Socio-economic study of urban middle classes

The study, based on a sample survey of five hundred urban middle class families, attempts to define this class socially and economically. The economic planning vitally affects this class: the price rise which has been going pari passu with planning in India is its enemy number one. No wonder that Charles Peguy exclaims that it is a class which has lost without gambling. Socially this class has to stick to conventions and customs which it can ill afford. Consequently, this class has to compromise constantly between the modern and the traditional values-between the new and the old.

There is a note of caution at the end of this study : that this class must orientate itself to the changing conditions of society. Until this is done, this class would continue to have one leg in the traditional society and another in the modern one making it well nigh impossible to look forward to the fulfilment of socio-economic needs of the society.