Social Snobbery

There was a national outbreak of rage and anger when the news of the CEO of Orient Express claiming that a closer association with the Taj group could only spell a “reduction and erosion” of the brand value of his own hotels broke. I wished he tried booking a room at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai where a luxury suite sets you back by a hefty 3000$. It was considered the worst possible snub in the face of the growing corporate India which seems on a rampage, buying nearly every property on sale. Another news that stood out was the survey that stated that nearly two thirds of Indians have a higher opinion about our culture and our economy. It’s not exactly clear why, if we are such a self-confident people, we jump through hoops each time one of our own gets Corporate America’s approval. If we think we are better then it’s only natural that we will get a nod ahead of others. May be the reason lies in the underlying hypocrisies on the face of the growing India. We as a country are still battling with caste disparities and discrimination. When we discriminate and snub people for belonging to backward caste why do we expect a different behavior on the part of Americans? While we swagger with confidence as we fight for our rightful place in the new world order, how do we react to exactly the same conflict on home turf? We still see old politicians too feeble even to walk contest polls and a new energetic young leader get snubbed at the face and ruthlessly made to sit out. Same goes in Indian cricket. We still see our old warriors bite to dust but never is a newcomer promoted with the same exuberance and more often their activity is limited to just carrying towels and water bottles. Doesn’t the situation sound woefully similar? Why is Gautam Gambhir from Delhi given chance after chance while other people are fired at a single mistake?

I think India is still tormented by the worst form of social snobbery. Unless we confront our class prejudices we would be guilty of the same narrow mindedness that we have to face in the global arena. Just as the world can not put India under leash, we can not keep the rest of India confined within walls created by social differences.