An interesting question doing the rounds is whether we have reached a moment in India's history which is a defining one.
A couple of days ago, I watched a heated exchange between the leader of a Khap court or Panchayat from Haryana and a woman activist. The Khap's are advocating a ban on the use of cell phones for girls below the age of eighteen and more so are encouraging families to get their young daughters married off to prevent rape, incidence of which has risen sharply in the North Indian state over the last few months. The lady in question was pretty peeved and was making the point that the law of the land did not allow for both.
Not too far away in Delhi social activist turned politician Arvind Kejriwal is giving politicos a scare and has them scurrying for cover.
The point for me is that, both protestors are from India's middle class, which seems to have attained a critical mass and a life of its own. You find more of these folk striking out at citadels that were difficult to breach not too long ago: Rural India, the rich and politicians. Today the middle class is ready to take them on to good effect and I think that this is the genesis of a movement that can only better India. A report by National Council for Applied Economic Research's (NCAER) Centre for Macro Consumer Research said by 2015-16, India will be a country of 53.3 million middle class households, translating into 267 million people falling in the category.
There are many India’s and that is a fact. What is also a fact is that a burgeoning Indian middle class refuses to be ignored anymore and wants to be heard, whether it is about corruption or ancient social prejudice.
The Battle of the Bulge has truly begun and its outcome is going to define India in the years to come.
