varnam

John Laxmi, an American, who is a Republican, who supports free market capitalism has another article in Rediff. This time he takes a closer look at India, a country according to his words,"the nation contending to supply us with everything from call centres to computer security.".

Superficial observers like Tom Friedman of The New York Times gush about young Indian women newly 'empowered' by call centre jobs. Indian women, in jeans and eating pizzas, are supposed to make us feel good. Sure.

Tom Friedman had written five articles about India recently in the New York Times, presenting a very positive picture of India. Why does John Laxmi call him Superficial ? Maybe Tom has two Pulitzers and John does not have it ? Maybe Tom goes to Bangalore and writes his articles by talking to actual people ? Maybe that's all so superficial.

These tax subsidies from the Indian government come at the expense of the most basic governmental services critically needed by the two-thirds of India that is mired in shameful poverty, samples of which can be readily seen in the silicon gullies in Bangalore, just a few miles from the glittering offices of Infosys and Intel. In Chennai, another major Indian OutSourCity, no drinking water is available even to vast sections of the middle class.

Two thirds of India in poverty ? This is what happens when you write deeply researched articles as opposed to Tom Friedman's superficial articles. According to the World Bank

The official estimates are that poverty fell from 36 percent of the population in 1993/94 to 26 percent by the end of the decade. However, a recent work "Adjusted Poverty Estimates in 1999-2000" by Angus Deaton, 2001, suggests that poverty has fallen at a somewhat lower rate?from 36 to 29 percent of the population by 1999/2000. Either way, over one quarter of India's population is poor.

Also according to another journalist who might soon get a Pulitzer Prize, the Resident Idiot

The best or most informed estimate of the size of India's indigenous information technology sector, including hardware and domestic software, is that it accounts for less than 2 per cent of GDP. By contrast, trade and hospitality alone account for 15 per cent of GDP. Even in external sector accounts, software exports ($7.2 billion) still contribute less than remittances, mainly from poor workers in the Gulf ($8.1 billion). Even if the ITES/BPO business grows five or eight-fold over the coming five years, as optimistic projections estimate, its contribution to India's GDP will remain relatively small.

Software Industry is such a small fry and subsiding this is preventing rest of the people from getting drinking water ? What am I missing ? India still has poverty and US is a developed country. So why is it still giving three billion dollars as subsidy to cottom farmers ?

Although India has been coddling up to the West in recent years, Indians have long been inimical to Western ideas, technology, liberal principles and modernity. Allying itself with the Soviet Union, India labeled itself the leader of the so-called nonaligned movement, and habitually hectored the US at the United Nations.

We too have the same complaints. Americans know nothing about India (For example: What is the language spoken in India?), they supply arms and ammunition to a terrorist state called Pakistan, support dictatorships and preach democracy, support free market economy and pass bills that ban outsourcing.
Liberal principles ? Why is the President asking for a ban on same sex marriages if you are so liberal ?

If you dismiss all this as irrelevant baggage from India's past, the current Indian government shows no clear principles either. The leading party in India's governing NDA coalition is the Bharatiya Janata Party, which rose to power by blatantly exploiting and advocating virulent and fanatical Hindu-first sentiments. The people of India are poised to give this party a larger mandate at national elections scheduled this month.

Same to you. President Bush came to power by blatantly exploiting extreme right wing. According to John Zogby

But in George W. Bush, both movements hoped they had found a champion. President Bush has appointed prominent neo-conservatives and religious right leaders to important posts in the White House and in the Defense and Justice Departments. While the organization of the Christian Coalition is now in a state of decline, one leading religious conservative was recently quoted in an influential political magazine, saying "The organization is not so important now that we have the White House and the Congress."

And then we come to Iraq, of course.

Just last year, when the US sought international support for action against Saddam Hussein, India went AWOL, hiding behind domestic politics. The Indian parliament went so far as to pass a resolution condemning the US-led action in Iraq. Even after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the Indian government would not offer even token support to the Coalition's peace-keeping efforts in Iraq. India is much more closely aligned with the French and the Germans than you'd guess.

This may come as a surprise to you John Laxmi, But India does not jump into a well because America did so. We are not, let us say United Kingdom when it comes to issues like this. Indian Parliament, indicating the will of the people of India passed a resolution opposing American intervention in Iraq. India is a democracy and the Parliament does not report to the President of United States.

When we had an issue with terrorism coming from Pakistan, you too took AWOL behind strategic interests. See it works both ways. See, still we are letting your companies open branches in India.

First, we should demand that India must send a meaningful contingent of troops to help the coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan, meaningful in size and commensurate with the global power Indians think India is becoming.

What is the connection between outsourcing and Iraq ? What are you trying to say ? Send some Indians to die in Iraq and all is fair ? First, can you convince some of your NATO allies to send troops ? or can you convince your major non-NATO ally to send some troops ?

I think our Resident Idiot has good competition in terms of stupidity. Also now I know why no one trusts Investment Bankers.

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