Things That Bang

Recently while I was in Delhi, I was taken aback by the lack of lower class crowds trawling the mall grounds. Only the upper class and the ultra fashion conscious mall rats were seen, along with the maids for the children. There was no crowding at the escalators with apprehensive first timers, nor were there any lower class people in their pristine clothes, neatly oiled hair and cheap sandals. 

Where was the crowd? The thought crossed my mind and silently died when I got distracted by a silk shirt at Debenhams.

In Delhi. the lower classes apparently are not allowed to enter the malls such as City Walk etc. Even the drivers generally hang around outside the mall waiting instructions from their owners as if these aren't malls but 5-star hotels.

This sort of blatant elitism makes me want to throw up. It isn't capitalism at its worst but lack of humanity that we tend to suffer from?

Obviously the poor are apprehensive to enter these shopping complexes. A few days ago I found myself honking at a fruit-wala who was pushing his cart slowly. He couldn't take his eyes off the huge billboards on the roadside. He was clearly suffering from culture shock in his own country and it saddened me.

The disparity between the rich and the poor has psychological effects as well. My maid did not want to go into a regular grocery store. It took a lot of gentle cajoling to get her to step in.

I saw similar apprehension in the eyes of so many who gingerly ventured into the malls or those who stood outside the mall and refused to walk in.

Why the apprehension and why the restriction? They lack money but they are good hard working folks.

As much as I hate the Garuda Mall I liked the fact that people of all economic levels can be seen enjoying the mall. But even then its not as if those who live below the poverty line can step in.

My maid is now quite used to visiting the malls with the kids and me. Her only request is that I tell her before hand when we'd visit the mall so she can be dressed in her best clothes. She loves the Archies store and I have yet to take her to the movies with my kids.

Am I doing her a disservice by treating her like one of my own when we step out? Some may think so but I cannot bring myself to discriminate against her as if her economic condition is some kind of a nasty contagious disease.

Malls are ordinary places, just buildings with shops in them. And yet they now symbolize the new urban India where the poor are seen as inconveniences or eye sores.