BY madan lamsal

Today, everyone is chasing after that paper thing we call ‘money’. It’s become a matter of life and death. Just as death is the ultimate truth for humans, earning money has also become another ultimate truth. Forget about the meaning of life; it’s all about the meaning of cash! It’s practically a universal mantra now: 'any way, more money'. For people, money has become bigger than words like father, mother, son, daughter, home and family.

There are people who start a relationship for money and end it when the money runs out. The ascetics are wandering in society disguised as hedonists and the hedonists as ascetics. There are those who curse when they hear the word capitalism and applaud when they hear the word socialism. It is wrong to earn money in the right way, but it is right to earn money wrong way by breaking the rules and regulations. The pundits who say that there is nothing we can take along after death, start quarrelling if they don't get enough donations.

Money corrupts people. That's why those who say that they will bring a government of equality that doesn't need money seem to be taking up gold smuggling! Whether you dig into the roots of socialism or ride the wave of capitalism, the main motive is to make money!! Even those who say that it’s all about the work only see nothing but money. That is why it is said that 'when you say money, even Lord Mahadev's third eye opens'.

Money at night. Money in the day. Money in love. Money in betrayal. Money can buy love. Money can cut off emotions. Money can make the bad look good. Money can give meaning to the meaningless. There is money everywhere. However, it is difficult to get money. Money is dear to everyone. But it is difficult for everyone to make it their own. Maybe that's why money is worshipped!

There are those who curse when they hear the word capitalism and applaud when they hear the word socialism. It is wrong to earn money in the right way, but it is right to earn money by breaking the rules and regulations.

How can we make money? By being honest or by being dishonest? By being diligent, dutiful, and hardworking or by recognizing the time? If the honest and hardworking were to make money, then the farmers should have been the richest, right? Can we make money by being able to identify areas of investment and by being educated or by worshipping Goddess Laxmi? Or can one have one’s hand in money only if luck helps out? Is it so that if it is in your fate, milk will boil in a bamboo tube by itself? Or you don’t have to work at all?

Money has many names and forms; in some places, it is called dollar and in other places pound and rupee. Money of the same value in different places is worth different. Therefore, money has become the reason for social classification. People's power is connected with money. Money is the main factor behind every competition. How much money is enough? Why the need to keep wanting more?

Each and every happiness is connected with money. Money has become the cause of every misery. The richer one gets, the greedier one becomes. Only ready to take; never to give. Some people get sick after eating too much food. Some will die without food.

However, not everyone knows how to make money. Those who know do not teach others. It’s money that builds many relationships, and it’s again money that breaks many. People use persuasion when asking for money. But when it’s time to give it back, you have to beg for your own money. After all, who is the beggar – the lender or the receiver?

There are two types of money. One is white and the other is black. The money which is earned by tying a black band around one’s conscience is black money. The money earned by honesty and hard work is the white money.

The behaviour of people with those who have money and those who do not is also different. If you can't raise money, even your wife will complain. That's why they say, "When you are rich, you have many friends; when you are poor, you have none.” Nowadays, they say that money can even buy God and win court cases. To become a scholar, a person has to study a lot throughout his life. But when you have money, you are already a scholar! 

Even if the money is dirty or torn, it will buy things. Because money seems to be the main reason behind every good or bad thing in the world. In the pursuit of wealth and money, people pretend to love and do not hesitate even if they have to kill their own family members. Some people do not spend even if they have money; they would rather lead a poor life. While others are not afraid to spend even if they have no money, even if they have to take out a loan.

It is neither easy to make money nor to save it. But anyone, from those begging on the street to those reaching the House, is focused on how to earn money. Businessmen became businessmen to make money. The purpose of getting a job is also to earn money. But it seems that the purpose of joining politics in this country is also to earn money, displayed by the fact that politicians who have no business, who have no job, have the most money. Isn’t that a wonder to behold? 

There are two types of money. One is white and the other is black. The money which is earned by tying a black band around one’s conscience is black money. The money earned by honesty and hard work is the white money. And nowadays they say that grey money has also been added to the list!

And how much money is enough for someone? From the paupers to the billionaires, everyone is after money. Because no matter how rich a person is, it never seems to be enough. From beggars, who live by asking for money every day, to Bill Gates and Binod Chaudhary, who are hunters of wealth, everyone seems to be driven by money. Young people are fleeing abroad for money. But some die while earning, and some come back saying that they will earn it and more.

‘Money can buy convenience, but happiness cannot be bought. Money is many things, but not everything.' People seem to be feigning ignorance of this saying. Why is that so?

Again, what kind of thing is this money? The more you earn, the more you want to earn! When you get money, you will feel happy, and when you lose it, you will feel pain. Why?

There’s nothing quite like money! It’s money that makes people cry. It’s money that makes people smile. It’s money that many do not have, and it’s money that everyone wants to have. How long are we going to die for this money?

That's why I want to proclaim, 'Down with money!'