The New Indian Middle Class

For the first time in our history, the Indian middle class has emerged as an important player in the elections, both in terms of numerical size and the influence it wields. For the first time, a pan-Indian class, largely homogeneous, mostly educated and universally angry, is a factor in the war rooms of almost all political parties.

In the era of the global middleclass revolution, will the Indian counterpart emerge as a credible game changer? Does it have a wide and inclusive agenda, strong organization, effective leadership and an alternative vision that shows up political discrimination? Or will it be mere cannon fodder for calculating, manipulative, cynical politicians?

In this important and timely book, Pavan K. Varma – the most respected analyst of the middle class in India – looks at the 2014 elections as a watershed in the evolution of this class. Crucially, he argues that what the middle class does now and the choices it makes will shape the future of India, for better or for worse.