The stark disparity between poverty and wealth in India remains a global magnet for attention. In one recent instance, a visiting foreign tourist to Chennai was left agog by the stark visibility while he stayed at a 5-star posh hotel.
A video that he posted from the gym of the hotel highlighted the wider wealth gap, showing how slums are situated immediately adjacent to high-end developments.
What the Tourist Witnessed
In the clip, the visitor explained the scene he witnessed while exercising, typing in floating text: “This sight from the Smith machine best captured India’s mind-boggling wealth gap. I use the term ‘practically slums’ only to assist in outlining the comparison.”
Posting the clip on Instagram, he said: “The view I gazed down at while squatting from my spotless 5-star hotel gym in India will speak volumes about the INSANE wealth gap here. Those buildings that you see are essentially slums.”
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Mixed Reactions Online
The blog elicited mixed reactions from Facebook and Twitter users. One inquired, “What land do you believe the hotel was constructed on?” hinting at the possibility that the basis of such high-end developments is displacement or encroachment.
Another user noted, “Wealth distribution imbalance within India alone, bro, you’re in New York’s alleys now, San Francisco, London, Paris, Naples,” implying that disparities in income are not exclusive to India.
One such user who identified herself as being from Chennai provided additional context: “I’m from Chennai and in most Indian cities, the idea of slums is to exist alongside the residential population residing there and these individuals are holding up the entire household work, so the zone which ur shooting this from MRC Nagar, and I bet even the hotel would be hiring a few from these modest abodes. These do get redeveloped over time, but for the lower middle class.”
Another individual commented on India’s cultural tolerance of poverty: “You notice the difference here because the poor aren’t sequestered in India. There is no shame to being poor here. Unlike some developed nations in the West, there are no areas designated where only the poor live, and other areas designated for only the rich. We live side by side here, rich and the poor, 5-star and the slums in proximity.”
Tourist’s Overarching Experience in India
In addition to bringing out social inequalities, the tourist also uploaded some videos from his journey through South India. He commented that hot and humid weather was one of the difficulties he faced, but complimented the region’s rich and delicious food, which he enjoyed immensely during his visit.
