Ashish Anand had dreams of becoming a fashion designer. That was in February 2020, just weeks before the coronavirus struck India and the government enacted one of the world’s toughest nationwide lockdowns. Unable to pay the rent, Mr. Anand closed down two months later. A shrinking middle class would deal lasting damage. Now Mr. Anand and his wife and his two children are among millions of Indians in danger of sliding out of the middle class and into poverty.

Source: New York Times April 16, 2021 22:52 UTC