The India confusion

ranjan154

Exactly..................

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Rakesh Ranjan
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bariloche

As always, Beach, a very insightful post. I think all your posts should be gathered in a guide book. I'm certainly making a collection.

By the way, I'm a lawyer and we usually refer when something is hard to describe, as being like an elephant - it is very hard to describe but you know one when you see one.

just_an_old_boy

I've pondered over this excellent thread by Beach. I'd like to add few thoughts. Is it possible to look at the confusion called 'India' from another angle? Socio-economic structure of this massive confusion?
The sum of the parts of India does not convey a complete,meaningful picture to outsiders. Hence the overall 'confused' look. We might try to look at individual parts.
The size and composition of various parts is again subject to individual outlook, but what important is that every individual outlook or analysis must cover all the parts.

So, I'll try a similar analysis for outsiders in simplest possible terms.

The way I see it, the current Indian society has four(4) distinct and distinguishable layers with certain India specific characteristics viz. (1)The Elite, (2)Middle Class /New India (3)The Unwashed Masses(4) The Marginalized. These are socio-economic classification cutting across ever present religion/caste vertical divide. We can see the following layers, starting from the top.
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1. The Elite: Top of the pyramid. They are the smallest group with the maximum influence but fading out fast. They are Western educated i.e. Christian missionary schools followed by higher education abroad (Oxford/Cambridge types). Western means for most part English, and they being more English than the English. Being Elite, naturally theirs is a closed group.

They have their own institutions. Perhaps most English of all things the 'Club'. Membership is difficult for outsiders. Every Indian city with a British past has a Cantonment and Civil Lines. While the military has taken over the Cantonment, the Civil Lines for most parts is habitat of the Elite.

The Elite have their own old boys network. They promote and help each other and jealously guard the class interest. Snobbery is worn on the sleeves and lower classes are looked down upon.
So if you hear an Indian saying 'bloody Indian' you can be sure which Indian socio-economic class are you meeting.

The Elite class has good presence in the Civil Services, the Armed Forces and in the Foreign Service. The vast state machinery usually is big enough to accommodate the Elite and their offspring, so you won't see them in commerce or industry (barring old business families). The Elite due to presence in the corridors of power are actually sought after. Lately the Elite have been trying to venture out of the confines of the clubs and messes(military types), transformed as Page 3 socialites.

Traveling mode includes AC 1st class and Air Business class, most of the time at taxpayers expense Vacation means an European or Caribbean trip. Indian locales are a strict no no, left only for the masses. Usually have a retinue of servants in tow wherever they go, they make quite a spectacle of themselves in shopping malls or restaurants when they land up with security guards and drivers to find that tables cannot be reserved and they'll have to wait in queue. The fact that the masses no longer look up to them in awe and detest their snobbish ways is yet to sink in among the Elite.

The Elite are beyond the gravitational forces of social norms . It also means, barring some portion of the Elite class (erstwhile kings and princely families), the Elite do not relish the religious customs or rituals. This has undoubtedly placed them in situation wherein they have one-sided view of the things.
So, when any topics about India's socio economic ills come in front of the Westerners they are the most apologetic and are unable to present any historical/cultural reasons for the ills. One peculiar trait of this class is they depend on West for recognition, which is understandable given their disdain for other class lower in the totem pole.

Historically, this class is evolved from four groups, (a) former royals, (b) the elite, Western educated leadership of the freedom movement, (c) former high officials of the British Imperial govt. (4) Intellectuals (Left leaning predominates). This peculiar combination of social groups ensures that the Elite have near total monopoly over opinions in media and academia.

The future of this class is bleak and they are growing more and more irrelevant every day.

2. Middle class / New India: This is a heterogeneous group. In pure sociological terms this group comprises (a)a breakaway portion of the Elite (that has chosen to work for the masses) (b) economically well off upper class, rooted in culture that has not Westernized due to various reasons(c) upper-middle and middle-middle class.

This is the most dynamic group. They have equal representation in govt. jobs and industry. This class has single handedly spearheaded the India economic success story after 1992 liberalization. This class is well present in judiciary and legislature as well. The habitat includes rural as well as urban stretches. In cities they take to newly constructed localities or accommodation provided by their employing organizations (govt. or large corporates). Apartment types accommodation is nearly monopoly of this class.

