Opinion Upper Middle Class Dreams

Let’s,in the manner of hotshot lit crit types,analyse the text here. First point to note,you can read as many English-language books you want,you can be a chap who prefers reading Chaucer when you have a hangover,and you can dream in English for all you want — all that won’t necessarily make you upper middle class. It’s one thing to say upper middle class Indians prefer English,and quite another to say if you prefer English you are upper middle class. Here’s a startling socio-economic insight: you are upper middle class if you are richer than the middle class and poorer than the rich,it ain’t got nothing to do with what you read and how you dream. However,if you do not accept my analysis — and why not,NDTV has a different take — consider this fascinating question: if you read Chaucer when you are hung over,does that mean you are rich?

Second: “obsessed”. Your modes of literary and general cultural consumption (yes,I admit,I am pathetically trying to imitate lit crit lingo here) may well be English-language dominated,but is that obsession or preference? True,preferences can and should be analysed,such inquiries can sometimes tell us interesting things about us and even society. But preference,even exclusive preference,isn’t obsession,is it? Also: India’s English-language media,it is true,talks mostly about those who write in English. But the same media is also always reporting and writing on Bollywood’s Hindi movies. So,we the English-language media is obsessed and deracinated and alienated when it comes to books but is well-balanced and culturally connected with our country when it comes to films? Newsrooms full of schizos! All over the country! Or are there some other

explanations that don’t involve obsession,alienation and deracination,explanations that look at the very complicated and multi-dimensional relationship between Indians and the English language? But,first,check the language in which you dream.

Do I dream in English? I (almost always) think in English (yes,yes I know; alienation,deracination,etc,but don’t jump to conclusions about my net worth,it won’t be worth your while). When we talk about us and the English language,is it more useful to say that you think in English or that you dream in English? I wouldn’t have dreamt of saying I dream in English in this context. But I didn’t dream NDTV telling me the real point is whether one dreams in English — that happened. And now I am tempted to ask people,do you dream in English?

If you look at me bafflingly on being asked that question,I have news for you: you are alienated,deracinated and obsessive — and,oh,I almost forgot,also upper middle class.

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