Interpreter of Maladies
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Rising small town middle classThis was the title of a special news feature Times Now did a few days back. This traces back its inspiration and origin to the increasing success of people from tier 2, 3 cities in singing competitions, sports and movies. Most small town middle class denizens like me would react in two ways to such a news feature - 1. Feel proud and pat our backs on what individuals such as us have achieved 2. Or feel that media is again doing what it does best - using a very small sample to predict a larger trend.
So what, if a Dhoni captains a 20-20 cricket team, a Poonam Yadav stands to win a singing competition or an Ankita (even with a broken and hoarse voice) is one of the favorites to win the third Indian Idol. What does the rise to glory of a Sania Mirza denotes? Is it actually a larger trend? Are the Kanpurs, Lucknows, Bareilys, Gunturs, Jodhpurs, Ahmedabads, Patnas and their similar cousins are on the steady path of conquest over their wealthier and well-to-do Delhis, Mumbais and such as. Even in the face of Euphoria, I beg to disagree. I would believe that fate of many like us have changed when things have changed fundamentally. Opening multiplexes in tier 2 cities and entry of hyper retail in smaller towns does not indicate an awakening of the small town middle class. It only means cashing out on the consumerist tendencies of the middle class. An awakened small town middle class should indicate something bigger. Are people in these cities better educated today? Do they have similar career opportunities? Have infrastructure and facilities got a facelift? Does it make any difference for a Delhite to shift to a Lucknow? Should he stop getting concerned about eve teasing, potholes on the road, bribery to get gas connections and phone lines and illegal construction around his house? I am not confusing social and political issues. I am merely denoting that the mentality of people in small cities is still the same. There has been no major change there. What is happening is a shrouding of the new by the old. So yes, there are potholes and stinking drains in your small town but you won't notice it coz there is a shining Big Bazar right on the same street which can actually blind you to the realities of the city itself.
What we need to question is how to connect the economic interests of the private sector with the developmental needs of the small cities? Why should we not place a liability on the private sector to target total development and not part out with our cash until they do so?
Until then, an Ankita after becoming Indian Idol will not go back to Kanpur. She will just settle down in a Mumbai/Delhi and bless her fortunes that she got an opportunity to walk out a long foregone place.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Airports and AirplanesSince I have had enough exposure of the two, I can qualify to be suitably accomplished to write this. Life in consulting is spend primarily in commuting. Whether it be commuting within cities or from the airport to the client site. I would have taken close to 25 flights in the last two months that I have been working. Here is a simple what works/what doesn't on the two major carriers:
Jet Airways
Nice staff - both the steward and stewardesses are sure of how to react to quirky enquiries of passengers. For example, if they run out of pillows and blankets, they will actually adjust the temperature of the AC to suit you !!
Food: I find the Jet food sumptious and healthy. Although it lacks variety !!
Comfort: Although the seats are no good at ergonomics, but the blanket and the pillow more than makes up for the poor seats. The blankets are worth a steal !!
Time: Jet has started faring poorly on this ever and ever again. They are hardly on time anytime. Baggage collection is a mess and check in counters are becoming less informative day by day.
Kingfisher
Big plus: On time !! The promise is lived up to the nth second. I have never sat on a Kingfisher flight that is more than 30 min late. The terminal arrangements and clearing on runways that they have ensured is quite awesome. Hats off, Vijay Mallya.
Food: Very innovative - giving a menu before serving the food. That's very nice. Makes you await the food.
Service: The airport luggage pickup service is quite impressive. They actually locate you, get your bags, make it run fast through screening and get you checked in, before you could count 10.
What does not work is poor blankets. Your airline is red but that does not really mean that you give red teddy bear felt blankets to someone who is traveling on business !! Some business sense is required there.
Airports are quite a different creature to talk about. So here is the lowdown:
1. Delhi: Messy, unorganized and too crowded for comfort. Is the government listening ?? Security check queues have been seen to extend out of the airport. Is this our national capital or what?
2. Mumbai: Ooh la la..what an airport. The new terminal rocks. I mean, it made me forget Frankfurt and Heathrow for a second. What they need to improve on the airport is the arrival section. Faster baggage collection and a little more maintenance on the arrival lounge will truly make it the best airport in the country.
3. Chennai: The less said the better it is. The loos hail from 19th century. The toilets leak. The place is so small that arrival and departure are arm's length away from each other. All airline counters are huddled like mom and pop stores on a narrow lane. The security is lip service..nothing more.
4. Kolkata: Would give it better points than Chennai and in some cases may be better than Delhi too. Why Kolkata scores is simple. The arrival lounge is big and spacious. It is also well maintained and airline counters are spread across the floor. Baggage collection could be improved a little and something could be done to make approach roads to the airport better and less congested.
I am sure, most of you would find this post a tiff boring but I don't blame you. It's my life that has become boring. Would try to spice up things real soon.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Back !!Its strange that I had stopped writing totally and completely. Specifically, when I relate to this small space online more than I do with anything else. So what have I done since the last post. Frankly speaking nothing much. When we talked last, it was April and I had just graduated. Its 1st August today. Significantly,
1. I have joined work. I work out of Gurgaon. Go to Mumbai sometime.
2. I have a place of my own in Gurgaon. Its a small flat. I share it with a collegemate and we have loads of fun together.
3. I spend the holidays wasting and whiling away time. I taught some MBA aspirants on communication and presence. Did some NGO work for an organization. But that's about it :)
All that I have is lots of update on is my job and the city of Mumbai. Its useless to write about Gurgaon..seriously. Will write something soooner and that's a promise.