I am convinced we, the upper middle class Bengali (which sadly includes me although my bank balance may beg to differ), are much like Trump. In fact, exactly like Trump and Co.
Before you label me judgmental or take that offended gasp while staring at your latest smart phone, let me explain.
1. Inside a bubble
We have had extremely privileged lives in bubbles yet act like we know all about misery and how to change the world.
Having maids to clean our plates and never having to do an odd job and sleeping every single night in an air conditioned room are all pretty high maintenance perks, even for the Western world.
Yet, if you follow us on social media you would think we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and we know exactly what to do with it. Reminds you of someone? Trump.
2. Daddy dearest
We gloat about being self made, when in truth, we studied with baap er taka. Stayed in baaper basha. And then got a respectable job right out of university because of, pause, baaper bondhu.
We whine how life is so unfair because someone somewhere said something mean to us
If probed, we could even write a book on how hard it was after graduating out of one of the top universities with a “father paid for” degree and how we truly deserved that first break in that company where our “uncle” happened to be the director. We take connections very seriously. So does Trump and Co.
3. Bold and bigly
We talk big. Big plans of donating this much here and that much there. Big talks of changing Dhaka.
After-dinner conversation can, and does, go into the early morning hours, debating and debating and debating about what is best for our city and what is clearly the root of all its ailments. But no real action. Never, any real action. Just like Trump.
4. Get out of here
We hate immigrants. All those mofosshol er polapain are so uncool and make our beautiful city -- that we do so much for mind you -- so crowded.
The government should really put a restriction on the influx of these uncool people, never mind that they only want a better life, are honest, and work tirelessly.
Let’s not even go into the paradox of visiting Hindu temples in flocks on puja, yet not hesitating to identify a Hindu friend as just that, a “Hindu” friend, because no other identity markers are required.
Reminds you of a particular yellow-haired man dancing with Arabs while banning innocent Muslims to enter his country.
5. Whine and dine
We whine a lot. Like a lot, lot. From our chauffeur-driven air conditioned cars, from our Gulshan/Baridhara apartments while our bua does the dishes and the other bua looks after the kids, from our overseas vacations.
We whine how life is so unfair because someone somewhere said something mean to us. Just like Mr President.
6. Social media warriors
Social media is our field. To debate morality. To reinstate our prestigious stance on everything important.
Reality might defer, there might be a gaping hole between what we say and what we do but hey, people talk about it.
7. Popularity contest
We are very popular among people exactly like us and think the whole wide world must, hence, love us.
8. 36-24-36
We see women as just a glamourised version of sex toys. All is well as long as they are 36-24-36, fair, and beautiful.
All is always well on the bombshell. And when women are targetted, attacked, and berated, sometimes irreversibly, we accept that as part of our daily news.
It is why the Tonu murder, the Pohela Boishak rally assault, the Banani Raintree case can take place, because that is how we treat women even in our middle-class and urban class, just something (not someone) to exploit and move on. Not a big deal.
9. Bigger the better
We like big things. Big cars. Big watches. Big bags. Big golden letter flashing initials of some dead or otherwise old European guy who probably doesn’t know about the country we live in.
Everything must be so fine. Just so fine.
Everything must be in top shape, so we can put our thumb and forefinger together, close our eyes, and say mmm.
This “new age coolness” I see among my peers worry me.
This “Trumpness” is like a disease, slowly growing and eating into the world, while everyone in is too busy taking quizzes on their small screens that tell them who they are.
Nudrat Lohani Nabi is a client service representative at Jagar Ltd in Sydney.