ThePrint ThePrintPod: ‘Fortress of the Indian rich is collapsing, money saves none’
Aug 29, 2025
The discussion reveals how India's wealthy have built elaborate fortresses to escape urban chaos, only to find their safety illusions crumble amid flooding and decay. It highlights the stark divide between the elite and the broader society, emphasizing the consequences of their detachment from civic life. Personal stories and data illustrate how this isolationism jeopardizes public services and ultimately diminishes the quality of life for everyone, underscoring that money can't buy real sanctuary.
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Luxury Car In Flood As Symbol
- A Mercedes floated in shin-deep floodwater on Veera Desai Road, symbolizing wealth rendered powerless by urban flooding.
- Karanjeet Kaur uses this image to show that luxury cannot shield owners from basic civic failures.
Parallel India Of Gated Fortresses
- Gated enclaves and backup systems create a parallel India where elites feel insulated from dysfunction.
- This fortress mentality allows the wealthy to treat public services as irrelevant and reduces pressure for reform.
Racetrack Built For Supercars
- A pair of South Indian mining barons built a racetrack to drive their supercars because local roads were unusable.
- The story highlights how the very rich create bespoke solutions instead of demanding public infrastructure improvements.