Ideally, politics of democracies like India which have mixed
cultural environment (socialist + capitalist), strives for a class-less society –
at least the political rhetoric largely says and still tries to go (though the
corresponding acts do not support).
But we live in an environment, in a society, where class is
a reality, where sub-classes are seen as natural as the human existence, where
society is layered between caste, religion and income disparities.
Yes, a capitalist transformation of policymaking and economy
was indeed the need of the day to address the innate problems of the world’s
largest democracy and the second most populous country that was also home to
the majority of poor in the world.
And it has helped people to transcend barriers of caste and
thus social status to graduate to any category their capacity allows them to. But the share is still small like the share of
inter-caste and inter-religious weddings – almost non-existent when seen in the
context of around 1.25 billion people strong Indian community.
Alternatively, it has caused deepening of the layered structure
of our society – based on income disparity – based on the sociological slicer –
the widening gap between haves and have-nots.
And the easiest way to realize it is having a look on
how our modes of public transportation
work – in terms of handling passengers.
Start with buses - and you have buses poorly kept and
managed that carry the largest number of people from our society – people who
can afford these buses only. Graduate many steps higher and one can see some air-conditioned
buses plying on the roads. These buses, though internally as shabbily managed
as their poor non-ac counterparts, are much less in number because authorities
know very few people can afford them or prefer to afford them. Then come at the
top the luxury air-conditioned buses - like the Volvo bus services. Very few,
from well-to-do class of society, who cannot manage a train ticket or who still
cannot afford a flight ticket (for different reasons), opt for these.
Similar is the story of India’s lifeline – trains run by
Indian Railways. People from the lowest strata of the society fight for an
elusive berth or some hard-earned place in general class, unreserved
compartments of trains. Those who are still financially weaker enough to afford
the ac-class tickets (including Gharib Raths), choose for some relief in
reserved tickets of the sleeper class. And these two categories of coaches
carry the maximum number of people – in the overall passenger traffic of Indian
Railways.
Then comes the ac-class. It has classes and sub-classes. It
starts with Gharib Raths for the poorest of the lot who opt to go for an ac
ride. Then comes the numbers of ac-3, ac-2 and ac-1, in increasing scale of
cost and therefore comfort levels. Most ac-preferring guys go with ac-3 (three
tier air-conditioned class). Types of trains also discriminate here. Express
trains cost less than super-fast trains while Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains are considered
cream of the bunch. In fact, ac-1 of Rajdhani trains proves costly than an
economy flight ticket when taken well in advance.
But the class story extends to airlines as well – most visible
in segregation of budget airlines from full service carriers.
Budget airlines or no-frills airlines have made it possible
for people to consider flying who can afford ac train travel. But customer
satisfaction and customer comfort are the last items on priority list of these
carriers. How passengers are cramped in these aircrafts is an issue of global
debate.
And even many full service carriers behave insensitively
towards the needs of the economy class passengers. Although they make the bulk
of the bookings, the crew is more leaned in catering to the needs of the
so-called premiere class or executive class or business class or first class
passengers. Normally, these tickets are priced almost three-times to an economy
class ticket.
Then there are sub-subclasses within the economy subclass.
Many budget airlines and full service carriers segregate passengers based on
their paying capacity or preferences into different categories – those paying
for a lower package - those paying for a higher package – and those paying for
an even higher package. And this one is worse than all because the
discriminated passengers are made to sit a larger unitary space that is more or
less uniform.
Our system is busy compartmentalizing us – based on our
income status.
And we have no other way but to be and to become part of
this system.
Yes, every type of exception does exist – but then – an exception
is always ‘exceptional’.