Attractive Lifestyle in urban India

India has always been known for its agrarian economy and simple lifestyle of its people. But with the opening of the economy and exposing of Indians to globalization, there has been a paradigm shift in the lifestyle of Indians, especially the urban Indian. Urban India has changed like never before in the last two decades. Whether it’s the cloud touching skyscrapers or the immensely developed public transport network or the huge malls, urban India has changed beyond recognition and this process is still ongoing.

Skyscrapers form an essential part
of urban architecture

The urban lifestyle in India is very attractive with streets full of lights, huge malls, multiplexes galore and pubs which are the venue for the nightlife in the city. With increasing number of people moving from rural to urban areas, in search of a better job and thus a better lifestyle, there is starting to be a huge shortage in quality housing. Urban lifestyle in India is quite different from the rural with skyrocketing cost of living and nuclear families. The current urban lifestyle in India gives an opportunity to one and all to work hard and realize one’s dream of a luxury housing, expensive car and a cool lifestyle, but never delivers peace of mind or true inner satisfaction.

A very integral part of the modern Indian urban lifestyle is the emergence of the apartment. In every major city in India, the old house concept has been transformed to the apartment system, both due to the absence of enough space and due to the sudden huge increase in land prices. Although the apartment system of building has to some extent reduced the problem of shortage of quality housing, it has destroyed the Indian system of joint family, leading to the emergence of nuclear families.

Urban India has truly been transformed when one reviews the food scene. Long gone are the days of the “thelawalas” and “dhabas”, which have been replaced by MNCs like MacDonald’s, KFC, Subway and others, almost crippling the business and livelihood of the “thelawalas” who have been delivering food to one and all over decades.

Another change in the landscape of modern urban India is the absence of playing fields and parks. This particular problem has lead to the children being addicted to video games, which have become their only form of entertainment. The fact that children are half the time  sitting in front of the television and not undergoing any form of physical exercise, has also lead to the emergence of diseases like obesity and diabetes in children.

Although the urban lifestyle looks really tempting, with almost everything at hand and the promise of a comfortable lifestyle, it is really a hollow illusion. A huge amount of money, or a luxury home can never truly satisfy anyone, and one gets bored of the illusion of perfect life, which is embodied by modern urban lifestyle.