A new definition for "Middle Class"

An article I read was asking about what the term "Middle Class" means. I always thought I was middle class. I've never had to worry about basic necessities at home or elsewhere. So I must not be poor. I always thought the rich owned vast amounts of property or successful big businesses. I'm not rich either. By elimination, I'm middle class. Not too far away from Wikipedia's definition perhaps.

Based on purely income levels, the above article argues that I might belong to the Rich category. Although the given statistics could be wrong / under-representative, it still shows a strong possibility that my perception of middle class could be unsound.

A New Definition: Then there is Vinod Mehta's article (Eyes, Ears and Minds Closed, Outlookindia.com), a well-respected journalist in certain circles, who bashes middle class folks for taking an anti-reservation stand (although he claims he does not necessarily support Arjun Singh or the new reservation bill). According to him, if you have ever felt that you were surpassed by someone less deserving during your educational aspirations, or if you felt the government's schemes in helping the poor or discriminated only enriched the rich and powerful and victimized you, then you must be middle class. Is this true? That would definitely make me middle class.

Then we have the middle class defender who argues that the middle class practically did not even exist during the days of "garibi being hatofied". Beyond IMF's regulations about the money spent, the government failed to show any interest or real results in empowering the poor. The relatively little effect it had created the middle class. And who is paying for the tax-funded government schemes now? Neither the super-rich or the rural rich. So another definition is: If you are paying taxes in India, then you are middle class. (Yet another definition according to him: If you voted against a political party in power because the onion prices have risen, then you are middle class).

Which is true?