IS INDIA RISING OR DISINTEGRATING?

Looking at India's international business scorecards or Test cricket scores there's no doubt the country is rising.
But looking at all the self-destructive activity going on across the country, spurred by narrow chauvinism over religion, caste, language-affinity and pettier reasons, it seems the country is disintegrating.
Yesterday, for instance, a young north Indian worker fleeing the city of Mumbai (Bombay) in fear of ethnic violence, was brutally beaten to death in a train by a mob. Today, bomb blasts across the state of Assam have killed at least sixty. The last two months have seen brutal cycles of provocation and retaliation in states across India, including the cities of Mumbai and Bangalore.
In India today mobs who beat up one individual call themselves tigers. And those who destroy the country's unity call themselves patriots.
If ever there was a country rising and disintegrating at the same time, that's today's India.
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AN INSIGHT CELEBRATING INDIANS WILL NOT LIKE TO HEAR

For many Indians enjoying themselves, to really enjoy themselves it's important that half the world - or at least the neighbourhood - knows they are enjoying themselves. From my childhood in Bombay I remember the high ostentation and high decibels of weddings, birthday parties and festivals. In fact on Divali mornings the more firecracker debris he had in front of his house was one more way for anyone who had more money to show off to neighbours.

There has been no change of attitude in globalizing India. Rather, the 10% of Indians who are now celebrating have even greater opportunities to show off. (Note: WHO recently reported that 75% Indians earn no more tha $2 a day.) During last month's Independence Day celebrations the club near me - managed by top police and other officials - played music that shook the neighbourhood's walls and rattled windows - just as they do on every happy occasion. And recently two of my young friends (who had not met me for two years) surprised me with a visit. Both wanted me to go out to the gate and admire the new big cars they had bought - one an SUV. With no desire to encourage the 'attitude' I refused to oblige. I told them I had no interest in their cars; I was only interested in them personally as friends. Then I told them about this 'insight' and we laughed over it.

Yeah. They laughed; but only because they were friends.

A CHINA vs INDIA INSIGHT THAT WILL ONLY PLEASE THE CHINESE

The Beijing Olympics was a seamless spectacle. Detractors say it's the result of regimentation. The discerning see in the flawless show China's determination to put in every possible effort to succeed as a nation. Nicholas D. Kristof, in his NYT article on the Games, comments that success has carried some young Chinese beyond self-confidence to cockiness.

Self-confidence? Yes. Cockiness? Maybe, among some youth. But as nations, that is the significant difference between China and India. Some years ago, as India's clout in IT and BPO grew, the then national government proclaimed INDIA SHINING to the world. China's advance began circa 1978. Silently. They let their work do the talking. When their products flooded markets everywhere, the world realized China was shining. The Olympics has reinforced that idea.

India meanwhile has gone on to celebrations. Endless singing, dancing, fashion and movie award shows! And other forms of celebrations! For those who have the money. The Nero-like unreality and insouciance of this celebratory mood is obvious when it is placed in perspective against the World Bank's recent estimate of India's ignored reality. India has a third of the world's poorest, about 40 % of the population living under the $1.25 income per day poverty line, and about 75% living below the $2-a-day level.

Who has the recipe for sustained growth? India or China? (For more INDIA REALITIES stories, please check out www.myspace.com/india_realities)

BANGALORE'S 'UNWALKABLE' PAVEMENTS

I have blogged earlier about Bangalore's amazing pavements. Now a study has confirmed that Bangalore has some of the most walker unfriendly pavements even among Indian cities. The experts considered walkable space and obstructions on footpaths.
The average non-expert observer will notice in addition:
1. Potholes and bad maintenance of footpaths. Obviously, due to money swindled away.
2. New pavements at varying heights, even up to a foot and a half high. Obviously, the more the concrete dumped, the more the money that can be swindled.
3. Wherever possible, beauty-loving homeowners convert the public footpath in front of them into enclosed private gardens.
4. If there is some walkable space that is where someone must park his car/scooter/bicycle as obstructively as possible.
All this, in a country notoriously lacking in courtesy to pedestrians! And who cares for the handicapped? (For more INDIA REALITIES stories, please check out www.myspace.com/india_realities)

SHARING IRRESPONSIBILITY

Poverty of individual responsibility for the common good is a feature of countries where people subvert their own future.

In India, for example, hardly anyone - including all political parties - feels guilt about going on a rampage, stoning-burning public property and taking innocent lives over the pettiest issues.

Does that set a global benchmark for irresponsibility?
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INDIA'S GREAT GROWTH STORY

Globalizing India is in a phase of hectic growth. Starting with malls and luxuries. Faberge and Vuitton first. Toyota and Jaguar first. Later, if wisdom permits, the superpower hopeful will come down to the less important. Like clean drinking water for millions. Or power supply that doesn't fail every day in cities. Or pavements people can walk on safely. Or minimal health care for all.

Meanwhile, as India grows, the poor and hungry are advised to take care of themselves. And, for God's sake, stay out of sight!
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FAIRER THAN THE FAIREST? - INSIGHT INDIA

India 2008 has discovered an instant coffee version of cricket. With international players. And cheerleaders imported from the U.S. Like everything globalizing India touches, the IPL has turned cricket to gold, raking in millions of dollars.
Half way through the play-offs newschannels reported that at one venue two black cheerleaders were asked to sit out.
And I thought of all the Indian matrimonial ads where almost everyone wants a fair spouse.
And I thought of the huge sales of fairness lotions in this country.
Then I remembered the time an Indian (whom I thought I knew well) took me to a Starbucks in California. No empty tables outside. I sat with a young African. We chatted. He was from Senegal. An IT executive. And smart. The Indian brought our coffee, handed me mine, and, without saying a word, walked off to find another table for himself. Crude. Rude. What's his problem? I wondered. Deep-seated pretensions? Delusions of fairness? Folly?
Neither globalization nor all the fairness lotions in the world can make India a European country.
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