A questioner, who lives in the US, expresses her shock at the high levels of air pollution in Delhi and the apparent lack of concern among the people about their fundamental right to clean air. She notes the drastic difference in the Air Quality Index (AQI) between her city and Delhi, which has caused her physical discomfort. Acharya Prashant begins by acknowledging the severity of the air pollution in Delhi, stating that while the AQI figures might differ due to measurement scales, they are indeed dangerously high, often reaching 400-700. He explains that the reason for the public's lack of awareness and protest is that the consequences are not immediate. People are not dying instantly; instead, their lifespan is being reduced by 10-15 years, a future problem that doesn't provoke an immediate reaction. He attributes this to a fundamental flaw in people's upbringing and education, which fails to teach them what is truly valuable in life. He elaborates that people are conditioned by a consumerist and capitalist culture. If offered a large sum of money to live in a highly polluted environment that would shorten their life by five years, many would accept it. Their idea of a good life is defined by material wealth, a large house, and being the sole heir. This materialistic mindset extends to relationships, where a partner is sought for physical enjoyment. This consumerist ideology, he argues, is taught to make people unconscious consumers, brainwashed into believing that buying goods is the path to a good life. Acharya Prashant connects this consumerist culture directly to the high AQI. The pollution is a byproduct of the production required to meet these manufactured desires. The manufacturer pollutes the earth to create products, and the consumer, indoctrinated to equate consumption with happiness, does not object. He contrasts this with non-consumptive ways of finding joy, such as reading, dancing, or engaging in deep conversations, which are not part of the mainstream culture. The problem, he concludes, is a lack of proper education and spiritual understanding, which has fostered a society that prioritizes immediate material gratification over long-term health and well-being.