Anyone from India?

[hermyrox2]

Originally Posted by snoopy_bombay

That figures.People from Delhi find Mumbai much better,hence they decide to settle here,thereby overcrowding the place.And it's not just Delhi.People from all over India travel here.

Delhi only has the infrastructure it has today because of Bombay.Does anyone know that 40,000 crores rupees every year reach Delhi from the State of Maharashtra?doesn't that explain why Delhi is enjoying all the facilities it is today?And the Bollywood is not what constitues the money.The honest tax-payer from Bombay pays that money.I have been living in Mumbai only for 17years.My father on the other hand has been living here for 49 years.And these are the problems Mumbaikars have been facing for years.The whole economic strain of India is being born by Mumbai today.

Fashion and bollywood hardly are anything that make one city better than the other.It's the people that matter.It's the feeling of Attachment that matters.You won't find that anywhere else,except in Mumbai.

I completely disagree.

Fashion can make you attached to the people, and I think that you won't listen to reason. You just want to make Bombay sound better.

In any case, personally, I believe that Delhi is better, but there are MUCH better cities than Bombay. My cousins live there, and when I went to visit, I almost suffocated from the polluted air there. It makes it hard to get attached to anything if you are not alive.

There a LOT of south Indian cities that are better than Bombay. Like I said before, Bangalore is like the best city in all of India. I lived there for 6 years. The people there are very nice and helpful. In the best city list, I would probably put Bombay at a #4.
#1 Bangalore
#2 Delhi
#3 Vizag
#4 Bombay

[HP26]

I'd love to go to India. I'm even considering taking a 'gap' year between high school and college to spend some time there. From what I can tell it has the most incredible culture and everyone from India that I know is absolutely great.

[Drusilla]

[quote=mur7]I think I can relate to what you are saying. I'm a sophmore, but last year, I was a little freshmen. In my year, there are exactly 4 Indian Girls. One of them refuses to accept that she is Indian and Hindu. She dyes her hair red and acts gothic. She doesn't say a word to the other Indians, and even if she does, she says something nasty.
Second, Indian #2 is very weird and isolated. She does and says weird things and is very sensitive. She acts busy and all-knowing. Whenever people don't agree with her, she yells at them so LOUD, its like scary. She is jealous a lot because she isn't top of our class. She is rude to all other Indians.
Indian #3 is well rounded, does well in school, has lots of friends, and is involved in a million extra-curriculars. She usually is nice to every one, including the other Indians. She is top of our year, and does sports. Shes a great friend to whoever needs her. Indian#1 hates her because of this. #1 wants utter failure to happen to #3. Indian #2 acts all nice, but is constantly jealous and tells the teachers all sorts of things about #3. I myself heard her saying these things.
Indian #4 is a gossip queen who annoys me so so so much. All she does is talk about people. She acts like she knows everyone and is so popular. It gets on my nerves because I know that she knows no one. Most people don't like her. She hates #3 a lot because of 3's popularity and etc.

QUOTE]


If you remove the word "Indian" from that post and see it as just being about four girls, I think it'd explain a lot. Ethnicity may be something of a bonding point between people who share one, but that doesn't always have to be the case- I'm sure all Spaniards, for instance, aren't best buddies. What you've described above sounds like a normal high school situation- it's ok for that lot not to like each other.

And for everyone who'd arguing about cities: I'm originally from somewhere around Cochin, was raised in Calcutta, spent a year living on my own in Delhi and currently live in Bangalore, and I've spent extensive amounts of time in Madras and Bombay so I guess I'm qualified to talk about them:

Cochin and Madras: awful in the summer, and HOT. Plus, at least for a metropolitan child like me, boring, unless you're very into traditional things- art, music etc-

Delhi: Again, awful in summer, not so bad in winter because it gets good and cold, and there are lots of things to do, especially if you're a student. But if you're a single girl living on your own, you really- and I mean really- have to watch out for yourself- the men there are the most disgusting ones I've ever met.

Oh, well, I better go. I'll talk about the other places tomorrow.

[snoopy_bombay]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

You've been living in Bombay for 17 years and you're 16 years old?

I'd have preferred saying 17 rather 16 years,so and so months,so and so days.And anyways,my age does nothing to negate my point.

Originally Posted by hermyrox2

I completely disagree.

Fashion can make you attached to the people, and I think that you won't listen to reason. You just want to make Bombay sound better.

What fashion?I don't care about the Bollywood and the page three types,OK?I'm talking about being a good metro,and Bombay is much,much and by far better than any city in the whole of India.

In any case, personally, I believe that Delhi is better, but there are MUCH better cities than Bombay. My cousins live there, and when I went to visit, I almost suffocated from the polluted air there. It makes it hard to get attached to anything if you are not alive.

