Flush with Money and Leisure

(Published in Banking Services Chronicle September 2007)

We are happy that Taj Mahal has finally been formally acknowledged among the new seven wonders of the world. It little matters whether UNESCO accepts it or not. I am also proud to be a citizen of the country where this beautiful monument is located.
But here I am more interested in the phenomenon than in the monument. Why suddenly this need to select the new seven wonders? And what about the mode chosen—cast your vote on the Internet or through SMS—for compiling the illustrious who’s who of monuments?

Both the questions are pointers to the fact that people have enough leisure and money. And they are constantly looking for avenues where they can spend both. You may argue that people of yesteryears had more time than we of the 24×7 work culture have. That’s true. But note that I don’t use the word time but leisure. Earlier there was time but social interactions and family responsibilities had a big claim on it. The loners of today, on the other hand, may have less of time spared from office. But they certainly have much more leisure.

Money is another big factor. The people of today, especially youngsters, may have money on their minds. But that is big money, not money to make both ends meet. They are not compelled to become an engineer at the earliest so that the bread and butter of the family would be assured. They are free to choose unconventional career tracks and explore them. And most of them soon begin to earn more than enough and splurge money without a thought.

In such a scenario where you have leisure and money both and you do not have too much of society, you begin to look for entertainment. And this entertainment has both outdoor and indoor dimensions. The former is manifested in the globe-trotter who will physically visit these new wonders. While the latter is manifested in those who surf the Internet on the computer or touch the mobile screen to wallow in this wonderful world.

Welcome to the world of tourism and entertainment!