Why India is treated with contempt

[ashwin_ash]

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India is poor and dispensable.

Nigeria has oil- lots

Even Venezuela has oil- lots

The Gulf has oil- lots

Russia has minerals, and oil- lots

Brazil has everything- lots

Even Equador and Bolivia have minerals

China is USA's factory, and the Chinese goods produced for the US are of top quality

India has corruption- lots

India has poverty, the scale of which has not been seen even in sub-saharan Africa

India has a hypocritical middle class which flits from issue​ to issue

Have any of you seen some of the ads on Indian television requesting Indians not to ease themselves or defecate on the streets or spit betel juice on someone's shirt?

What India is, is an object of abject surrender and pity. "Show me the money and I'll show you respect" is US' credo. Other countries have economical heft. India is hefty too, in terms of overpopulation, caste and other petty considerations, and so on. Poor sanitation, general filth etc. adds to the notion of some 4th world backwater exporting poorly-trained software engineers whom nobody needs now. Most engineers here are now from Romania, Russia, Israel, China, and other countries which have caught up real fast.

Many of the Indian engineers come via visa mills and are the objects of derision (in my office, curry breath is a common term) since they belch from both ends (gets unbearable soon after lunch), are unkempt, and read regional newspapers all day long in office. The work assigned them is usually accomplished with the help of competent accomplices. Such is the sorry state. They've also acquired the reputation as gas station, convenience store, and shady motel owners.

 

[prasad1]

Sir,
You have very different opinion than mine. You must be working in some other place..
I have lived in USA for more than 30 years. Indians are held in high esteem, and generally are in very good position.

 

[sravna]

India is poor and dispensable.

Nigeria has oil- lots

Even Venezuela has oil- lots

The Gulf has oil- lots

Russia has minerals, and oil- lots

Brazil has everything- lots

Even Equador and Bolivia have minerals

China is USA's factory, and the Chinese goods produced for the US are of top quality

India has corruption- lots

India has poverty, the scale of which has not been seen even in sub-saharan Africa

India has a hypocritical middle class which flits from issue​ to issue

Have any of you seen some of the ads on Indian television requesting Indians not to ease themselves or defecate on the streets or spit betel juice on someone's shirt?

What India is, is an object of abject surrender and pity. "Show me the money and I'll show you respect" is US' credo. Other countries have economical heft. India is hefty too, in terms of overpopulation, caste and other petty considerations, and so on. Poor sanitation, general filth etc. adds to the notion of some 4th world backwater exporting poorly-trained software engineers whom nobody needs now. Most engineers here are now from Romania, Russia, Israel, China, and other countries which have caught up real fast.

Many of the Indian engineers come via visa mills and are the objects of derision (in my office, curry breath is a common term) since they belch from both ends (gets unbearable soon after lunch), are unkempt, and read regional newspapers all day long in office. The work assigned them is usually accomplished with the help of competent accomplices. Such is the sorry state. They've also acquired the reputation as gas station, convenience store, and shady motel owners.

As Shri Prasad says the image of Indians in USA is not as projected above. They are considered hard working and intelligent. Not that Americans have to certify Indians for their abilities but I am just pointing out that the post is not factual.

 

[tks]

India has un-utilized and underutilized talent. India has thought leadership in the area of maturity and living due to the teaching of ancient sages. India is a younger nation which is a tremendous asset

The only thing that Indian people have to do is to revolt against corruption, and not be an unwitting supporter by inaction.

There is a need to unite as Indians regardless of what religion one belongs to and where they live. That will happen once the cancer of corruption is controlled

 

[vsubbu48]

An interesting article comparing Indians, Europeans, Americans and Chinese.

Europe on vacation | Business Standard

 

[ashwin_ash]

Sir,
You have very different opinion than mine. You must be working in some place like USA (Ullas Nagar Sindhi Association).
I have lived in USA for more than 30 years. Indians are held in high esteem, and generally are in very good position.

You must be the minuscule Indian elite living in million dollar homes. Perhaps you haven't seen places like Devon st in Chicago where there are Indian beggars. Or Oak Tree Road in Edison NJ where people from AP drive cabs as their primary business or work in video stores or gas stations. Or Cerritos in LA.. The ones who migrated before 2000 had it good, the recent ones are not so decent. You are a classical case of "cat shutting it's eyes and pretending world is blind".

And Sindhis are doing quite well here, mind you. To stereotype them displays your narrow upper-class mindset. My boss is white, and below the surface they have barely-concealed contempt for the darker-skinned Indians though they do not say so.

 

[sravna]

You must be the minuscule Indian elite living in million dollar homes. Perhaps you haven't seen places like Devon st in Chicago where there are Indian beggars. Or Oak Tree Road in Edison NJ where people from AP drive cabs as their primary business or work in video stores or gas stations. Or Cerritos in LA.. The ones who migrated before 2000 had it good, the recent ones are not so decent. You are a classical case of "cat shutting it's eyes and pretending world is blind".

And Sindhis are doing quite well here, mind you. To stereotype them displays your narrow upper-class mindset. My boss is white, and below the surface they have barely-concealed contempt for the darker-skinned Indians though they do not say so.

There are many Indians in fact the majority who display a servile attitude towards the Americans. That I think is the curse. If they can overcome that attitude and think they can do better than them which I am sure they can, we will see a totally different India.

