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and the same again when he ends work in the evening. The loom is in a small, poorly-lit village hut with tiny, heavily- barred windows. Rajendra has worked here for three years. His father, Bhagwan, was too poor to take care of his large family and went to the loom owner for a loan. In return, Rajendra was forced to work for the loom owner. In the early days, he would make mistakes or would work too slowly, for which the loom owner would beat him with a bamboo stick. Children are sought after for carpet weaving because their nimble fingers and good eyesight suit the detailed motions required to weave carpets, from 30 to 40 square feet in size, one thread at a time. Rajendra’s eyesight is now poor, he has lung disease from

Words to Understand in This Chapter

24-hour society— a modern society in which people can buy goods, work, go to restaurants, etc. all night and all day. aristocracy— the highest social class in a country. consumer— one who buys goods and services. consumerism— an attitude that values the purchase of goods that are desirable but not essential. planned obsolescence— making or designing something (such as a car) in such a way that it will only be usable for a short time, so that people will have to buy another one. producer— one who provides goods and services. product placement— the inclusion of a product in a television program or film as a form of paid advertisement.

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Consumerism