Chapter 9_ Small is Big - Consumer India_ Inside the Indian Mind and Wallet
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14/02/2015 Chapter9:SmallisBigConsumerIndia:InsidetheIndianMindandWallet
https://www.safaribooksonline.com/library/view/consumerindiainside/9780470826324/xhtml/Chapter09.html 1/35
CHAPTER 9
SMALL IS BIG
THEGROWTHOFTHESMALLTOWNANDRURALMARKETS
ChargedwithPotential
IndialivesinitsvillagessosaidMahatmaGandhi.ItisnowwellknowninthemarketingandbusinesscommunitiesthatthepotentialofIndialiesbeyonditstopmetropolitanareasandthoseatthetopoftheincomepyramid.SmalltownandruralIndiaareemergingasthenextfertilegroundnotonlyforconsumptionbutalsofortalent.MuchofthegrowthacrossseveralcategoriesintheIndianeconomyiscomingfromtheseregions.ItscertainlynotonthestrengthoftheurbanareasalonethatIndiapostedaGDPgrowthrateof5.8percentinthe
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14/02/2015 Chapter9:SmallisBigConsumerIndia:InsidetheIndianMindandWallet
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lastquarterofthefiscalyear20082009,comparedwithexpectationsofalessthan5percentgrowthrate.ThesavioroftheIndianeconomyinrecenttimesofglobaldepressionhasbeenitsdomesticeconomy,poweredtoalargeextentbyagriculture,whichgrew2.7percentduringthelastquarterofthefiscalyear20082009whilemanufacturinggrowth
turnednegativeat1.4percent. 1
Theincreaseinruralpurchasingpowerisreflectedinruralgrowthinanumberofcategories.Forexample,forthefiscalyear2009(April2008throughMarch2009),ruralvolumegrowthforfastmovingconsumergoods(FMCG)wasestimatedtobe5to12percenthigherthanurbangrowthin
manyothercategories. 2
Already,Indiastelecomsectorislookingtotheseareasforitssustainedgrowth.Bytheendofthefirstquarterof2009,thenumberofmobilesubscribersfromruralIndiahadsurgedpastthe100millionmark.AccordingtotheTelecomRegulatoryAuthorityofIndia(TRAI),thistranslatesintoagrowthof18percentoverthelastquarterof
2008. 3 Industryestimatessay
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that70percentofallnewsubscribersofmobiletelephony
willcomefromruralareas. 4
AllindicatorsofincomeandconsumptionsuggestthattheruralandsmalltownregionsofIndiaarepoisedtopoweraneweconomicboom.Withanestimated72percentofthetotalhouseholdsinIndia,theruralmarketcomprisesroughly720millioncustomers.Thesizeismeaningfulbecauseitsbackedbyincome.ThetotalincomeinruralIndiaisexpectedtogrowataCAGRof12percent,fromaround$220billionin20042005to$425billionby20102011.Thenumberofruralhouseholdsusingbankingservicesandcreditcardsabout42millionactuallyoutnumberstheir27millionurbancounterparts.Similarly,ruralIndiahassome41millionKisancreditcardholders,comparedwith22millioncardusersin
urbanmarkets. 5 Intermsoftheirpotential,manysmalltownsarehigherontheHouseholdPotentialIndex(HPI)thantheirmetrocounterparts.BasedonthedataofIndianReadershipSurvey(IRS),HPIindicatestheamountofdisposableincomeand
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purchasingpowerofahousehold.Themeanindexfortownswithpopulationsoffewerthan500,000instatessuchasGoa,Punjab,HimachalPradesh,andKeralastandsat24points,higherthantheallIndiaaverage
of22. 6
Take,forexampleTitan,thewatchmanufacturingventureoftheTataGroup.Fiftypercentofitssalescomesfromthetop10townswhile35percentcomesfromtownsrankedeleventhto
onehundredth. 7 TitanhaslaunchedanewlineofplasticwatchescalledSuperFiberasapartoftheirmassmarketbrandSonata.Notsurprisinglyforaproductaimedatthenewcustomersegment,theentireSuperFiberlineispricedbelow$10.ThecompanyexpectsittoplayakeyroleindoublingSonatassalesfrom5millionwatchesayearatpresentto10millionwatchesperyear,over
thenextthreeyears. 8
TitanisnottheonlybrandinnovatingforthismarketITChasdoneanextensiveexperimentwitheChoupal,anITenabledplatformforagriculturalinformationandbuyingandsellingof
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agriculturalproduce.NokiahaslaunchedNokiaLifeTools,arangeofagriculture,education,andentertainmentservicesdesignedespeciallyforconsumersinsmalltownsandruralareas.Therearemanyotherexamplesofinnovationsandinitiativesespeciallydesignedtotaptheruralmarkets.Godrejlauncheditssoapsinsmaller50grampacks,CocaColasuppliedlowcosticeboxestomakeupforthelackofthereliableelectricsupplyrequiredforrefrigerators,andPhilipsinnovatedwithalowcostsmokelessstoveintheirpursuitofthehinterlandmarket.Clearly,theruralandsmalltownIndianmarketissimmeringwithpotential.
