Nithin Kamath, the CEO of Zerodha, recently shared a heartwarming story on his LinkedIn profile about his father-in-law, who runs a small grocery shop in Belgaum, Karnataka. Kamath's father-in-law started the shop after taking voluntary retirement from the Indian Army following an injury sustained during the Kargil War that cost him his fingers.
Despite his age, Kamath's father-in-law regularly goes to the local market on his decades-old scooter for the specially-abled to buy groceries for the shop. He runs the shop with the help of his wife and refuses to stop working even with the success that Kamath and his wife Seema have achieved.
Kamath wrote that he never saw his father-in-law complaining about losing his fingers in the war. Instead, he learned from him that being content is the only way to true freedom. His father-in-law never complains and is always content with what he has. He is the best example of how money can't buy true happiness.
Kamath added that his father-in-law's passion for his work is still alive, as he talks about margins for various products in the shop. The father-in-law speaks about a 25 percent margin on chikkis, buying a box at Rs 200 and selling them individually for Rs 250.
The Zerodha CEO also shared that his father-in-law encouraged him to get a government job when Kamath asked for permission to marry his daughter in 2007. Kamath was still struggling back then, but his father-in-law's encouragement pushed him to keep striving for success.
In conclusion, Kamath's story about his father-in-law teaches us that money cannot buy true happiness. Being content with what we have and staying active mentally and physically is the key to a good life. Kamath's father-in-law is a perfect example of someone who has achieved happiness through hard work and a positive attitude.