There's a lot more to Mumbai than pollution.Delhi is better in what respect may I ask?40% of the economy of India comes from Mumbai.The Metro trains in each city,namely Delhi,Kolkata,etc. come from the money Bombay pays.The country is working because of us.

There a LOT of south Indian cities that are better than Bombay. Like I said before, Bangalore is like the best city in all of India. I lived there for 6 years. The people there are very nice and helpful. In the best city list, I would probably put Bombay at a #4.
#1 Bangalore
#2 Delhi
#3 Vizag
#4 Bombay

I don't know on what basis you're rating the cities,but that is not the right order.Bangalore is OK,but cannot compete with Mumbai.Delhi is by far the worst place I've been to.Do you live in Delhi?incidentally,it is unsafe for women to step out alone in Delhi after 7pm.That itself says it all.The crime rate is also pretty high.Also,no city has the spirit,to match that of Mumbai.India cannot survive without Bombay.

[TheForce]

Hello everyone.
I’m glad I stumbled upon this thread. I’ve been reading ALL the posts here and I have to say I’m really fascinated to read people’s opinions about my country.

Here are my ideas regarding this country:
1. The cultural diversity: India’s most valued and appreciable possession.
This is a country where everything is on a grand scale; from the very size of the population to the sheer variety of its citizens. I’ll give you an example:
Some of my school friends were Hindus or Muslims or Sikhs or Christians or Buddhists! Then among them there were Bengalis, Anglo-Indians, Tamilians, Gujaratis, Marwaris, Punjabis and (would you believe it) Chinese!! (I myself am half Southy half Bengali!)
Among them there are the fairly-well-off and the filthy rich.
Also, we have incredibly varied tastes (eg. in music); some preferred Bach or Beatles or Bengali traditional. Some others preferred Nirvana or Queen or Floyd or Hindi pop!
But all these differences hardly got in the way of our friendship and that’s the best part!!

2. Education: It’s lamentably true that nearly 60% of Indians still remain illiterate. By illiterate I mean that they are unable to read or write in any language (be it Indian or otherwise). HOWEVER, do NOT assume that Indians in general can’t speak English fluently or they are a very backward race. The very idea is absurd!
The 40% of Indians who are educated comprise of a significant number of individuals (given the total size of our population!)
In fact, because of our population there is a massive competitive drive amongst students. As a result, the pressure on youngsters to get admitted into a good college is very high and therefore, those who make it to good colleges are students of the highest caliber imaginable.
Another example: 7 of my friends have got admitted into some of the premier American Institutions. 4 of them got an SAT score above 1500 and 1 of them got…ahem…1600. Another friend is studying in the National University of Singapore on full scholarship and several others have made it into India’s finest (such as the IITs)…

3. Social life: There is no point here to discuss rural social life as most villagers are so poor and uneducated that they present an entirely different (and undesirable) view of the country.
So let’s look at the standard urban living: Now there are essentially three kinds of generations- the conservative (appalled by the very idea of a miniskirt), the neo-traditionalists (accept the miniskirt warily and with a pinch of salt) and the laissez-faire, to use a French term, who wear miniskirts themselves or don’t mind anyone wearing them. So really, he’s a glimpse of the diversity yet again!
The younger generations mostly comprise of the liberal minded groups. Having grown up under the guidance of increasingly open-minded parents and also having been influenced by waves of westernization, these youngsters live “western” lives while keeping in mind their cultural upbringing.

4. Standard of living. Here again the full range covers complete impoverishment to wealth in billions of rupees. However, it is wrong to assume that the two strata live in completely unconnected worlds.
An example: My own family is a fairly-well-off-ordinary-middle-income-family. We have an ancestral home in a village a few miles from Kolkata, my home city. During some of our trips there, my mother (who is a medical practitioner/doctor) was deeply moved by the condition of life there. So, with a lot of help from friends and well-wishers, she managed to open a small school to educate the children there. Through her, many of the fabulously wealthy inhabitants of Kolkata visited the village, mingled with the people and helped my mother in her efforts!
So as you can see, three strata of society were united to achieve a common goal.

