Content that made me overthink, a series— A unique tradition in rich business family
Capitalism’s myth of meritocracy cannot explain why everyone is not rich
It was an ordinary Monday, and here I was, on the way to work. Casually checking WhatsApp, I came across a particular video shared by a relative. It was more interesting than the usual WhatsApp forward. I learnt about the story of Dhruv Dholakia, the heir to a comically large diamond business in Surat who was given a small amount of money, and told to live like an ordinary person in a place where he did not know the local language. Armed with a grounded upbringing and the courage to succeed, Dhruv managed to not only survive but also get promoted and recognised for his hard work.
I thought this story was brilliant. Many people who become wealthy tend to overindulge their children because they finally can. A casual reading of history will confirm that spoilt brats are not only annoying, but have led to civilizations falling. Today’s civilizations are political parties and businesses, and the less spoilt the heir, the more resilient the inheritance. My Instagram reels are full of rich kids going abroad and discovering housework and public transport. I think all factions of this country will agree that housework and public transport are most certainly invented in India only, and probably been given some UNESCO award as well.
Coming back to the Dholakia story, it was interesting to see that that Dhruv Dholakia not only managed to complete his 45 day vanvaas but also said that he learnt some lessons from it. He learnt about the minimum basic salary that his workers should get, and how precarious life is for the average Indian labourer. Still, he did relatively well. He got promoted quickly and even got chosen for a special training course for 5-star hotels. His discussions about the way his family functions were the most interesting. For example, his grandfather insisted that when guests come home, family members shall serve guests themselves. This is in sharp contrast to many wealthy homes, where children have not even learnt how to make the coffee that they drink daily.
While the video is important for many wealthier families, these form only a small part of India. When I was watching this video, I was wondering why we hear such few stories of upward mobility from migrant labourers, since Rs.5000 is a relatively meagre amount to start with. Why so many families are stuck in the vicious cycle of poverty, which is something we learn about in development economics, but something we don’t fully comprehend.
First, of course, is language. Dholakia himself said that his knowledge of English has been crucial towards getting his first part-time work. While English medium schools have cropped up even in the smallest of towns, unfortunately, people cannot pick up a foreign language without hearing it around them. This leaves people in a peculiar situation where they may be able to read and write English much better than they speak it, even if their entire education is in English. If a migrant labour does not speak English or the local language, then even getting good employment is difficult. Suggesting that they ‘learn English’ is surely a good idea, but how to do it is much more complex. Until the elites prefer English-speaking staff over other languages, language itself remains a barrier.
Secondly, it is education. Everyone completely agrees that a good basic education is a must. But getting to that must is a much more complex problem. It is not only about increasing teacher salaries, or making colourful buildings. It is also about the importance of education from your childhood. If the parents prioritize the education of a child, they usually do well. For this, parents themselves need to know what a good education can do, and that is limited by the possibilities that they see around them. If no one manages to get a good job by going to school, parents would feel that schooling is not necessary. That’s why, despite our sincere support and encouragement, none of the househelp we have had has wanted to even write the 10th board examinations.
Next, let’s consider aspirations. You become what you see around you, and the more you see it, the more you want to become it. This impact of the exposure effect can explain why a disproportionate number of people want to be film stars or politicians. If from your childhood, you have only seen ordinary dreams, you will not be able to imagine that being a small shop help can one day make you the manager of a hotel. The power to dream is complex, with intangible factors affecting it such as mental health, gender and race. Good and motivating role models are impossible for any institution to provide, and it is something that society will itself create over time.
Lastly, lets not forget the fact that that Dholakia did not really have any responsibilities. He had a clear exit route, and did not face the pressure of family or any real urgency. This frees up the mind in order to concentrate on the task at hand. If you feel the emotional pressure of these expectations, you may not be able to think clearly and strategise for the future. Many times, the present situation may be so overwhelming, that you may not know what to even do next.
What this makes us realise is that while such videos might be good learning for everyone, especially for the person who underwent the experience, it is dangerous to assume that this means that our meritocracy can work this well for everyone. As revealed in many books, including Micheal Sandal’s seminal work, applying a purely merit-based approach is actually harming the poor. People do not have the same opportunities, because they are not the same. And our systems and approaches towards problems need to acknowledge that.
The assumption that equality of opportunity is all that is required to have equal outcomes is a fallacy. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, and when your feet hurt the same way, you’ll know what kind of shoes they need.
