By Anil D'Souza

I am an early morning person or rather I used to be a early morning person and so was Eddie uncle. The sight of the young sun emerging from the east, the crows crowing their way out of their nests , meeting the newspaper uncle ( paper saibr) on the way to church, the aroma of fresh strong coffee emanating from Kini maam's hotel, the chirping of birds, the sight of Jayantakka and Paddhu taking milk to the dairy, my granny doing her early morning rounds of the fields. All of these things were so good and I believe we were lucky to have experienced this kind of life in the recent past. Yes, recent past about 10 to 15 years ago seems to be a different era altogether. Doesn't it ?

Looking at my sad face after the early morning service, Eddie uncle offered to take me to Kini maam's hotel, right across the church. He usually never does it and hence I grabbed the offer.

" What happened to you today?". Eddie uncle was earnest in his enquiry.

" Nothing Eddie uncle. Was just remembering the good old days when mum used to bring us to church and it was so pleasant then. It has all changed now "

" What has changed?". Eddie uncle knew exactly what I was thinking.

" Oh c'mon. You know what I am thinking". I did not want to put a voice behind the thousand thoughts running in my head.

I did not say a word. Sensing the silence, Eddie uncle quipped. " Don't worry about the past. Bygones are bygones. There is an excellent seminar today organized by a young group who call themselves THREE INVESTEERS"

As I heard the name Investment, I was all ears. So is half the world, except two kind of people- the ultra rich and the poor. All that people like me and Eddie uncle, who are in the middle class, trying to reach the upper middle class do is, to invest in some bonds, stocks, FD's , properties to cover us for the so called old age.

" What time ?"

" It's a lunch on seminar and the entry is 500 rupees. You need to pay for me too".

" Ok come. I will return your favor of coffee with a 500 rupee seminar". I replied sarcastically.

We set out for the seminar and it was packed house. I have never seen so many young people at one place in my life. Eddie uncle was the only old man present at the gathering.

The seminar was conducted by three young people in their mid thirties- two ladies and a gentleman. Lunch was organized at the table as the dynamic trio spoke about debentures, bonds , security bundles, real estate, start up investment, and many more jargons which went over our heads , ricocheted off the wall and again, flew over our heads.

" Eddie uncle, don't you think you are a little late for this seminar". I jokingly whispered over to him.

" It is never late for anything mate". His replies were always quick. The Q and A session began. Everyone in the room, about 500 youngsters had a question to ask.

" What about Stock markets. Is it a good option to invest in them"- the first question. " It is a high risk investment, but if you are smart and are looking at the stock market closely, it is definitely a good opportunity". Investeers knew their stuff well.

" How about investments in national banks in forms of FD". I asked. Everyone laughed. The lady answered me. " That is not a risky investment at all , to be honest it isn't a investment at all. We are talking about high yielding financial vehicles. But if you want to earn less , yes put your money in an FD". I wasn't amused at all. The session went for another half an hour.

The trio whose answers were highly satisfactory to the crowd, were given an applause by the young crowd.

" I see an old man in this gathering. We should learn something from him today. Uncle, tell us about your investments. I am sure, in your days , there wasn't much to invest and also there weren't so many vehicles to invest. Where does all your money lie uncle". The same lady who replied bluntly to me was now trying to get onto Eddie Uncle’s nerves.

Eddie uncle never likes to be cornered and just doesn't like it when some people try to go overboard with their knowledge.

He began his speech . " Ha Ha. All my money lies under the ground ". There was pin drop silence in the auditorium, not even the cutlery dared to clink against each other. " Shocked". Eddie uncle was at his dramatic best. It had been a long time since I had seen Eddie uncle’s theatric side.

" I have no money in the bank. I live on the money my children send to me every month. I don't have any investments in the misleading , non understandable mutual funds, I don't have any of my money roaming around the world as a document churned out of some unrecoverable liability of some poor man in the US, and yet I am proud to say that I have invested in my future, in our future". There was a strange authority in what he just said.

One of the so called three investeers quipped " Have you buried all your money?".

" I thought you were a clever lady, but you have turned out to be just as stupid as the rest of the 500". There was a scary buzz around the auditorium. Eddie uncle was putting a brave show. I remembered the gospel reading that morning, something about the holy the spirit coming upon the apostles and I wondered whether the same spirit was now upon Eddie uncle. He was going to show to the world today the difference between greed and investment. Watching all this drama unfold before me, I was a little too scared about what may happen next.

"Why don't you explain your so called money under the ground". The lady was never going to give up so easily. I could see she was agitated at being called stupid.

