To-day India is witnessing the emergence of a new class of economically liberated, educated, intelligent, Value System conscious, and socially conspicuous section of Society.
They are the Middle Middle Class.
In every city you can easily spot them. They were once known as Middle Class. But this Class has grown so big that the size is now easily visible as divided into 3 distinct layers.
The Upper Middle Class, the Middle Middle Class, and the latest group to join this circle, which is ever increasing, the Lower Middle Class.
The Upper Middle Class has increased its monthly take home earnings to an appreciable level where they are competing, nay waiting to join the Affluent / Rich Class. Buying 90 lakhs + Luxury Apartments,
15 lakhs + Cars, sending their children to International Air Conditioned class room Schools, in air conditioned Volvo School buses and searching for prestigious Clubs, to become members. They are a very happy, contended and secure lot, who do not care for any other matter or person or section of Society. Value System ? Whats that ? They ask. God Bless them !
The Lower Middle Class is the graduation from Labour / Worker Force / Class, into the Middle Class. Buying Refrigerators, SONY TV sets, 75,000 + Two Wheelers, and sending their children to English Medium Schools wearing uniforms, travelling to schools in School Buses. They are the Neo Rich class, even though they may live in Servants' Quarters of Rich business men and Film Stars / Producers. They no longer buy their daily necessities from the good old Kirana Shops but shop in MOR, or HERITAGE or RELIANCE departmental stores, which is now a Status Symbol for them.
They are a very happy Lot and are enjoying every moment of their new found Economic Status. In their mad rush to join and be a part of the " Middle Class ", they never bother about any values, whatsoever. Values ? Can't afford them, Sir !, will be there reply in an unanimous chorus. God Bless them !
The Middle Middle Class are yesterday's affluent but not rich class, who came up in life facing uphill tasks, struggles and really laboured to achieve some wealth with a reasonably sound Value System governing and guiding their endeavours to improve the quality of their lives. They were intellectuals, doctors, lawyers,teachers,professors and Govt. Officers. Now today they find themselves frozen from any further improvement due to the very value system they followed and believed it to be desirable in a Society.
They can neither go down and join the Lower Middle Class segment nor do they have the pluck to violate all sane values and grow Rich. They are scuttled, sandwiched and ridiculed by the segment above them and the segment below them. They are a pitiable, miserable lot. God Bless them, too !
Now let Social Scientists, Economists,Politicians and Sociologists, study this Middle, Middle Class segment, especially their Youth, the impact they will make on Society in the future. And find remedies to prevent this Middle Middle Class becoming a Curse to Society with their frustrations.
