Capitalism, Tescos and chapati flour

Once again I have survived that pinnacle of consumer capitalism called Christmas that pervades the industrialised world today.  I managed to avoid both the worst excesses of 'Black Friday', Christmas shopping frenzy and steered well clear of the post-Christmas sales.  The madness of things, of designer labels that seek to gratify but end up without meaning and worthless.  Glimpses of Lord Sugar's 'Apprentice', just finished, also reinforces the pointlessness and pervasiveness of consumerism in which we live - whereby contestants seek to outdo each other in who can be more savvy, more wiley and more persuasive in inventing new products and services and seeking to sell as much of the goods or services as possible to those who do not need it or really want it.

It's perhaps too easy to reject goods in a land of plenty - for which many crave.  And it's not to be dismissed lightly.  I benefit too from the availability of smartphones, laptops and supermarket conveniences whose existence both enriches my life (connectivity and knowledge) and makes my life simpler and more convenient (access to goods in a supermarket).

Susen will no doubt recall the first couple of times we spent together.  For my visits to him, he took me to high-end restaurants and picnics in St James' Park.  I returned the hospitality by treating him to dropping off my son at a friend's birthday party, followed by an hour's weekly shopping in my local Tesco before hurrying back to collect my son.  He will, of course, say that it was the most exciting 'date' he has ever been on.  Actually, for him, it turned out to be quite an eye-opener.  Having lived in very 'white, English' areas all his life, he could not believe the range of goods available at my local Tescos - including everything you would need for an Indian meal that (almost) makes additional trips to Southall redundant.  For him, Indian couples out doing the weekly shop together was also a revelation - coming from a household with strongly defined gender roles that meant his father would not have helped out with the weekly shop.

And that is probably the dilemma for those of us who do not want to be defined first and foremost as consumers but make use of the convenience offered to us.

In March this year, Tesco's signed an agreement with Trent Limited, part of the Tata group in a 50:50 joint venture with Trent Hypermarket Limited, operating under the 'Star Bazaar' banner.  I am now torn.  I know that a solid food retail chain could bring huge improvements to the supply and distribution of basic foodstuffs in India, hopefully cutting down on food waste as it brings more efficiency to the distribution.  It could also mean one further step away from any values not based on buying and selling goods, on the ever expanding wants and desires needed to satisfy that craving that ultimately is meaningless.  Can India bring greater core values, more meaning, more connection to capitalism?  Or will it, too, end up defining a person's worth by what goods they can afford to buy?