Frustations on living in India

[DQ]

Rules-of-the-road -



Travelling in India is an almost hallucinatory potion of sound, spectacle

and experience. It is frequently heart-rending, sometimes hilarious,

mostly exhilarating, always unforgettable - and, when you are on the roads,extremely dangerous.



Most Indian road users observe a version of the Highway Code based

on a Sanskrit text. These 12 rules of the Indian road are published

for the first time in English.



ARTICLE I

The assumption of immortality is required of all road users.



ARTICLE II

Indian traffic, like Indian society,is structured on a strict caste system.

The following precedence must be accorded at all times. In descending

order, give way to: cows, elephants, heavy trucks, buses, official cars,

camels, light trucks, buffalo, Jeeps, ox-carts, private cars, motorcycles,

scooters, auto-rickshaws, pigs, pedal rickshaws, goats, bicycles (goods-

carrying), handcarts, bicycles (passenger-carrying), dogs, pedestrians.



ARTICLE III

All wheeled vehicles shall be driven in accordance with the maxim:

to slow is to falter, to brake is to fail, to stop is defeat.

This is the Indian drivers' mantra.



ARTICLE IV

Long blasts (desperate) denote supplication, ie to oncoming truck,

"I am going too fast to stop, so unless you slow down we shall both die".

In extreme cases this may be accompanied by flashing of headlights (frantic).

Single blast (casual) means "I have seen someone out of India's 870 million whom I recognise", "There is a bird in the road (which at this speed could go through my windscreen)" or "I have not blown my horn for several minutes."



Trucks and buses (IV,2,a): All horn signals have the same meaning,

viz, "I have an all-up weight of approximately 12.5 tons and have no

intention of stopping, even if I could."



This signal may be emphasised by the use of headlamps (insouciant).



Article IV remains subject to the provision of Order of Precedence

in Article II above



ARTICLE V

All manoeuvres, use of horn and evasive action shall be left until

the last possible moment.



ARTICLE VI

In the absence of seat belts (which there is), car occupants shall wear

garlands of marigolds. These should be kept fastened at all times.



ARTICLE VII

Rights of way: Traffic entering a road from the left has priority.

So has traffic from the right, and also traffic in the middle.



Lane discipline (VII,1): All Indian traffic at all times and irrespective

of direction of travel shall occupy the centre ofRoundabouts: India has no

round abouts. Apparent traffic islands in the middle of crossroads have no traffic management function. Any other impression should be ignored.



ARTICLE IX

Overtaking is mandatory. Every moving vehicle is required to overtake

every other moving vehicle, irrespective of whether it has just

overtaken you.



Overtaking should only be undertaken in suitable conditions, such as in

the face of oncoming traffic, on blind bends, at junctions and in the

middle of villages/city centres. No more than two inches should be

allowed between your vehicle and the one you are passing - and one inch

in the case of bicycles or pedestrians.



ARTICLE X

Nirvana may be obtained through the head-on crash.



ARTICLE XI

Reversing: no longer applicable since no vehicle in India has reverse gear.



ARTICLE XII

The 10th incarnation of God was as an articulated tanker



PS: Do not adhere to to no sound rules here. Blow your horn even at any instance. Adhereance to speed and No horn rules around hospitals may land you in the hospital, so one sick dead is better then you dead.

[CtrlAltDel]

good one DQ!!!!

[HH]

One GOLDEN Rule ... On The Roads :


- Forget If You Are Right ... Avoid Falling Victim To / Getting Hit By The Other WRONG Road User!

[HH]

Manjunath Shanmugam was brutally murdered for doing his job honestly in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on November 19th 2005.

Manjunath (27), an IIM-L graduate worked as an area sales manager with Indian Oil Corporation since 2002. He did the unacceptable crime in Public Sector Office. He refused to accept bribe and sealed the pumps that sold adulterated petrol (petrol mixed with kerosene). This irked the local pump owners who eventually got rid of him by cruelly murdering him.

