why isn't india experiencing the same economic boom as china

[tvarad]

Any poor who climb in the social hierarchy, even marginaly, will adopt the corrupted behaviour.

In a perverse way, why shouldn't they be making money off of corruption when it is a known fact that the higher classes have been doing it for so long?

That said, the economic boom is breaking down the highly regimented Indian caste system in unbelievable ways. Just the other day, I was at a local KFC and it was clear that many of the waiters and waitresses were from the local slums; two decades ago the higher castes would think twice about having their food handled by them. At the Green Hotel in Mysore, I was made an amazing cappucino by young ladies who were the children of a caste who clean septic tanks and handle human waste for a living! Earlier, their fate in life would have been to follow in their parents' footsteps.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

no one mentioned that economic liberalization occured in the mid 70s for china and early 90s for india. if you compare the two countries in relation to when they opened up their markets, its actually pretty close.

http://www.economist.com/node/18586836
india will prolly grow faster than china within the next few years. its quite remarkable given everything going against it such as ridiculous corruption and bureaucracy , horrid infrastructure, small-time manufacturing, and a diverse and often fragmented society.

hmm, i came across this article while googling for some more info: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/opinion/29kristof.html?_r=3&src=tptw

 

[CanOWorms]

A lot of it has to do with colonialism, which was particularly brutal in India. The British slaughtered almost 100 million people in India, reduced the average life span, prevented industrialization and development, etc. It takes quite a while for a society to recover from that and other atrocities. A lot of people forget that the British Empire was one of the most destructive entities on Earth and impeded development by centuries.

It's amazing how far they and others have come when the shackles of British colonialism (and others) were removed and how much the former colonizers have sunk.

 

[The Green Bean]

A lot of it has to do with colonialism, which was particularly brutal in India. The British slaughtered almost 100 million people in India, reduced the average life span, prevented industrialization and development, etc. It takes quite a while for a society to recover from that and other atrocities. A lot of people forget that the British Empire was one of the most destructive entities on Earth and impeded development by centuries.

It's amazing how far they and others have come when the shackles of British colonialism (and others) were removed and how much the former colonizers have sunk.

It's interesting you say that. In my opinion the British were far less oppressive than the Americans. Everything used to be decided in London. Now it's Washington.

 

[busydude]

hmm, i came across this article while googling for some more info: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/op...?_r=3&src=tptw

I think the author has provided a fairly balanced view of current situations in India. What I like in that article is the emphasis on Bihar. That state IMO.. has become too backward.. and people have voted for the right person.. this was the first time I was happy with the way EC has conducted the elections.

 

[CanOWorms]

It's interesting you say that. In my opinion the British were far less oppressive than the Americans. Everything used to be decided in London. Now it's Washington.

In my opinion, the British killing 100 million people and their other colonialist activities is one of the most oppressive actions of human history. The US didn't colonize India.

 

[rchiu]

A lot of it has to do with colonialism, which was particularly brutal in India. The British slaughtered almost 100 million people in India, reduced the average life span, prevented industrialization and development, etc. It takes quite a while for a society to recover from that and other atrocities. A lot of people forget that the British Empire was one of the most destructive entities on Earth and impeded development by centuries.

It's amazing how far they and others have come when the shackles of British colonialism (and others) were removed and how much the former colonizers have sunk.

Well Japanese killed as much Chinese if not more, and the civil war after and the great leap forward in China probably caused 2, 3 times the death of British colonization.

It is clear that Chinese economic boom is because of the centrally planned economy with little distraction and no opposition. Chinese government can basically do what they want in the expense of other voices and other needs. If they choose the economy to be the priority over civil right, equality and other issue, no one else can question it. Of course that makes thing easier.

But is that better in the big picture and in long run, only time can tell. Some of the problems is already surfacing, like brutal one child policy so their economy don't have to shoulder larger population, is already causing significant male:female ratio gap, and increasing aging population.

 

[JTsyo]

Quotas have been in place since we got our independence.

Lower caste people and women have significant quotas.. barring private companies and grade schools, quotas are present every where.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reservation_in_India

This might be a problem in itself if those that are getting the jobs aren't qualified. Hopefully there's a minimum that you need to pass before you get the job.

