The Great Indian Dream- Is it really?

The Great Indian Dream- Of late, there have been more incidents reported around the life of corporate employees than would have been nice. Are the people of this particular mini-world doing something not quite right or is it just that we are being exposed to something that already existed but had hidden well for all this time?

There are so many topics that my mind is itching to tell you about but I will try to narrow it down to my view of this 'corporate' world man and what it means to a lot of the people and how it seems to be affecting us.

What I am going to tell you about is entirely my opinion, however misinformed it may be. Please do share your experiences or opinions that you feel will add to what I am saying or correct me, as applicable...

The 'Corporate' world person (Let me just call him WCM, the White Collared Man)-

WCM dwells in the cities and has a lifestyle that would have the western world think that the world is uniform... He has a nice lifestyle that has the outsider wonder what it must feel like to be a WCM.

He drives, almost always, a nice shiny car, big or small. He lives in one of those things that have sprung up everywhere in big cities these days- an apartment. He wears clothes that have small tags or logos that tell you which fashion house he patronizes. He eats in places where each dish costs not less than two hundred bucks, lesser would be just too down-market. He shops in places that are manned by assistants in formals (with ties, even). He spends the weekends in a place where he can shop, eat, watch a movie, have a coffee, just 'hang-around'- a mall. His weekend get-aways are to places set up by similar WCMs in some remote area where you have a view of the best of nature while the living quarters are just as regal as that found in the cities-the resorts. The WCM gets in touch with 'nature' by going trekking, river rafting or mountaineering with a pack of friends. The WCM has the perfect life.

What each WCM experiences but does not share vocally with other WCMs is that-

1. His shiny car is, most likely, taken on a loan that still has a few years of payment pending.
2. His apartment is, of course, taken on a loan. Unless I am talking about a WCM who has a stronger backing.
3. A lot of the WCMs can be found wearing a set of clothes that actually, individually, belong to different brands, not connected by any particular pattern. All that matters is that when another WCM spots a logo, it should be fairly admired or accepted.
4. When he is with close friends, his whole meal costs no more than two hundred bucks. I mean, how much would 5-6 parathas, some fired rice and gobi manchurian or even a combination of various dosas and idlis and chutneys cost at the 'thela' that the WCM has frequented forever?
5. The WCM looks for the most 'reasonable' to shop for groceries and other things he may need.
6. The best time the WCM spends is when he is with his close friends and family, irrespective of whether it is at a mall or a resort or a pizza place or even at an outdoor.

Then why the two conflicting lifestyles that the WCM tries to balance? My limited brain could only come up with a few ideas but please feel free to add on-

1. Is it because once the WCM is in the 'club' he is 'expected' to live as the other WCMs?
2. Is it because the WCM is finally where he wanted to be? He gets a handsome salary and can 'afford' to live the WCM life?
3. Is it because those are the only and limited options the WCM has because his world is constructed around that lifestyle?

Whatever the reason, is it really what the WCM wants?

It makes me wonder, is life really as complicated or are we just making it so? Is the 'feel good' impression about the WCM world really true? I mean I know a lot of people who have been harassed by auto-rickshaw drivers for a few extra bucks, never getting your change back. A lot of people who have had to pay a couple of thousands extra for renting a house as there was another, waiting and, ready to pay more. A lot of people who felt that the food was good but they paid a little too much for it. A lot of people for whom the happiest memory is one of the times they spent as a college kid with hardly any money, but still having a great time with friends.

Where are we going wrong? Why are we running so hard against timelines and targets that we have forgotten the last time we smiled without a reason? Why are we working so hard that we forgot what we stared to work for in the first place? Why are we getting so entangled in the world of mirrors where it is difficult to distinguish the difference between what is real and what is just an image staring back at you?

There was a time, not so long ago, where the measure of happiness was not determined by your paycheck. It was defined by the people around you. Sure, monetary strength is important, but is that the core of our happiness?

My dear WCM, take time out. Love your family and friends the way they deserve to be loved. Make time for yourself to do the things you deserve to be doing. Step back and re- look at where you are headed, change course, if required. If you want to help someone, stop just giving a day's salary to that cause, try getting involved more directly, teach a child to read, help someone find employment, adopt a crippled pet. Stop, smell the fresh air, feel the rain on your face, laugh without worrying about looking silly, enjoy the world like it is meant to be, take things as seriously as they are meant to be taken, not more.

My dear WCM, live.