I was just walking through the a prominent Delhi bazaar today and bought some delicious street food. One of the vendors selling his wares chose that precise moment to start shouting the ugly '20 ka 3' type slogan. In the process he spilt quite a bit of his saliva onto my 'chaat'. Like a pack of dogs who follow the lead of one of theirs own, the other vendors started their ear-splitting howls. Not that those who responded were treated like customers (customer-orienation is a dirty word in the cow-belt of Bihar UP and Haryana, where most of the vendors belong to). Nearby was a rickshaw-wala who had knocked down an old lady who was trying to cross the road, while other of his brethren were stopping in the centre of the road negotiating fares with their 'sawari'. Zombies passing by stepping on each other's shoes and toes, no apologies. Lots of men standing on the street staring at women till they wished they were invisible. Special 'STARING' treatment was reserved to Foriegn tourists braving the bazaar. I am sure they wished they were back home where they belonged. So much for 'Athiti Devo Bhava'
I ve read a lot of comments here saying 'The only thing we lack is puctuality' as if we have everything else. There are endless things though 'humara Bharat mahaan' lacks. Though dishonesty & unknowingly being rude is a trait most pronounced in North Indians of the cowbelt, the 'STARING' phenomena is present everywhere.
I go abroad often and let me tell you this, on long trips, though I miss my family, I do feel a sense of sadness when the plane lands here. Right from the shouting of men loading the passenger baggage vehicle, the rude custom wallahs, unsmiling people announces that I am 'HOME'. The only other place where it feels like 'home' is Russia but even there, people smile much more than our country.
There will be much more changing required than just 'punctuality'. It has to start at home, the parents teaching the kids right and wrong, and some manners (assuming they themselves know them). 90% of this country doesnt pay taxes but do crib about the roads and public transport. Its a wonder this country is still running. A fact is that while some farmers ARE living in penury, a big chunk in Northern India are prosperous but do not pay taxes due to populist government policies.
I agree with the gentleman who said there is a lot of individual brilliance in this country. But meanwhile those few brilliant people will have to carry this country on their strong shoulders.
RE:Indians are also dirty.....
by lalitha ganesh on Feb 22, 2007 01:01 AM Permalink
Yet another SLIME(self loathing Indian Mentality). Don't even bother coming back to India, for this land doesn't need people like you. I have just one thing to say to you, either "Do it or Leave it". and yes, when i say Do it, doesn't mean just voting. If India is dirty so are you and I, for we belong to this land, assuming you were born in India. Go get a life in Russia or US and keep your hatred to yourself.
May there peace and love in and around you. Lalitha
RE:RE:Indians are also dirty.....
by KK on Feb 22, 2007 02:03 AM Permalink
hai raj, Your points are true but the way you hv expressed it, is completely wrong.You say "indians" are dirty then who are you??
You have the previledge of education and learning. so you understand the problem. but India still has large population who suffer for their basic needs like food,clothing and shelter. when their basic needs are not met,then how will they think of education and other basic manners. Have ever heard of farmers commiting suicide as a bunch?? it happens in our country.
Pls dont get irritated for the way the things are happening here rather you can feel pity about our country.
RE:Indians are also dirty.....
by deepak bhardwaj on Feb 21, 2007 10:10 PM Permalink
Dear Mr. Royale, I understand your agony. Please mention atleast one good thing or work that you have done offlately to change the system or for that matter to initiate the change in your "bad indian environment"...let's start doing our bit then probably things will change for the better...and pls don't say Indians are dirty...(take it in a good spirit)
RE:RE:Indians are also dirty.....
by Raj Royale on Feb 21, 2007 10:48 PM Permalink
Dear Mr. Bhardwaj,
One will probably have to spend a lifetime to do what you are suggesting.... I dont have that much time, but I do vote.
I can only hope that a majority of my country thinks like me. But they dont. So we have a Laloo as a railway minister after all that 'Fodder'. And for all the hoo haa about his 'good work' for railways, the media forgot that all the spade work was done by Nitish Kumar, his predecessor.
RE:Indians are also dirty.....
by sahi on Feb 22, 2007 03:43 AM Permalink
Very true. I have a friend who married a foreigner they were evaluating which country to settle in. My friend made many points for india but the biggest point against India is that a foriegn woman cannot walk on the streets of India.
We worship women and call bharat mata and all that bull shit but most men visually rape any woman walking on the street and have no respect for them.
THey decided to settle out of India after he had a daughter because there is no respect for women in India.
RE:Indians are also dirty.....
by wibas wibas on Feb 22, 2007 12:49 AM Permalink
Hi Raj Royale,
I completely agree with you. Indians have so much problems, but "lack of civic sense" should not be a top priority, poverty is the first one. Probably we can excuse the lower income people for the illmanners, but I have seen several SW guys, rich fellas behaving rudely when in public, which is unparadonable.