Over the last few decades, the corruption in India has increased exponentially. And anyone who has attempted to end it has been either tortured or killed to death. Couple of years ago, Satyendra Dubey was killed for exposing the corruption scam of Golden Quadrangle project.
In an effort to curb the corruption and to express their solidarity with Manjunath & his family, volunteers around the world are organizing a week long “Global Hunger Fast”. The relay fast would begin on December 3rd and culminate on December 10th with a nonviolent demonstration in front of Gandhi Statue – Indian Embassy, Washington DC and elsewhere. We encourage volunteers around the world to organize similar nonviolent demonstrations on December 10th 2005.

The goals of the fast are to demand justice for Manjunath, punish the culprits, and appeal the Government of India to better protect the lives of honest individuals like Manjunath and Dubey.

We visualize this weeklong act of observing fast as one of the efforts for eliminating corruption and as a message to the concerned authorities to take a stricter hold of the situation.

I would request you all earnestly to join us in this protest for justice. For more details on the fast, please contact Somu Kumar @ 703 728 8987 or Brunda Kattekola @ 785 979 1118
Thank you for joining us in this effort to fight corruption and save innocent lives.

Regards
Brunda Kattekola

Visit:
http://fastforjustice.blogspot.com/

[vivek]

Those who don't want to stay in India should leave ASAP. Cuz' the last thing India needs is people grudgingly staying and critizing everything they see around them.



Its better to have partially efficient hardworking folks, striving towards building a good future for the nation.All those who feel they don't belong here, even after earning Indian college degrees should leave.

[spamtaneous]

ok….for all those hardcore patriots who stayed back in india ONLY to 'serve the mother land' by working as 'cheap labour' to foreign companies…. Serving the foreign clients directly or in-directly



My middle finger salute to u all





and for all those who think that they are 'more patriotic' than those who left the country…. Again a middle finger salute from me…

[OsmaniaBiskit]

So what do you want to take care of? Just checking.

Awwwwww... how diplomatic. As if he doesnt know...
Ok Ok, Now let me help you with this. Re-read your own quote below, and you will know why you are frustrated and who is the one being taken care of...

Evidently bad genes do not always mean retards. Good to know. Is that why you ended in an asylum - a test subject?

got it? Still wanna pretend? Ok, May God help you.

Keep ***kin white asses. All The Best. I dont wanna check you out later anyways, unless ofcourse, you use your smart brains and come up with another expletive.

PS: I dont like fights like this, but then You started it. So

Come on try harder - is that the best you can do.



Obviously we are good at nasty posts - and I have had my share of them with HP. Not my brightest posts may I add. A meaningless nasty post begets another nasty post. I don't want to be that guy. I think FHDBians deserve better posts and don't have to read all those nasty smart ass retorts.



There! I did it - I curbed my urge to post another one of those.

[OsmaniaBiskit]

DQ - that was a good one

[RK]

My middle finger salute to u all

hmm,okay I take the salute . But most of us here were only objecting to NRI doods who crib just to show that they live in a happening place.
I personally dont see anything wrong in going to other countries for better higher education/better oppurtunities. There are quite a few ppl who will happily stay here if there were as good universities as in the US.
And also most of them staying here are not doing it by choice, but by lack of chance. They are not competent enough, otherwise they are more than ready to fly off

ok….for all those hardcore patriots who stayed back in india ONLY to 'serve the mother land' by working as 'cheap labour' to foreign companies…. Serving the foreign clients directly or in-directly

But ppl staying here pay there taxes here, spend there money here and keep the talent here which will result in more companies coming here.

and for all those who think that they are 'more patriotic' than those who left the country…. Again a middle finger salute from me…

This in no way is a right argument. I heard that Texas Instruments, one of the first IT related companies coming to India came here (in 1985 ) majorly because of the Indians working in that company. So most of the indians are patriotic wherever they are.

[Johnny]

ok….for all those hardcore patriots who stayed back in india ONLY to 'serve the mother land' by working as 'cheap labour' to foreign companies…. Serving the foreign clients directly or in-directly

My middle finger salute to u all

Yeah What else can you do apart form imitating one of those firangs...
But seriously, I dont ask you to stay back to serve as cheap labour. IF you leave for something more lucrative, something more paying, smething more comfortable, then hell accept it. Please dont show off.

and for all those who think that they are 'more patriotic' than those who left the country…. Again a middle finger salute from me…

We dont think like that. Atleast I dont. What I think is that If you leave the country for better opportunities, thats alright, but please dont bad mouth India just because you are personally well off cuz of the decision you took for whatever reasons.



