The Excesses of Displaying Wealth
“Burning the cash for Tea and Coffee”
Many years ago I watched a TV Serial where a super rich family was shown attending to guests who had come to see their daughter for marriage. That was 1980s. The tea was made in front of the to-be grooms family. Why? The to-be bride’s father said. “The wad of 100 rupees notes will heat up the tea saucepan and not the gas stove!. Its in your honor.” Saying this he lit matchstick on many a bundle of notes and started preparing tea! My eyes lit up at the sight of burning cash.
Those were the days of socialism and obscene show of wealth was just laughed at, there was even a good moral message flashed on screen at the end of the show. Of course being wealthy was not the only criteria to be taken as successful then.
This was only laughed at till economic liberalization , globalization and digital boom happened it seems. When even Tea started selling like hot cakes at Rupees 200 plus taxes at some places. If you have it, flaunt it.
Its 2024 and I I see one video where a you tube influencer unboxes an iPhone under the car tyre of his Golden Ferrari. Obviously the phone is crushed under the wheels with a lot of smiles. The video is one of the most liked videos, in millions.
You can blame it on lack of education but then you read the news “New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol to get $1.6 mn salary; will commute 1,600 kms to work in a corporate jet”. To be in office working hybrid. What? Isn’t this now being stretched too far?
As an organization also we review each action with the return on investment quotient. Apart from that there is a social responsibility factor. Some organizations have global decarbonization as a stated and committed goal. Atos for example has committed to reduce the global carbon emissions under its control and influence and to offset all its residual emissions by 2028.
Its time to question and callout some of the actions which border on the frivolous.