Apropos of Forty Slicks (Jan 25), the middle-aged generation is now more aware of their short lives and very anxious to define a meaning for it. In a way it’s human progress, as we shift to matters more spiritual. Vivekananda and Rajneesh both gave lectures a long time back about “the arrival of the new-age man”.
B.V.G. Rao, Warangal
As Gen M divisions go, here’s a telling, first-hand story about a Pakistani and Indian Muslim middle-class family. Some years ago, a Pakistani couple with a nine-year-old son and a Gujarati Muslim couple with twins lived next door to us. The Gujarati lady duly came to visit my wife, and in the normal manner, touched her feet to seek her blessings. She had a first-class degree in science from Bombay University, drove her car to work, and was soon popular in the neighbourhood. The Pakistani lady, on the other hand, would never be seen unless it was in the company of the husband or the son. After a few months, our Gujarati neighbours told us they were moving out because they found the Pakistanis too rigid and orthodox in their outlook. It is a different story that the Pakistani lady became a close friend of my wife because they spoke the same language—Punjabi from Lahore.
J.N. Bhat, Auckland
I agree with a lot of your analysis but the health part is a bit stretched. Also, a lot of thought goes into our purchases; they are still not so impulsive. I guess when we wanted to be impulsive, we did not have the moolah or the temptations were limited. We had to run to Singapore or Dubai to buy “stuff”.
Lakhu Khushalani, Mumbai
Marketers overestimated the youth and the middle-class segments. The real purchasing power lies with older people, as you rightly point out. Being in this segment, I know it—mid-life is rocking, the kid’s grown up and I am happier.
Dinesh Kumar, Chandigarh
This is the time to walk the extra mile, to leave footprints on the sands of time.
Sunil Kumar, Delhi
At 57, even I should ‘qualify’ for the Gen M label. And neither am I jealous nor do I have any qualms about what people do to fill in their existential vacuum. I have enough on my plate (as well as in my pocket) to lead an active life, full of variety and depth. Again, there definitely remain many more things for all of us to do to finish unfulfilled “personal business” as well as to explore new horizons. It’s only the crass commercialisation that gets my goat, the self-righteousness of those who want to impose so-called dos and don’ts.
Harsh Rai Puri, Bhopal
Since Generation ‘M’ missed the entree, it’s overcompensating by hogging the dessert.
Rajneesh Batra, Delhi
