The Great Indian Middle Class

Middle Class... what is that supposed to mean? It does not mean poor, most certainly not rich. It is somewhere in between. But there is a vast difference between the middle class of the past and now.

In the past when we were kids, majority of us knew we were middle class, and we had specific materialistic things by which we used to differentiate between us and The Business Class. Like outside dinners were only limited to birthdays and anniversaries.   Movies were rare, gifts were only occasional. But it does not mean we were not satisfied, we were not happy. Rather those rare occasions were more cherished. Like the first bicycle, the summer vacation video games. That was the old middle class.

With the new youth came the new middle class. The gap between the business class and middle class reduced. Yes the rich were still rich the poor were still poor, but the middle class got better, lifestyle improved so did the salaries. But this created a divide as well, the lower and upper middle class. The lower were pushed lower, they were pretty much were like the old middle class. The upper middle class though has changed they go to movies everytime and spend more on popcorn then the movie, eat out almost every day. But the question still was the same... Are we happy? Are we satisfied? I can go to  a mall buy anything just because I could, but in my mind I am still the old middle class guy, I would rather prefer getting things I wanted from long out of the blue. Would rather shop when there is a discount. Would crib when the prices rise, even though that amount doesn't affect our budget at all. It's that paranoia, that mentality.

32% of India is urban. The middle class is going to be around 27 cr in a few years. You, me are going to be a part of it. We are the ones they refer when people say Mango people in a Banana Republic. Are we satisfied? No.. Do we want change? Yes... but my friends my question... Will the change be for the better? I am not so sure. It's a choice between a snake and a tiger.

The Great Indian Middle Class will continue to thrive, there is no other way.

Fake Citizen.