New Khosla Kunj – Sharafat

Izzat and Sharafat – the two defining middle class traits.
In the film, the moment when Mr. Khosla is shown expressing his concern about his elder son’s plans to help him get his land back, he tells Mr. Sahni “Cherry does not know these property agents. They can cause a lot of trouble to simple people himself and his son Cherry.” (Ye in logon ko nahin jaanta, main jaanta hun. Ek baar kissi service class aadmi pe koi daag lag jaae to zindagi bhar ke lene ke dene pad jaate hain.”) Daag, here is like a blot that one gets on one’s character - a blot that does not go away for the rest of one’s life.

All through their lives, middle class families try to minimize their risks and try to lead a simple life, away from any kind of confrontation. Mr Khosla’s statement reflects this fundamental aversion to extreme steps or aggression in any form.

The same simplicity reflects yet again when Bapu (Navin Nischol) walks away from a bag containing Rs. 35 lakhs. It is his middle class conscience that does not allow him to carry the money with him. Back home when all the young boys and girls are pounding on Bapu, it is Mr. Khosla who empathizes with him, offers him a glass of water and then goes on to say how what Bapu did, was what decency (sharafat) is all about. And that like himself, Bapu was also not a shameless, reckless man who could just dupe someone and walk away with his or her money.

It is interesting to note generational divide in mindset & the two diverse attitudes towards goal orientation. While on one hand Mr. Khosla’s children, Meghna, Asif Iqbal & Mani, the secretary, are ruthlessly vengeful and would go to any extent to accomplish their goal, both Mr. Khosla & Bapu represent the old school of adopting all the right means.
These two generations represent the middleclass values in transition.