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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Indians are confused about who counts as poor. Is it someone who owns an iPhone 13?

In the bizarre Viral Spiral that is North India’s “gareeb ki pehchan” reels, enjoying coffee, dreaming of studying in Germany, and owning an iPhone 13 are all markers of poverty.

In the absence of official poverty estimates—India hasn’t produced any in a decade—Instagram’s meme economy has come up with its own definitions. A new trend has taken the app by storm, where creators post “telltale signs of poverty”.

“Gareeb ki 7vi pehchan ye bhi hoti hai ki ye cooler ko khud repair kar leta hai (The seventh mark of a poor person is that they repair the cooler themselves),” read the text on a recent reel by the handle @mohit_86_m.

“This is relatable,” wrote a commenter in Hindi. “Etna sach kaise bol leta hai koi (How does one tell so much truth),” said another. A stray comment even talked about the value of hard work and effort.

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