" I have farms from which I satisfy my hunger and I plant a tree every day in one of the lands I had purchased long time ago. It has grown into a beautiful forest. You should all come and visit it". Eddie uncle's face had a proud glow when he spoke about his forest. I have personally seen it and I must say, it is amazing.

" What the hell, old man. We are talking about money here , not about your stupid farm and forest. Please leave the room, before we ask the security to come in". One of the three investeers was livid.

"Wait. We need to listen to his philosophy". There was a shout from the back.

"Yes . We want to listen to the gentleman speak". The crowd was slowly siding up with my old man.

" Let him go to the stage and speak on the microphone". I shouted at the top of my voice. Mob mentality at its best.

Someone pushed a microphone into Eddie uncle’s hands. Eddie uncle began, one of his famous speeches. Martin Luther King Jr would have been proud of the old man , if he were alive.

" Isn't it ironic that the seminar's name is Invest in your future, when everyone sitting here in this gathering doesn't know what kind of future we have tomorrow. Have you noticed an increase in the number of natural calamities - like excessive heat during summers, excessive rains during monsoons, winter has almost vanished from the Indian seasons ?". There was a loud chorus of yes from the crowd. Eddie uncle continued " Why do you think such things are happening?".

" Climate change". There was one more coordinated effort from the crowd, who by now had forgotten everything about the investments and were in rapt concentration listening and anticipating a thunderous content and conclusion to the speech.

" OH yea. Smart people or not so smart people. I asked Why do you think such things are happening?".

" Globally temperature of the earth has increased due to various reasons such as fossil fuels, deforestation etc". One of the three investeers also was caught up in the action.

" Yes, exactly. We are all a part of the cause. We don't believe in some things, until they happen to us. Climate change is real and it is happening in our own backyard. Unless we do something now, all your money invested in real estate and bonds is going to be of no use to you. The only beneficiaries are the three investeers with big fat commission cheques " Eddie uncle smiled at the more arrogant investeers and steered the talks to the topic of discussion- INVESTMENT. " SO how do you think you can invest in future?"

" Maybe plant a tree and water it for a lifetime and assume my future is going to be secure" snapped the agitated investeer , who was earlier rebuked by Eddie uncle.

Eddie uncle was patient " Well, you are right finally. Do you guys and girls know how much of carbon dioxide is generated by your own activities ? Do you know cities like Bangalore and Mangalore are going to be dead in a few years. There is absolutely no land available to do anything worthwhile. Wherever you go, you will find a tall structure on top of it, you will have your dream penthouse and of course you will do your bit by keeping a pot in your balcony". Eddie uncle’s face showed signs of exasperation as he was passionately involved in his own words now.

He continued "What about Nature. What about Earth. Don't you want your kids, to live a life in that same penthouse you have put all your life savings into. I am not saying don't buy the house. Buy it by all your means. But in the meantime, try to reduce the damage you cause to the environment and try to do something more on behalf of those who don't do anything". Eddie uncle was looking straight at the angry investeer . " Don't over indulge into investment plans. Save enough for a comfortable retirement. Invest in solar, geo thermal , bio fuel energy companies. You know there are securities and funds which are socially responsible. Venture into those mutual funds, at least you know where your money is , unlike the stupid bonds and funds the bankers bundle your money into. There are countries like Bhutan who are carbon negative, due to the extensive investments into their forest land. Why can't you guys do your backyard into a Bhutan. I am doing it and so can you. There is no rocket science in it. You just need to sow a seed. It is that simple".

" Uncle, where is space in a crowded metropolitan city like ours"

" Son, where there is a will, there is a way". I ll show you a video. He pulled his phone and showed them a video of an Indian , whose company is specialized in converting spaces as small as parking spaces into forest with 300 to 400 trees. " If you can't plant anything, that's ok. Do your bit, by switching off the conference room lights, bathroom lights when they are not in use. Share vehicles with your colleagues, use public transport, shop locally thus reducing carbon emissions due the entire supply chain. Invest in solar energy providers where you can provide power to the grid and also make money"

There was a thunderous applause from the gathering. " Uncle, we learnt something today".

" Put your money into conserving the climate. That is the best you can do right now to enjoy a better future". Eddie uncle concluded.
On our way back I asked him " Eddie uncle. I did not know you were this passionate about climate change and where the hell did you learn about all those financial jargons".

" You younger generation are too self indulged in your own selfish ways Anil. All you think about is I , me myself and nothing else. I thank god that my days are numbered . It would be a terrible experience living with selfish people like you . Have you ever asked me what I did for a living ?". Eddie uncle was serious.

I was ashamed of myself and guilty of being self centered. I had not even thought that the older generation can be much more qualified than us. I had no more words to speak. I bade him good bye and returned home .