Some Hardtalk for Indians

Oh-and Unca Romair? Shut up willya, he`s just a kid. BTW, were you one of those uniformed jokers trying their hardest to look like they were enjoying the cricket at Pindi the other night? Mushy looked like he`d been dragged there at gunpoint.

This article just proves my long held theory that techies are socially inept creatures who should avoid all attempts at civilised activities like writing, art etc.

It`s appalling-and amusing- that these guys who write billions of lines of code a year can`t write a simple sentence in English, the language each of them had about 18 years of education in.

When these fools attempt to engage in economic or political analyses, woe be on the poor reader! Typically these efforts involve the repeated usage of the phrase ``I think`` followed by an assertion that is equal parts ignorance, naivete and bluster.

Go back to your coding, nerd boy. Leave the thinking to those who live in the real world!

If you thought that a body cannot exist without a brain, you should visit India. There is very little intellect here. The debates on TV are the most inane. I have heard that to get on talk shows and discussions, it is not your expertise on subjects but how well connected you are in the Delhi socialite scene that matters.

I live in Bangalore and stepping onto the street to go somewhere is akin to entering Dante`s inferno. Auto-rickshaws spew out toxic fumes due to adulterated fuel and emit such a racket that you would think they are going into orbit soon. Driving is like being in a video game that has one surprise after another popping out at you. Illiterate drivers cut you off every yards and flash blinding beams of light at you at night.

An excellent article the contents of which deserve introspection by Indians. However on this website, unfortunately, we have a fair representation of Indians who actually created the myths in the first place and in order to create a perception that myths were a reality, always propagated that abuses occured only across the border. These Indians will definitely be offended by this article.

Ahmadzai,

I am not offended by the article, just find it generally uninspiring and not particularly
insightful. Nor would this article lead to any greater degree of introspection - it simply
doesn`t offer new talking points. All of these issues have been discussed numerious
times in the Indian media over the years. What the author has done, by and large, is
pick political catch-phrases and de-construct them.

I also wonder why you and Romair seem to indicate that this will offend people - surely
I can dislike/ignore something without being offended.

Ravikanth, all points that you have raised are valid. But it is beyond me why you think most of the Indians harbor these myths.

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Romair #10,

Pakistan and introspection? LOL!

Very badly written article by someone who thinks that because he is an engg. graduate, he needs to opine. The proposed myths are held by none, as is/will be evident ...noone will fend these. I suggest the author write some good anecdotes instead, perhaps from Andhra Pradesh, exeplifying the points he wants to make.

well ..maybe Myth 2 is ok.. we have out Dr Sridhar and some other chowkies

Ravikanth,

Glad someone has finally stated the facts as they are (about myths 1 & 3). Although I`m not sure about some myths you mention as being so prevalent in india.
Anyway, i think the journey to success for india has just begun, but some people have already started behaving as if we`ve reached the destination.

P.S: Myth 5 sans the previous karma is republican party`s core ideology. The poor are poor because they deserve to be, are lazy and a load on society.
Adios

So where is the hard talk?

IMO the issue is, this is ``hard talk`` for the urban middle class person who already has a secure salaried job, housing, transportation, education choices for children, and socio-economic security. Talking harshly about such a group`s (group A) thoughts and beliefs is being termed hard talk about India.

Just talk to your household help about HER predicaments and you will get real hard talk . Talk to an unemployed graduate or small enterpreneur or small farmer or a man trying to file a police complaint or street child and get real hard talk about India from this group B.

What is needed is to get group A more mobilised on its own behalf and in group B`s behalf. A `society` piece like this also helps.

Writer has raised very valid points and those who have never tasted ‘real’ India are crying foul. It’s alright that India is improving and at a good pace but what’s wrong in saying that everything is not well. Certain people pointed that writer doesn’t know how to write and should just remain a techie. Well, “techies” might not be “writers” but they sure know how to think logically and clearly. And why can’t you look at the content rather then how sentences are composed.
India is great country but there are many cheap weaklings the types who are in the front when they are with a group and pee in their pants when they are confronted alone. These are the people who never introspect personally so they do not understand the value of such exercise. Should we be proud on our achievements, yes, of course. Are we the best economically, socially….etc? No, but we’ll get there. But How?
Unless we don’t think or talk about ‘How’, how the hell are we going to get there?
Jai Hind.

Here is some more reality check:

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=43558
‘(We get) not more than 450,000 tourists (per year)... China gets 25 million... It is a shame’

Chowkies must have read Rajiv Srinivasan on rediff sometime. He`s seems a borderline hothead who occasioanlly brings up some surprises.

Sometime back he wrote that throughtout the history of mankind till about 400 years ago...India was the richest country on earth.

Anyboby want to contest that?

This article is clearly substandard. coherence is not one of its virtues and the content is mediocre. wonder what the logic is behind the 4 stars!

If one wants a very detailed and nuanced view of India`s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and pitfalls check out Arun Shourie`s (minister of disinvestment) series in the indian express.

the series is here

If you want to avoid the ads and slow loading then pick up this word doc that has the same content by clicking here

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