Marketersarewellawareoftheneedtoinnovatetheirproductsandservicestocapturetheattentionandmeettheneedsofruralmarkets.ButIndiaA(theurbanaffluentIndia),whichmarketstoIndiaB(theruralhighpotentialIndia),unfortunatelyhasastereotypicalunderstandingofthisworld.ThequintessentialruraladdonebymarketersinMumbaishowsaturbanedfarmersittingonatractor,withhiswifeinayellowtopandbluesalwaar(loose
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pajamaliketrousers),amidgreenricepaddyfieldsthetypicalMumbaiconceptionofruralIndia.MumbaihasremainedtoofarfromMidnapur(asmalltowninWestBengal),notjustphysicallybutalsomentally.ButtheforcesofchangethathaveaffectedourlivesinurbanIndiahaveaffectedruralIndiaaswell.SoitscriticaltounderstandhowtheworldofsmalltownandruralIndiaistransforming.Itseasytoassumethattheseconsumersarechanginginmuchthesamewayasurbanconsumerseasy,butnotnecessarilyaccurate.
TheNewSmallTownIndia
ChakDe!India(GoForIt,India!),releasedin2007,toldthestoryof16smalltownIndiangirls,eachofthemastatehockeychampion,comingtogethertowintheworldhockeychampionship.Thecoach,KabirKhan(playedbyShahrukhKhan),steeredhisteamof16statechampions,eachwithherownidiosyncrasiesandtypicalsmalltownrawness,towintheworldchampionship.AstheIndiannationalhockeyteamtriumphedintheworldchampionship,theIndian
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audiencecheeredandclapped,seeingalittlebitoftheirownselvesintheunderdogsturnedvictors.TheChakDe!IndiastoryisindeedthestoryofsmalltownIndiaanditsambitionsandtalentswinningontheworldstage.
Closertoreality,MahendraSinghDhoni,theposterboyofIndiancricket,isthefirstcaptainwhodoesnotcomefromanyofthemajormetropolitanareas.DhonicomesfromRanchiinJharkhand.ThisisnotjustDhonisstorymorethanhalfoftheIndiancricketteamtodayispoweredbysmalltownperformerssuchasR.P.Singh,VirenderSehwag,andIrfanPathan.ItsespeciallyinterestingbecausecricketwasadoptedbyIndiansasthegameoftheburrasahibs(theBritishcolonizers).LongafterIndiagainedindependence,cricketcontinuedtobedominatedbyclubsandoldboysnetworksfromthesamecollegesbelongingtocitiessuchasBombay,Madras,andDelhi.TheinfiltrationintothiselitegamebytherawtalentfromthehinterlandsisatellingstoryofhowsmalltownIndiaishittingthebigtime.
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Thesmalltowninvasionisnotlimitedtotheworldofcricket.The2008BeijingOlympicssawatrioofIndianboxersVijenderSingh,AkhilKumar,andJitenderKumarreachingthequarterfinals.VijenderSinghwentontomakehistorybywinningabronzemedalthefirsteverOlympicmedalawardedtoanIndianboxer.AlthoughIndiasathleteswinningmedalsatOlympicsiscertainlybignewsinitself,thebiggernewsisthatallthreeoftheseboxerscomefromBhiwani,asleepytowninIndiasnorthernHaryanastate,some150kilometersnorthwestofDelhi.
Realityshows,likeIndianIdol,arealsoattractingsmalltownperformersalargenumberofitsfinalistscomingfromTier2cities.Infact,thewinnersofthe2008and2009seasonsofIndianIdolhavebeenfromsmalltowns.PrashantTamang,whowonthethirdseason,andSourabheeDebbarma,whowonthefourthseason,arefromDarjeelingandAgartalarespectively.ThesceneinBollywoodissimilar.Itsreigningheroine,PriyankaChopra,comesfromBareilly,asmalltowninUttarPradeshthe
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upandcomingactressKanganaRanautcomesfromChandigarhinPunjab.IndiantalentopportunitiesintelevisionandcinemaarebeingcapturedbysmalltownIndia.