I am not saying that all the people who stayed back have done so by choice, but then all those who have had stayed back by choice, have taken a brave decision, against all the $ Dreams. A choice which isnt very simple, a choice which you cudnt have taken for whatever reasons.



My friend, who is in Medicine, often gives me an argument that he is leaving India just because of the Reservations existing here. Being in Medicine, to get a PG seat here in OC you need to be the One of India's top 15 or Top 20 Brains. This my friend is a valid reason to leave. He atleast doesnt bad mouth India. Infact he likes it here, but is goin for a career.

[spamtaneous]

i agree that ppl living in foreign lands should stop expecting the same things back home...



my only crib was that u cannot brand all the ppl leaving the country as non-patriots .... and all the ppl staying back as patriots...



i seriously doubt how many ppl think of 'giving back to the country' b4 taking any decision. at least i dint think of it.... i only thought about what was good for me and my family.... but does it mean that iam not a patriot ... at least some ppl are happy bcuz of what iam... if not the whole nation..

[FT]

Most posts at this site, whether by the 'patriots' or the 'not-so-patriotics' (forgive me, but hold your breath), seem to be swinging to the extremes at times.



First things first. If you live outside of the state of Andhra Pradesh and are at this site, it is because you have a very strong sense of your roots. If you are critiquing the conditions prevailing in India, it is because you think there is a possibility to improve the same. Please note the emphasis on possibility, not 'hope'. If you hope things will improve, it is probably sad.



Continuing with the defence of those who have left the nest and continue to look back with longing, keep at it. For every one who leaves, you are affecting the nation in the short run. The brain drain will continue for a generation or two. But the long term impact is usually very benign.



Returning expats bring back much in terms of expanded capabilities, managerial bandwidth, capital investments, new ideas. Even when not returning, the 20 million indian expats globally have remitted billions of dollars or probably trillions of rupees, directly or indirectly. Also, imagine this: of the 20 million expats, about a third of them are in the work force, so that's about 7 million more jobs available in India.



Also, these 20 million Indians are global ambassadors for India. They probably do a darn better job than our official ambassadors.



For those who guard the nest, and continue to do so - Everyone can't bolt the door and expect the fort to be guarded from malignant forces that are outside and within. Do I need to say anything more?



Life is not about a single generation or two. India has been and will remain for millenniums. You and me are held in a moment that will dissolve into nothing when considered over the history of our country.



Critquing the prevailing conditions is not necessarily so negative. Probably a few hundred will read these series of posts. It will remain in your psyche somewhere and something positive may come up. One of you may go on to become a very influential person.



Your participation in these posts may stir up a vision further and beyond than what has existed.



Now that is a Hope.



But the true possibility - lies in Positive Activism. If it truly matters, we all will find our way to do our bit to make things better, either at a personal level or through actively and effectively campaigning for better infrastructure.



Patriotism is not a passive quality, it is a sheer awareness of one's responsibility toward's one's country.

[HH]

...

Patriotism is not a passive quality, it is a sheer awareness***** of one's responsibility toward's one's country.

Thank You FT ... ***** Backed By ACTION ...

Patriotism in the age of Pepsi

It's***** a romance starring two TV news anchors, and Aziz Mirza, maker of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and Nukkad, takes a look at what patriotism means in the age of globalisation


**** Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani



Just after Independence Raj Kapoor defined patriotism for us: our shoes were Japanese, trousers English, hats Russian, but our heart, for all that, was Indian.

In the years that followed, we tried, in the spirit of the song, a mixed economy that would bring together the best of Soviet socialism and American capitalism. We will continue to debate to what extent we succeeded and failed. India is now a liberalised economy, and well-known director Aziz Mirza takes a look at the paradoxes we now face.

The first film by Dreamz Unlimited, a company floated by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Aziz Mirza, takes its title, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, from Raj Kapoor's cult song.

