We are not taught how to have a healthy, fit life: Milind Soman on India's gap

Milind Soman says India's education system and social conditioning prepare people for jobs but do little to teach them how to stay healthy and happy. Speaking at the India Today Health Wealth Conclave 2026, he called on individuals to take responsibility for understanding their bodies and building healthier habits.Milind Soman says India's education system and social conditioning prepare people for jobs but do little to teach them how to stay healthy and happy. New Delhi,Oct 30, 2026 15:31 ISTIndia teaches children how to study, find jobs and build careers. But does it teach them how to stay healthy and happy? Actor and fitness enthusiast Milind Soman thinks this is a major gap in the way society raises and educates people.“We are not taught how to have a healthy, fit life. Nobody is teaching us,” Soman said at the India Today Health Wealth Conclave 2026.“We are only taught how to get a job and how to sit in the office. That is what we are taught as a society. This is what we focus on.”He was responding to a retired defence officer from the audeince who spoke about how difficult it was to unlearn the idea that physical activity was not part of an officer's life. Soman said the problem went beyond one profession. HEALTH AND HAPPINESS ARE NOT TAUGHT“What are the two most important things in life? Health and happiness. Who teaches you? Nobody,” Soman said.He pointed out that neither schools nor homes necessarily teach people how to understand health and happiness. Ultimately, he said, it becomes an individual's responsibility to learn what they mean and how to work towards them. The conversation also turned to the difficulty working professionals face in making time for fitness. Soman argued that it was less about time and more about choice.His advice was to start small rather than wait for the perfect workout routine. He said he exercises for around 10 minutes a day, often breaking that time into short bursts of movement.FITNESS DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN THE GYMSoman's 87-year-old mother, Usha Soman, and his wife, Ankita Konwar, joined him on stage. Usha spoke about how everyday life once involved more physical activity, before lifts, escalators and household technology reduced the need to move.Soman said people do not necessarily need a gym or a demanding exercise schedule to stay fit. They need to remain active and understand what works for their bodies.“The key to health and fitness and even happiness is self-awareness,” he said, urging people to listen to their bodies rather than depend entirely on fitness gadgets.- Ends