ItissaidthatsmalltownIndianyoutharehungriertomakeasuccessofwhattheyhavesetouttoachieve.ShishirHattangadi,aformercricketer,saidonCNNIBNsFacetheNationprogramonsmalltownIndians,Ifyouseeyoungstersinmetros,theyalwayshaveanalternative.Iftheythinkacertainprofessionisnotworkingforthem,theywillchooseanalternative.However,smalltownersdonothavethatluxury.Theychooseoneprofessionandtheyknowthatthisistheiraimandfocusand
thattheyhavetogoandgetit. 9
Now,finally,thissmalltownambitionisfindinganoutlet.WhetheritsintheformofrealitytalentshowsoranMBAdegreeorajobintheaviationsectorasanairhostesssmalltownIndiatodayisfindingitsownescaperoute,ratherthanbeingcondemnedtoalifeofstruggle.
ThePowerShift:FromIndiaShiningtoBharatNirman
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ThepowershifttothesmalltownsandruralareasofIndiaisnotonlyforitsbusinessandtalentpotentialbutalsoforitselectoralclout.TheBhartiyaJantaparty(BJP),whichranthenationalgovernmentfrom1999to2004,approachedthe2004electionsonthepropositionofIndiaShining.IndiaShiningcelebratedtheboomandprogressthattheIndianeconomywasthengoingthrough.Itgotthevotesoftheurbanaudience,buttheBJPsufferedahugedefeatatthehandsoftheopposingCongressparty,whichwentintotheelectionsasthechampionoftheaamaadmi(thecommonman).Lookingback,theoutcomewaspredictable.Inthegeneralfeelgoodatmosphereofoveralleconomicprogress,someoneforgottocheckhowtheotherIndiawasfeelingaboutitall.TheBJPscampaignofIndiaShiningwassaltinthewoundsofthosewhohadexperiencednotangiblebenefitsfromthegrowthandtheelectionresultsborethisout.
Congress,whichbenefitedfromtheBJPsblindnesstothegreaterIndiaoutthereandfailuretomakethemfeelincluded,hasclearlylearnedthe
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lessons.Throughoutitssubsequentfiveyeartermandintoitssecondtermafterwinningamajorityinthe2009elections,theCongressfollowedapolicyofinclusivegrowth.CongressgovernmentslatestinitiativeisBharatNirman(BuildingIndia),intendedasafouryearbusinessplanforruralinfrastructure.Asstatedonitswebsite(http://www.bharatnirman.gov.in/(http://www.bharatnirman.gov.in/)),
BharatNirmanaimstounlockpotential,equalizeopportunity,andmakeruralIndiathenewgrowthopportunity.
ForsometimenowtheruralareasandsmalltownsofIndiahavelivedwithasenseofangst,ofbeingignoredanddeniedtheopportunitiesthaturbanIndiahashadaccessto.Ifonlytheyhadaccesstotheseopportunities,ruralresidentsfeel,theycouldtransformtheirlivesaswell.Theyarewellaware,throughthemedia,oftheseductivenewpossibilitiesofconsumptionandopportunitiesforearningalivelihood.Buttheyhavefoundnorealaccesstothesehighpayingjobsandalluringconsumergoods.Thusthereisafeelingofdenialandunfairtreatmentatthehandsofasystemrunbytheprivileged.
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Regionalpoliticalpartieshavecapitalizedontheseinjuredfeelingsinabigway,steppinguptochampionthecauseoftheseignoredmasses.
TheBahujanSamajparty(BSP),ledbyitsPresidentMayawati,vowstofightfortherightsofthemajority(bahujan).TheirviewisthatthemajorityinIndia,whichcomprisesthelowercastes,havebeenthevictimsofthesystemrunbytheuppercasteHindus.Inthe2007UttarPradeshstateassemblyelections,BSPbecamethefirstpartysince1991togainaclearmajority.Supportedbytheunderprivilegedclasses,MayawatihasbeenthechiefministerofUttarPradeshforfourtermsasofthiswriting.
Similarly,MamtaBanerjeeoftheTrinamoolCongress(grassrootsCongress)partyisknownforheroppositiontoSpecialEconomicZonesandIndustrializationinWestBengal,whichshecontendsaredetrimentaltoagriculturalistsandlaborers.Herparty,whichsinglehandedlyforcedtheTataGroupsNanoprojectoutofWestBengal,performedextremelywellinthe2009parliamentaryelections,gaining
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19seats.WestBengalhastraditionallybeenthestrongholdoftheCommunistparty.TrinamoolCongresss2009performanceisconsideredthebestperformancebyanyoppositionpartyinthestatesincethebeginningoftheCommunistregime.