But be prepared, you will get lot of bashing from others, because Indians don't want to hear whats wrong with them. They never realize that identifying the problem is that first step to solve it. If you wrote that Indian will be a largest economy with so and so GDP growth, obviously lot of people cheer at you in that "virtual happiness".
RE:RE:Indians are also dirty.....
by Nishant Verma on Feb 22, 2007 10:57 AM Permalink
Dear Danny,
@Fact A NO Visionary has no place in India. Let me assure you that despite a good brand most educational organizations/ bodies do not help individuals nurture vision and encourage them to actually live/achieve it in India. Hence many do go to USA. The few naturally born visionaries remain back. Alas only a handful do live their dreams. Remember.. professional growth for most is an attribute to the boom.
@Suggest Suggest that you do not add to the count. Live your dreams and contribute back to society.
@Statement End of the day the following statement holds true "You are an Indian, based in FREE!!! USA"
Things are not always good,I am a fertility expert and using one of their goods.They donot have any aftersales service in india and when asked about,they donot listen.
No matters whether we, Indian, work with Japanese, American or European, we must improve in general our habit of being punctual and keep commitment. These two things would demonstrate how professional we are. It is a matter of habit to develop. Once developed this habit, no one will feel any stress to maintain it. It needs some time to develop, and then it happens naturally. Many senior executives, politicians and doctors just don%u2019t like to be in time to demonstrate how busy they are. They don%u2019t know what wrong signal they are giving to their followers.
Every nation and its culture has its own share of good things. We can be proud of the fact that Indians are the most flexible people at work. I have been in Europe, US and Asia Pacific and I have seen a lot of people. Lets accept the good things from other nations/cultures.
I could find nothing wrong in the article except for the fact that some negatives that I have seen when dealing with Japanese have been conveniently left out. These are: 1. Most Japanese companies are very slow in decision making. when they have to pick a new supplier, they go over an elaborate and often unnecessary procedure and so many people are involved. 2. High level of corruption.
RE:some negatives
by Pushan Banerjee on Feb 22, 2007 12:13 PM Permalink
Mr Ashok, The slowness in their decision making is because the supplier is reviewed by all their departments. This helps later so that no inter department dispute arises. And ahem..high level of corruption. What in the hell are you talking about?????????
I am intrigued with your second point. Can you give us examples when you say "high level of corruption"? Of course it would help us when we deal with them.
I am indian living in japan and this article is absolutly true .Well there are many good things about indian. I think indians are too good when it comes to buissness. We have a creative mind which japanese don`t have the only differnce japan to other countries is the hard working nature.well punctuality is the point too but it differs from people to people. japanese people follow their rules to perfection and they try not to make any mistakes. if they do they will never say reason. but by living a life like this they are stressed which in india is opposite.
anyways if we indians adopt some of the working styles it will be matter of time we will overcome japan economically.
RE:RE:good one
by indianpatriot on Feb 22, 2007 10:03 AM Permalink
thanks for giving first hand perspective of life in japan. have a nice time in japan but dont forget india first.
we just completed a office for a japanese multinational and the Japanese were very impressed with our work and appreciated us a lot for the good jobe done. I mean to say is that we are right there if we are willing to.
RE:Indians keeping up
by manrin manrin on Feb 22, 2007 05:33 PM Permalink
I agree with you 100% but again that's what is missing - "Willingness". We love the "Chalta Hai" attitude just too much.
I do not know, why we always "DISRESPECT" ourselves or create an "Inferiority Complex" amongst us.
We are professionals, we are punctual, we Indians have started acquiring GLOBAL COMPANIES ( Steel, Oil etc etc)
As a writer, you should think before writing such article or copying it from others.
Why we call "Ziglar" or any other Top Management Gurus from US or any other Country, is because of their SKIN (which few Indians got used to attending such TALK at their Company's expense)
Why not you MEDIA people stop writing or stop hyping about "BRITNEY SPEAR" (Shaven Head), whether she shaves her head, or armpit or her Pr...te PART, such NEWS really SUCKS !!!!
RE:Why S....k others
by on Feb 21, 2007 07:33 PM Permalink
Obviously, the writer and many people who have commented below have not done any business with any Marwadi. I can replace all Japanese with Marwadi and most of the article will make sense. No Marwadi owner will allow you to BS about deadlines and commitments!
Business people are same everywhere - shrewed and self-centered. There are cultural differences, but the basis are same. So, see these as hints on cultural differences and not Indian-Inferior/Japanese-Supeior. Get over self-loathing!
In India, many employees are not in sync with business interest of teh company. Only higher-ups are. In Japan (and elsewhere), the awareness if high. That is why Indian employee tend to be more careless about some things. This does not mean we are inferior. It just means we need to realize faults, come up with solutions and adopt them.
Business interaction happen between people. So inspite of every attempt to make it a bland "professional" approach, personalities and culture seep in. Indian have to learn such things and other learn such things about us.
(author has worked for a "lala" company, America company and doing Business with Japanese companies.
