Rational,
Boy, talk about proving the point. Your response to me was a glaring example of exactly the inferiority complex I'm talking about. I did not say that Indians were inferior, or stupid, or anything of the sort. I know full well what numbers of brilliant Indians are living and working in the US. This country has benefitted enormously from the brain drain. Indians in the US are not representative of Indians as a whole, however. I also did not say that Indian villagers are dumb. You have completely misunderstood me, due to your inferiority complex. I met illiterate villagers who could recite Ramcharitmanas from heart. I have also met many, many villagers who were physically and mentally "stunted," for want of a better word, by lack of decent food, health care and education. The idea that Indian villagers don't struggle to attain material assets, as you say, is absurd. They struggle hard. They often work long, grinding hours just to eat. As opposed to the millions of Indians who brag about the wonderful government job they have for which they don't have to work. Show up at ten, take a two hour lunch break, then go home at five. Anyway, that's another topic. Villagers want "things," like all people. Your notion of poor, but enlightened, villagers is paternalistic hog-wash. Yes, I have met many wonderful, smart, poor villagers who are resigned to their lot in life, karmic consequence and all that, and who are "happy." But then I've also watched many, many children playing in filth, with no hope of ever learning to read, destined for lives of ill health and hard work and they were "happy."
You are right that the Congress Party at times fostered communal tensions and it failed to create the Uniform Civil Code that the Indian constitution calls for, but you are wrong about the BJP's Hindutva. I'll have to argue that at a later time.
Your conclusion is juvenile, at best. |
