A class settled between lower and upper class, the class of people befits its definition. Neither are they rich nor are they poor. Neither do they know how to show as poor nor do they know how to show rich. Caught in this clumsy link, they are what they stand for.
For them it had always been as a family (joint), thundu vizhatha budget- Economic simplicity and maanam! We used to maintain a small book, the size of a visiting card. This book would hold a mathematical formulas and numericals that describe how much the family spent the last month and how should this month’s salary be spent efficiently so that the debts are met and we break even.
This class forms a majority in India. Well, if I’m not wrong, taking a census might prove that they form the biggest community in the whole world.
Generally known for their stingy nature, these people are not stingy, but they know how to spend what they have earned and when. A scene from a movie Nerukku Naer, where Karan, the villain, quotes this amazing example of what middle class is all about-
“Era nooru rubai eduthukittu chattai vanganum-nu kadaikku poveenga, ana anga Era nooru rubai-ku nalla chattai irukkum, neenga atha vittutu rendu chattai nooru nooru rubaiku vangittu varu veenga, athu orey masathila sayam poidum!”
Quickly, the translated version of the above quote – You would take two hundred rupees and go to a shop to buy a good shirt, there would be one, but you would instead take two shirts which are hundred each, which would eventually lose its colour in a month’s time!
So that’s what we are – Middle Class living with dignity…
Our aim has always been that half ground plot outside the city, painted in yellow colour. And every morning you would take the “The Hindu” or “Indian Express” and settle on the EC chair (I forgot to mention the steaming cup of coffee on the stool), against those who would settle down in the western commode with the paper/milk.
A bike like Rajdoot (old Indian bike) or a Bajaj scooter, which would be useful to carry the entire family of four on it. You ride, with your wife as the pillion (sitting on one side) and your two kids sitting on the petrol tank or in the compartment on the front (or the trolley like attachment on the side). Oh yeah, the eldest is a son and the youngest is the daughter.
The weekend outing will be the beach or a park in (Thiru. V. Ka or Annanagar Tower). And that night’s dinner would be the stuff made that day morning (relaxation given to the wife).
When it comes to the major outings or trip it would always be VGP, Mahabalipuram, Zoo or at the most some district inside the state – sometimes inter state.
Life was simple. I once remember my dad saving petrol in a 20ltr can, as from the next day onwards there was a steep hike in the fuel price. We were this way!
With a colour TV, no-telephone and no-VCR, we sustained our life with the channels- DD1 and DD2 that used to show how to sow saplings and plough rice or wheat from the vayakkadu (fields) or the Friday special olhiyum oliyum (Translates to Light Sound), Sunday special movies or cartoons. There are people who still do not have cable TV.
Gone are those days, when we used to sleep on the mottai maadi (terrace), after having nila choru (Moon food). It used to be this way: My mom would prepare food for all the four of us in a big vessel and, we by then water the terrace (to get the cool feeling) spread mats and blankets and eagerly wait for her to arrive. She would place a urundai (ball of food (the size of a TT ball)) in our hand and we would gobble it immediately and extend the hand for the next one (though your sister would still be waiting for the previous turn).
Life was just perfect! Beautiful, snail paced and awesome!
Next day your dad would wake you for the drag called school (back then, it was always a loathsome stuff, but at later stages school was nothing less than paradise!). Get ready and you would be dropped off at the school campus by your dad. You would be proud boasting off to your friends that your dad owns two wheeler, until you see another friend getting dropped by his dad in a Premier Padmini or a Contessa. [Just like Boys, your nose breaks]
We never knew what birthday parties were, we were used to go to other’s parties eat and ask for more (an eye would be following you till the party ends) the stuffs we like. The eyes that followed belongs to the male parent, he would belt you once you reach home. Serious belting! You end up crying and try to be watchful next time when you embark on your favourite stuff in the next party (360 degree rotation on the XY plane and jump to see whether a tall figure could be spotted along the Z plane).
Dad teaching you how to ride the BSA champ, a game of scrabble with the family, or a game of carom. Or the occasional trip to your grandparents’ place.