Theirideologiescanbedebated,butthegrowingsuccessoftheBahujanSamajandTrinamoolCongresspartieshighlightsthefeelingofexclusioninthesmalltownsandruralIndia.ThesepartieshavecometopowerbecausetheypromisedtostandupforthelargerIndiawhofeltnobodycaredforthem.ThedesireofthoseinthissegmentofIndiansocietytobeheard,tobetalkedabout,andtobeapartofthelargerplanisevidentintheriseoftheseregionalforces.TheIndianswhoalwayscamesecondandweretreatedmuchlikethelessersibling,aresuddenlyfindingpowerofallkindsturningintheirfavoreconomicandpoliticalaswellaspersonal.Iftheirdisplayofimmensetalentonvariousfrontsisnotevidenceenough,thentheirincreasingsocialcloutcertainlyis.
UrbanversusSmallTown
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versusRural
Thelinesdifferentiatingthedemographicsbetweenurban,smalltownandruralIndiaarequitefixed.Butintermsofmindset,therereallyisanurbanmindsetandaruralandsmalltownmindset.ThisisnottosuggestthattherearenodifferencesbetweenwhatconstitutesthesmalltownIndiaandwhatconstitutesruralIndiathetruthisthatamongthesmalltownsarevarioustiercitiesthatdifferquitemarkedlyfromeachother.Overall,however,themindsetsoftheruralareasandthesmalltownshavefarmoreincommonandaredistinctfromtheurbanmetromindset.
ItspossibletostudysmalltownIndiaandruralIndiaasonecontinuumthedifferencesemergeonlyattheendsofthecontinuum,withagreatercommonareainbetween.Ouranalysisofbothasawholeisappropriateatanaggregatelevel.ThebillionairesofsmalltownssuchasCoimbatoreandtheMercedesbuyersofsmalltownPunjabarecertainlyinteresting,buttheyareanomalousdatapoints,notmainstreamphenomenathat
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canexplainalargermindsetorculturalshift.
AchievementDrivenYouth
ThestoryofsmalltownIndiagoingoutandwinningonthenationalstageisanimpressiveone.Thereare,however,significantchangesgoingonbackhome,inthelifeofthesmalltownsandruralareas.ThoughthechangessoevidentintheurbanareashavetouchedthispartofIndia,suchchangeismorestronglytemperedwithcontinuityoftraditioninruralIndiathanitisintheurbanIndia.Thepervasivenatureofthisfinebalancebetweenchangesinaspirationsandcontinuityoftraditionisevidentasarunningthemeinmostofthemoviesmadeforthisaudience.
TheachievementandambitionthatcharacterizetheoverallmoodofIndiatodayarealsothekeypreoccupationofruralIndianyouth.Desireishigh,especiallyamongtheyoungerones,tostandoutandbeseenaschangingwiththetimes.Theyareworriedaboutbeingbrandedasgaonwalla(ruralandhenceuncivilized).Mostofthemthereforeaspiretofind
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nonagriculturaloccupationsandarekeenonacquiringvocationalskills.Thedesireforachievementisinterwovenwiththequestforsocialrecognition.Jobsinthearmyandwiththegovernmentareseenasbringingrespectabilityalongwithlongtermsafetyandstability.
Giventheirhistoryofoppressionbythepowerfulinthesystem,thesepeopleputapremiumonjobsthatconferpower.ThusjobssuchasthosewiththeIndianAdministrativeServices(IAS),whichurbanyouthnolongerfavorastheyoncedid,arestillattractivetoruralIndia.Inthe2006civilserviceexam,forinstance,moststudentsinthetop20werefromruralUP,Bihar,andSouthIndia.ThequintessentialherooftheBhojpuricinema(aregionallanguagecinemainpartsofnorthcentralandeasternIndia),forinstance,isapoliceofficer.Thepoliceuniformisthesymbolofhavingarrivedintheworld.InthefilmDarogaBabu(PoliceInspector),theprotagonistisgoingbacktothevillagetomeethisfolks.ButheisalldressedupinhisofficialuniformanddrivinghispoliceJeep.Whenaskedbyhisloveinterest,heconfessesthatgoing
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backtothevillagelikethiswillmakehisfamilyandfriendsproud.
ThedesireforachievementandprogressiswellunderscoredinthecinemacreatedforruralIndia.InGanga,amoviestarringRaviKishan(aBhojpuriactor),theretailersfromthetowncomeouttogivehimacontractforsupplying4,000litersofmilkeverydayandevenpayhimanadvancesohecanacquirethebuffaloes.Elsewhereinthefilm,thecouplemakesabusinessofsellinglitti(alocaldishofBihar)inLondon.AsdepictedinBhojpuricinema,amixofnativeingenuityandnewopportunitiesiscreatinganewspiritofoptimismintheruralworld.
