NEW DELHI If everything on earth were rational, nothing would happen."-Fyodor Dostoevsky
Time: 5.30 pm, early May Place: Pitampura, north-west Delhi People wait anxiously in front of a roadside food cart. The long, long queue spills over from the pavement onto the street, leaving bikes, cars, cows and canines jostling for space on the narrow road. A few paces ahead, half a dozen vloggers are filming the cart and the surrounding chaos.
Across the road, some more YouTubers are dishing out raucous 'food reviews' for their presumably famished audience. Some poor souls, tired of the long wait, are reluctantly trickling out of the line, but many more are queuing up animatedly, resulting in the congregation getting bigger (and noisier) with every passing minute.
After about an hour of push-and-shove, you finally manage to get your hands on the Holy Grail. No, it was not some piece of gastronomic masterpiece whipped up on the streets of Delhi, but a humble vada pav with much to be humble about. The bread was soggy; the mint chutney lacked chutzpah; the mashed potato patty was an ode to mediocrity.
The only exceptional feature of the snack was its high price. And, not to forget, the 'viral' photogenic lady who sold it to you with a devastating smile.
Supply creating its own demand is a central tenet of classical economics. But if there is one force which is even more potent in creating demand, it is hype.
Just look at what happened on Dalal Street this year.
JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON In investing, very few activities can match the exhilaration of boarding a hype train. The thrill of momentum, micro-bursts of dopamine and a galloping portfolio make for a heady cocktail. But the most important part of this game is not boarding the train but knowing when to get off.
Bu hikaye Mint Hyderabad dergisinin December 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Mint Hyderabad dergisinin December 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
The other Count: Nosferatu lives on
With Robert Eggers' Nosferatu in theatres, we examine the small but distinguished filmic legacy of this vampire, an unauthorised version of Dracula but with crucial differences
Planning the best version of yourself with pen and paper
For these indie businesses and their customers, digital planning can never replace the joy of pen and paper
Rana Begum's distinct language of minimalism
In her ongoing solo in Mumbai, the artist showcases specific strands of her practice through new relief panels
Nostalgia is still in, so are animal prints
A roundup of fashion trends that will flourish in the new year
Zero-proof drinks for Dry January
A resolution to drink buzz-free beverages no longer means you'll be out of spirits
A rich bounty of family, food and conversations
When I was married a quarter century ago, my spouse was startled with what she believed was my family's obsession with food.
The Global Reservation Game Comes to India
Getting a dinner date is easy, but finding a table calls for luck as restaurants demand that diners reserve seats weeks ahead
Mughals to Ambanis: The roots of India Inc
A new book on the history of Indian business explains what led to the creation of wealth in the country under the Mughals
When the makers of history die
In February 1798, as the septuagenarian maharajah of Travancore lay dying, he had occasion to reflect on his four-decade-long kingly career.
More 'Squid', less 'Game'
How do you get blood out of white keds?