It’s all over and now I’m a grown up dumb moron - Software Engineer - who may not be able to bring up a family in that way! I guess it’s all over, pity that they may not experience such beautiful things that we had come across, excepting our memories.
For them it had always been as a family (joint), thundu vizhatha budget- Economic simplicity and maanam! We used to maintain a small book, the size of a visiting card. This book would hold a mathematical formulas and numericals that describe how much the family spent the last month and how should this month’s salary be spent efficiently so that the debts are met and we break even.
This class forms a majority in India. Well, if I’m not wrong, taking a census might prove that they form the biggest community in the whole world.
Generally known for their stingy nature, these people are not stingy, but they know how to spend what they have earned and when. A scene from a movie Nerukku Naer, where Karan, the villain, quotes this amazing example of what middle class is all about-
“Era nooru rubai eduthukittu chattai vanganum-nu kadaikku poveenga, ana anga Era nooru rubai-ku nalla chattai irukkum, neenga atha vittutu rendu chattai nooru nooru rubaiku vangittu varu veenga, athu orey masathila sayam poidum!”
Quickly, the translated version of the above quote – You would take two hundred rupees and go to a shop to buy a good shirt, there would be one, but you would instead take two shirts which are hundred each, which would eventually lose its colour in a month’s time!
So that’s what we are – Middle Class living with dignity…
Our aim has always been that half ground plot outside the city, painted in yellow colour. And every morning you would take the “The Hindu” or “Indian Express” and settle on the EC chair (I forgot to mention the steaming cup of coffee on the stool), against those who would settle down in the western commode with the paper/milk.
A bike like Rajdoot (old Indian bike) or a Bajaj scooter, which would be useful to carry the entire family of four on it. You ride, with your wife as the pillion (sitting on one side) and your two kids sitting on the petrol tank or in the compartment on the front (or the trolley like attachment on the side). Oh yeah, the eldest is a son and the youngest is the daughter.
The weekend outing will be the beach or a park in (Thiru. V. Ka or Annanagar Tower). And that night’s dinner would be the stuff made that day morning (relaxation given to the wife).
When it comes to the major outings or trip it would always be VGP, Mahabalipuram, Zoo or at the most some district inside the state – sometimes inter state.
Life was simple. I once remember my dad saving petrol in a 20ltr can, as from the next day onwards there was a steep hike in the fuel price. We were this way!
With a colour TV, no-telephone and no-VCR, we sustained our life with the channels- DD1 and DD2 that used to show how to sow saplings and plough rice or wheat from the vayakkadu (fields) or the Friday special olhiyum oliyum (Translates to Light Sound), Sunday special movies or cartoons. There are people who still do not have cable TV.
Gone are those days, when we used to sleep on the mottai maadi (terrace), after having nila choru (Moon food). It used to be this way: My mom would prepare food for all the four of us in a big vessel and, we by then water the terrace (to get the cool feeling) spread mats and blankets and eagerly wait for her to arrive. She would place a urundai (ball of food (the size of a TT ball)) in our hand and we would gobble it immediately and extend the hand for the next one (though your sister would still be waiting for the previous turn).
Life was just perfect! Beautiful, snail paced and awesome!
Next day your dad would wake you for the drag called school (back then, it was always a loathsome stuff, but at later stages school was nothing less than paradise!). Get ready and you would be dropped off at the school campus by your dad. You would be proud boasting off to your friends that your dad owns two wheeler, until you see another friend getting dropped by his dad in a Premier Padmini or a Contessa. [Just like Boys, your nose breaks]
We never knew what birthday parties were, we were used to go to other’s parties eat and ask for more (an eye would be following you till the party ends) the stuffs we like. The eyes that followed belongs to the male parent, he would belt you once you reach home. Serious belting! You end up crying and try to be watchful next time when you embark on your favourite stuff in the next party (360 degree rotation on the XY plane and jump to see whether a tall figure could be spotted along the Z plane).
Dad teaching you how to ride the BSA champ, a game of scrabble with the family, or a game of carom. Or the occasional trip to your grandparents’ place.
It’s all over and now I’m a grown up dumb moron - Software Engineer - who may not be able to bring up a family in that way! I guess it’s all over, pity that they may not experience such beautiful things that we had come across, excepting our memories.
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