your son doing? where does he work? Depending on the answer, the next question follows. If the answer is A, B or C (software firms) as is most likely the case considering how stereotypical we Indians are on an average (no offense again), then the reply will be highly 'encouraging'. "Excellent madam, he will get an excellent pay and promotion soon. Will be an ideal candidate once it comes to the bride search blah blah blah". In the highly unlikely event of the parent mentioning a non IT job, the happiness vanishes and is followed by statements that question the choice of job or worse still, sneers in other groups about what a grave mistake the boy has made in not doing what pays well, or as i prefer to see it as (what everybody does anyway).

Nowhere is the love of money, the material wealth and greed for more of the same manifested than in Indian marriages. What is purely meant to be a logical extension of mutual love and admiration of a couple is far from that. The entire process of marriage is now a money-laundering business, and while deploring it is not my intention anyway, I would hardly be getting my point across if I do not expose the scum that lies beneath the well-refined exterior.

There may have been Sanskrit sayings that spoke in glowing terms about knowledge as being the purest of all pursuits ("swadeshe poojyate raja, vidhwan sarvatra poojyate or "vidya dadati vinayam" etc). While I still concur and will continue to do so, the relevance of all this seems to be lost in a society which is increasingly filled with hypocrites. For them though, wealth suddenly becomes important when it comes to marriage scenarios. In other times, they try to don the garb of individuals who denounced wealth and speak eloquently about how important morals are and how trivial money is. Where did the very same morals go when it is time for the marriage of their sons and daughters? This hypocrisy breeds contempt and jealousy but very little love. Why can't a person meet a prospective partner, spend time, get to know his/her nature, appreciate the finer aspects of the character that are products of both the genes and nurture? Instead, salaries and jobs are used as filters in a society that claims to be at the forefront in advances and rational thinking. If this is not the definition of hypocrisy, nothing else is. While I would be the last person to attack astrology or the other empirical sciences that play an important role in the entire matrimony process, I can't help but believe that the horoscope is being used as an alibi to mask the real underlying reason for rejection. People and society in general would be much better off if the prospective partners are allowed to spend time and make their own decision on whether they want to proceed further. This eliminates any ambiguity and leaves very little room for assumptions.

Money is important and much more than I can ever envisage. But like most materials, an over-indulgence is undoubtedly malevolent. We as a well-informed and educated generation would do better if we focus on what brings more lasting happiness than on something that is ephemeral. If money indeed was what mattered to my best friends, I would not have survived the last few years. Their help and encouragement during trying times has not just changed my approach towards material wealth, but has also created an awareness in me that I should enjoy and appreciate the innate qualities that make people wonderful human beings and not the facade that material wealth creates.