In a country where hustle is a way of life and class definitions are constantly shifting, two recent viral stories have stirred up conversation about work, worth, and wealth. One centres on Soham Parekh, a Georgia Tech-educated software engineer who juggled jobs at multiple American startups. The other emerged from a tier-3 Indian town, where a Reddit user revealed their domestic help earns a monthly income that rivals, or even exceeds, that of many salaried professionals.
Soham Parekh and the ethics of overemployment
Soham Parekh became an internet sensation after several Silicon Valley CEOs accused him of moonlighting across multiple Y Combinator-backed startups. Using the alias “gogititso,” he charmed employers with emails that began, “I love everything about what your company is doing.” His resume boasted stints at DynamoAI, Union.ai, and Antimetal, and his interviews left founders impressed.
But cracks soon appeared. Time-zone clashes, missed meetings, and visa inconsistencies raised red flags. The situation exploded when Suhail Doshi, co-founder of Mixpanel and Playground AI, publicly warned others: “He’s been preying on YC companies.” Over half a dozen startups admitted to hiring and then firing Parekh once they caught on.
In an interview with TBPN, Parekh admitted to working 140-hour weeks but denied any intent to scam. “Nobody likes to work that much,” he said. “I was desperate.” While some admired his audacity, one user on Reddit’s r/overemployed subreddit called it “calibre”, others questioned the moral implications. In an age where remote work blurs boundaries, was this ambition or deception?
A maid who redefined meaning of middle class
At the other end of the economic spectrum, a Reddit post titled “Our maid is richer than us now” set off a different kind of debate. The poster, living in a small Indian town, revealed that their maid earns ₹30,000 monthly working full days across three households. Her husband, a labourer, brings in Rs 35,000; her son earns Rs 30,000 at a saree shop; and her daughter is training to be a tailor. Their total household income? Close to Rs 98,000, expected to cross Rs 1.3 lakh soon, and none of it taxed.
Thanks to subsidised rations, cheap rent, and an ancestral home built under the PM Awas Yojana, the family’s disposable income far exceeds that of many middle-class professionals struggling with EMIs and tax deductions. “The guy selling pani puri on the street corner earns like me, but doesn’t pay tax,” one commenter noted bitterly.
Some defended the maid’s financial freedom as a result of hard work and community support. Others pointed out the instability of informal labour. Still, the post raised a provocative question: is class defined by income, job security, or tax liability?
One economy, two realities
What links Parekh and the maid’s family is a shared narrative of survival and success outside traditional structures. One exploited digital loopholes in the white-collar world; the other built prosperity through manual labour and state support.
In today’s India, it seems the hustle is universal, but the rules are different depending on where you stand. Whether it’s a software engineer balancing five jobs or a maid’s family quietly climbing the economic ladder, the new economy rewards resourcefulness more than titles.
And in that reality, maybe “middle class” isn’t just a bracket. It’s a question.
Source – https://www.newsband.in/article_detail/engineer-vs-maid-two-realities-of-indias-workforce