India, Jan. 14 -- By Dr. R. Balasubramaniam

Most of us have seen this person and many of us have been this person at some point. They enter a mall with time on hand and clarity of intent, though that intent has nothing to do with spending money. The visit is deliberate. The wallet stays closed. The objective is to be inside without participating in consumption.

In many Indian cities, the mall has become a shared civic space rather than a shopping destination. It offers relief from heat, congestion and the uncertainty of roads. During summer afternoons, when the sun presses down and travel feels effortful, the mall provides air conditioning, predictable lighting and the freedom to walk without negotiating traffic.

The window shopper cho...