Navanita Bhattacharya, Status-Quo Challenger and Changer, Daughter/Sister/Parent/Activist
My Money Story: A gentle romance with pauses and progress
“My relationship with money has been, what I call, a gentle romance. A romance that does not shake too much. Neither does it stretch, go overboard, or dry up.
I have never desired millions. Neither have I ever wanted to get to a point were the heart, soul and tummy would ache when deprived of things and experiences that enable me to be the best version of me.
Growing up, we did not have a lot. My parents worked hard to provide us with things and experiences that is enough for a healthy life. My Baba was a small business owner and my Ma managed the household and kept us fuelled up. The things we ate and bought, and the experiences we were provided – such as trips to different places (never overseas), or activities we could or could not enrol in – were dependent on how good or not-so-good my Baba’s business did at any point of time. He worked massively hard. Long hours. Very little rest. A lot of frowns. My Ma managing with the little she was given by Baba to manage the household and indulge us occasionally.
I wanted to grow up quickly and start earning. So that my parents could retire and relax.
My primary motivation, therefore, in the early years was to earn enough to provide for family and communities. I wanted my Baba and Ma to do the things they wanted to but could not – travel, purchase appliances to ease load, generously support the many charities they have been involved with.
The first couple of years of paid work was a stretch. Because I chose to work at the grassroots, with a local NGO, working in the villages. The pay was minimal. But just enough to tell my parents they no longer had to financially support me. It is only when I forayed into ‘international development and humanitarian aid,’ that I became a provider. By that time, all my siblings were almost financially independent.
My gentle romance with money got a little more exciting when I married my sweetheart. He, too, desired just enough - for some luxuries and a little more comfort.
Over the years, he and I have been earning enough to be a trusted provider for anyone in our extended families and close friends, buy a property, go on regular vacations overseas, generously give when we can, buy goods and services that make our lives comfortable.
Do I feel confident with money? Yes and no.
‘Yes’ to the extent that I know the value of saving and rejecting credit cards totally; and ‘no’ because I have never learnt to grow it manifold by investing smartly beyond buying a property. That may be because I never wanted to perhaps.
Wealth has been having enough without feeling the stretch that hurts; having enough to share with those who need it; lend to ease pressure for those we care for; to nurture and be nurtured by nature and the people in our ecosystems; to not be enslaved by unhinged capitalism.
True wealth, to me, is to draw clear boundaries and put an end to relentless consumption, unsustainable employment practices and the physical and mental health injuries that happen when one has too much.”