Middle-class

Recently while writing my report, I used the term middle-class in India, matter-of-factly and my prof wanted to know how do I exactly define my Indian middle-class.

I am not an economist, so had to look up for a valid definition and this is what I found-

By its conventional definition, the middle class includes families whose incomes lie between 75% and 125% of the median income (GDP $1000 per yr). Families with monthly incomes over Rs.6000 are thus above the 'middle class' line, and families earning more than Rs.8000 or 9000 a month are certainly among the top fifth of the nation. Still, among the urban salaried class that constitutes most of the audience for media outlets, many believe themselves to be members of the middle class.- India together, August 2003

Even if the GDP would be different now in 2006, it does seem like most "middle" class people I have been speaking to aren't really that then! We are used to the term maybe, even in love with it. Euphemism for the fat(or even health conscious) lala(or lallis(?)) of the present world?