On 1 December, Sony Music launched the title song and remixed versions by Akbar Sami and Bally Sagoo.

Udit Narayan sings the title song. Do what you may, drink Pepsi and Coke, dress like the Americans, eat pizzas, but keep the heart Indian ...

Visit:
http://www.themusicmagazine.com/phirbhi.html

[vivek]

What followed was



Vandeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Matarammmmmm....



apparently even that did not help!

[DQ]

ATTRIBS OF A TRUE NRI (THE IBAV - The Indian Born American Version)



10. One who requests the autorickshaw driver to drive slowly

and clutches the seat-cushion nervously.

9. One who just bought a case of Bisleri mineral water.

8. One who gets upset if the train is only six hours behind schedule.

7. One who is nervously gazing at the Green channel at the

Customs clearance of airport.

6. One who prefers eating fruits to Poori at the train stations.

5. Basically, any man who is changing a baby's diaper.

4. One who does not wait, for the coolie at the train station, and

hauls his/her own 30" suitcase.

3. One who feels embarassed to run after the railway conductor, for

reservation.

2. One who says, "say cheese" when taking a picture.

1. One who has gained more FREQUENT FLYER mileage from trips to

the toilet.

[DQ]

TOO LONG GOOD READ



MY AMERICA

----------

Author: R.K. Narayan

Source: October 1985 issue of Frontline



At the American Consulates the visa issuing section is kept busy

nowadays as more and more young men seek the Green Card or profess to go on a student visa and many try to extend their stay once they get in.



The official handles a difficult task while filtering out the

"permanents" and letting in only the "transients". The average American

himself is liberal-minded and doesn't bother that more Indian engineers

and doctors are swamping the opportunities available in the country

possibly to the disadvantage of the American candidate himself.



I discussed the subject with Prof. Ainslee Embree of Columbia

University who has had a long association with Indian affairs and

culture. His reply was noteworthy. "Why not Indians as well? In

course of time they will be Americans. The American citizen of today

was once an expatriate, a foreigner who had come out of a European or African country. Why not from India too? We certainly love to have Indians in our country."



There are however, two views on this subject. The elderly parents of
Indians settled in America pay a visit to them, from time to time (on

excursion round ticket), and feel pleased at the prosperity of their

sons or daughters in America. After a Greyhound tour of the country and

a visit to Niagara, they are ready to return home when the suburban
existence begins to bore them whether at New Jersey, or The Queens or the Silicon Valley neighborhood of California. But they always say on their return, "After all our boys are happy there. Why should they come back to this country, where they get no encouragement?"



EXASPERATION



Our young man who goes out to the States for higher studies or training,

declares when leaving home, "I will come back as soon as I complete my

course, may be two years or a little more, but I will definitely come

back and work for our country, and also help our family....." Excellent

intentions, but it will not work that way. Later when he returns home

full of dreams, projects, and plans, he only finds hurdles at every turn

when he tries for a job or to start an enterprise of his own.

Form-filling, bureaucracy, caste and other restrictions, and a generally

feudal style of functioning, exasperate the young man and waste his

time. He frets and fumes as days pass with nothing achieved, while he

has been running around presenting or collecting papers at various

places.



He is not used to this sort of treatment in America, where, he claims,

he could walk into the office of the top man anywhere, address him by

his first name and explain his purpose; when he attempts to visit a man

of similar rank in India to discuss his ideas, he realizes that he has

no access to him, but can only talk to subordinate officials in a

hierarchy. Some years ago a biochemist returning home and bursting with

proposals, was curtly told off by the big man when he innocently pushed

the door and stepped in. "You should not come to me directly, send your

papers through proper channels." Thereafter the young biochemist left

India once for all. having kept his retreat open with the help of a

sympathetic professor at the American end. In this respect American

democratic habits have rather spoilt our young men. They have no

patience with our official style or tempo, whereas an Indian at home

would accept the hurdles as inevitable Karma.



The America-returned Indian expects special treatment, forgetting the

fact that over here chancellors of universities will see only the other

chancellors, and top executives will see only other top executives and

none less under any circumstance. Our administrative machinery is slow,

tedious, and feudal in its operation, probably still based on what they

called the Tottenham Manual, creation of a British administrator five

decades ago.



