The rise of the Neo-Bourgeois

"The most perfect political community is one in which the
middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes."

Thus spake the great philosopher Aristotle while he sat and spoke to his disciples on the steps of the acropolis. These words ring as true now as they did 2500 years ago. This fact is proved by the political, economic and social growth of India in the last decade and a half. Though government policies and global conditions have helped India's growth, it is the zest and vitality of the Indian Bourgeois (middle-classes) that has made the greatest impact.

And this isn't the first time the middle-classes have played a pivotal role in the nation's fortunes.The Independence movement wouldn't have been a success had it not been for the hard work and sacrifices of the then middle-classes. So history has repeated in its inimitable way and the new middle-classes - the Neo-Bourgeois - find themselves pitch-forked in the middle of the Indian success story.

Right from the blue-eyed techie walking into his state-of-the-art IT firm to the first generation entrepreneur starting off on his mission with handful of cash and heartful of vigour to the Young graduate coming out of a B-school ready to take on the world , this breed of Neo-Bourgeois is all set to take India and the World by storm.

The primary difference between this generation and the previous has been the confidence with which it attempts any task. The attitude is more 'Why not?' than 'Why?'. The opening up of the economy provided this new generation with the ideal catalyst to turn from bronze to Gold. India moved from a "Socialist" set-up which was beyond its sell-by date that believed in an over-powering state to a "new third way" state that acted as a facilitator and encouraged Private enterprise. This proved to be incredibly beneficial as budding entrepreneurs mostly from the middle-classes spun high-end jobs for the rest of the society which in turn triggered a chain reaction of yet more jobs in the market. This unleashed the market forces which has brought prosperity and financial support to millions in the country. Though huge disparities still exist between the rich and the poor, they are perennial problems faced by even the developed nations and the next wave of the Indian success story should therefore focus on bridging this gap so as to ensure the foundation of the country remains rooted in solidity.

Finally to borrow Lenin's quote - during the Russian revolution, when asked to comment on the ability of the common man in changing history - the Indian Neo-bourgeois can indeed "give history a hand" and change the course of India's history and fulfill its tryst with destiny.