Of late, the ghost of price rise has been haunting the common Indian and playing it's devilish pranks. From the Recession of 2008, saving rates have receded and investment rates soared higher. Returns on investments have come down drastically, but the cost of investments has been shooting up. We have lot been discussing about the rapid increase in the cost of living. If living has become expensive, how about resorting to death? But, not just living, even death has become costly now. The after-life story has also been haunted with price rise. I recently happened to be at a funeral when I realized this bitter, yet strange truth. The cost of all the rituals to be done after the death of a person was estimated at a damning 20,000 INR. And Pity me! It could come no less than 18,000 after bargain. :( Where are we going with this? Are we to live or to die? If living has become costly, death has become costlier. And do our elected representatives realize what situations they have led this country into? In spite of their 300% pay hike, our selfish politicians at the helm are not yet contented. They want more, and this more has no end to itself. At least now, they have got to realize the situation and spend time and their intellectual capital to check the situation and help the cattle class - not just to lead a standard life, but also within their budget. I do not know the significance of the bull at the sensex, but the common man has not been able to make this giant leap in spending as the barrier of daily needs is rising beyond his reach.