 

[ashwin_ash]

An interesting article comparing Indians, Europeans, Americans and Chinese.

Europe on vacation | Business Standard

Fact is India and the vast majority of Indians are dirt poor. Try traveling non air-conditioned class in any Indian train to see the scale of deprivation. The first lot of Indians in the States are rich, they are deluded into thinking all Indians all over are rich.

 

[prasad1]

If your opinion of India is formed by visiting Dharavi slums no one can help you. You fail to see the obvious. Like adi Sankara said:
PASYANNAPI CHA NA PASYATI MOODHO

 

[vgane]

Dear Ashwin,

I have been to US as a business visitor and I have never faced anything like that...I

I have travelled in local trains too..Indians are well behaved there..Even the so called Indian taxi drivers too..Indians are well dressed too..Reading regional newspapers is not a crime...Many have contacts in India & so would like to know what is happening in their native place, like NRI members of this site

Indians are respected for the analytical skills and intelligence...

As far as begars are concerned, you have them from other races too

Your post is a complete surprise to me...

 

[ashwin_ash]

If your opinion of India is formed by visiting Dharavi slums no one can help you. You fail to see the obvious. Like adi Sankara said:
PASYANNAPI CHA NA PASYATI MOODHO

If you think India is progressive modern bla bla and buy into the narrative of the growth story, why don't you set an example by returning and settling in India??

 

[sarang]

There was an article on daravi decade ago. There are pools of affluence in daravi, for that matter in many parts of india too. Daravi is a flourishing manufacturing area. It has several manufacturing units for leather, clothe, small machined parts, electricals and a lot more. Significant number own luxury cars (mercedes), second homes, educate their children in expensive schools; many possess basic gadgets - tv, fridge, two wheeler, fans etc. It is a different world altogether.

Does not mean there is squalor and unhygienic surroundings; if the civic authorities want, the area can be made more livable and clean. For many migrating to mumbai, dharavi provides home and livlihood.

This phrase 'pools of affluence' was coined by a western reporter; dharavi is so because the politicians and influential lobby want it that way.

In a magazine interview, a dharavi tamilian said that - in his area, tamilians still spray cow dung water on the floor and draw kolams; he lamented that this practice has vanished in tamilnadu.

 

[ashwin_ash]

There was an article on daravi decade ago. There are pools of affluence in daravi, for that matter in many parts of india too. Daravi is a flourishing manufacturing area. It has several manufacturing units for leather, clothe, small machined parts, electricals and a lot more. Significant number own luxury cars (mercedes), second homes, educate their children in expensive schools; many possess basic gadgets - tv, fridge, two wheeler, fans etc. It is a different world altogether.

Does not mean there is squalor and unhygienic surroundings; if the civic authorities want, the area can be made more livable and clean. For many migrating to mumbai, dharavi provides home and livlihood.

This phrase 'pools of affluence' was coined by a western reporter; dharavi is so because the politicians and influential lobby want it that way.

In a magazine interview, a dharavi tamilian said that - in his area, tamilians still spray cow dung water on the floor and draw kolams; he lamented that this practice has vanished in tamilnadu.

Nice and enlightening perspective. I've visited Dharavi too, and most unlabeled leather articles find their way to the west from Dharavi. Mr Prasad is displaying a shockingly racist and regressive mindset by denigrating a large part of India's population who live in slums, because they didn't have the wherewithal to move to affluent countries like he did.

Corruption has existed since Asoka's times or earlier. It can't be wished away overnight.

Sitting in affluent countries and buying into fake narratives of "India Shining", while knowing fully well India is anything but shining, and being armchair experts on India's "growth story" will only hamper and hinder whatever little growth India is capable of in the midst of so much poverty and squalor.

 

[shastibrata]

India is poor and dispensable.



China is USA's factory, and the Chinese goods produced for the US are of top quality

India has corruption- lots

India has poverty, the scale of which has not been seen even in sub-saharan Africa

India has a hypocritical middle class which flits from issue​ to issue

The causes you have listed above are remediable. As can be seen with the establishment of the Lokpal Bill and the public awareness of corruption brought about by Shri Anna Hazare, we have made a start towards reducing corruption.

Indian poverty is something that is that is being addressed. We have reached a stage where there is total employment for anyone willing to work. Such was not the case a couple of decades ago where unemployment was running rampant.

With regard to China becoming USA's factory, it is purely a question of cheap, exploitable slave labor. It is just a flight of US capital in search of lower production costs. It used to be Japan and Taiwan in the not too recent past. And contrary to what you have stated, Chinese produced products are not usually known for their top quality. Rather the opposite. They are improving, and improving in a big way. Just as Japan was known for its shoddy goods once upon a time, and had progressively improved to the point where it became a hallmark of quality products.

With respect to American perception about Indians, curry breath etc., it just shows a lack of sensitivity on their part. And the Indians who had gone before, or for that matter the Indian hiring companies ought to orient their employees whom they place in Western countries. Right from their clothing to personal hygiene. I have known the Chinese to do so, and it is high time we did it too.

 

[indianassault]

India has a hypocritical middle class which flits from issue​ to issue

You probably have the answer in your post.

who is treating India with contempt?? Your post or some one else?
One question to you, when you come to India, do you yield to pedestrians or give right of way or refrain from parking in the road? I am sure most would not..but complain India is this, India is that etc...