Lurker Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 They tell you that if you have not been to India in the last couple of years you would not recognize the sheer change the nation has undergone. In my case I have always scoffed at such suggestions wondering how could a nation change so much in 2 years? Well they were right I was wrong. Currently I am in Gurgaon enjoying a short vacation and all the surprises. Manhattan near Mehrauli It would not be surprising if Gurgaon has most skyscrapers(10 stories and higher) per square kilometer amongst all Indian towns today. Anywhere you look you will see a high rise either occupied or currently being built. You are excused if you walked in Gurgaon today and wondered - Real estate recession? What recession? No wonder DLF folks are amongst the richest in the world today. As impressive as it looks you can not help but wonder about the sheer lack of infrastructure. Gurgaon is struggling under the sheer weight of cars and buses and small vehicles plying endlessly. Roads are broken and I can only imagine the pain everyday commuter has to go through. This does not include heavy trucks that play everyday to bring in materials for construction. At first hand you wonder how does this town work under such chaos?? Then again is it not true for India as a whole? Real estate prices are extremely high and way out of reach of common Indians(imagine 75 lack for a 3-4 bedroom apartment in a not so well settled locality). You have to wonder as to sheer stability of it all. Maid in India. There is a familiar faceless face in most of the cars today. Specially the cars that are going towards the mall(most of them are anyway), or towards a multiplex or an eating joint. It is that of young girl (generally between 15-25) wearing a dull salwar suit. Next to her would be a kid, a young one between 1-4 years. Her job is essentially to keep track of the kid while the parents eat out or enjoy the movie(or shopping). Surely prosperity is not a new phenomenon but one has to wonder how kids were taken care of before the mall culture happened? Did parents go out as much? If so who took care of the kids?? I have sat through in discussions where people have argued if a maid has to be taken on the long trip. The plus side would be the kids would be watched and elders would have more free time. The down side is one less seat in the vehicle. Trading places if ever there was one! Veg food rocks But not the vegetarians. They suck! Just kidding. Okay maybe not. For a while I have been apprehensive when a vegetarian friend invited me over. Generally the food served was either paneer or rajma. Thats it. Okay might be my friends suck but thats pretty much what was served. Back home I am rollicking at Bikanerwaala and Haldirams and Evergreen and I can attest to the fact that veg food rocks. I have had some nice kebabs and chicken and mutton but surely the highlight of this trip has been veggie dishes. With navratra commencing it has only gone better. And yes nothing beats Delhi chaat, or chane-bhautre. Okay maybe a chilled rasmalai slrrp. Tailpiece Indian capitalism has overtaken US, and other Western countries. This is probably truest in medical profession where every doctor is now looking to get his salary as a percentage of the "client" they are bringing to the hospitals. Hospitals in turn are willing to pay to attract more customers. A senior consultant told me that in his interview the key questions were not about his experience and skills but about how he could help build the patient base of the hospital and what percentage would he be looking(all cash of course). xxx
kabira Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 we are really moving slowing in terms of building infra structure. Under UPA, Golden Quadrilateral Project has halted. We need better roads ASAP. If you come to Gujarat, I have noticed we have better roads than lot of towns in India that includes MP, Delhi, UP, AP etc.
kabira Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 >Maid in India. There is a familiar faceless face in most of the cars today. Specially the cars that are going towards the mall(most of them are anyway), or towards a multiplex or an eating joint. It is that of young girl (generally between 15-25) wearing a dull salwar suit. Next to her would be a kid, a young one between 1-4 years. Her job is essentially to keep track of the kid while the parents eat out or enjoy the movie(or shopping). Surely prosperity is not a new phenomenon but one has to wonder how kids were taken care of before the mall culture happened? Did parents go out as much? If so who took care of the kids?? I have sat through in discussions where people have argued if a maid has to be taken on the long trip. The plus side would be the kids would be watched and elders would have more free time. The down side is one less seat in the vehicle. Trading places if ever there was one! Actually, the kids today and we as kids are totally different. I can vouch for that. Most of today's kids need way more attention than we ever did.
The Outsider Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 Good write up....some of the projects in and around Delhi have been huge over the last few years and property prices, as you've rightly said, are simply outrageous. $200k for an apartment in Gurgaon is mind boggling.
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