Anupam- The Dreamer

The world as we see it is not the same for different classes of people. Every class of people, on the basis of income levels, level of education, access to money, resources and opportunity, and proximity of power, has different problems facing them. Although, the basic problems plaguing a particular society, of which every class is a constituent, are similar like basic infrastructure- roads, railways, electricity; social infrastructure like education, healthcare facilities, water, sewage, etc., but the depth and intensity of problems vary as per the place of a person in the social hierarchy.

Majority of the people in any country belong to poor and middle class. The problems faced by them are plenty- from access to basic amenities in life like roti, kapda, makaan, to education and healthcare, to unemployment, price rise, unequal access to limited opportunities for development of full potential. On top of that, apathy, discrimination and even injustice at the hands of elite add fuel to the fire. Actually, the problems that I listed above don’t concern the elite, rich and powerful section of the society. Let’s see how.

The elites have access to all the basic facilities in life– they have risen way above such problems- they can eat whatever they want (even waste), they can wear couture collections of world-famous designers, they live in mansions and palaces and not houses. Then, they have access to best of education and healthcare that your country has to offer (whether they need it or not is a separate issue), otherwise they can also seek education and healthcare from across the globe in the best of universities and best of hospitals. They don’t “need” employment actually from the state, as they are qualified enough to get one of their choice, or they are entrepreneurs or politicians or well-renowned professionals. They don’t know what is inflation! Because inflation is afterall just a number for them, as their wealth rises disproportionately as compared to the rise in inflation. They don’t or rarely face injustice at the hands of the state as they have enough money to defend themselves or even play around with the law. The access to power and money can solve many problems for them.

Infact, most of the elites don’t have “basic problems” in life because they have risen above them. Most of the problems they face are actually “manufactured” by them! They do stuff like wilful defiance of law, propagating atrocities on the poor, using their money, muscle and political power to get things done as per their wish, which sometimes attracts problems for them. But these problems also don’t bother them for long, they are just temporary phases of life and they know how to get over them. They are just lost in their own fancy, luxurious and flamboyant world.

So, to expect that the elite people will solve the problems of the poor and middle class is indeed living in a fool’s errand! The elites will always say that they are here for improving the living standards of the other people. But discounting a few noble souls, most of them know in their hearts that they don’t actually mean it. They are just doing lip service. And the illiterate, innocent and naïve poor and middle class falls into their trap and believes them.

When the elitist haven’t faced any of the problems faced by the poor and middle class, how can they be rationally expected to understand the pains and tribulations of the latter. When they can’t understand in the first place, can they be expected to solve them? NEVER! They are out of touch with the ground realities of life. Things like inflation are just a matter of news for them, which the elites wouldn’t even bother to watch. Does it matter for them if petrol price is Rs. 100 or Rs. 1000? Not even a bit! Their concerns in life are very different- like what happens in the house of Big Boss, or what is the masala gossip in the town, or who has the most expensive car in the town etc. etc.

If by chance they happen to face any of the problems that are listed above, they tend to leave for greener pastures elsewhere, in some foreign land, so that they go miles away from the problems they have to face in their own country. When they can afford to live luxurious life elsewhere, then why would they bother about their own brethren back home? The common people have to realize this game, if they actually want to improve the quality of their lives. The solutions must come from them only, because they understand the pain, have experienced the problems firsthand and are in touch with the ground realities of life.

I hope to see a time when even a large number of elites show some actual concern for their brethren out there. It is an encouraging trend that many billionaires in the recent past have pledged a large portion of their wealth to charity. Now, it’s time that their efforts also translate into tangible benefits for the vast majority of human populace.

Till next time….