Is materialism killing your personal life?

There are sniggers in the kitchen — “There is much comedy when madam comes home from a party, sir hides behind a newspaper like a mouse” —Rosie’s merriment would have increased vastly, had she viewed Madam Dudlani fuming smoke from her ears and jiggling her prosperity-laden love handles in frustrated fury! Their entire Milan luxury trip had lost its flavour.  The evening had turned into a painful ‘flop’! She’d wave her hands in all variety of dance mudras to display the rock sized adornment on her finger, with mention of “Tiffany” at every drop of a sentence, the applause and envy she’d dreamed of had been rudely upstaged by Silky Sood’s new silver-mauve acquisition glinting brazenly in the drive. She couldn’t pronounce ‘Lamborghini’ but had that stopped her from tom-tomming reference to the cussed object? The Dudlani’s evening had turned murkily sour! Paul the driver summed up the evening, ”Aapan-log much jolly! One Sunday mutton curry, one Sunday chicken curry, one Sunday fish curry, and salary day and our faithful ‘worry-not’ bottle! Less money, less tension, more happiness!”

This little scene is a reflection of the times that are. And of the aspirational, amorphous section of city life, called ‘Society’ that rots and eats into relationships. More pronounced in metros I think but pervading and growing as fast as an epidemic in two and three tier towns too. The materialism eats into the fabric of marriages and love like termites .

So what’s the philosophy of our times? It is well recognised that this same ‘society’ bows well to the well-endowed! Never mind how the ‘well-endowed’ Mr. and Mrs. Money-bags acquired the stuff. His last summer holiday could have been at the most ‘prestigious’ Tihar Jail, but so long as he’s got the props he’s welcomed with open arms.

You got it, you flaunt it. You ain’t got it, you still flaunt it as if you’ve got it.

I’m wondering about those times of when life boasted a cosmopolitan, cultural, more genteel, achievement oriented elite. A life of kindred spirits that believed in value systems, love and genuine friendships. In relationships that lasted a lifetime, weighed in the depth of love not depths of a prospective partner’s pockets and coffers. The kinds that read books than the carats on a diamond alone, and attended theatre, that spent the afternoon at an art gallery holding hands and discussing the layers of a painting. A breed soon to be relegated to dinosaur era.

Madam Dudlani, Silky Sood and their ilk convey to their dedicated followers what to wear, where to gather, where to live, if you have to be considered an adequate being to belong to ‘Society’ whose aspirants go to any lengths to strut the stuff on the ‘internaat’! Hours spent strategically posing and posting to impress and convey the image of plenitude and being branded at any cost-labels, and it’s the international companies that are laughing all the way to the bank!

Are we allowing society to lead us by the nose? Where will it? If allowed. Where real bonds don’t exist unless weighed by diamonds and international holidays? Is it  so important to try and fit in to this something that is  never fully achieved?

The writer is a columnist, designer and brand consultant. Mail her at nishajamvwal@gmail.com