This class has the benefit of Western education, but has not Westernized. This class does have its share of wannabe Elites waiting to join up there. But largely despite the seemingly Western facade, this class still adheres to Indian values and are keen to pass the cultural heritage to their offspring's. The most important occasions of birth, death and marriages are strictly followed in terms of rituals and beliefs. The color and sounds of India's festivals are mainly a Middle Class affair.

This class despite being modern in material sense is still connected to its past. Unlike the apologetic Elite this class looks at the India's heritage with pride. In fact it is no surprise that this class has given India most of its social reformers and spiritual figures.

Mode of travel includes Air Economy Class, Low cost Airlines, AC 2nd and 3rd classes, personal transport like cars for cross country trips. The railway sleeper class was the mainstay of the middle class, but it is being surrendered to lower economic classes very rapidly. All Indian tourist spots are good for vacation for this class, beside trips to South East Asia/Asia and occasionally (once in a life time for many) to Europe/Australia. This class also undertakes pilgrimage to holy sites of religious importance.

This class places a great emphasis on education and has presence in all spheres of life in addition to the traditional career options.

This class neither has the intellectual hold over policy makers like the Elite nor has the power of ballot like the lower masses. But, of late the Middle Class has started to make its voice heard. Two instruments have been employed, one is judicial activism in form of Public Interest Litigations which helps this class to get things done bypassing the whims of political rulers. Second, is the power of this class due to its purchasing power which has began to influence the media in a consumer driven market.

An Elite intellectual in the past could get away with his class biases in popular columns, but in the market driven economy in which newspaper depends on sales (volume being provided by the middle class) ensure middle class opinions grace the editorials and the Sunday columns.

Admittedly, the Middle Class assertiveness is getting it in loggerheads with the two classes up and below it. While the Elites are losing ground, the masses are increasingly in confrontation with Middle Classes, which is in hurry to drag India into 21st century. More on this later.

(3)The Unwashed MassesThe quintessential Indian you meet on roads, sidewalks, in overcrowded buses, cycling to work, whole family on a scooter, sprawled on the railway platform. They come to you as auto-rickshaw drivers, lowly cops, touts, porters, corner pan/cigarette shopkeepers, random errand boys, industrial workers, peasants, watchmen, gardeners, servants, car shine boys, plumbers etc.

This is probably the class any Westerner confronts with as soon as he/she steps out of an Indian airport. They are the largest Indian socio-economic group, diverse and ranging from that surviving on minimum wages to that putting their kids through a good education as first step towards moving up to Middle class.

Satisfied with minimum, most of them are happy, loud, colorful, most friendly and down to earth. The top surface of this layer is contributing to the Middle Class every year. This is class that never sleeps, your night watchmen and BPO office drivers come from this class.

This class lives in low cost or unauthorized localities with inadequate infrastructure. Broken roads, non-existent sanitary facilities, lack of potable water and electricity supply are a daily reality for them. Most do with 1 or 2 room houses.

Few trait it shares with the Middle Class is the way it gives importance to a good education and adherence to ancient values and customs. A picture that many social commentators miss is indeed that fact that it is in Indian schools/universities and religious gatherings that these two classes actually meet as equals.

Modes of travels include railway Sleeper Class, Unreserved Class, public buses, scooters and those hilarious tractor rides. Tourist spots are usually a luxury for this class, but this class also undertakes pilgrimage to holy sites of religious importance, like the Middle Class. The members of this class working across the country also undertakes annual trip to their native country homes, another trait shared with the middle class.

Lately, this class too has made its voice through the ballot box. They vote in numbers, though not savvy with many topics like upper class, nevertheless their enthusiastic participation has ensured a healthy democratic tradition in India.

They frequently find their interests clashing with the Middle Class. Small Shop Vs. Retail, Farmers Vs. Industry etc. are outwards symptoms of this conflict. This class is migrating very rapidly from the countryside and many villages adjoining cities are also undergoing urbanization. The inadequate urban infrastructure unable to accommodate this migrants puts them in conflict against already comfortably entrenched Middle Class.

