THE GREAT INDIAN DEMOCKERY!

When Friedman said that India's advantage over China was democracy, it pleased those
Indians who love flattery - among them the celebrating well-off, the ecstatic juvenile section of the media, and most of the political class. But Indians who see the reality they live in took it as an example of Western opinion based on surface impressions and deep ignorance.
In every day fact the poor have no rights other than to vote; for that they may get bribed, threatened and/or beaten up. They are also used as fodder by the vicious, to make up mobs that commit violence. Law enforcing authorities tend to refuse to take their complaints of injustice against anyone with influence. The poor cannot afford to go to court. If they do somehow, the case is likely to linger on for twenty years or more; in the process justice is more likely to be subverted by the influential than served.
For long Indian political parties - as indicated by the candidates they put up - have fought elections by dividing the people by caste, religion, language spoken and region of origin. Repeatedly, parties have won by inciting divisive violence before an election. In general the Indian political class has a long way to go to realize no country can rise too far by creating alienations among her people. To rise to the top, in addition to talent and vigout, a country needs a united people.
Perhaps, Friedman felt nominal democracy is better than no democracy. But making a hash of democracy is no democracy either! It's plain demockery! (For more INDIA REALITIIES stories, see other blogs here and at www.myspace.com/india_realities) My latest blog at Myspace is - WHEN HOLLYWOOD MATES BOLLYWOOD YOU GET A RICH SLUMDOG!

IS A NEW INDIA EMERGING AT LAST?

Surely, we see hopeful signs. At the candlelight vigils and the human chain in Mumbai after the terror attack, a common placard people held up said: JOIN HANDS AGAINST TERROR. The right spirit! And most certainly one forward step for an emerging new India.

But there's still a long, long way to go. First of all, there must come the realization that IT, BPO and other business successes are a great driving force, but not enough to take India to the level of the world's leading democracies. For that the placards should start saying: JOIN HANDS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. And those placards should appear wherever divisive violence erupts - for any of innumerable reasons like caste , language and religion; too often incited by politicians consolidating their power bases at the cost of the country.

Economic successes - where some people get rich - is not enough. A people need to be UNITED and ENLIGHTENED to reach the top bracket. Is that a tall order? (For more INDIA REALITIES stories see other blogs here and at Myspace - www.myspace.com/india_realities - where my latest blog is A NEW YEAR MESSAGE OF CHANGE THE WORLD IGNORES - EVERY YEAR)

IS INDIA THE SOFTEST TERRORIST TARGET?

As I type this blog the latest terrorist attack on Mumbai (Bombay) is not over.
Divisive politics practised by politicians - whose sole concern is to win votes and come to power by turning Indians against each other on the basis of language, caste, religion and flimsier reasons - is the source of every possible kind of violence in the country. They are all acts of terrorism. Obviously, that makes India a soft target.
Further, politicians criticize and try to hamper the work of the ATS (anti-terrorist squad) if the squad invvestigates any group favoured by those politicians.
And, finally, there's something that seems ridiculous in a country that has seen so much terrorist violence. We saw on TV the head of the Mumbai ATS at one of the attacked locations, possibly the Taj hotel. He was not wearing a bullet-proof vest. Were they short of jackets? Did he have to wait for one? I don't know. And he kept fiddling with his helmet and taking it off, because it did not fit him. And the sad fact is that the man died yesterday, felled by terrorist bullets. The question is: Are India's brave anti-terrorist forces equipped well enough to face the challenge?
There are few countries in the world so fissured, whose people are so divided by self-seeking politicians, as India. And that fact makes the country one of the softest terrorist targets.
(For more INDIA REALITIES stories, please check out www.myspace.com/india_realities)
My new blog on Myspace is - CAN A TERROR CALAMITY SAVE INDIANS FROM THEMSELVES?

HOW TO VISIT AND UNLEARN AMERICA

Three easy steps.
1. Visit America and admire the airports, malls and highways. And come back with great plans for progress.
2. Visit America and don't see the basic consideratenes and courtesy of the people towards each other on the streets, in queues etc. And keep minds closed to the basic freedoms practised there, like freedom of speech and worship.
3. And, of course, visit America and forget that Obama won.
See? It's so easy to unlearn America!
(For more INDIA REALITIES stories, please check out www.myspace.com/india_realities)

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.
(For more INDIA REALITIES stories see www.myspace.com/india_realities)

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)