RE:RE:Why S....k others
by Prakash on Feb 21, 2007 07:55 PM Permalink
You know when people like you write comments in proper english without spelling mistakes i find it worth reading. Thanks
RE:RE:Why S....k others
by Pushan Banerjee on Feb 22, 2007 12:21 PM Permalink
If Japanese culture was about sticking to deadlines and being punctual, sorry to say that your view of Japan is very Myopic. And oh...btw after all the crap about proper English is done with.. you copied my line in the brackets. Also, Marwadi people will not accept and BS about deadlines and commitments when it concerns them. Please talk about the end user because I know a lot of people who hate Marwadis for their lack of customer orientation.
RE:Why S....k others
by manrin manrin on Feb 22, 2007 05:37 PM Permalink
We are so much in awe with the White skin that even if an average American tours India, we can see our Indian people terming them as FOREIGNERS (vilaayti).
RE:No surprises! Indian still hope
by on Feb 21, 2007 06:35 PM Permalink
All standard type-cast crap - I've been doing business with japanese for a long time - and none of them seem to be so strict about their scehdule. Yes, they come on time - but so do we. But Indians are far smarter and far more philosophically inclined to see the light and the end of the tunnel. Japanese can't think "concepts" - they are more of the wysiwyg style - what you see, is what they can copy, make or get.
You have no idea how dirty japanese get when it comes to business. Indian - on the other hand - actually appear more virtuous and principle oriented. Tough to believe - but that's what I have seen.
Indians - us - mostly suffer from Inferiority complex. But we're fast shedding it as well.
We'll soon overtake japan as the IIIrd largest economy PPP-wise. Get mentally geared up to be respected. :-)
RE:RE:No surprises! Indian still hope
by PD on Feb 21, 2007 07:14 PM Permalink
i dont agree with you.. i am living in japan for long and whatever articles author says is 100% correct. japanese are punctual, methodical, whatever they do they do it with thought and also wisely, with deep knowledge of the same. Indians always say they are smarter but it is an excuse.. japanese dont need to use our kind of smartness because they always have all things ready before going after any work..
RE:RE:No surprises! Indian still hope
by wibas wibas on Feb 22, 2007 01:04 AM Permalink
WOW, the initiator wrote that India is becoming a super power, and you seconded saying we will overcome Japan as IIIrd largest economy PPP-wise. Great sirs, but sorry I am seeing a different country everyday. I see poverty, poor infrastructure and irresponsible citizens. I don't want to live in the media hyped illusions about Indian economy. All I want to see in my life time is a developed country with basic amenities met for the majority of people.
RE:RE:No surprises! Indian still hope
by JACOB JOHN on Feb 21, 2007 06:49 PM Permalink
Good bit of info you have passed on.We are always downplaying our capacities and culture. Since India is in the developing stage and ready to take on the big leap , India has to read and accept other countries culture to bring in more money/work etc. Maybe once we are among the super powers, other countries would want to follow our culture to get business from India. Ofcourse the author has done his homework and detailed here and these are good habits not only while dealing with Japanese but any other nation. We sure have that "chaltha hai attitude" but it is not that it is patronised by Indians, many developed and developing nation also tend to show this atttibute.
RE:RE:No surprises! Indian still hope
by Newton Sutar on Feb 21, 2007 06:52 PM Permalink
Now whom to believe.. is the article written true or your wording about indian professional is correct... we have to learn from ourmistake.. Yes i agree we are not punctual always.. although we have other qualities.. but still this weakness is to be looked upon.. if we want to overtake them
The writer Karthik Thirupathi's assessment of Japanese punctuality did make an interesting reading. Japan is a small country with a small population with an excellent transport network and with less vehicles. All these may not hold true in the case of India. Here in Australia all the basic things about punctuality which the writer has mentioned holds true. The Aussies are fun loving, not hard working like the Japanese. Japanese work in a team and the seniormost who leads the team is their leader. In this, Australia follows American style. The most able person becomes the leader though he may be the youngest in the group. We, Indians, wherever we go, we are late and we have umpteen reason to back that up why it is so. I, for instance, have fought with my very best friends for not keeping up the time. In the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) where I was for long, I was compering parties. A 7 p.m. party would start not before 9.30 p.m. when we had half the crowd. The only people who were on time there, I recollect, were the Westerners and the Filipinos. Shame on us!
RE:RE:It's the same here in Australia
by sahi on Feb 22, 2007 04:09 AM Permalink
I volunteer for an indian non-profit. There is no such thing as starting and ending a meeting on time. Meeting always starts half an hour to one hour late and ends one hour to two hour late.
There is no respect of one's time. The basic problem is that Indian do not respect their own and others time.
RE:RE:RE:It's the same here in Australia
by raja nisha on Mar 04, 2007 04:17 PM Permalink
If the office time is 9 we get up at 8.30 and reach office at 9.30. The problem begins at home.
