To begin with, sorry for my late replying (I've been busy).
I'm well aware there are lots of intelligent and successful people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
However, I think that one must draw the conclusion that these countries are far behind the West and Japan when it comes to being "innovation economies", economies that are based on the competence of "being able to do what no one else can do".
You mentioned Anji Reddy above. Without a doubt, he's an intelligent and successful person, BUT has Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., his company, THEMSELVES invented anything that can compete with the most important innovations of the biggest pharmaceutical companies of the West and Japan? Hardly. By the way, 49 of the world's 50 biggest pharmaceutical companies are either from the West or Japan (one is from Israel).
On the other hand, I believe India is presently going through a "cathing up process". Hopefully, India will one day, at large, be a very prosperous country. Companies doing what Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., namely making copies of the products of companies from the leading economical sphere, are typical for "Catching up economies". Japan once went through this process. Germany too (during the 19th century when the UK was the most powerful nation on earth in many areas).
Arguing often is fun, but what ever part of the world we're from, we all should rejoice to see nations like India and China becoming economical superpowers. These countries are on the right track.
As a Westerner, I don't "fear" India and China becoming economical giants. However, I fear poverty and lack of education. A lot of bad things comes from it.
All nations/ethnic groups have made beneficial contributions to humanity. Personally, I feel the West taken together has made more important ones than any other part of the world.
Western Culture is based on the fusion of four magnificent ancient cultures; the Greek, Roman, Germanic and Viking ones. The roots to the powerful global position of the West of today are, to a large extent, found in these dynamic, ancient elements.
As a Swede, I'd like to highlight the contribution of the Vikings, maybe the most technology oriented one of them:
(If you wish, you can skip reading the article about the planned Viking Center and start reading my comments to that article)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1762996/posts
Other links that might interest readers of this thread:
About "Innovation economies":
http://www.state.gov/e/rls/rm/2001/3696.htm
About Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Reddy%27s_Labs
Top 50 pharmaceutical companies of the world:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_50_pharmaceutical_companies