The Republic of India is a wonderful country with 36 states and union territories, reflecting the diversity of its people. Now, let's delve into the lives of middle-class families in India.
Imagine the day when a girl is about to become a mother and a boy is about to become a father. Chaos ensues at the hospital as relatives and family members congratulate the new parents. The typical question from relatives is often, "Is it a boy or a girl?" The expected answer is usually "a boy" because India tends to be a male-oriented society, and many people prefer having a baby boy.
Now, let's focus on the father, whom we'll call Mr. Tony. Mr. Tony entered this world 29 years ago. After his first birthday, his parents began instilling poems, sums, and puzzles into his young mind. If he resisted, they would sometimes scare him with stories of ghosts and devils. School started, and he progressed through grades 1 to 12 over 17 years. The biggest challenge then became selecting a college and completing education until the master's level. At 25, Mr. Tony graduated from a good college and began looking for a job. Eventually, he secured a good job, and the day came when his parents decided it was time for him to get married and settle down. Two more years passed, and at 27, Mr. Tony became a father to a baby boy.
Now, Mr. Tony is on the verge of repeating the same cycle he went through, from grade 1 to a master's degree, but with the addition of new technologies. He is set to spend the remaining years of his life caring for his children. This story reflects the common trajectory of many middle-class families in India.
