On Mehangai : Views of a Gujju uncle

   Despite what people would have to say about the various nuances of the Indian Rails, I have always loved travelling by the “chuk-chuk gadi” and preferred it over all other forms of transport.The part which I fancy the most is the interesting conversations you build up with the people in your coach, it is diversity at its best, and people spare no efforts to spill out all the gyan they have .

   Just recently , on a trip home on my regular train,August Kranti , I ended up being dragged into an interesting conversation on our woes of the times “ Mehangai”  aka Inflation. 

   The conversation started on a regular note, with Aunties crying out how their hearts weep while cooking  food , what with the ever increasing process of sabji , pulses , and cooking oil. Of the sky-rocketing prices of petrol , and how it affects us all. And then there emerged this Gujju uncle , who with his sassy way of communication ,changed the direction of the conversation .What views he held , were incredibly delightful and different to hear.

   Our dear Gujju uncle , questioned us in an obvious manner , that how is inflation causing us troubles. According to him , India is becoming rich , what could be bought for Rs. 10 around 5 years back ,can be bought for  Rs. 100 now , and that’s indicative of how our spending power has increased, that we can now afford to spend a 100 bucks for what we would do in a tenner. What he said made us all ponder , it’s true the average standard of living in India has increased. Pizza hut, Dominoes’ is no longer a rich man’s joint , malls are increasingly being visited by the middle class. 

   And then Uncle continued his explanation :  For us, born of early 80’s and before things have become expensive , but not for today’s generation .We oldies still calculate the value of rupee as per previous days , in our minds we still feel , ahhh Rs. 100!!! that used to be enough to survive a month. But for the newer generation, the story is different . It’s not expensive – it’s the rate of their age, it’s the prices they have grown up in.  Brands to them are more affordable now.  The whole standard of living has increased !!!

   In the end it left me with a happy feeling, it felt as if I was enlightened with a new thought. Our Gujju uncle , made me realize how creative a man could be , how his thought process could conjure reasons to feel  happy about everything in life , to find that silver lining in the cloud !!

   What made the conversation stick to mind ,was the hilarious way in which our dear Gujju uncle and his son were steering it forward.  To quote: