We, the Indian middle class

Karanvir Gupta
It has been a long woven thought in my subconscious mind but it was only when government of India recently came up with this advertisement flaunting 7 new IITs, 8 new IIMs, etc on the television that my thoughts got instigated once again. The angst in me infuriated again at the very thought of it. Yes the very thought of how Indian middle class is subjugated and relegated every now and then sometimes  because of the convenience caused to bigwigs and sometimes in the name of sacrifice for downtrodden. Seems like Indian middle class is the case of second child in series of three where elder one is given all the ears and everything done is in the favour of younger one thus leaving the second alias middle child stranded and to get going on its own.
In fact I would like to start with the ad they are broadcasting. I ask, in total how many such premier institutes are available in proportion to the students aspiring for the same. Even if I accept the fact that it is fierce competition then what about the reservations you have made eating a chunk of seats that otherwise can be given to well deserving candidates. I would have no problem if genuine people were getting the benefits of the reservation! Even Dr. B R Ambedkar himself had provided that clause in the constitution for reservation to be revised every few years. However what I see and realise is the number of backward classes is ever increasing while India on the whole is progressing. Strange, isn’t it that the nation is developing and it’s people not?
This is just the tip of the iceberg. From the time election manifestos are prepared to the point the parties come in power, the center of attraction always keep changing but clearly bypassing the middle class. Be it the eponymous ayojanas that are devised or framed, various subsidies that are promised, or corporate laws that find mending in particular ways, all boils down to either the rich or the poor. I am not against any provided there is balance of forces.
If you stress on PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas), or focus on rural electrification, or prevent the villages to be flooded from, or devise ways of self sufficiency and sustenance, I will be more than happy to welcome that all. If you frame the laws that promote industrial production, bring in lot of foreign exchange, usher the era of technology and advancement, I will again have no problem accepting it. But bending and twisting things in favour of few will never be accepted. The point I want to raise is give me examples of actions or steps that you take to cause convenience to the Indian Middle Class. Or you have taken us for guaranteed as the rugged child who is born out of nowhere and has the capacity to bear anything and everything whatever may come.
Tell me, what has been done to improve the performance and load bearing capacity of irctc.gov.in the major user of which is the Indian Middle Class? What provisions are made to let people travel comfortably in trains, the situation has come to a level that even AC 3tiers are cramped now with the reducing width and heights of the berths. In terms of communication, are you promising any advancement for free wi-fi hot-spots or hi speed internet connection? And who is the sufferer: Indian Middle Class primarily!
When is the last time you promised a good (read healthy) educational system for millions of students studying? There is not even miniscule of standardisation in the whole system across the country. The ratio of good quality high educational institutions to the aspirants is grotesquely disturbing. The tale of travesty doesn’t ends here. From under facilitated public transport system to half cooked modernised shopping centres, the section which bears the brunt of all this is the Indian Middle Class.
Please let us know what substantial has been done for the Indian Middle Class to live a healthy standard life. When was the last time your election manifestos or your words or actions really did something for Middle class? Luxury and convenience you provide to the rich, subsidies you provide to the poor, and what for the Indian Middle Class: “babaji ki booty!”
Indian middle Class is that section of society which is full of hope. Despite all the pandemonium across state or centre, it never sheds the trust in the system and believes in its ultimate supremacy. We are those people who inspite of being betrayed times and again come forward fighting for all the issues, hold constitution high in its regard. We chisel ourselves into tough souls and always make ourselves ready for healthy competition be it obtaining a birth certificate, queues at the passport office, phone billing departments, entering into choicest institution, marriage bureau or a morgue. We patiently accept the fallacy of our systems with the kindle of hope that things will change for good one day. We toil ourselves for we see in Gandhi and Nehru our true selves. We keep going undefeated and indefatigably. We are the Indian Middle Class who is ever increasing in the distribution of the pyramid but the injustice done to it remains persistent.
And what you do to us is for bandhs to be formulated, you choose us; for agitations and riots, you target us; for raising up voice for issues, you instigate us but when it comes to distribute the fruits you choose others. Probably the reason is clear, we are not the hard core cash that flows into your coffers and we are not even the vote bank that gives you the power. Hence neglected and ignored! This is my personal request to the up surging Middle Class families to make a point that you cast your vote in the forthcoming elections and give the government a glimpse of might of the Indian middle class which is thought to be laid back and easy-go section of the society!
(The writer is a student at IIM Shillong)

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