Despite being one, I am no closer to understanding Indians. Why is it that we were always ruled by foreign powers but never ventured too far from home to become rulers? If our ancient rulers had spent even half of the time and resources on science and innovation instead of religion, things would have been much better today. Or why, despite having the manpower and the resources, do we rank so low in most indices that indicate a better life?
But these are complex economic and sociological questions with no clear-cut answers or more than one answer. So lets turn our attention to a smaller problem : individual health. It would be fair to say that majority of Indians are not health conscious. I am excluding here the minority that you see jogging in parks or going regularly to the gym. You guys are doing great. Keep it up! There is also the younger generation whose sole purpose for going to the gym is to get six packs or zero size like the ones that their Bollywood screen idols flaunt. This is better than not doing anything, but the motivation is misplaced and may not last long enough. Fitness is much more than just looking good, although you do look good if you are fit.
If you look at the crowds on Indian streets, one thing that stands out are the bellies. Leaving aside the middle-aged or the seniors, it’s really sad to see twenty-somethings sporting generous bellies. And it’s not just bad only from the aesthetic point of view. India has as many as 50 million diabetic patients and according to experts, the number of heart disease patients is on the brink of an epidemic. Life expectancy in India is about 68.3 years (both sexes) and we rank 125th in the world. No 1 is Japan with 83.7 years. Countries ahead of us include Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Iraq! Of course, life expectancy depends on many other parameters such as health care for the poor etc. What’s remarkable is that the health awareness is poor in higher middle class as well, where adequate resources are available.
If you struggle everyday to find time to exercise or eat the right food while dealing with complexities of modern life, I empathize with you. I have been unhealthy most of my life. I know the struggle. It is not easy to be healthy in today’s world. Work pressures, deadlines, family commitments – anything and everything can get in the way. Of course, there are many ways to overcome these hurdles. (Tip : It’s okay to start very small. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Consistency is more important.) I understand people who realize that they are not healthy and that they should do something about it.
There is another class of Indians who have a different attitude towards health. And it is this group that I fail to understand. What I find most surprising is that these people are actually proud to be unhealthy. There is a certain devil-may-care attitude. To a certain extent, this is understandable if it’s a group of teenagers. Hopefully, they will come to their senses in due course of time. But when this attitude carries over into the thirties and beyond, that’s when it gets problematic. A side effect of this attitude is the belief that it is more hip or cool to live recklessly without any regard to your health. And this also means that people who do take care of their bodies (and their minds) are somehow uncool.
What is the origin of this illogical belief? One is the assumption that if you follow healthy routines, you are missing out on life. This, of course assumes that excessive drinking, smoking or eating everything that tastes good is the only way to enjoy life. So if you are not doing these things, you are uncool. QED.
What these people have never experienced is this. When you have slept a good night’s natural sleep, when your body is well rested, when you have eaten food that does not make you drowsy or sluggish, when you are brimming with so much energy that after a workout you feel more refreshed and energized instead of feeling exhausted, this feeling is your body saying “Thank You!” And no amount of external stimulation can match this wonderful feeling of being healthy.
The other illogical belief prevalent in Indians is that they are too conscious of their age. Now, one would assume that if this were the case, they would be more careful about their bodies as they age but what we see is the exact opposite. They just hang up their boots as they go into their thirties. They avoid physical activities, prefer vehicles even for smaller distances, some have trouble in simple tasks like getting up from a chair. Gradually they become sluggish and devoid of energy. Automation in every aspect of our lives only exacerbates this tendency.
Internet is full of interesting videos and news bits. Every so often, there is some interview of the oldest man or woman, telling us about their diet or their philosophy of life. There is a video of a 99 year old beating a 92 year old in 100 m sprint.
Jiro Ono, one of the most celebrated chefs in Japan, is still active as ever at the young age of 91. Clint Eastwood, 86, made Sully with Tom Hanks last year. What this means is that not only are they physically fit at their age, but they have exceptionally creative and sharp minds as well. I have already written about Jiro-san. Clint Eastwood deserves a separate post.
Or there is Alan Alda, 80, doing a cartwheel. Caption was, “I will try again when I’m 85.”
Think carefully. What was the last time you read such a news about an Indian living in India?