(4) The MarginalizedMigrant workers, beggars, destitute etc. They dwell on pavements or in shanties beside railway tracks. They daily earnings are far below bare minimum requirements. Life expectancy is least among this group. In absence of social security many perish in absence of medical attention or starvation.
Being migratory, uneducated, illiterates and in the fringes of the society they are unable to participate in the democratic process.
To be apt, they do not even get to participate in day to day functioning of the Indian society like education, cultural events, vacationing etc.
Unlike the masses this class of people do not even have roots in their native villages.
The only consolation is the fact is that this class being an urban phenomenon is very small in size. It is even absent from some of the well off states.

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As we move forward, the Elite are losing ground as more and more institutions are going to the private enterprises, where merit not the family lineage matters. The old Elite is destined to fade away.
When it comes to deciding priorities and policies for a 21st century India, the Middle Class is increasingly exercising influence. It will be proper to say that Middle Class is the helm of India's march.
The masses are moving up in great numbers. The frictions with Middle Class dwarfs in comparison when you take upward mobility of the masses. It is indeed heartening to see old folks still in their traditional garbs towing their sons and daughters for their first Air journey. It is the synergy and interplay of the Middle Class and the Masses that will decide the future of India. And it will be good.

And hopefully the combine of these two class will take care of the Marginalized unlike the Elite.

...

Any foreigner trying to make sense of India should keep in mind the social layers, being different they sometime convey contradictory impressions. Many people try to experience the real India. There is no such thing as a single real India. An Indian Elite is as much an Indian reality as a Marginalized with everyone in between.

Digital Drifter

JAOB,

you just described social stratification found in a lot of countries. No different in India.

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just_an_old_boy

I've stressed on the characteristics of each layer which is important, whether similar layers exist elsewhere or not is not the issue here.

In other countries.

1. The middle population cannot be grouped distinctly as the "Masses" and the "Middle Class". In fact in developed countries such disparity does not exist.

2. In other countries the "Marginalized" are not big enough to impact socio-economic profile of the country.

3. Lastly, no other countries Elite are self-hating as Indian ones. And in no other country the Elite has so much of influence on national polity, disproportionate to their size and output, as in India.

It is the peculiar characteristics that presents a "confused" picture. Discerning readers of my post will also notice the mention of social dynamics that is changing India so rapidly, number of layers notwithstanding.

biswajit_27

Old Boy,

That was a very beautifully detailed picture of the social straitification(s). Nice work.

I surmise these following things from the report:-

1. You have a healthy disdain of the Elite.
2. You are a teacher.
3. You are also a cynic. (If you are actually old, how can that be avoided ?)

machadinha

I also particularly liked the way social stratification here is explained in part by the way one tends to spend one's holidays.

Maybe one poster is dissatisfied with his mode of travel?

btw As a discerning reader I just love being told what to notice too

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Nick-H

...or how often one washes?

The masses of India are probably the cleanest masses in the world!

You will certainly never spot a blemish on your driver or on his white shirt. Unwashed? --- Reminds me of an offensively right-wing (and very snobbish) man I used to know who desparagaed almost everynody by calling them the great unwashed.

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just_an_old_boy

Hi,
You share name with my younger brother.

BTW, your observations are correct. 1 and 3 are true. Point #2 is correct in a sense that I'm sometime spend time with neighbourhood kids helping out with Physics and Maths.

just_an_old_boy

Nick,

Good point.

The term "unwashed" does not refer to personal cleanliness, BTW.

It is a cultural term, might be offensive to some (justifiably). But, there is no need to look at every classification in colors of upper class prejudice or snobbery.

I'll explain why. Except a small percentage of Indians, most of us moved from the "unwashed masses" to the "middle class", in last 3-4 decades. And some (like mine) still have their larger clan spread across urban "middle class" and rural "unwashed class".

Your post prompts me to provide yet another advice. Visiting foreigner might do well to note that majority of Indians due to very close familial ties, usually find themselves as members of different socio-economic groups due to time, place and situation.

