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.
