National wealth: Money, or something more?

- November 23, 2019

Tanvi Joshi 10th

We’re all running a race where the finish line is centered around money.

Being rich has become the top goal of many of us.

We measure everything from our salaries right up to our dreams and aspirations in terms of money.

But is that really the most important thing life has to offer?

Should becoming a millionaire really be our finishing line?

This is as true for nations as it is for individuals.

How “developed” a nation is, is determined in terms of how strong its economy is.

Economic development generally refers to an increase in the standard of life and a growth in the GDP.

But should a strong economy be the only judgmental criterion of development? No.

Money plays an important role in the growth of a nation, but human development is far more important.

While progressing together as a nation, the appreciation of everything that truly makes us human is essential. Quality healthcare and education is one of the key aspects of development.

A healthy and well educated population, especially in a country like India, can turn out to be a huge asset rather than the liability it is continuously proving to be today. A satisfied population, too, is important, where people are happy with their way of life.

All these factors, in turn, contribute to the people being driven to work harder, and thus, ultimately results in economic growth as people put in more efforts.

But this time around, they’re working because they want to, not because they have to.

The stock market of any nation is and must remain the primary indicator of a nation’s development and health, but it cannot be the sole indicator. Money should not be the driving force of the country.

Although we have a long way to go, I sincerely believe that one day, the country, together, can run the race where the money is just a milestone, not the finish line.