Follow Up Article Middle Class Will Remain Middle Class

Recently a well earning Bangalore techie has poured his heart out on the life style and changing implications.
High-earning Bengaluru techie's post goes viral: 'Are we forgetting simple joys of life while chasing next lifestyle upgrade?'
ABengaluru techie recently shared a thought-provoking reflection on social media, questioning the sustainability and deeper implications of a modern, metro-city lifestyle. This individual, who enjoys a comfortable life with a well-paying career and ample growth opportunities, offers an introspective take on what it truly means to live "well" in a city like Bengaluru.

The techie begins by outlining their expenses, which include Rs 25,000 as his share of a Rs 65,000 rent for a premium apartment with top-tier amenities. Shared costs for maintenance, a cook, and a maid add up to Rs 10,000, Rs 8,000, and Rs 4,000, respectively. Fitness is another expense, with Rs 3,000 spent monthly on a tennis coach. Groceries, often ordered online for convenience, and discretionary expenses like dining out, streaming subscriptions, and other indulgences further add to the monthly outlay. While none of these are strictly essential, they reflect a lifestyle of convenience and comfort.
Techie raises a critical question
Despite having worked hard to attain this lifestyle, the techie raises a critical question: Are we controlling our lifestyles, or are they controlling us? They note the relentless drive for upgrades—a better flat, a more luxurious meal, a fancier experience—and ponder if this is an inherent characteristic of living in a tier-1 city like Bengaluru.
The techie also reflects on the erosion of traditional skills. Cooking and cleaning, once integral aspects of daily life, are now outsourced in the name of convenience. While this frees up time, it also creates a disconnect from the fundamentals of living, the techie said. The individual wonders whether this shift is causing us to lose touch with resilience and resourcefulness—traits that were once vital for survival but are now being traded for convenience.

Another key concern revolves around the perception of value. Spending Rs 100 on food delivery or Rs 500 on a tennis lesson may feel insignificant in the grand scheme of a high-income lifestyle. However, this ease of spending raises questions about whether people are losing sight of what truly deserves their time and money.
Beyond personal implications, the techie delves into societal concerns. He point out that living well in cities like Bengaluru increasingly requires a high income, making this lifestyle inaccessible to many. With the cost of maintaining a "good life" climbing to nearly Rs 1 lakh per month, he asks who gets left behind in this race for comfort and luxury. Are cities inadvertently creating a divide where only the privileged can aspire to live well, while others struggle to keep pace, he asks.

The reflection extends to broader generational implications. The techie questions whether the pursuit of an aspirational, curated lifestyle is causing people to lose sight of what truly matters.

What netizens said
Netizens resonated deeply with the Bengaluru techie’s introspective post, sharing their own reflections on the shifting dynamics of modern urban living and its impact on values.
One user highlighted how quickly people adapt to a high-consumption lifestyle after starting to earn well, contrasting it with childhood experiences. They recalled how, as a child, a single packet of chips was a weekly treat, whereas now, indulgence feels incomplete without gourmet popcorn and nostalgic chips. This shift, they noted, evokes a strange sense of detachment from the value of money.

Another user acknowledged the liberating feeling of not having to overthink purchases that once felt like luxuries. They noted how this abundance, though freeing, is a stark departure from earlier times when such indulgences were rare and more cherished.

A third commenter reflected on how scarcity once amplified the joy of simple pleasures. They recalled childhood restaurant visits that were rare yet deeply satisfying, contrasting them with the diminished excitement of abundance today.

Yet another user fondly remembered their father bringing home kachoris once a month, rationed strictly to one per person. They remarked how those simple, infrequent moments brought unparalleled joy, a sentiment hard to replicate in today’s world of constant availability.

 

You are a dreamer.I have lived this life in a village close to the sea around 28 kms from Chennai.I had a lovely garden with the board -dont pluck flowers.I planted Almonda and the flowers peeped into the kitchen smiling and waving at Mithila.After head bath, a towel tied around the hair and with a flower basket she used to pluck flowers right under the board humming a tune,That was her way of telling me that she was also joint owner of the house.Maid was on call with a calling bell in the kitchen.She used to draw such a lovely kolam and Margazhi had the addition of pumpkin flower in a cowdung holder.Around 6 pm a dozen people from the village would assemble and we used to discuss all subjects under the sun.Mithila used to make lovely rava dosa now and then and serve them.In the night after Dinner Mithila and I went to the open terrace, lie down on a mat and listen to music upto 11 AM with the roar of the sea waves providing the lullaby.Right in the morning it was a sight to see Kingfisher and parrots lining up on the telephone pole and shriek as if they were giving us a guard of honour.I can go on and on but emotion in the absence of Mithila prevents me from proceeding further.I will be making my last trip to the house in January before it is passed on to some body else.Understanding my feelings my daughters have agreed for my stay there for a week.Safety arrangements planned will make it appear as if PM is going to stay there.
Thanks for giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts.
Regards SLN

 

If some avenue is closed some other avenue will open up.This is beautifully forecast and analysed by Alwyn Toffler in his series of books starting with "Future shock".Sunder Pichai says that right now 30% of coding is done by AI.I know a person who lost his high income jobs thrice as a result of mergers and acquisitions. While we need not take a fatalistic view a holistic view will call for a comfortable but modest life style which can be sustained.
Regards SLN