Thread: India must aid the US goal of transforming dysfunctional States

The less than satisfactory amount of equitable growth is the main problem in India.

If that is addressed, many of of the other problems are likely to diminish rapidly.

India's poverty rate is now 21% - just an update for those who have missed this statistical milestone.

By 2010, this rate is expected to drop to 16% and down to less than 10% in 2015. In 2020, that figure will become zero.

The problem with understanding or predicting India is that 90% of the reports on Indian social issues come from non Indians who again tap an extremely well entrenched but idealogically driven left movement in India for "expertise". Reality comes nowhere into the picture. Indians are told by "indologists" in Harvard about what hinduism means- have these chaps even worshipped at a temple, are they hindus? Nope- but they are "experts" with "peer reviewed citations". India's communal troubles are pointed out as "unique"- because of "hindu-muslim violence" caused by "hindutva extremists". Now of course, in the present post 9/11 world, the same experts suddenly realised that Islamic extremism is an "issue". I really love the descriptives. If an Indian posits about Indian culture and takes pride in it, he is a "chauvinist", and "nationalist". If an American (say) does the same- he is a "conservative". Ponder a second about the positioning of the two descriptives. If rescue relief in Katrina breaks down- its a "lack of urgency at FEMA etc etc". If the same happens in India- we have a)Kashmir b)caste system c) Nukes d)Poverty all mentioned, alongst with a caption of some child in rags, standing in front of a hovel.

Good gravy, orientalism is alive and well and kicking. Plug in all these "points of view" and yes, a wonderful statistical model will promptly tell you about how valid "dictatorship" is.

But it wont take the breathtaking ignorance that exists in most "scholarly publications" away. The biggest problem of course has been Indias own choices after independence. Following a communist-light, ie quasi socialist economic model, with its historians, its administrators gladly publishing Marxist points of view about its own society- and then gladly acting as centers of authority for those who tap them for knowledge.

And then these twits are quoted as experts on India. A failed communist in India, go abroad son- you have the life! Pankaj Mishra in the New York Times, even.

So keep on making the models. Keep talking about a "caste system", and "repressed minorities" or whatever, but the country will chart its own path. Its all on paper, the reality is what the country makes of itself and its future.

Originally Posted by Archer

The problem with understanding or predicting India is that 90% of the reports on Indian social issues come from non Indians who again tap an extremely well entrenched but idealogically driven left movement in India for "expertise". Reality comes nowhere into the picture. Indians are told by "indologists" in Harvard about what hinduism means- have these chaps even worshipped at a temple, are they hindus? Nope- but they are "experts" with "peer reviewed citations". India's communal troubles are pointed out as "unique"- because of "hindu-muslim violence" caused by "hindutva extremists". Now of course, in the present post 9/11 world, the same experts suddenly realised that Islamic extremism is an "issue". I really love the descriptives. If an Indian posits about Indian culture and takes pride in it, he is a "chauvinist", and "nationalist". If an American (say) does the same- he is a "conservative". Ponder a second about the positioning of the two descriptives. If rescue relief in Katrina breaks down- its a "lack of urgency at FEMA etc etc". If the same happens in India- we have a)Kashmir b)caste system c) Nukes d)Poverty all mentioned, alongst with a caption of some child in rags, standing in front of a hovel.

Good gravy, orientalism is alive and well and kicking. Plug in all these "points of view" and yes, a wonderful statistical model will promptly tell you about how valid "dictatorship" is.

But it wont take the breathtaking ignorance that exists in most "scholarly publications" away. The biggest problem of course has been Indias own choices after independence. Following a communist-light, ie quasi socialist economic model, with its historians, its administrators gladly publishing Marxist points of view about its own society- and then gladly acting as centers of authority for those who tap them for knowledge.

And then these twits are quoted as experts on India. A failed communist in India, go abroad son- you have the life! Pankaj Mishra in the New York Times, even.

So keep on making the models. Keep talking about a "caste system", and "repressed minorities" or whatever, but the country will chart its own path. Its all on paper, the reality is what the country makes of itself and its future.

well said archer

The biggest problem of course has been Indias own choices after independence. Following a communist-light, ie quasi socialist economic model, with its historians, its administrators gladly publishing Marxist points of view about its own society- and then gladly acting as centers of authority for those who tap them for knowledge.

Romila Thapar can be taken as a ideal example for those above quotes .....

Even though Indian voters are not self-contet with their politicians they still vote for them for the populist policies, as like in any other democracy. But any hint of dictatorialship from any politicians is met with swift opposition from the polticians as well as people as we witnessed during the emergency.

The Nehru clan's charm did not win the elections for them, even though they have a larger than life image in rural India at that point, in the 70's.

It will be a wet dream to think that it will happen in this internet age in India.