A lot of it has to do with colonialism, which was particularly brutal in India. The British slaughtered almost 100 million people in India, reduced the average life span, prevented industrialization and development, etc. It takes quite a while for a society to recover from that and other atrocities. A lot of people forget that the British Empire was one of the most destructive entities on Earth and impeded development by centuries.

It's amazing how far they and others have come when the shackles of British colonialism (and others) were removed and how much the former colonizers have sunk.

There were plus points too. The rail system. Schools setup so some Indians could be educated in the Western style to help run the British bureaucracy in India. Uniting India into one country instead of multiple princedoms.

 

[Zorkorist]

A lot of it has to do with colonialism, which was particularly brutal in India. The British slaughtered almost 100 million people in India, reduced the average life span, prevented industrialization and development, etc. It takes quite a while for a society to recover from that and other atrocities. A lot of people forget that the British Empire was one of the most destructive entities on Earth and impeded development by centuries.

It's amazing how far they and others have come when the shackles of British colonialism (and others) were removed and how much the former colonizers have sunk.

I think you are right, and Colonization had disastrous effects.

With all the advances, one might pose, about a greater society, colonizing a poorer society. the fact remains that the colonized society, is, well, colonized.

They're not helped in any material way. They are subjects, and subjecated to a regime that doesn't give a flying f*ck about them.

Africa is another example of Colonization, and of course they are the worst off yet.

-John

 

[Zorkorist]

Does this also relate to Arabia?

We know Israel was given to the Jews by the winners of WW2. Was Arabia also colonized? I'm afraid my world history is failing me.

-John

 

[Raghu]

Colonialism is a silly excuse for the current status of India.

 

[Zorkorist]

So please tell us the real reason for the current status of India.

-John

 

[busydude]

This might be a problem in itself if those that are getting the jobs aren't qualified. Hopefully there's a minimum that you need to pass before you get the job

Presently, most of the govt. jobs are held by lower caste people.. and their presence is increasing significantly(They even get promoted more frequently).. this is not necessarily a bad thing.. in fact productivity has increased a lot in the past two decades.

When it comes to college education.. every student has the same criteria to fulfill in order to graduate.. only during admission process does these Quotas play a major role.

 

[Infohawk]

So please tell us the real reason for the current status of India.

-John

Many other reasons have been put forward in this thread. Why don't you try reading them?

The problem with colonialism as an excuse is that pretty much every country, including western countries, has been oppressed at one point or another. And yet many countries do just fine.

 

[Zorkorist]

I've read most if not all the posts in this thread. Have you?

I found CanofWorms argument against Colonizionation, pretty strong.

-John

 

[Zorkorist]

Colonization is not an excuse, but it's a datapoint, and the fact is that countries that have been colonized, aren't doing so great.

Would you argue with that?

-John

 

[Infohawk]

I've read most if not all the posts in this thread. Have you?

I found CanofWorms argument against Colonizionation, pretty strong.

-John

If you've read most of the thread you should understand that there are many other and better reasons to explain India's lagging behind China.

 

[Infohawk]

Colonization is not an excuse, but it's a datapoint, and the fact is that countries that have been colonized, aren't doing so great.

-John

All countries have been colonized at one point or another so there's no real "datapoint." (Is it that hard to keep your response to one post?)

 

[Zorkorist]

When was the United States of America colonized?

-John

 

[Dr. Zaus]

According to Alan Greenspan it is their dedication to Fabian socialism.

 

[Zorkorist]

When was Canada colonized?

-John

 

[Infohawk]

When was the United States of America colonized?

-John

First, the continent was ethnically cleansed. And then there was that whole revolution thing where Americans revolted against British crown.

 

[Zorkorist]

That's not colonization, that's man making his way.

-John

 

[Zorkorist]

Colonization, is an established power, with the strength of it's army, and the political pursuit of it's citizens, exploiting a subservient country/people.

-John

 

[Infohawk]

That's not colonization, that's man making his way.

-John

Ok so you're ignoring the European colonization of America. Not sure why but fine.

And I think you're thinking to yourself "Gee, the US has never been colonized by an outside power." Neither has the "Republic of India" which was formed in 1947. Of course that's not a really useful thing to look at because COW is talking about the predecessors to the Republic of India just like I am talking about the predecessors of the USA.