The Many Faces Of India: Serving From Classes To Masses

In an opening remark by Jasmine Saini, Head of Business Development of ITC Hotels, she spoke about "Understanding the Multiple Realities of the Indian Market: Why One Brand Can't Fit All?". She began by noting how the ruling regime has impacted the diversity in India, from where Bharat stood hundred years back and where digital India stands in the present millennia. Over the years, India has show cast an unprecedented growth, which predicts India to be the largest economy by 2050.

Saini explained the many faces of India by introducing four facets, differentiating Bharat and India, Luxury Budget and Budget India, and Corporate India and Business India. India is a golden bird wherein, 60 per cent of the country's wealth is concentrated with 1 per cent of our population. However, for the citizens of Bharat, every service is catered from the Maharaja to the masses. The gender equality is being established by having women on seats of corporate aces.

"We are born in a chaotic democracy, where one size does not fit all", said Saini. Hotels such as ITC has inclusions of features like the Satwa Kitchen which only caters to the vegetarian population of India along with luxury products like peaking duck, crab and oyster.

Our nation is on the cusp of joining the global digital community. Companies like Google and Microsoft are supporting such cause by having projects like "Project Loon" which provides broadband internet service in rural areas with television and radio networks.

While notifying about Luxury Indian and Budget India, she mentioned that India has 1.8 Mn BPL population and is also the 4th largest country for the wealthier class. There are nearly 2. 36 Lacs High Net-worth Individuals in India. There is a prediction that by 2025, there will be a 105 per cent growth in the number of millionaires in the country. The young urban class and rich emerging people are facilitating such predictions. She mentioned, "Brands cater from classes to masses".

The various fashion labels like Kimaya, Wills Lifestyle, Genesis Luxury are supporting the economies of scale. The HNIs of India are willing to spend nearly Rs. 25,000 per night to spend holidays in Nainital, Shimla and the like.

When it comes to Corporate India and Business India, the battle gravity is on the ground. The value proposition is dependent on airlines, hotels, restaurants, social media, Startup India, nuclear and space power. In a stark contrast to that, many parts of India still do not have proper sanitation facilities. Hence, Saini gave out a call that, in a nation where citizens can leverage a Anna Hazare campaign to fulfil political aspirations, can India stand firmly upon its multiplicity.

Probably, in order to achieve that, we have to "call a spade a spade", and understand rules of adaptability from the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh to the suburbs of Mumbai.