You Only Live Once, But Once Is Enough — If You Don’t Waste It
In India today, “You Only Live Once” isn’t wisdom — it’s an excuse. People use it to buy luxury cars on loans, throw obscene weddings, or flex on Instagram with rented clothes. That’s not “living once.” That’s living empty.
The real line is this: You only live once, but if you live it right, once is enough. And “right” doesn’t mean ego, arrogance, or selfies. It means service, simplicity, and impact.
Today’s India: Flash vs Substance
Here’s how the scoreboard looks right now — and it’s ugly:
| Arrogant, Flashy, Ego-Driven (Still Alive) | Humble, Cause-Driven (Still Alive) |
|---|---|
| Vijay Mallya – Still hiding abroad, remembered as a fugitive billionaire. | Ratan Tata – No mansion lifestyle, no heirs to flaunt. Yet worshipped by India’s youth for humility and integrity. |
| Lalit Modi – Tweets from exile, desperate for relevance. IPL legacy overshadowed by arrogance. | Sudha Murty – Travels economy, wears ₹500 sarees, quietly donates crores. Respected more than most ministers. |
| Subrata Roy (till his death) – Once owned luxury jets, now remembered for Sahara scams. | E. Sreedharan – The “Metro Man.” Still alive, still humble, his work carries crores of Indians daily. |
| Bollywood egos – Stars flaunt mansions and jets, but their arrogance leaks in interviews. Fans clap for their films, not their humanity. | Rajinikanth – Despite stardom, lives simply, generous in charity, worshipped as much for humility as for cinema. |
| Cricket divas – Some cricketers flaunt watches worth crores while whining about sponsorships. | MS Dhoni – Lives in Ranchi, keeps a simple life, respected not just for cricket but his grounded nature. |
| Politicians with convoys and arrogance – Traffic stopped, red beacons shining, “VIP culture” alive. |
O. Rajagopal (BJP leader, Kerala – senior statesman)Known for a frugal lifestyle, even when holding ministerial roles. |
The Brutal Truth
Look carefully: wealth and fame don’t guarantee respect. Humility and service do.
Ratan Tata doesn’t throw Ambani-style weddings, yet his name is gold. Sudha Murty doesn’t flaunt Gucci, yet the nation bows to her. Dhoni doesn’t scream for attention, yet he is still loved more than younger cricketers with bigger brand deals.
Meanwhile, arrogant Bollywood stars and over-hyped cricketers live in bubbles. Politicians strut in convoys while people curse them in silence. Their “legacy”? Forgettable scandals.
The Legacy Test
Ask yourself today:
- If you died tomorrow, would people say “He had a Rolex and an attitude”?
- Or “She lived simply and changed lives”?
Because society won’t remember your Instagram stories. It will remember your story.
Once Is Enough — If You Choose Right
Living once isn’t about parties, jets, or Instagram reels. It’s about whether your name becomes a curse, or a blessing, after you’re gone.
So strip the arrogance. Drop the ego. Build something. Serve someone. Help society breathe a little easier because you lived.
Because one life, done right, is enough to echo for centuries. One life, wasted, is just another arrogant footnote.
🔥 Final Word: In today’s India, arrogant celebrities, tycoons, and politicians are busy buying headlines. Humble icons are busy buying immortality. Which side are you on?
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Hi, I’m Nishanth Muraleedharan (also known as Nishani)—an IT engineer turned internet entrepreneur with 25+ years in the textile industry. As the Founder & CEO of "DMZ International Imports & Exports" and President & Chairperson of the "Save Handloom Foundation", I’m committed to reviving India’s handloom heritage by empowering artisans through sustainable practices and advanced technologies like Blockchain, AI, AR & VR. I write what I love to read—thought-provoking, purposeful, and rooted in impact. nishani.in is not just a blog — it's a mark, a sign, a symbol, an impression of the naked truth. Like what you read? Buy me a chai and keep the ideas brewing. ☕💭 For advertising on any of our platforms, WhatsApp me on : +91-91-0950-0950 or email me @ support@dmzinternational.com
