India’s fast-growing economy has engendered many new millionaires and billionaires in various sectors — aviation, technology, telecoms, retail, hospitality, to name some. Add one new category — beggars, exemplars of literal trickle-down growth, given the growing numbers of affluent Indians whose religion and superstition impels them to dole out enough alms to make some beggars rich. The media have recently highlighted the case of Mohammed Jakir, an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, for instance, who has risen to the very top of his profession, with a net worth estimated over Rs1million (US$23,479).
Beggars Aweigh
India’s fast-growing economy has engendered many new millionaires and billionaires in various sectors — aviation, technology, telecoms, retail, hospitality, to name some. Add one new category — beggars, exemplars of literal trickle-down growth, given the growing numbers of affluent Indians whose religion and superstition impels them to dole out enough alms to make some beggars rich. The media have recently highlighted the case of Mohammed Jakir, an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, for instance, who has risen to the very top of his profession, with a net worth estimated over Rs1million (US$23,479).
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