I always knew that transitioning back to India would have its challenges. Anytime you have to get used to a “new” place after staying elsewhere for a while, there’s going to be a tough adjustment period. So I was prepared for the traffic, the crowds, the state of the roads and whatnot. After all, haven’t I lived here for 25 years? I was pretty confident about adjusting after a week. All in all my predictions were right. I’m settling back in nicely. But nothing…nothing prepared me for the price rises!
To be fair, I knew that costs had skyrocketed. I closely followed the news on inflation last year and was prepared for having to shell out a hell of a lot more than what I was used to. But it wasn’t enough. I know I sound like a rustic inexperienced lad coming to the big city from the village and being shocked at how expensive things are. But what can I say? I am!
I bought an extension cord for Rs. 480 the other day. We paid Rs. 200 for breakfast at a “cheap” place we used to frequent years ago. I was worried…horrified. It seems my savings and earnings simply haven’t kept up with the rising rates of living. I am essentially poorer than when I left. I remember my parents talking about how they used to rarely eat out. Those days it seems are back again!
I guess I’m just going to have to try and ramp up my earnings. But I was thinking of those who are much worse off than myself. How in the world are poorer people paying the exorbitant amounts I’m seeing in shops? It’s not just food, but all commodities have suffered. To an extent I’m protected because my earnings are linked to the dollar which has appreciated considerably, though not to the same extent as price rises, but what of those whose wages haven’t changed? I shudder to think of the hardships they’re facing.
I don’t know what the main cause is, but it’s pretty obvious that something has been grossly mismanaged somewhere or the other. I’ve heard that rural incomes have risen and that’s the reason for the price rises. If so, those risen incomes are nullified by the inflation making the situation worse for all of us. Something known in economics as the Price-Wage spiral. Whatever the reason, we can only blame the present government. Maybe everyone else has gotten used to it because it happened relatively slowly and I’m only complaining because I’m returning after three years. But I fail to see what good has come of it. Perhaps I’m just out of touch and can’t see the benefits. If so, I’ll be grateful if someone explained them to me :)
For now I’m just going to have to deal with being more frugal and working to increase my earnings. But there’s a sense of futility behind it. What’s the point of working harder when your extra earnings are just going to be eaten up by inflation?
Welcome back to India… with high inflation (Oops , I mean expectations :P ) That somebody who mismanaged is our own congress government…
In reply to yayaver
I’m looking forward to them being punished in the coming elections…
Ha ha ha -now you realize what the Reality of this UPA government is!
They speak English,divide the Nation into Majority & Minority communities & then create vote banks & pose to be purer than white!
The people of Bharat have had enough & now is the time when the iron is hot.
We have to strike & yes strike hard it is!
Perhaps now you should think of what the Reality of Bharat is!
This is why we all should support the ‘man of pure steely character NaMo’ who is innocent of all the accusations made against him. The present government does not wish to be displaced from its position of power & does not care for neither the common man nor the nation at large!
So there is still time for things to be set right & all of us have to “awaken” to the Truth!
In reply to VCM
I speak English also :) What difference does that make?
In reply to bhagwad
Of course we know that you speak English too!And I am as well!
You know very well what I mean when I say the English speaking hoipolloi who consider and are considered by many as ‘superior’ beings.
Anyone who speaks Hindi,Tamil ,Marathi or Punjabi is looked down upon in our land.
This is the divide we see in what we call our Bharat and what is called India.
Traditional sensible values rooted in our own wisdom versus ‘aping superficial modernity’ alien to our Bharat & passing judgement wearing ‘western lenses’ along with a ‘transplanted brain’!
In reply to VCM
Would using the internet and commenting on blogs be considered aping superficial modernity as well? :)
Like the Americans would say; secularism ain’t free. Especially the fake kind.
But you know English, you are a writer and you have a healthy condescension for everything Desi. Start writing anti-Modi articles like crazy. You will see yourself raking in the big bucks in no time, along with nightly appearances on Times Now, CNN-IBN, NDTV…the works…not to mention Tehelka’s Thinkfest, of course :)
In reply to Abhishek
Modi…? Wha…?
Ha ha I get a shock every single time I come India. i cannot believe how expensive things are. I shudder to think how I would survive on an Indian salary for someone of of my experience levels.
In reply to Boiling
The US is now cheaper than India!
How does it feel to be back here? Do you feel good about being back? Do you feel frustrated about things going on in the country, and the discipline issues one has to put up on a day to day basis? Curious about the perspective… :)
Looking forward to a post on it…. (don’t know if you might have already written about it…. been browsing & reading one article at a time) :)
In reply to Pink
Getting used to it – especially the prices! The one thing that stands out most is the dust and dirt. If you go on a bike, you’re guaranteed to have a black face after a while. But the biggest difference is probably the way there are no reliable systems. Everything takes time, requires personal knowledge of someone to do the job for you. Bureaucratic red tape is the bane of India :(