The point of this blog entry is to elicit the emerging tale of two Indias - the India of "haves" and the India that belongs to "have nots." If this sounds to you like the repetition of the slogan "Two Americas" from John Edwards' campaign, you are correct! Every time I visit India I do see these two Indias. Some of my rich friends easily spend thousands of Rupees for just one meal. The same amount is the monthly wage for a lot of people (probably for the the majority in India).
When wages and earnings structure is so lopsided that the rich get richer and the poor either stay poor or get poorer, it is not good for the economy. It is not good for the nation.
BBC featured an article that draws our attention to this tale of two Indias. Tanya Kapadia, the newly rich woman, a PR executive apparently didn't blink buying a pair of designer boots for $1500 (I think the reporter did say $1500, not rupees).
I did some sleuthing to find out what those expensive footwear could look like. These boots (on the right) cost $885 at Macy's. Whatever she bought, it is nearly 70% more expensive than these $885 shoes. Quite honestly, it is the good looking women in these shoes , not just the shoes, appeal to the senses of men - all men. So, is the appeal for her here just fashion? One might wonder, heck even the US Secretary of State, Condy Rice is obsessed with fancy shoes even New Orleans was drowning and what a 28-year old hip Bombay executive to do? OK - I lose this round.
Here is an excerpt from the BBC article:
From a nation of savers, India is quickly turning into a nation of
spenders, leaving behind the austere, simple lifestyle of
pre-liberalised India, when spending was seen as unclassy.
This new generation of Indians is enamoured by brand names, empowered
by soaring stock markets and embracing the new culture of conspicuous
consumption.
But this is still largely the privilege of the wealthy. The change in
attitudes towards spending here is certainly a generational one, but
it's not being seen across all segments of Indian society.
Now, let's go to the India of "have nots." The same BBC Article mentions Zubeida Shadadpuri. Another excerpt from the article:
Zubeida Shadadpuri, like millions of Indians, barely makes enough to
feed her large family.
While incomes have risen in India, so have the prices of essential
goods such as food, putting even more of a burden on the backs of the
poor.
Out on her weekly shopping trip for fruits and vegetables, Zubeida
tells me that life for ordinary people in India is just becoming
tougher and tougher.
"The rich may be getting richer, but for us, the poor, life here is a
daily battle," she says picking up her weekly supply of vegetables.
"We end up spending more than what we earn - and it's not enough to
keep our homes running."
This is the story of India: a tale of two nations. Conspicuous
consumption and utter destitution live side by side here.
[ add comment ] ( 1 view ) | permalink | related link |
( 2.7 / 13 )
Calendar