Unlikeearliertimes,though,opportunitiesarenotonlypresentedforthoseleavingthevillage.Theyarealsocomingtothevillage,albeitinsmallerdoses.ManyvillagesinIndiahavebenefittedfromtheboominurbanretailingandthedevelopingmarketforagriculturalbasedproducts.McCainFoods,theworldslargestproducerofFrenchfriesandotherpotatoproducts,hasundertakencontractfarmingof
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potatoesonaround1,000acresinareassuchasDeesa,Vijapur,Palanpur,Himmatnagar,andAnand,tothebenefitofsome400farmersinnorthandcentral
Gujarat.10Reliance,whichhasalreadyrolledout177RelianceFreshstoresacrossmajortownsin11states,hasdrawnupplansforapresencein6,000mandi(wholesalemarket)towns,with1,600ruralbusinesshubsto
servicethem.11Addtothistheeffortsbymanyotherfoodandretailplayers,includingthemuchdiscussedeChoupalinitiativeofITC,anditsclearthatthebenefitsofaprosperingeconomyarebeginningtotrickledowntotheIndianfarmer,whoissuddenlyinagreaterdemand.
PrideinRoots
ThenewgenerationofruralIndiaisdesperatetoembracemodernityandtothem,modernityseemstocomeintheguiseofurbanness.Toachievethis,itsessentialthattheyshedthevillagerimageandlookunrural.Theyaredeterminedtodefyallnegativeassociationswitharurallife,suchasdisheveledhair,anunshavenface,anuntuckedshirt,andsoon.Onspecialoccasions,theymakeitapointtousepersonal
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enhancementproductssuchasperfumes.Friendsfromthecityandmoviesarethekeysourcesfromwhichruralyouthlearnaboutfashionfads.TheyfeelthatspeakinginEnglishmakesthemlookcool,sotheytrytospeakwhatlittleEnglishtheyknow.
ThedesiretodonurbanclothesandbehaviordoesntinanywaymeanthatthesmalltownsandruralareasofIndiaarewillingtoletgooftheirroots.Infact,theyfeelstronglythattheyaretherealkeepersoftradition.RootednessisacriticalpartoftheirsenseofidentityperhapstheonlythingthatsetsthemapartfromtheirprivilegedcounterpartsofurbanIndia.Acrosstherangeofregionallanguagemovies,situationsaresetuptovalidatethegoodnessofeverythingthatsruralandrooted.InDarogaBabu,forinstance,theprotagonistfavorslittichokha(thelocalspecialty)overburgersandpizza.InonesequenceinthefilmSasooraBadaPaisawalla(MyRichFatherInLaw),acitygirlabusesacoolieinEnglishfordroppingherbags.Ourheroconfrontsthegirl,askinghernottotreatotherpeopleasinsectsjustbecauseshehashadalittle
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education.Thesetupdeliberatelycontraststhegoodnessofruralcharacterwithurbaninsensitivity.
ThevillagesimpletonversusthecityslickerisalongstandingsetpieceinIndiancinema.Whetherrealityormyth,thestereotypeofwarmhearted,selflessruralpeoplestillseemstowarmtheheartsofruralIndia.InthemovieVivah,AmritaRaoplaysayounggirlfromasmalltownMadhupur.Anorphan,mistreatedbyheraunt,shealwaysrespondstoherwithkindness.Similarly,inDarogaBabutheherorefusestoacceptabribeinGanga,theprotagonistdefendstheuntouchables.Thesethemesofinherentgoodnessstillhavetheircharmfortheruralaudience,thoughtheyhavevanishedfromthemoviesmadefortheurbanaudience.Theurbanscenedepictedtodayismoreaboutmanipulation,meanness,andfindingyourwaynomatterwhat.
Onasimilarnote,thefamilyinruralIndiaisstillconsideredsomethingtosacrificefor,atleastinprinciple.Respectforeldersandtheirresponsibilityisavirtuehighlyeulogized.All
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successesandachievementsarecelebratedbytouchingthefeetofelders,theritualforseekingblessings.InthemovieGanga,theprotagonisttakesresponsibilityforhismotherevenwhenhehimselfisindirecircumstances.ThesanctityofthefamilyunitisoneoftheforemostvaluesthatruralIndiawantstoholdontointimesofchange.Inthispartofthecountry,theindividualisstilllessimportantthanthecollective.
