Dr. Nawab Hussain ,
Whenever we meet a friend, elder, stranger, or simply a passer-by, we greet them by saying,
“Jullay! Khamzang in-a ley?” (Are you well?). Though we often reply with affirmation,
sometimes we need to ask the same question to ourselves. We often make the mistake of linking
the idea of wellness with success in accumulating material wealth. The world we tend to embrace
finds the affirmative answer to this greeting when one achieves more comfort and money.
However, mere possession of wealth does not seem to correlate with the notion of wellness.
Materially advanced societies, for example, have made remarkable progress in wealth across
generations. Yet, despite substantial material progress, divorces, broken families, homelessness,
drug trafficking, and the degradation of societal values are increasing in these affluent societies.
These societies are now suffering from the problem of plenty.
In Ladakhi society too, despite achieving remarkable progress in material possessions, the older
generation often says, “Nanme tuspo shkitpo yotpin!” (Life was better in those good old days).
They argue that in those days, wealth was scarce but happiness was abundant. In comparison to
the past, today we have well-connected roads, uninterrupted electricity, internet connectivity,
trendy clothes, modern infrastructure, comfortable houses, water pipelines in our homes, and
access to different cuisines. These advancements were meant to save time, yet ironically, our
lives have only grown busier.
The result is that our social gatherings are becoming rare, we no longer sit around the fireplace
listening to old fables, our festivals are becoming mere symbols, and we fail to enjoy picnics
with calmness. Our children no longer find time to play with nature; instead, they are trained to
embrace the monotonous routine called life. As adults, we are entering into this never-ending
chase for plenty. Eventually, at some point, we forget the real need for the chase. Rather than
being a source of happiness, we find ourselves embracing a stressful life. And then, at some point
when we pass our prime, we also agree: “Yes, life was better in those good old days.”
Among the many causes of a stressful life, one vital reason is relentless comparison with others.
Despite progressing from a two-wheeler to a car, we lose sleep realizing that our neighbor drives
a car with a sunroof. It seems that happiness has become a relative concept—defined not by
inner fulfillment, but by the possessions of others. The outcome of this race is predictable:
jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, and an unending desire for more. True happiness can only befound when we realize that our only real competition is with ourselves. Progress is meaningful
when it aligns with gratitude for life.
This does not mean we must reject material prosperity altogether. Rather, we should strive for a
sustainable lifestyle—one that harmonizes with our inner self. Among the many paths to
prosperity, the best one is always the path that brings inner calm.
On an individual level, we often surrender ourselves to temporary defeat. But if we go into deep
introspection, we find that each of us has the capacity to overcome challenges. Whatever
hardships confront us can be managed by cultivating a positive outlook. A wise man once said:
the best way to face a problem is to assume that it is not difficult at all, but merely a puzzle to be
solved. Once such a mindset is developed, even the hardest problems lose their power. The
opposite is embodied in Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Ultimately,
the choice is ours—to play the hero in our lives or to surrender to negativity and play the villain.
Perhaps we become truly well when we stop comparing our lives with others and stop perceiving
difficulties as insurmountable. Unless we shift this mindset, we may continue struggling to
provide a fulfilling answer to “Khamzang in-a ley?” And once we are in sync with our inner self,
we can respond with a passing smile: “Khamzang in ley” (Yes!).
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