bhaskar saikia

Morality is the way we want the world to run but economics is the branch that documents the actual way the world works. And somewhere between this ideal and reality lies a world choked with problems—both grand and ordinary. There is water scarcity, environmental degradation, climate uncertainty, corruption, economic downturns, unemployment, the widening gap between the rich and poor, tragic disasters, and the troubling geopolitics of territory and power.

Even if the average person manages to ignore the macro-level chaos, they still face everyday challenges: the rising cost of living, or what we’ve rather unpoetically termed inflation. Add to that the social complications—crime, prejudice, racial divides, and the constant pressure to conform. Many feel compelled to buy things they can’t afford on monthly installments, like cars they can barely drive on congested roads, with high fuel prices bleeding them dry. Amidst all this pandemonium, the common person is caught in a relentless cycle—disconnected from their own purpose.

And yet, there are a few who step away from the crowd. They dare to ponder questions beyond daily survival. They pursue personal excellence, and they probe deeper problems—not just match-fixing or lost opportunities, but espionage, inconsistencies in history, or failed inventions. Some go even further, exploring the outer edges of belief: government cover-ups, paranormal encounters, or possible alien contact.

History shows us that our obsession with problems is nothing new. Ancient societies were riddled with them too. One curious example comes from Antinopolis, a Roman city in ancient Egypt. When scholars discovered records from the city in the late 19th century, they found documentation of a wrestling match held in 267 AD (or CE) that was deliberately fixed—making it the earliest known incident of sporting manipulation. It serves as a reminder that even the problems we think are modern have roots stretching far into antiquity.

Let us now fast-forward to modern England. In the summer of 2005, the Australian cricket team stayed at Lumley Castle in Durham—built in 1388 by Sir Ralph Lumley. Legend holds that the castle is haunted by the ghost of his wife, Lily Lumley, who was murdered for not following the dominant faith. During that tour, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was reportedly so frightened by a supernatural encounter that he fled his room and spent the night sleeping on the floor of a teammate’s room. The team’s media officer confirmed that several players were visibly disturbed. A similar haunting was reported in 2000 when West Indies cricketers, including their captain Jimmy Adams, abruptly checked out of the same hotel. Whether or not ghosts exist, the psychological toll on the players was real—enough to impact their performance.

From ghosts to aliens, our fascination with the unknown is boundless. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan famously speculated on the idea of an alien invasion in a speech to the United Nations in 1987. He said:

“In our obsession with antagonisms of the moment, we often forget how much unites all the members of humanity. Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond. I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world.”

Ronald Regan speech to the United Nations General Assembly, 42^nd General Assembly, September 21, 1987

So why write about all of this—ancient frauds, haunted castles, alien threats? The point is simple: our world is full of distractions. Every day, we are pulled away from what truly matters. We complain about inflation, politics, or the fuel price, but rarely work towards the one thing that could liberate us—financial freedom, or more deeply, freedom of the self.

We spend countless hours debating ghosts, gods, and extraterrestrials—questions that rarely reach consensus. Instead, perhaps we should travel, explore, and experience the world firsthand. Not just to prove or disprove theories, but to understand life more deeply. Because while it’s easy to be swept into the whirlwind of problems, it’s far harder—and far more worthwhile—to focus on our dreams, our purpose, and our own evolution.

In a world that constantly demands your attention, the most rebellious thing you can do is to focus on what truly matters to you.