One thing no one disputes is that the Patels practically own Gujarat.
Patels could
well be a generic name for
well-heeled Indians at large. The "Patel shot" is now a generic term for standard touristy Indians take in front of a famous location like the Eiffel Tower or Niagara Falls. Some years back, referring to the profusion of Indians in the tech world, someone coined the expression 'Intel Inside, Patel Outside'.
For the longest
time, "Keeping up with the Joneses" has been a
popular expression. But linguistic revisionists are now suggesting that "Keeping up with the Joneses" be replaced with "Keeping up with the Patels", particularly since the idiom points to the growing
Indian global influence.
With Patels, there are attributes outside consumptive tendencies which do not
square with the Joneses. They are exceptional entrepreneurs -an industrious, self-made, risk-taking lot. Joneses are more likely
well-bred aristocrats, the kind that inhabit Wodehouse's world.
A recent survey in
Britain that examined buying behavior of the country's most common surnames showed that the Patels are spending more per head on electronic goods and gadgets than any other group. It shows Patels splurged $5,000 a year on items such as home entertainment systems, computers, phones, cameras etc, far more than the
Jones (who came in 16th), Smiths and Browns.
Jones: I'm having a hard
time keeping up with the Patels.
Smith: Me too Jonesy. One
rich Patel outbid me about ten thousand dollars on ebay.
