For us to be alive, we need food, water and air. We also need clothes and shelter, which keep us safe from heat, cold wind and rain. Food, water, air clothes and shelter are call basic needs. But, sometimes,  need can turn into wants. A want is something that is extra or in excess of a need. It is not required to maintain or sustain life.

 While there are only a few limited needs, wants can be endless. For example, we can be happy and healthy with a simple diet of rice, lentils and vegetables. This is all we need to stay alive. By contrast, rich foods, fast food and snacks are all wants. We can do without them.

 Similarly, owning a few simple and practical cloths is a necessary. But a cupboard full of clothes is a necessity. But a cupboard full of clothes it represents a want. We can live quite well without rich food, expensive clothes and luxurious houses, jewelry, cars or television. It is much easier to stay healthy and happy when we lead simple life.

 So for, we have only spoken of physical needs that keep us alive. But, as humans, we also have minds that can think, create, remember, analyze and be conscious. To work to its fullest capacity, our mind too has certain needs.

 Education is one such need. It teaches us many things about the world. It teaches us how to read, write and calculated. Education teaches us to think logically and independently. It makes us grow aware or become conscious. Education gives us discipline, and prepares us for a full, happy, creative and productive life.

 Our minds also need to be engaged in doing some useful work throughout our life. This helps us not only to earn a living but also to spend our time gainfully. When we are creative and productive, our mind grows to its fullest extent.

 As humans, we also need to belong to a community. We are happy when we have friends and family. It gives us a sense of belonging and security. At the same time, we also need solitude or time alone. Solitude allows us to think about who are and we want to do with our life. A healthy mind needs periods of quiet, and closeness to nature.

In ancient times, human lived close to nature. They grew their own food. The water they drank was clean, and air was fresh.

Today, very few of us grow our own food. We depend on others for it, and sometimes our food is grown in unhealthy conditions. Good drinking water and fresh air are also a scarcity. In many places, people walk for long distance to fetch water. The air we breathe today is highly polluted with factory and automobile smoke. Many people do not have proper food, houses or clothes. Thus, people’s basic needs are not being met in many parts of the world.

There are several reasons why this is so. Chief among them is overpopulation or too many people. When there are so many people in the world, it is difficult for everyone’s basic needs to be met.

The earth’s natural resources such as air, water and soil are not endless and unlimited. They are shrinking all the time because of the pollution caused by human greed, carelessness and lack of common sense. When we exploit, misuse or overuse the earth’s natural resources to feed our endless wants, we endanger the very source of our basic needs.

There is another important reason why basic needs are not met in many parts of the world. This is because of the confusion in people’s minds between needs and wants.

 For instance, there are many people in our country who do not get one square meal a day but own a television. This is where education plays a very important role. It is education which helps us distinguish between needs and wants.