Sri Prasad
Such a thread could have allowed for a more scholarly discussion if it was approached differently.
Instead at this forum it is for few to do some cribbing which may serve to provide some therapy.
What is more interesting is to note who is cribbing and who is not rather than what they write (I did not read most but saw you step in and wanted to see what you had to say)!
With your post I see that you have tried to raise the level of discussion but that is not possible with some here.
A better approach would be to feed to the cribbers and help with their therapeutic need. Say a sad story so they feel that those Indians in other countries must be suffering for a few buck selling their souls! Then they can feel better about themselves.
The last thing you want to do is to get into the generalization game about Indians. In my experience in every visit to India I am always touched by people in rural areas be that in UP (near Rishikesh area) or in Southern or Western states.
In contrast there are a few (only a few) that carry the following traits in my experience. I will leave you to guess who if any may have one or many traits I am listing here ..
1. Frustrated with life because they are/were paper pushers for a career and never challenged themselves to anything higher in life
2. Their livelihood was dealing with and creating bureaucracy and leveraging that for corrupt gains
3. Promote corruption - they may say 'Hey Rama' in a temple but when they are making a deal (like selling their house) will say 'Hey Krishna' meaning black money as part of the deal
4. Go after every gadgets the west has invented with zeal and compare with each others as to who has what (and feel proud of their possession)
5. Pick up news here and there and feel good that others must be suffering (from reading news designed to invoke sensationalism)
6. Generally lacks backbone when it comes to taking risk
7. Spit in the street while crying 'Madi'
8. Pass gas in front of others loudly at home and even outside and feel entitled to do so
9. Not realize that they are frogs in a narrow well in terms of knowledge
10. Not truly interested in learning the truth of anything
I can go on but there is a choice American word that aptly describe such characters. I cannot say it here except refer to what President George W Bush said about a journalist while campaigning to his running mate Cheney (who said 'Big time' and agreed). Bush did not know what he said was heard by all.
The best suggestion I can tell you is to not try to raise awareness with facts and with logic but rather feed them some sad story
