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My perception of Chinese society: Then and Now

By Geeta Kochhar (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-27 09:37

China is growing at a fast pace and the inevitable outcome of these changes is the changing society. Though the real change started from the time reform and opening up got a "go" signal in 1978, to me the real effect of the visible change began in 1990s. This was the first time I landed in China. Hence, now when I am again in China for a longer duration, I could feel and see many more differences among the attitude, life style, and habits of the Chinese. The Chinese society then was an evolving new society and now is a developing new society. The difference I see in these 15 to 20 years is for real and probably a way towards making a new dynamic and harmonious society. The term harmonious out here I use strictly to point to the peaceful coexistence of man with nature.

The author Geeta Kochhar. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

My first impression of Beijing in 1995 was that the sky may be blue but without birds singing, life exists on earth but without the existence of animals and other forms of creatures, human beings survive on land but without emotions. A perplexed person I was, wondering why cannot I see birds fly; why cannot I see dogs and cats roaming on streets; why cannot I see policemen ever smiling. Anything to everything was as if designed by computers and no manipulation allowed. I was happy in my own world, but still felt uneasiness. Today, I see a changed China.

One of the industries that flourished rapidly in China in these years is the pet-industry. Whether one sees this from the point of increasing loneliness among the aged or from the angle of accentuated love for the animals, the figures of pets are soaring in China. According to some estimates there are more than 150 million dogs and more than 10 million cats as pets in China. Besides, there is special love for different kinds of birds as pets that were just visible in selected parks in the 90s. As one walks on the lanes and by-lanes of Beijing, a special care for these pets is visible. More important is the fact that many love to cater to these animals as stray animals. Probably the new found love for animals and birds is also a mark of expanding middle and rich class in China that places pets as status symbol.

Another major change I feel is in the eating habits with a greater love for milk and milk products. Coming from India, drinking milk and eating yogurt was a daily routine for me. However, as I landed in China, all milk related products were in scarce quantity with no one keen on buying such products. A different China now shows greater love for drinking milk everyday with a variety of tastes flooding the market. In particular, yogurt is served in almost all buffets of a Conference or in the mess of almost all institutions. Yet, a plain simple yogurt without sweetness and eating butter is not trendy. Young girls prefer yogurt more due to its linkage with beauty and the dieting trend that runs high on minds.

Residence even in the 90s was linked more to the work place and so isolation from the world beyond one’s own community was unavoidable. Compact community life had greater sense of reliance on each other and also a greater knowledge of other's life. Commercial housing was just taking shape in the 90s and there was aversion to accepting the price one had to pay. Today, housing has become a major issue in China and higher cost of owning a place of residence has become a headache for many. Yet, there are many who have shifted to newer commercial locations that provide bigger space and higher living standards. What is compromised in the new demarcation of rich and poor living is "community life". The only link being the residential committees that organizes and arranges some events. More of the residences are rented out and the bond of "one work place" has been broken. Hence, there are very few residential areas that now provide reliance on and communication with next door neighbor. In my case for months, I could not even see my next door neighbor until one day they knocked on my door for some reason.

Tiananmen is a place that attracted me then and even now. Probably it is also a place that every foreigner wants to visit often and witness the change. Even though the greater change is not here that one can find, but a fresh and free air blows now. My first impression of Tiananmen was a huge manifestation of power and a dedicated lot of people. Uniformed police was on constant vigilance with no smiles and interaction with people. Foreigners, in particular, were aliens in the square walking to destroy its peace. Peace of what sort was unknown, yet calmness prevailed. Walking through Tiananmen was like feeling the stones and hearing the stories they narrate. People were just a blank sheet on them with no reaction to anything. I found it amusing to take a photo with a uniformed police person, which was refuted with no words uttered. Are humans alive, I wondered? However, years have gone by and I have policemen coming and chatting with me. Rather, a few indulging in teasing you in the areas that are highly protected zones. Is it that the market drive has greased their joints or is it that the freedom they enjoy now is greater? A new friendly image where people can at least talk and walk in relaxation is on board, albeit within specific limits.

China is changing and changing at a speed beyond imagination. However, the change is not just the higher GDP ratios, but an overall style of living. Globalization and increased market penetration has introduced many new facets of living to the Chinese life that was once closed to the outside world. Now the Chinese create and make own style statement, which probably is more inclined to the western world. The diminishing factor is the very own Chinese culture that overtakes a western living. The spread of a culture that still fascinates many beyond China is overshadowed by the growing middle class that wants to create a new living. Children being trained to speak in English, survive on western food and clothing, and to adopt the latest Asian looks. The good thing however is a new dynamic society is developing with a sense of harmonious living.

Dr. Geeta Kochhar is a Visiting Fellow at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. She is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Chinese & South-East Asian Studies, School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.

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