Haute Couture, Haute Cuisine but no Haute Culture?

Haute Couture means high fashion with custom made hand-stitched dresses. Some famous makers of these are Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, Armani, Prada etc., Their brand names themselves are assurances of high quality.

Similarly Haute Cuisine is served in restaurants with Michelin starred quality. Michelin awards stars to restaurants serving exceptional food. One star means "very good cooking", two stars "excellent cooking" & the highest, three stars means "exceptional cuisine."

But while the above two are well-known in the western world (and creeping into the affluent elite in India also), there is no similar standard for haute culture, i.e., fine editions of classic books & high-end music systems.

Fine books like Barnes & Noble, Folio Society are unheard of & Linn, Marantz, Bang & Olufsen audios have made no inroads even into homes who can afford them.

The affluent Indian film stars, cricket stars & other "nouveau riche" cannot think beyond buying lavish houses & fleets of luxury cars. No use have they for fine books or gorgeous music, the more is the pity.