LACK OF OPENINGS



One other reason for a young man's final retreat from India could also

be attributed to the lack of openings for his particular qualification.

A young engineer trained in robotics had to spend all his hours

explaining what it means, to his prospective sponsors, until he realized

that there could be no place for robots in an over-crowded country.



The Indian in America is a rather lonely being, having lost his roots in

one place and not grown them in the other. Few Indians in America make

any attempt to integrate in American cultural or social life. So few

visit an American home or a theater or an opera, or try to understand

the American psyche. An Indian's contact with the American is confined

to his colleagues working along with him and to an official or seminar

luncheon. He may also mutter a "Hi!" across the fence to an American

neighbor while lawn-mowing. At other times one never sees the other

except by appointment, each family being boxed up in their homes

securely behind locked doors.



After he has equipped his new home with the latest dish-washer, video,

etc., with two cars in the garage and acquired all that the others have,

he sits back with his family counting his blessings. Outwardly happy,

but secretly gnawed by some vague discontent and aware of some inner

turbulence or vacuum, he cannot define which. All the comfort is

physically satisfying, he has immense "job satisfaction" and that is

about all.



ENNUI



On a week-end he drives his family fifty miles or more towards another

Indian family to eat an Indian dinner, discuss Indian politics, or tax

problems (for doctors particularly this is a constant topic of

conversation, being in the highest income bracket). There is monotony

in this pattern of life. so mechanical and standardized.



In this individual, India has lost an intellectual or an expert; but it

must not be forgotten that the expert has lost India too, which is a

more serious loss in the final reckoning.



The quality of life in India is different. In spite of all its

deficiencies, irritations, lack of material comforts and amenities, and

general confusion, Indian life builds up an inner strength. It is

through subtle inexplicable influences (through religion, family ties,

and human relationships in general). Let us call them psychological

"inputs" to use a modern terminology, which cumulatively sustain and

lend variety and richness to existence. Building imposing Indian

temples in America, installing our gods therein and importing Indian

priests to perform the puja and festivals, are only imitative of Indian

existence and could have only a limited value. Social and religious

assemblies at the temples (in America) might mitigate boredom but only

temporarily. I have lived as a guest for extended periods in many

Indian homes in America and have noticed the ennui that descends on a

family when they are stuck at home.



Children growing up in America present a special problem. They have to develop themselves on a shallow foundation without a cultural basis, either Indian or American. Such children are ignorant of India and without the gentleness and courtesy and respect for parents, which forms the basic training for a child in an Indian home, unlike the American upbringing whereby a child is left alone to discover for himself the right code of conduct. Aware of his child's ignorance of Indian life, the Indian parent tries to cram into the child's little head all possible information during an 'Excursion Fare' trip to the mother country.



DIFFERING EMPHASIS



In the final analysis America and India differ basically, though it

would be wonderful if they could complement each other's values. Indian

philosophy lays stress on austerity and unencumbered, uncomplicated

day-to-day living. On the other hand, America's emphasis is on material

acquisitions and a limitless pursuit of prosperity. >From childhood an

Indian is brought up on the notion that austerity and a contended life

is good. and also a certain other- worldliness is inculcated through

the tales a grandmother narrates, the discourses at the temple hall, and

through moral books. The American temperament, on the contrary, is pragmatic.



INDIFFERENCE TO ETERNITY



The American has a robust indifference to eternity. "Visit the church

on a Sunday and listen to the sermon if you like but don't bother about

the future," he seems to say. Also, "dead yesterday and unborn

tomorrow, why fret about them if today be sweet?" - he seems to echo

Omar Khayyam's philosophy. He works hard and earnestly, and acquires wealth, and enjoys life. He has no time to worry about the after-life; he only takes the precaution to draw up a proper will and trusts the Funeral Home around the corner to take care of the rest. The Indian who is not able to live on this basis wholeheartedly, finds himself in a half-way house; he is unable to overcome the inherited complexes while physically flourishing on the American soil. One may hope that the next generation of Indians (American-grown) will do better by accepting the American climate spontaneously or in the alternative return to India to live a different life.



