Desicritics Comments on Book Review: Hitchhiker Vinod George Joseph

Comment by R.T. Manikantan

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:34:54 EDT

I have read this book. It is balanced and a very interesting book. I liked it especially because it deals with many issues we have in society. I do not think we should hide the flaws in our society and country. Sunshine cleanses. Let in some light and fresh air. We need more transparency.

Comment by Atlantean

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:32:45 EDT

Richard, You say: It seems like the shiny bright picture being painted is hiding some of the old unpleasant truths India might not what the rest of the world to know about. Sorry. That's a falsehood. The "unpleasant truth" about India that you refer to is standard definition of India, its indigenous religions and culture the world over. Caste discrimination and poverty are unmistakably mentioned in any description of India abroad and within. Nobody's hiding any unpleasant truths. India is an open country, not Saudi Arabia. You can come here and see if anybody is trying to hide the truths of caste discrimination and poverty. In fact, wherever I go, I see an overemphasis on caste and poverty in descriptions of India as if these are the only two things that India has given birth to. But you seem to think otherwise. Time for a reality check. I don't see how anything can be referred to as devlopment if all that's happening is the same old system is just being reinforced. You can't have real development and leave anyone behind. Here we are talking of economic development. Quick economic development need not somehow translate into development on the social front. The "old system" that you refer to is not a stagnant monolithic entity. The "old system" is under constant change, it has been evolving for thousands of years and will continue to do so. Hopefully, it will change for the better. In fact, I see a consciousness (against caste) like never before. More intercaste marriages are taking place now than ever before. Caste has almost ceased to be a deciding factor in daily life in academics and urban life though it still exists. What kind of strange picture do you get in photography when only a quarter of negative is developed - or even if three quarters of the negative is developed? It will be a sorry picture but previously the negative was almost completely undeveloped. It has just begun to develop and it will take time. You dont get your photographs within seconds do you? If you were one of the ones being left behind, how would you feel about it? Of course I'd feel bad. But I would see the silver lining - that the chances of pulling myself out of this shit are greater now than ever before. I've noticed the majority of the people who express the opinion held above happen to have good prospects or even better good jobs - why not ask some of the millions living in rural parts of India who still shit in a field what they think of your developement. Because that "majority" understands the importance of economic development. That "majority" hopes that the kind of development that has created the "good prospects and jobs" for them will do the same for those who are not very fortunate... right, the guys "who still shit in the field." All that develops in this type system is what you have the world over - 97% of the wealth controlled by 3% of the people. That's nothing to celebrate - that's reason to mourn. This is interesting. The book and your article are basically about the caste system. Suddenly, you draw a direct link between the caste system and income inequality. How come Canada has the same Gini Coefficient as that of India if there's no caste system in Canada then? Or is there any caste and poverty in Canada that has led to an income distribution that is as unequal as caste-cow-curry India's?

Comment by T. Arumugham

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 08:53:33 EDT

Ricard I think that the point which Raju is making is that there is no resaon why we Indians should be seen to wash our dirty clothes in public. We should try very to have development and economic growth at the same time. But why should Indian writer living in a foreign countries write books which shown India in a bad light?? Every country will have some skeletons in its closet, but why expose them. I am a software enfgineer and have lived in many countries inclusive of Japan. They never criticise their country, but keep making improvements. We Indians should also be like that. Even if you say this book is balanced, I am sure it will not be balanced.

Comment by Richard Marcus

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 08:43:58 EDT

I don't see how anything can be referred to as devlopment if all that's happening is the same old system is just being reinforced. You can't have real development and leave anyone behind. What kind of strange picture do you get in photography when only a quarter of negative is developed - or even if three quarters of the negative is developed? If you were one of the ones being left behind, how would you feel about it? I've noticed the majority of the people who express the opinion held above happen to have good prospects or even better good jobs - why not ask some of the millions living in rural parts of India who still shit in a field what they think of your developement. All that develops in this type system is what you have the world over - 97% of the wealth controlled by 3% of the people. That's nothing to celebrate - that's reason to mourn.

Comment by Raju Saran

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 08:21:19 EDT

Let's face it. After many centuries of neglect, pain and sufering India is booming once. We Indians are able to hold our heads high. Devlopment may not be even, but uneven development is better than no development at all. So, let's stop critising ourselves all the time. Time to feel proud of what we are achieving folks.

Comment by Aaman

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:47:45 EDT

Good to see you won't become a total stranger here - you have many fans on DC, I'm sure