Muscular India: Masculinity, Mobility & the New Middle Class

by Michiel Baas

The gyms of urban ‘new India’ are intriguing spaces. While they cater largely to well-off clients, these shiny, modern institutions are also vehicles of upward mobility for the trainers and specialists who work there. As they learn English, ‘upgrade’ their dressing style and try to develop a deeper understanding of the lives of their upmarket customers, they break with an older kind of masculinity represented by the pehlwans in their akharas. Equally, the gym aspires to be a safe space for women—a break from the toxic masculinity they must deal with outside its walls.

Yet, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Class barriers are less permeable than they appear. The use of bodily capital to breach them is more fraught with danger than one might anticipate. And the profession is riddled with pitfalls and contradictions.

Michiel Baas has spent a decade studying gyms, trainers and bodybuilders, and finds in them a new way to investigate India. He walks us through the homes and workspaces of these men—yes, they are almost all men—to bodybuilding competitions and also into their most intimate worlds of ambitions, desires and struggles. An unusual study of an unusual subject, Baas unveils a fascinating world, hidden in plain sight.

Genres: Cultural, India

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2020

Reviews

[aneez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found it a bit unconvincing the mapping between urban (re)construction spree/transformation in post liberal India and its influence new masculinity models for young "middle-class" Indians. Personally i think the influence of hegemonic ideas of nationalism, and the successful evangelization of middle class to politics of fist rather than of solidarity being the main reason. But of course, i am not an expert. Me living in Netherlands urban spaces here in Dutch cities are constantly reconstructed are are perpetually fluid. However, i don't see the middle class in Netherlands obsessed with muscles; more with stamina and endurance. So very difficult to accept thesis of author, maybe i did not understand his work completely.

[John Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading the stories in this book an it is definitely an insightful look into the upward mobility of Indians. I also related to it in my own earlier desire to move up the social ladder. I particularly liked the insigfuness of several of the case studies into how they saw themselves fitting into the class strata

[Bharat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is available on Audible as well and superbly narrated by Mr Pinto. This book looks at the disappearing and yet entrenched class barriers between different type of middle class people and their aspirations through the lens of muscle building. Fascinating story. Recommended.

[Leher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although an interesting perspective on the fitness community, the book became rather repetitive in the principles it was demonstrating, especially towards the end.

[Ramdas Rai · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writer keeps repeating similar ideas throughout the book. Also many of the connections made between the body image and the image of the nation seem far fetched.

[bladenomics · Rating 3 out of 5]

A "Hamara Desh Badal Raha hai" take in a less thought-about sector of the economy. More and more Indians are turning to fitness and wellness as a career choice catering to Middle-class Indians. The neighborhood gym trainer makes more money than the MNC professionals who are his clients. While making their own fortune, they are still battling prejudices of caste and stigma. Largely anecdotal and an interesting read.