R. K. NARAYAN

******************************

[OsmaniaBiskit]

'1985' - Only R.K can write something as profound in as simple words.

I wonder if R.K would have the same thoughts if he were writing this in the current 'BPO' age.



DQ - great find. Thanks for sharing!

[CtrlAltDel]

1985??? sounds more like today....

[HH]

...
MY AMERICA *****
----------
Author: R.K. Narayan
Source: October 1985 issue of Frontline
...

Thank You, DQ! ... For The ***** "Deft Quote" Of RK (1985) ...

[FT]

http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/dec/08r ... &file=.htm

[Johnny]

http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/dec/08remit.htm?q=tp&file=.htm

Ok. So...

[FT]

Johnny,



that link above was just to imply that since some folks live outside the country, their sense of duty towards the country is not necessarily a matter of doubt.



This was in specific response to implications through use of RK Narayan's article that Indians living abroad are better off if they return back home.



Yes, there is great deal of sense of loss for those living abroad, but that sense exists if you are removed from Hyderabad and placed in Bombay or Delhi or some rural setting as well.



Remember English August - the culture shock/disorientation resulting from being placed in an alien culture brings about a sense of loneliness in the beginning, but human beings generally readjust their selves to their changed circumstances.



RK Narayan's article criticizes Indian parents or Indians who take a grey hound tour and spend a few days in U.S., and analyse based on their limited experience, but it is the same thing RK is doing through the article.



(Always wondered why RK never hit the big time, limitations of intellectual capacity of the article attributed to him may probably explain the reasons.)



This post of mine, is no way supporting the notion that Indians will be better off living away from physical roots either.



The beginning of this thread began with someone airing their grievance on living in India. Their grievance was specific to certain problems. Then the response from some of the so called 'patriots' was that the person shouldn't be compaining, implying that India is changing but the pace is what needs to be accepted by all who wish to be called 'patriotic'.



Then the post veered towards bashing all those who live away from the homeland, as if their very choice made them lesser human beings versus those who stayed back.



So i posted the link to suggest that there is a great value addition from those who have left the country.



Johnny, in one of the other threads I seem to recall you mentioning that you are still in college (IIT?). So to what extent have you contributed in value to India or your society. What choices will you make a few years hence when you get to those cross roads? Will you head west, because you will like to add as much value as you could to your self before you begin to give back? Well the choices you will make then will be determined by circumstances at that point.



The underlying point is that people have all the right to constructively criticise if they are already adding value to a process, and expect their criticism to add more so.



The so called arm chair 'patriots' also have the right to criticise any such criticism and make it personal by questioning values of the expats, or returning expats.

[FT]

Johnny,



that link above was just to imply that since some folks live outside the country, their sense of duty towards the country is not necessarily a matter of doubt.



This was in specific response to implications through use of RK Narayan's article that Indians living abroad are better off if they return back home.



Yes, there is great deal of sense of loss for those living abroad, but that sense exists if you are removed from Hyderabad and placed in Bombay or Delhi or some rural setting as well.



Remember English August - the culture shock/disorientation resulting from being placed in an alien culture brings about a sense of loneliness in the beginning, but human beings generally readjust their selves to their changed circumstances.



RK Narayan's article criticizes Indian parents or Indians who take a grey hound tour and spend a few days in U.S., and analyse based on their limited experience, but it is the same thing RK is doing through the article.



(Always wondered why RK never hit the big time, limitations of intellectual capacity of the article attributed to him may probably explain the reasons.)



This post of mine, is no way supporting the notion that Indians will be better off living away from physical roots either.



The beginning of this thread began with someone airing their grievance on living in India. Their grievance was specific to certain problems. Then the response from some of the so called 'patriots' was that the person shouldn't be compaining, implying that India is changing but the pace is what needs to be accepted by all who wish to be called 'patriotic'.



Then the post veered towards bashing all those who live away from the homeland, as if their very choice made them lesser human beings versus those who stayed back.



So i posted the link to suggest that there is a great value addition from those who have left the country.