5. Politics. Here I would like you to briefly consider India’s history (which happens to stretch thousands of years into the distant past). In the relatively recent past (I mean over a thousand years ago) this entire sub-continent was fragmented into several separate kingdoms. Later (500 years later I mean) India was invaded from the north by the Muslim rulers who unified the sub-continent under the powerful Moghul Empire. Then in the 1700s the British conquered India and ruled for 200 years.
We Indians have had independence for 58 years. Compare that to our speckled past and you’ll rightly come to the conclusion that we are mere novices.
Corruption is rampant and the government sickens with incompetence. BUT, we are a nuclear power and we are being considered for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. India is also a fast growing economic power. Take all this into account and it doesn’t sound that bad…

To all those who haven’t been to India yet:
The American Consul General in Kolkata said that when he was offered a post here some of his friends told him “Good Lord! Why would you want to go there?!” and some others told him “Lucky chap! You’ll love it there”. The former were those who had never been to India and the latter were those who had!
***

Well, that’s what I think of India….

[snoopy_bombay]

TheForce,do you come from Kolkata?do you speak Bengali?and what do you think of the current politics?forget the ones years ago.And what do you think about the cities in general?where would you rate Kolkata at the moment,among cities in India?

[TheForce]

Originally Posted by snoopy_bombay

TheForce,do you come from Kolkata?do you speak Bengali?and what do you think of the current politics?forget the ones years ago.And what do you think about the cities in general?where would you rate Kolkata at the moment,among cities in India?

Hello Snoopy Bombay,
You're right, I am from Kolkata and I can speak and write Bengali.
Well, as for present day politics, all I can say is that the Government under the regime of Congress is doing a lot for India's foreign image.
However, as always, our own people remain neglected.
I really don't want to rate the cities. It's pretty pointless. So many cities have so much to admire AND detest...

[snoopy_bombay]

Originally Posted by TheForce

Hello Snoopy Bombay,
You're right, I am from Kolkata and I can speak and write Bengali.
Well, as for present day politics, all I can say is that the Government under the regime of Congress is doing a lot for India's foreign image.
However, as always, our own people remain neglected.
I really don't want to rate the cities. It's pretty pointless. So many cities have so much to admire AND detest...

I'll agree with you.The people are being neglected.But that has been happening ever since we got freedom,hasn't it?so there's nothing new I guess.I feel they should make an age limit in politics,because at the moment our country seems to be in the hands of people who are incapable of taking care of themselves.Incidentally,did you know how Govinda made a fool out of himself after becoming a MP?

[TheForce]

I'll agree with you.The people are being neglected.But that has been happening ever since we got freedom,hasn't it?so there's nothing new I guess.I feel they should make an age limit in politics,because at the moment our country seems to be in the hands of people who are incapable of taking care of themselves.Incidentally,did you know how Govinda made a fool out of himself after becoming a MP?

Hmmm...you're a bit too keen on politics for a kid of 16!
Not planning on a career in that direction I hope...

Anyway, this discussion does not concern this thread so if you want to have a separate discussion, you could just owl me.

[snoopy_bombay]

Originally Posted by TheForce

Hmmm...you're a bit too keen on politics for a kid of 16!
Not planning on a career in that direction I hope...

I've considered it,and I like it.But at the moment,I'd say no.I plan to become an I.A.S officer.

Anyway, this discussion does not concern this thread so if you want to have a separate discussion, you could just owl me.

Oh,no,don't worry.It does concern India,so I guess we should be alright.

[TheForce]

What I mean is that if we continue our discussion of Indian politics we'll isolate the other non-Indian guests here. Then the purpose of the thread is lost.
we want to know what OTHERS think of our country...

[snoopy_bombay]

Originally Posted by TheForce

What I mean is that if we continue our discussion of Indian politics we'll isolate the other non-Indian guests here. Then the purpose of the thread is lost.
we want to know what OTHERS think of our country...

But the others prefer discussing some other aspects of the country.It's fine to discuss politics I guess.

[Erinys]

As far as politics go, I think it is the nature of political power to ignore the people who are poor and completely lack the power that money buys. I'm not surprised to hear of it from India, it happens here in America, and I'm sure it happens everywhere else also.

[Kaonashi]

Just out of curiousity, how does the rupee compare to the dollar? If I went on holiday to India would I be able to get a lot for a little?

[Chrysalis]

Yes, at least to a euro it's 50-60 rupees, so it would be approximately the same for a dollar. You would be able to get a lot of stuff for very little money.

[TheForce]

Rs 43= $1

Big Mac Burger here =Rs 50 or so...

[snoopy_bombay]

The pound fetches a lot more.It's got to be something like 60-70

[anew]

Yep, 1 pound=Rs.77.

[Kaonashi]

You're kidding...I can buy a Big Mac for a DOLLAR there? That's wild! ^_^ how about Jewelry? I'm a huge fan of silver jewelry with semi precious stones in them like Tormaline, agates, and moonstones. Not a huge fan of gold.

[TheForce]

Um...I don't do much jewelery shopping but my mother does...
wait I'll ask her...
Ah the verdict's in...
You could get a nice necklace for around $100.