BEG and BUY
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 12 Sep 2022
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
There are some markets in Delhi, the capital of India, where one can see and buy beautiful, expensive products. These range from clothes and shoes to slippers, eye-wear, etc. Even sports items are on display. All these have an appearance of being imported from abroad. Yes, their prices also appear to be suitable for pricey imported products although they are local products. To make you think that that they were imported goods, their names are sometimes botched up foreign names for Indian products.
As an example, the chain of products bearing the brand name ADIDAS is familiar for expensive footwear or T-shirts. So some local brands are being displayed as DADIDAS. This fabricated brand name is doing well among a section of people who like to display their fondness for expensive products.
Recently, I had an opportunity to enter a huge store selling various pricey products. Like the items for sale, the store had an attractive name—All For You. One would have thought that the expensive products are being sold free of cost or at steep bottom prices. No need for this among the crowd of buyers. One need not wonder why such stores are so popular with a particular section of people — they are their lifeblood.
I would have thought that the store would not be crowded. I was mistaken.
There were so many people — men, women and children walking inside — going from one section to another required delicate skills so that one didn’t bump into other persons. Were there so many buyers or perhaps there were people like myself who wanted to experience the pleasure of going to pricey stores?
Once inside, I could see some trained personnel who were adept at guiding buyers from one section to another. I was similarly being guided. I enjoyed this feeling since normally people avoid elderly people who don’t appear to have large pockets. At one or two sections, I found an opportunity of asking if the store was always so crowded. ‘Of course’, was the usual response but on prodding some more, I was informed that it was a festive season and it was best to enjoy the season in the store. I was also urged to buy something for myself or my family.
Sharing the novel experience for quite a while, I felt relieved at coming out of the store. As soon as I stepped outside, I was inundated by few youngsters asking for some money. They felt cheated since I didn’t offer them any substantial amount. I wondered at their presence outside such costly shops — I need not have done so. It was natural to beg outside such places — sometimes these people were rewarded by hefty offerings — so large that they could go inside and buy something from their earnings.
Interesting!
BEG and BUY
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: India
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 12 Sep 2022.
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