Johnny, in one of the other threads I seem to recall you mentioning that you are still in college (IIT?). So to what extent have you contributed in value to India or your society. What choices will you make a few years hence when you get to those cross roads? Will you head west, because you will like to add as much value as you could to your self before you begin to give back? Well the choices you will make then will be determined by circumstances at that point.



The underlying point is that people have all the right to constructively criticise if they are already adding value to a process, and expect their criticism to add more so.



The so called arm chair 'patriots' also have the right to criticise any such criticism and make it personal by questioning values of the expats, or returning expats.

[Rational HP]

FT...your point is pretty clear. And it's a perfectly valid point too. But you too seem to have gone with the flow branding people here as " 'patriots' " and "those who wish to be called patriotic". This is very unfair as nobody trumpeted their patriotism here. What some of us did was to question the locus standus of the people who were bringing up the criticism.



Now, you rightly say that everyone has a right to constructive criticism. But have a look at the following statements and tell me if it was really constructive criticism or plain India bashing. There's a hige difference between the two, clearly visible to an unbiased mind.

Nowhere in the world school kids are run over by buses so routinely, and these killer drivers are back on the roads after a couple of months. The Driving Licence in India is meaningless. You can get it whether you can drive or not, you can see or not. You will never lose it how many accidents you make, how many people you kill. First of all you DON'T need a DL to drive in India.
Nowhere else, you read the newspapers with almost everyday news like Buses swimming in the lakes, Trains walking from tracks, boats going for a deep water dive taking with them hundreds of people.
We have Anti-pollution laws, but I haven't come across a single time, where a vehicle is stopped for emission, when you see every other heavy vehicle give clouds of smoke on the City Roads.
We have laws for everything. Our is the most lawed country in the world. And we have people whose job is to enforce these laws. And they get paid for doing this. Whose money are they getting paid, it is yours and mine and the poor farmers, ricksah drivers, casual labours, school teachers, factory workers and the rest of the billion people. But why don't they do their jobs?
Yes, I always feel happy after landing in India, but it is defnitely not due to the Customs People, who are corrupt to the core, and who do not do their jobs. I don't mind paying the Customs Duty, if at all I am required as per the laws. What I hate is when they ask me for money without explaining to me the reasons, without telling me what I am pemitted to carry, then steal the money from me.
You are completely wrong, if you think Accidents in USA are more than India. Casualty rate in USA is 1.4 per 100 million vehicle miles which is negligible considering the harsh winter, and severe whether phenomenon through the Year, through out this massive country.

How many accidents happen in India because drivers are drunk are just careless, anyone has any idea? And where is the punishment for these killers? Do you know that many of these drivers don't even go to Jail? And they are back on the roads. How can you explain this to people who lost their loved ones because of no fault of theirs. We have laws. And there are who people whoese job is to follow them. Is it fair that kids die because laws are ignored for personal gain?
What progress are we talking about here? A million people employed in IT wearing ties, driving foreign cars... that's it? And we are glad, we happy, we are ecstatic... Mera Bharath Mahaan?
What about the half billion people who live in villages and barely survive? Have they made any progress?
Who are NRIs? They are just like you or anyone else in India. And they love India, it's just that they can't accept what goes on India after seeing things differently.
I never say everything is fair in US, there are so many problems here too. The Blacks are neglected lot, and their rights are confied to only paper. There is poverty here, there is exploitation here too. But one thing I love about this country is Accountability. People are accountable. If things go wrong, heads roll. let it be the top most head. People come to know everything, there is transparency in governance. And our excuse is that we are 200 years behind? so we want to wait for 200 years then, so be it!

The uproar about India baiting came up only after the gentleman quoted above came up with these posts. If you check the DB archives, you'll see hundreds of threads where we have discussed various problems and offered a lot of constructive suggestions too. And never has it taken such an ugly turn.



I request you not to take any statements out of context and brand people as "patriots" etc. (please mark the quotes you've put the term in).

[HH]

***** FT......

^^^^^ ...

Thank You, Happy Patriot HP ***** ^^^^^ For Your Reasoned Response. Greetings, HP Sir!