IndividualityFindsExpression
ForsometimenowmarketershaveproceededontheassumptionthatallpurchasesinruralIndiaarehouseholdpurchases.Thispattern,however,ischanging.Individualchoicesinpersonalcareproductsareemerginginthismarket.Itsnotunusualtofinddifferentbrandsofthesamecategoryunderoneroof,likeColgatetoothpastefortheyoungandDaburLalDantManjan[toothpowder]fortheparents.Consumersarebecomingfamiliarwithvariousproductsandcandistinguishamongvariouskindswhiteningtoothpasteforshine,herbal
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toothpasteforprotection,andsoon.Theirpreferences,too,arebecomingcleartheywilltellyouconfidentlythatthistoothpowderisroughandthatparticularoilistoostrong.
Mediaexposureandabrushwiththeoutsideworldbywayofschoolsandcolleges,whicharegenerallyinnearbycities,arebringingasenseofindividualitytoruralIndia.Thepreferenceforpersonalcareproductsisinfluencedbywhattheyhaveseenincityshops.Theirselectionofpersonalcareproductsisexpandingtoincludemorespecificofferings,withageneralmovementfromsay,basicmoisturizingcreamssuchasHans(acommonbrandinruralIndia)tospecialpurposecreamssuchasNoMarksandFair&Lovely.Mentooarebecomingappearanceconscious:fairnessbrandssuchasFair&Handsomehavefoundasignificantfollowingamongtheseconsumers.
Standingoutfromtherestandbeingrecognizedisacriticalmotivation,especiallyfortheyoung.SunitaGogoi,anAssameseparticipantinthedancerealityshowDanceIndiaDanceonZeetelevision,
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confessedthatherbiggestmotivationwastoprovetotheskepticsbackhomethatitwasworthherwhiletoputtimeandeffortintoperfectingherdance.Evenintheremotevillagestoday,peoplefeeltheneedtostandoutandbenoticed.Muchofthis,however,islimitedtodressingdifferentlyandexercisingindividualchoiceinpersonalcareproducts.
RuralWomen:TransformationWithinBoundaries
TheirnewfoundaccesstothesamebrandsandproductsusedbytheirurbancounterpartsisallowingruralIndianwomentofeelonaparwiththem.Todaytheynotonlyseethelatestconsumerchoicesontelevisionbutalsohaveaccesstoalargerrangeofthoseproductsthaneverbefore.Whentheyvisittheirrelativesinthecity,theyfindthemusingthesamebrandsofshampooortoothpastethattheyuseinthevillage.Althoughtheystillfearbeingperceivedasbackwardintheiroutlook,incidentslikethesemakethemfeelthattheytooarekeepingup.HindustanUnilever,Dabur,CavinKare,Godrej,andothersuchbrandsseemtobeenabling
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thisbridgingofthegapbetweenthetwoworlds,evenifonlythroughthemeansofconsumergoods.
TheotherbigchangefortheruralIndianwomanisthattodayheropinioninhouseholdmatterscounts.Whetheritsaboutthefutureofthechildren,theupkeepofthehouse,orevenherownchoiceinpersonalcareproducts,thewomanoftheruralIndianowisentitledtohavehersay.Sheisproudthatshehasahigherdegreeofengagementinhouseholdaffairs.Withherhusband,too,herroleismoreoneofapartnerthanjustasubordinate.Sheprovidestheemotionalstrengthintherelationshipadvisinghimtoleavetheworkworriesoutside,puttinghimatease.Thehusbandinturnisnotshyofdoinghissharetoanunprecedenteddegreeforexample,gettingthechildrenreadyfordinnerwhilesheiscookingthemeal.
Theyounger,unmarriedruralwomenhaveamoreconfidentandboldattitude.Theirtalkisunselfconsciousandnotselfcensoredateverystepforfearofconsequences.Atthisstageintheirlives,careerchoicessuch
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asbecomingadoctororanengineerarewideopensoistheprospectofmovingtothecityforhighereducation.Oncetheymarry,however,thatboldnessisreinedin.Nowtheymustthinkmorecarefullyaboutwhattheysayanddo.Theirdesiretodosomethingoutsidethehouseholdrolelingers,butthoseyouthfuldreamsofbecomingadoctororengineerarereplacedbymoremodestonesofbecomingateacherorabeautician.Thesewomenhaveastrongdesiretohoneandnurturetheirtalentstheyarenothappyjusttobegreatcooksathomeorgoodhomemakers.Theymaywishtolearnkathak,theclassicalIndiandanceformoriginatedinnorthernIndia,orplaythedholak(thedoubleheadedhanddrum),ortakeuppainting.Evenknowinghowtoapplymakeupskillfullyandpracticegoodgroomingisconsideredaskill.
