Somini Sengupta explores the rise of gated enclaves in India. Whether consisting of dense towers or suburban sprawl such domains of privilege are a new reality in modern India.
NYT
In fact
India has always had its upper classes, as well as legions of the world’s very poor. But today a landscape dotted with Hamilton Courts, pressed up against the slums that serve them, has underscored more than ever the stark gulf between those worlds, raising uncomfortable questions for a democratically elected government about whether India can enable all its citizens to scale the golden ladders of the new economy.
“Things have gotten better for the lucky class,” Mrs. Chand, 36, said one day, as she fixed lunch in full view of Chakkarpur, the shantytown where one of her two maids, Shefali Das, lives. “Otherwise, it is still a fight.”
When the power goes out, the lights of Hamilton Court bathe Chakkarpur in a dusky glow. Under the open sky, across the street from the tower, Mrs. Das’s sons take cold bucket baths each day. The slum is as much a product of the new India as Hamilton Court, the opportunities of this new city drawing hundreds of thousands from the hungry hinterlands.
1 Comment
actually its unfair to say that only the "lucky" classes are benefiting from the economic boom. i think all classes have benefited 'relatively'. maybe the 'middle class' has had a stronger growth story but its also true that "less" privileged classes have benefited from the boom.
the problem lies with the government and its policy makers. the government is simply not able to cope with this economic boom in terms of infrastructure development. as a result the disparity between classes is getting amplified.
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