The "aesthetic face" of begging in India
Hi,
When a country develops; it shows. Though economic pundits would want to rely more on GDP growth rates and the comfortable BoP situation, I see a sea change in the way begging is done in India.
Till about the late 90s, begging was an profession dependent on beggars’ ability to invite pity. Today, the tables have overturned; it involves triggering the donator’s guilt and not pity.
When Indians were not earning much (when the government was the leading employer), the living standards were not upto the mark. Not many owned televisions and other gadgets. Hence, to beg, one needed to work hard to show the utter hopelessness. As the majority was suffering (tight budgets and little extravaganzas), it called for putting oneself in utter penury to extract a donation.
With the improvement in salary levels and a boom in private sector jobs, the face of Indian families has undergone a change. Ownership of gadgets is on the rise and the average income has touched new heights. There are also multiple bread-winners in each family, earning enough to make ends meet and also to save a decent sum every month. Now, begging needn’t have to showcase its penury as it was earlier. Reason: In a state of wellbeing, even a minor level of hopelessness can easily fetch the required attention.
The next time you notice a well-dressed young man limping around, asking for alms, don’t be surprised. He is dressed well because he knows that penurious state need not have to manifest in his dressing. He knows that his limp is more than enough to evoke the desired response.
Vijay
When a country develops; it shows. Though economic pundits would want to rely more on GDP growth rates and the comfortable BoP situation, I see a sea change in the way begging is done in India.
Till about the late 90s, begging was an profession dependent on beggars’ ability to invite pity. Today, the tables have overturned; it involves triggering the donator’s guilt and not pity.
When Indians were not earning much (when the government was the leading employer), the living standards were not upto the mark. Not many owned televisions and other gadgets. Hence, to beg, one needed to work hard to show the utter hopelessness. As the majority was suffering (tight budgets and little extravaganzas), it called for putting oneself in utter penury to extract a donation.
With the improvement in salary levels and a boom in private sector jobs, the face of Indian families has undergone a change. Ownership of gadgets is on the rise and the average income has touched new heights. There are also multiple bread-winners in each family, earning enough to make ends meet and also to save a decent sum every month. Now, begging needn’t have to showcase its penury as it was earlier. Reason: In a state of wellbeing, even a minor level of hopelessness can easily fetch the required attention.
The next time you notice a well-dressed young man limping around, asking for alms, don’t be surprised. He is dressed well because he knows that penurious state need not have to manifest in his dressing. He knows that his limp is more than enough to evoke the desired response.
Vijay
posted by Vijay at 10:04 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home