Calm over Kaam

There is something special about some mentors—they teach the greatest lessons in life very casually, often over chai and pakoras. 

On one such evening, I was with one of my professors, a dear friend and mentor, and his family on the terrace of his house. The place they fondly called “Vrindavan.” And truly, it felt like a beautiful, peaceful haven far away from the chaos of the city. You could hear birds chirping, and lush greenery surrounded us.

In the officers’ colony of the Armed Forces Medical College, one colorful object stood out from the rest—a hand-painted earthen pot with the words “Calm more than Kaam.” As sir pointed to it, claiming it to be one of life’s most important teachings, I couldn’t have agreed more.

In today’s modern life, we often let the small, ordinary moments go unnoticed. Yet, these are the most meaningful—the ones spent with friends and family, or those quiet moments of nothingness admiring nature, listening to music, or taking a walk. Over the years, I feel I’ve evolved as a person. From being anxious over little things, I’ve now added meditation and nature walks to my routine.

You can sense anxiety in a person’s posture—the frown on the brow, the hurried tone of voice. But no matter how we react, life goes on at its own pace. The truth is, we make the right decisions only when we are calm and composed.

I’ve also noticed how lifestyles differ across regions. The rat race of metropolitan cities, the pollution, traffic, and relentless workplace pressure—compared to small towns where relationships take precedence and life moves at a gentler rhythm. There’s a visible difference in levels of stress and satisfaction between professions too—the daily struggle of the labor class versus the burnout of the so-called “affluent.”

Yet, true calmness can only be achieved when it depends on one’s inner state of mind rather than external circumstances. No matter where we are, we can nurture calmness within us. It has to be practiced—like when I play soft jazz or lo-fi remixes in the evenings. One must carve out time for oneself, because at the end of the day, we are our own most important priority—beyond goals, jobs, and deadlines.

As the saying goes,

“Calmness is the cradle of power.” — Josiah Gilbert Holland

Niharika Prasad