Hinduism’s strong notion of a pre-determined karma and the caste-system that has evolved from that belief has lived beyond Ghandi’s (partial) opposition to it. The contrast between India’s progress and backwardness, rich and poor, new and old is further highlighted by the geographic entanglement of these dichotomies.

Hundreds of millions of Indians accept their lot in life as an unchangeable reality. On the one hand, this means they are unlikely to escape the socioeconomic fate to which they were born into, but on the other hand, they are able to live without having the responsibility to do so. The maxim “Who is rich? One who is content with their lot” would turn many of India’s poor to rich while at the same time converting most of Bombay’s yuppies into poor.

While in Western society the gap between ‘wants’ and ‘haves’ is narrowed by consumerism (Increase supply / ‘haves’), Hinduism and its caste system has allowed for the gap to be filled by reducing expectations of the masses (Decrease demand / ‘wants’). It is for this reason that India, unlike America, does not have its stories of beggars turned moguls.

India’s establishment is still made up for the most part of ‘forward class’ members (e.g. Brahmins, Anglo-Indians, Pharsis), and while macro-economic factors are pushing many Indians into the middle class, micro-economic factors are not. It is perhaps not that individual progress goes unrewarded in this country, but perhaps it is attempted all too little. It is not until individuals believe in their ability to change their fate, that their fate can be changed, and so the belief in a pre-determined karma serves as a self-fulfilling prophecy and as a major impediment to India’s socioeconomic development.

While I find the proposition of pre-determined fate somewhat unpalatable given my Judeo notion of justice and a western notion of individualism, I have accepted part of it. Each has their lot, their allocated burden in life, for which they alone bear responsibility for. And while not everyone gets handed out the best cards, everyone has the ability to play their hand well, even if it is a losing hand.