The middle class can’t have its cake and eat it too
In societies all over the world over, it is the middle class which acts as the role model for the rest of the society. This section of the society articulates nationhood and sets an agenda for the future. In other words, the middle class is the backbone of a nation and defines its economy. The middle class explains what is good for the nation and what is bad. It protects the moral value system and plays a larger role in the civil society. This class also makes sacrifices.
The lower class and the upper class has it easy. These two classes have a different role to play. The lower class has little time to set an agenda for the nation, discuss its past or attempt to make a place for their country in the community of nations. The class struggles with basic issues of life — food, education for the children, health care, housing, etc to name a few. Despite all odds, this class does think about nation and the society it lives in but leaves these issues to be handled by the middle class. The lower class follows what the middle class does. Therefore, the middle class becomes a role model for the lower class.
The upper class is different. It will debate the best paintings of the year and ponder over the level of sophistication in the best fiction that has just been launched. It will look back into history and reflect on issues that relate to civilisations. Culture is its pet subject and so is the discussion about which nation produces the best wine. At times, the upper class draws a larger picture for the future. It gets interest in things that are often abstract in nature. The middle class as a moderator of aspirations and consciousness holds the key to future of any society. India can’t be an exception to this rule.
But, there is a problem. India’s middle class appears to be angry with everything around it and shows signs of incoherence when it comes to defining things.
let us take an example — that the upper class has bought a dream. A dream that the country will become a super power. I, too, will buy that dream but will have to be responsible in my conduct and aspirations. To be called a super power India will have its military presence all over the world. The military strength will have to be visible in air, sea and land. That requires a huge amount of money. Where from the money come fromIJ
But the middle class is unable to think or express its thoughts in a clear or orderly manner. This is because the prices of petrol, diesel and lPG have gone up after the Budget that Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented in Parliament last month.
Prices of gold are going up and has crossed Rs 32,000 for 10 gm. In 1975, 10 gm of gold was for Rs 500. But the middle class has not protested even once in all these years. Instead, the Finance Minister is forced to allow Indians to buy gold from abroad and that too tax free. When Maruti came into India and introduces the 800 model for less than a lakh, the middle class was happy. But they now see the Maruti 800 with contempt and are buying cars priced over a million or even more.
See the irony in this situation. The middle class can spend a million on buying a car and show it off to his friends with pride. But, the same man gets angry at the Government for withdrawing subsidy on lPG, diesel and petrol.
In other words, the middle class is competing with his maid, driver, car washerman when it comes to claiming benefits from the State. The only reason why the lower class needs help from the State is because the middle class wants to get all the benefits without paying the lower class for the services rendered by them. The same middle class when it migrates to either the US or the UK, they are very happy. They live there happily without their maid and driver. But, back home, the same middle class can’t live without a host of domestic help.
What is surprising is that the middle class is willing to pay a huge amount of money so that they can buy all the luxuries that are available in the market. But it doesn’t want to pay extra for the goods and services that the Government sells.
India is world’s largest importer for gold. A bulk of this goes into making ornaments that are sold for lakhs of rupees. The middle class is happy to buy gold and diamond jewellery even if it means shelling out lakhs. But the same people want to pay only Rs 300 for an lPG cylinder that is manufactured at Rs 800!
How can India turn into a super power when country’s middle class, that is the role model for the rest of the society, behaves like an upper class and turns to the State for benefits like the lower class as and when it suits itIJ The anger shown by the middle class when it comes to removal of subsidies is therefore, unjustified.