Theruralwomanmayhavetofitheraspirationswithintheboundariesofthesocietyandherrelationships,butshestillwantstoexercisecreativitywithintheseboundaries.Herentrepreneurialstreakiscommendableinitselfandisencouragedbythehusbandand
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thefamilyelders.Sheiseagertodosomethingonherown,frombeingaseamstressoraneighborhoodbeautician,tocontributingtocottageindustryinitiativessuchasmakingpapad(athincrispyflatbread).Shetakesprideinherabilitytomakemoreoutofherlimitedmeans.ThisisatruerenditionofthetraditionalideaoftheIndianwoman,whoisreferredtoasAnnapurna,whichliterallymeansfulloffood.InHinduism,Annapurnaisagoddessoffertilityandstandsforbountifulness.TraditionallythewomanoftheIndiaissupposedtobringbountytothehouseholdherabilitytomakemorefromofthescarceresourcesathandisseenasherkeyasset.TheruralwomanoftodaysIndiaisnolessthanamodernAnnapurana.
TheNeedtoShine
Conventionalmarketingwisdomhasdictatedthatlessevolvedmarketsbeplayedmoreonfunctionalityandproblemsolvingplatforms.Manytraditionalbrandstargetingsuchmarketshavethereforetakenthesepositions.However,consumersinthesemarketsareevolving.Theyarebeingexposed
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tonewstimuli,notonlythroughmediabutalsothroughinteractionswiththeoutsideworld.Inthepersonalcarecategory,forinstance,theruralconsumersexpectationisshiftingfrombasicproblemsolvingbenefits(suchasacureforbleedingingums)toagreateremphasisonvisibleappearancebenefits(suchasshinyteeth).Promisesofincreasedselfconfidenceandcomplimentsinasocialcontextthataconsumergainsfromvisiblebenefits,suchasshinyteethandglowingskin,arenolongerthesolepreserveofurbanconsumersruralIndiawantsthemtoo.
SmalltownandruralIndiatodaynolongerhavemodestdesires.Quitethecontrary:theseareconsumersacutelyawareoftheirhandicaps.Hencetheyfightthatmuchharder.Theyknowthatthattheyhaveinnerselfesteembutlackthepolishoftheirurbancounterparts.Theyscorehighonability,butfallshortinmattersofpersonalcomportment.Theyfeelvulnerabletolosingoutonthebrinkofopportunityforasimplelackofpolish.Commonly,inthesmalltownsandruralareasthosewhoaspire
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topassthecovetedcivilservicesexaminationultimatelymovetoabiggercityforinterviewcoaching.TheIndiancivilserviceentrancetestputsastrongemphasisonthepersonalityinterview,whichinevitablytiltstheoddsinfavorofthemorepolishedurbandwellers.Smalltownandruralaspirantsthereforeworkhardertocompensateforthislackthroughextracoaching.Thecolloquialsayingisthatwhateverbethebrandofshoes,thepolishhastobeCherryBlossom.Thisistosaythatyourbasicsmaybereallysound,butyoustillneedapolishtotakeyoutherestoftheway.
Allofthismakestheneedforlookgoodbenefitsahighpriorityfortheseconsumers.Theyneedpropstohelpthemshinewithconfidence.Intheirbrandsandproductstheyseeksupportforescapingtheruralbadgeandfindingurbansuccess.Theyarelookingforsuchsupportinjustabouteveryaspectoftheirlives.Mostbrandshaverealized,consciouslyorotherwise,thatruralIndianstodayaspiretosucceedandtodosowithflair.Acrosscategories,therefore,propositionsforthebrands
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targetedatthissegmenthavemovedtothespaceofeitherappreciationorachievement.WhetheritsFair&LovelyorChickshampooorPondsDreamflowertalcumpowder,allareplayingupbenefitsintheareaoflookinggoodmorethanjustdoinggood.
Take,forexample,DaburLalDantManjan,ahistoricalbrandofredtoothpowdernotjustforDaburbutalsoforanyIndianwhowasaroundduringtheDoordarshanera(theperioddominatedbythegovernmentruntelevisionchannel).Raju,tumhaaredaanttohmotiyonjaisechamakrahehain(Raju,yourteethareshininglikepearls)isawellrememberedadvertisingslogan.Overtheyears,DaburLalDantManjangotcreditfromitsconsumersforitsabilitytokeeptheirteethproblemfree.Consumersconsidereditarooted,sonofthesoilbrand,ensuringbothphysicallystrongteethand,byinference,thesolidityoftheruralIndian.Butthatwasthen.Asconsumersbeganupgradingtomodernproductssuchastoothpastesandgels,thetoothpowdercategorystagnatedandsodidthebrand.
