I think like acting, writing is a skill that cannot be taught. With no formal background in journalism or for that matter any thing related to literature, why should a non-entity like me take up this himalayan hobby? Well there are no easy answers.But what the heck? What matters is I enjoy writing. I enjoy posting comments on articles in newspapers & get a high when I see them published.
This is a fickle attempt at publishing one's own article & making a mark in one's own blog.(After all why should my blog be devoid of my own home-made wine)
Since i belong to typical middle-class Hindu Indian family, I thought it apt to start off with a comment about my tribe.
The Quintessential Middle Class
The drudgery & mundane-ness of an expatriate Indian cannot be more diametrically positioned than his fellow compatriot staying back in India.
I often wonder if simple pleasures of indulging in high voltage post-cricket match debate in front of a 'pan-mandir' is more exciting than
discussing a Terri Schavio court order with your numb-skull American colleague in office space. That's what an expatriate misses most.
That of being a part of the grand national conversation. Be it cricket,politics,entertainment, the middle class will always want to be a part
of that hot discussion.And god-forbid, but if the debate relates to events of his own country, there's no letting easy on passion.
13,000 miles away from your home town, a Terri Schavio can never replace your routine conversation with let's say a Shakaracharya's arrest.
The craving for Indian news & more craving for being a part of the national dialogue can lead a middle class man in an alien nation to near total reclusion, at times.
When it comes to debating & oratory we Indians are not far behind these Americans. With 24X7 news streaming into our living rooms,
the Indian middle class is as much a part of the global audience as anyone.
While it has it's own advantages, the potential pitfalls of having 24X7 news can not be overlooked.
If you have passion for politics, than it is more than likely that you will be on either one of the two sides of the establishment.
And this passion often leads to addiction for news.
I have seen my family members endlessly hooked to NDTV or Aaj Tak for want of more. Sometimes it becomes so stressful, that
even the televisions own serial-killer - Ekta Kapoor's nauseating sitcoms are a welcome replacement.My family in India is hopelessly addicted to
politics. And no, do not get me wrong. None of them have ventured into that domain even remotely. We just enjoy discussing
each & every thing. From Jharkhand fiasco to Laloo's tantrums to Modi's visa denial, you name it. So very typical of the middle class.
Criticize,scorn,babble but do not jump the fence. Always be audience.
But this ain't very different than what my American neighbor does. His family too hooks to either Fox or CNN, depending on which
side & which color of American flag they identify with. (Republicans - Red. Democrats - Blue).
Debating & striking conversation on latest Bushisms are the virtues which no middle class wants to be devoid of.
I get a feeling, and I may be contested on this, that the middle class across the globe carries a common thread of similar characteristics.
Whether a Pakistani is discussing the latest IT boom in India or an English middle class debating Iraq war within the comforts of his
cozy apartment in London or a Dundee Aussie down under, discussing the latest Mel Gibson movie - there are 3 things that a middle class,
no matter which country,continent,race,sex,religion,creed he belongs to - will always like to discuss.
Politics.Sports.Entertainment.
Does food,water & shelter ring a bell?
Well that's what has happened to the middle-class the world over. She just cannot live without these three now.
So much so that you cannot imagine a life without cable TV anymore. It's not an insult to be called a Couch Potato anymore.But it surely is unbecoming of you if you cannot contribute to the conversation on Janet Jackson's stunts during the Super-Bowl interval.
If poor & poverty drive the economic policies of the left, the middle class is the driving engine of Nation's economy. You just can't ignore it.
You cannot ignore a middle class politically,socially & definitely not economically.
As Neerja Choudhary in one of her articles in Indian Express so deftly states that even though the Indian middle class is not big
factor in Indian Elections, it surely is the driver of the opinion & gives a direction to the election wind.
One may not completely agree with her. But surely the middle class has got voice. It is articulate. And politicians listen to them.
They may or may not implement, but surely politicians give them a ear.
The right wing conservative host of FOX news in America - Bill O'Reilly & the CNN senior journalist Lou Dobbs both have realized the
immense potential of the middle class audience. And they very shrewdly play to the middle class gallery. While O'Reilly panders on the
insecurity of the middle class after 9/11 , Lou Dobbs simply cannot stop his mandatory outbursts on job outsourcing.
Point being, both channels realize the extra ordinary significance of middle class audience.
According to me the middle class is quintessentially a person 1) always critical of the establishment, 2) never in fore-front of
a political movement or any other movement for that matter (off course there are exceptions to the rule) 3) Most happy within
his own little world build of a strong social framework, & 4) Never happy with his bank balance but also never wanting to take the high risk,
5) always playing by the rules, but most importantly 6) is always an arm-chair critic.
That is true for an Indian middle class as much as it true for his Yankee counterpart.
No comments:
Post a Comment