Noelnadesan's Blog

A.Narayanan
Editor
Paadam, Monthly Magazine in Tamil for Development Politics

http://www.paadam-pm.blogspot.com

Today, in the age of information overflow and constant advocacy about important issues concerning common good, the so-called educated urban middle class has opportunities to make INFORMED CHOICE, on how to go about things in a socially responsible manner. The rest of the society, the less privileged tends to ape the so-called educated middle class in all its aspirations and priorities.

But,unfortunately thanks to the constant onslaught of consumerist terrorism, due to which, interiors of homes have been turned into war zones of super markets, the only ideology of the society has become unabashed conspicuous consumption. So, today, most of the americanised urban neo-rich Indian middle class parents and their irresponsibly pampered children know only to BUY AND CONSUME and USE AND THROW.

Even 20 years ago, the middle class hesitated, bargained and budgeted before spending on things. Today in this age of globalized privatized and liberalized market economy, there is no budget, no bargain, no hesitation for the neo-rich Indian middle class, who have tasted (well deserved??) immense success. Hence, they are no more citizens. They are pure consumers. Their only bloody mission is ‘EAT, PRAY AND S_ _T’. Of course, they pray for more money, more goods and more variety. Thanks to Walmart or other desi versions, their prayer will be answered soon. They will be spoiled for choice. These people have been brain-washed by the Market gurus through constant bombarding of advertisement, to shop more,to buy more, to eat more and of course to TRASH MORE. The more, the merrier. The rest of society naturally follows the urban neo-rich.

Their kids learn very quickly at so tender age about USE AND THROW. The children know that they are a privileged lot. You can call them, the apartment prince and princess. They are privileged to enjoy bashes, be it their birthday or Diwali. They go full blast. A Birthday celebration is not small matter for these kids. They are elaborately planned and meticulously executed.

Environment, pollution, sustainability,global warming, equity, child labour, justice, fair play, human rights, empathy, thoughtfulness. To a class and caste conscious urban India’s middle class well secured in their cocooned tiny world, these are meaningless noises that are totally disconnected to their Today’s well-earned(???) SUCCESS. They don’t want to disturbed from their TODAY. Tomorrow is some one’s job. May be it is the politicians’ job.

Here below, you can see a classic example of a meaningless dance of wanton urban environmental mayhem, an aftermath of a night of high decibel, full blasted urban orgy of diwali celebration. Of course, the blasters know, the place will be spic and span, the day after. Thanks to the thankless job of low paid servants. In middle class apartment jargon, these sweepers are now-a-days, nicely nick-named in americanised English as ‘Housing keeping staff’. Yes, a dozen of those dependable sweeper women, cleaned out any trace of the mayhem through back breaking sweeping at feverish pitch.

Yet, the sweepers not only earned their lowly wages, but also got a free handsome bonus, yes, a strong deposit of oxides of copper, cadmium, lead, magnesium, sodium, zinc, nitrate, etc, etc into their deep throats down up to their lungs. For most of the neo-rich urban, IT-enabled middle class, it is not only the packaging or the outdated gadget which is USE AND THROW, the less privileged too are USE AND THROW for them.

In no other country, this type of uncivil mayhem will be permitted. And in no other country, can we see such irresponsible sections of educated middle class than that of India. What a bloody shame? India may be shining, But, Is there a future for our Bharat?