At dawn, the ghats of Varanasi shimmer with chants and rising smoke. The Ganga flows with calm indifference, carrying centuries of human stories in her waters. Pilgrims bow, students rush to classes, vendors prepare their stalls. Life moves, as it always has.
And yet, across our cities, another current flows — the restless vibration of loan reminders, the silent shame of overdue bills, the heavy weight of credit card debt. If you’ve ever lain awake calculating EMIs, you know this current.
In India, debt is not just financial. It is karmic. Our scriptures call it rin — a bond, a rope that ties the soul. Manusmriti even speaks of three debts we all carry at birth — to our ancestors, to our teachers, and to the gods. Those are noble debts, meant to be honoured. But financial debt? That is different. It saps prana, drains presence, and makes even a festival meal taste of guilt.
The first step to freedom is not calculation. It is acceptance. To sit with yourself and say:
🙏 Yes, I am in debt. This is my reality. And I will free myself with dignity.
Step 1. Stop the Bleeding
If you are trapped in credit card debt, the worst thing you can do is keep swiping. Switch to cash or debit. Pause all unnecessary expenses — the subscription you forgot about, the gym you never visit, the second coffee you don’t need. Each cut is a thread untied from the bondage.
Step 2. Face the Numbers
Most people avoid looking directly at their debt. But in India, we know the power of darshan — to see clearly. Without darshan, there is no moksha.
Write it all down:
- Credit Card – ₹50,000 @ 36%
- Personal Loan – ₹1,20,000 @ 14%
- Friend’s hand-loan – ₹20,000, no interest
The act of writing is powerful. It turns a fog into a form, fear into clarity.
Step 3. Choose Your Path: Snowball or Avalanche
Now decide your repayment strategy.
- Snowball Method (मानसिक शांति): Pay off the smallest loan first. The joy of crossing out a debt gives momentum.
- Avalanche Method (गणितीय बुद्धि): Pay the highest-interest loan first. This saves you the most money long-term.
Both work. The method matters less than the commitment. Pick one, and walk it fully.
Step 4. Speak with Your Lender
In our culture, we often hesitate to discuss money openly. But banks are not demons; they are institutions. Call them. Ask for:
- A lower interest rate.
- Restructuring of your EMI.
- A balance transfer to a cheaper card.
One honest conversation can sometimes save you thousands.
Step 5. Earn Extra, The Indian Way
Cutting expenses helps, but earning more accelerates. Even ₹5,000 extra each month can shave months off your debt journey.
- Freelancing with AI: writing, design, translation.
- Tutoring: English, coding, yoga, or school subjects.
- Selling unused items: old phones, furniture, books.
Every rupee you channel towards repayment is not just money — it is freedom purchased.
A Daily Ritual for Presence
Getting out of debt is not only about numbers; it is also an inner practice. Each morning, sit quietly with a notebook. Write:
- What one financial action will I take today?
(Transfer ₹2,000, cancel a subscription, call the bank.) - Am I spending in alignment with my dharma, or out of impulse?
Five minutes daily can anchor your entire financial journey in awareness.
Walking Towards Freedom
Debt is not your destiny. Grace is.
As the Ganga washes away yesterday’s sins, so can your actions wash away today’s burdens. Each payment you make is not just reducing a number — it is reclaiming dignity, confidence, and presence.
When you walk free of debt, you don’t just save money. You save your mind. And with a clear mind, you are ready for the next step — not just earning, but earning sacredly.
Debt is bondage. Freedom is dharma. Choose your path.
Sacred Earning: The Indian Way is not about hoarding wealth. It is about relating to money with reverence, clarity, and purpose, as Lakshmi. This is only the first step: liberation from bondage. The journey continues — into abundance, generosity, and the rituals of wealth.