Bigzero

A very insightful post, JAOB.

Couple of comments:

- somewhere there is this rural-urban divide that cuts across some of these strata, and it is a different dimension altogether. the rural-urban divide varies depending on which state you are in. For example, in Kerala, i would assume this divide is least visible. Cities are big villages and villages are small cities.

- the intellectuals, do they necessarily form part of the elites? i would assume many of them consider themselves classless ( if there is anything like that )

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just_an_old_boy

BigZero,

Good observation there. The Elite cutting across rural-urban divide is less noticed by many. Kerala example is a good one and if you consider Bengal as well you'll get a larger picture. Communists (at least in Bengal) initiated land reforms have wrested large land holdings from former landed gentry and the same has been redistributed to the small farmers and share croppers in the 70s.

The result is, the rural Elite have disappeared from such places. But, if you go into the rural interiors of UP and Bihar where feudal structures are still visible, such a handful of Elite still exist. Politicians like VP Singh, Arjun Singh, Amar Singh etc. are the scions of such families. In fact one can get a better picture if they take Pakistan into consideration where the landed gentry class is intact and they decide political fortunes.

Intellectuals are a class apart. Their hold in media and academia is sometime brings them proximity of the Elite.

machadinha

You mean to say the leftist intellectual elite whom you seem to despise had no influence on those leftist land reforms which you seem to applaud?

just_an_old_boy

Mach,

The land reforms were implemented on large scale officially only in Bengal.

I'm not sure why do you say I'm applauding them. I'll put the thing in a proper perspective.

First of all one should appreciate the fact that India does not have the luxury of a Russia or China blessed with large tracts of wilderness to be distributed to every peasant. Arable land per capita is scarce in India.

Land grants however obtained are still subjected to Hindu inheritance laws in India. Every offspring gets equal share, including daughters. So the independent land holdings gets smaller and smaller over each successive generation.

States like Punjab, Haryana, AP, TN and Bengal happen to be good in agriculture. They are the nation's granaries.

I'll take the specific case of Bengal. The agriculture in Bengal is primarily focussed towards one staple crop i.e. paddy. Some seasonal vegetables are grown between crop cycles. In fact this happens to be a fortunate state to enjoy three crop cycles in a year. Overall crop yield is also high.

Beside this, Bengal is also spared of vagaries of cash crops like sugarcane, cotton, tobacco etc. These crops are high capital with high returns, but with inadequate support prices they often leads farmers to suicide, as we see in news reports from Maharashtra and AP.

But despite high crop yield, unlike other agrarian states a Bengali peasant never seems to be well off like his counterparts from Punjab, Haryana, AP etc.
In fact if you take a closer look in metropolitan cities a good number of daily wage workers, rickshaw puller, domestic helps are increasingly coming from rural Bengal, competing with established Bihari immigrants in such profession.

Why is it so?

Answer is small land holdings. It is difficult to mechanize the operations in a small patch of land. Punjab, Western UP and Haryana have done this and they are reaping the benefits. And this makes it easier to support increasingly larger families (Punjab also has the advantage of its residents emigrating West).
Only saving grace in Bengal is extremely fertile land with good all around rainfall (no credit to Leftist that is).

The Bengal's land reforms was a temporary success in the 70s. But the whole thing made for a long term disaster. Add to the fact that the Leftists single handedly brought down Bengal from 2nd largest industrial state to industrial nobody in just 3 decades.

Mach,

You really do not have to accuse me of Leftist hatred . There are more than enough card carrying communist party members in our family. And I believe by now, you might have concluded already that I'm a Bengali myself .


My issue is not with the mild Leftism, but due to the fact that they have not been able to Indianize the ideology to suit with local conditions.

Khandoma

Ahem - very sorry to intrude. Am too ignorant to blurt out anything meaningful on the current discussion. Just wanted to compliment Beach on a fabulous post. Beach, your text should be xeroxed and delivered in airplanes along with blankets. I know I'll have every potential Indian traveller around me read it first thing, and that includes my parents, to whom I've been failing to convey similar ideas, though with much less insight and clarity, not to mention style. As teenagers around me like to say, total respect to you.

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