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Caste, Coldplay and Capitalism: Emergence of a Dangerous Class

Caste, Coldplay and Capitalism: Emergence of a Dangerous Class

By Dr. Rahul Sonpimple

The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism in India

In Fredric Jameson's Postmodernism, in a culturally rootless Western world, the resurgence of socialism must come as a surprise—much like The Guardian's 2017 report, which highlighted young Americans blaming capitalism for crises in housing, healthcare and falling wages. Socialism, once demonised, is now reemerging as a political movement, offering a critique of a system that has failed the many for the benefit of the few.
India, once a symbol of the postcolonial, third-world socialist experiment, now finds itself on a similar yet inverted path. While American capitalism has become the most potent and widely accepted system of economic organisation, promising individual prosperity at the cost of deep social fractures, India's socialist beginnings have been viewed by some as a failed project. Yet, the journey from socialism to capitalism in India has fostered a middle class that now embraces a new form of neoliberal corporate capitalism—one that remains firmly entrenched in the old caste hierarchies. In this context, the uproar over Coldplay's concert in India offers a glimpse into the global cultural logic of late capitalism. When tickets for the concert sold out within minutes and were resold at exorbitant prices, the outrage that followed wasn't directed at the glaring wealth inequality that this capitalist spectacle laid bare. Instead, the critique veered toward a nationalist alternative—invoking "desi" pop stars like Diljit Dosanjh. This reaction, while not an exact replica of Jameson's analysis of postmodernism, aligns with Mark Fisher's concept of "capitalist realism", where even opposition or protest is confined within the capitalist framework, offering only cheaper or local alternatives without challenging the broader system.

Cultural Response to Global Capitalism

What does this signify? Is this cultural response indicative of an ideological gap between Indian youth who seem enamored by global capitalism, and on the other hand young Americans who are increasingly drawn to socialism? Not quite. Instead, this response highlights a deeper, more pervasive reality: the cultural and ideological universalism of capitalism. In the West, youth find themselves in a critical stage of engagement, often expressing discontent with capitalism as they confront its inherent uncertainties. This disillusionment compels them to grapple with deeper existential questions about their place within a system that seems increasingly precarious. In contrast, the metropolitan middle-class youth in India, largely composed of upper-caste individuals, navigate their realities with a sense of relative security, shaped by their caste privileges. For them, engaging in discourse around gender, climate change and other politically correct issues transcends mere apoliticism; it becomes a performative act that adds surplus value to their lives within a consumerist culture. This engagement serves as a means of identity construction, allowing them to derive meaning from their consumption practices.

Capitalism's Divergent Impacts

Therefore, Indian youth are not rejecting capitalism; instead, they are actively reshaping their identities within the global capitalist framework, unlike the Western Left, which is slowly coming to terms with the fact that the only possible reforms within the postmodern political landscape are cosmetic. The emphasis on political correctness, though seemingly noble in its intent, cannot dismantle the very capitalist system it seeks to critique.
For the Western Left, capitalism has reached a point where hope for genuine change has faded. Young socialists recognise that any potential reform would merely be a patchwork solution, offering only superficial adjustments to a system fundamentally rooted in inequality. In contrast, Indian youth seem less concerned with questioning capitalism's foundations and are more focused on their own integration into the global capitalist order. However, while American leftists may or may not channel this sense of hopelessness into organised movements against capitalism, the more pressing issue in India is the emergence of a dangerous class—one that stems from capitalism's union with the caste system.

The Dangerous Convergence of Capitalism and Caste

This dangerous class, nurtured by India's historical caste hierarchies and reinforced by neoliberal capitalism, is one that thrives on both traditional power structures and modern economic privilege. It benefits from the illusion of meritocracy and individualism, while the marginalised continue to face systemic oppression. The postcolonial desire to integrate into the global capitalist system collides with the harsh truth that this system will never fully allow social mobility for the oppressed.
Ultimately, both cosmopolitan and traditionalist factions in India, despite their apparent cultural differences, uphold capitalism in their own ways—whether through the embrace of global consumerism or the defense of cultural nationalism. The rise of this dangerous class not only entrenches caste hierarchies but also exacerbates economic inequality under the guise of neoliberal success. The convergence of old caste-based power with new capitalist privilege presents a profound challenge for India's marginalised, who are now forced to navigate the intertwined forces of both capitalism and caste.
This dual threat, more than any political correctness or cultural debate, represents the true danger facing India today. As capitalism deepens its roots in Indian society, its synergy with caste hierarchy creates a powerful, unyielding class structure that further marginalises the already oppressed. The cultural logic of late capitalism may be global, but its specific manifestation in India reveals a deeper, more insidious alliance—one that threatens to cement both economic and social inequality in the decades to come.

Dr. Rahul Sonpimple

Dr. Rahul Sonpimple is a researcher, activist, political thinker, and academic. He is the founding President of the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA) and Director of the Savitribai Phule Resource Centre, Nagpur. His work bridges grassroots activism with critical caste scholarship.

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