Inevitable Inequality?

Inequality is inherited and entrenched in Indian society, thriving on silence of the middle class, but with bold reforms and public will, the fortress of privilege can be dismantled

- MOUSUMI ROY

Inequality isn't a distant problem—it's visible in every city, street, and screen. Yet, it often goes unnoticed. The middle class looks away, buffered by relative comfort. The rich, who benefit most from the system, dismiss concerns. Meanwhile, people experiencing poverty are too entangled in survival to pause and reflect, like Chaplin's factory worker in Modern Times, swallowed by the machine.

The numbers are staggering. Just 10% of the global population controls 90% of the wealth. The rest fight for scraps. Capital—another name for entrenched wealth—dominates everything. Countries chase GDP growth, a number that says little about actual human well-being. The media often turns poverty into a background blur, treating it as old news. This isn't just an Indian story. Inequality is now a global condition. Despite warnings from Nobel economists and international institutions, meaningful solutions remain elusive. If policy alone could fix inequality, it would have been curbed long ago. It's spread now feels not just unchecked, but inevitable.

The roots of inequality stem from three primary forces: inheritance, capital, and systemic privilege. In India, wealth is often passed across generations untaxed. In the US and the UK, inheritance taxes exist but are frequently circumvented. Those who inherit money usually enjoy elite education, healthcare, and safety nets, regardless of whether they have the drive or ability that created the wealth in the first place. Privilege becomes invisible when it is all you've known.