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Inanattempttobringthebrandinlinewiththechangingdesiresofruralconsumers,DaburLalDantManjanhasattemptedtorepositionitselftostraddleitsdoinggoodbenefitswithsomelookinggoodbenefits.Thetelevisioncommercialiswovenaroundacharacterwhoisacademicallybrilliantandwouldpassallwrittentestswithflyingcolors.Butwhenitcomestointerviews,heinvariablygetsrejectedbecauseofpoororalhygiene.DaburLalDantManjanisshownasthewaytoteeththatshinewiththeglowofhealthandtherebyhelphimattainthegoodthingsinlifenotjusttheinterviewbutalsothegirl.Bydepictingsuccessonastageoutsidetheruralsetting,thebrandhasbrokenoutofitssonofthesoilstereotype.DaburLalDantManjan,initsattemptatreinventiononmodernterms,underscoresthechangingaspirationsofIndianconsumersandanincreasingneedtosellappearancebenefitsinruralIndia.
ATrajectoryofItsOwn
LifeinruralIndiaiscertainlychanging.Itscriticaltounderstand,however,whatexactlyhaschangedandhow
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much.Wegenerallyaremorecomfortableattributingchangesliketheriseofambitionandindividualitytourbanconsumersthantotheruralones.Itsnoteasytoacceptthatmuchofthesechangesareactuallypercolatingdowntowhatsbeenpopularlycalledthebottomofthepyramid.However,ifwerefusetorecognizetherealityofthesechanges,wewillcontinuetooperatebasedonourentrenchedstereotypes.
OneofthestereotypicalportrayalsofruralIndiaisthesonofthesoilcharacterization.Foralongtime,brandstryingtoappealtothisaudiencehavetakenthisroute,withdirectreferencestothesolidityofruralroots.Butthesonofthesoilhasbeentransformed.Todayheismoderninoutlook,thoughrootedinvalues.Thearchetypeofaruralguyloadedwithnavetandgoodnessisfastfadingfromreality.Therealpersonoutthereistryinghardnottogetlabeledasagaonwallatheuncivilizedruralinhabitant.Weneedtogetcomfortablewiththefactthatruralconsumerscanbeprogressivetoo.
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Intheruralcontext,theideaofstrengthhasalwaysbeeninterpretedasphysical.Sothedefaultpracticewithmostruralbrandshasbeentousecelebritieswithapopularimageasactionheroes,suchasSunnyDeolandSunilShetty.Take,forexample,theoralcarecategoryintheruralcontext,whichisstuckinthephysicalityofstrength.Moststorylinesareaboutbeingabletoopenthecolddrinkbottleorbeingabletobiteintoahardfruitasademonstrationofstrongteeth.However,evenintheruralcontexttheideaofstrengthhasmovedonfromphysicaltomentalstrength.Todayitsaboutbeingsmartinyouractionsandresilientinyourthinking,aboutusingbrainsandnotjustbrawn.
Theuniversalassumptionthattheruralworldisinaweoftheurbanworldandwantstobecomeexactlylikethemissimplistic.FormostofruralIndia,theoldaweoftheoutsideworldhasbeenvanquishedbyaccesstoit.Thecityisnotthatfarawayanymore.Itsaplacetheyvisiteverynowandthenforstudying,working,andevenshopping.Theideaofgoingoutandmakingyourmarkinthe
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urbantheatertooisquiteprobabletoday.Moreover,itsnotonlyaboutgoingoutopportunitiesarecominghometosmalltownsandruralareas.Imagesofanurbanlifeappearontelevisioneveryday,renderingthemcommonplace.Also,accesstobrandsandproductsinpersonalcare,mobiletelephones,andmanyothercategorieshavemadethetworealms,oncesofarapart,lookrathersimilar.RuralIndiathusnolongerlivesinaweofurbanIndiatheseconsumerssimplywanttomaximizeallthenewopportunitiesthattheynowhaveaccessto.
RuralandsmalltownIndiahavetheirowntrajectoryofgrowththeyarenotfollowingtheurbanidea.Inreality,ruralIndiaisgrowingonitsownpath,expandingitsareaofplayinitsownuniqueway.LifeinruralIndiaisnotfullystuckinyesterday,norhasitcrossedovertoacompletelynewwayoflife.Itsaworldwithrealindividualmotivations,notallofwhicharereplicasofthoseintheurbanworld.
PREVChapter 8: Seamle
NEXTChapter 10: Three
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