Best food I’ve ever eaten was in India. Stayed for a few weeks in the SE of the country. Loved filter coffee and Irani Chai. Thought to myself, and I was correct, that the milk in India and everywhere else outside of the USA was much better tasting and I’d not eat this good again inside our own borders, and I eat well. US food supply is so heavily adulterated or mass farmed that we lose a lot of flavor you will experience in abundance in other countries (I recommend Italy if one does not care for heavily spiced (lovely) Indian food.)
Some observations of where I visited:
In many areas, India is heavily integrated with age old cultures that used to be geographically isolated, but now are divided by neighborhoods. Many of those cultures have kept their old ways, even in the high tech areas. Some are exceptionally well educated and others still cling to the medieval. This dichotomy presents tremendous challenges in creating a modern nation but India is taking on that challenge head on. Their recent ban on foreign muslims becoming citizens is a step forward, but will be a difficult road to travel as fundamentalists see themselves slowly being integrated and their beliefs diminished for the betterment of the nation.
India is driven to produce the finest talent in STEM graduates. It’s an amazing thing to see a nation make education it’s mission and they have turned the nation into a Master’s degree generation machine. Many of their students compete for positioning in their educational programs. The winners move into higher education. Once they have that achievement, many look around, ask “What am I doing here?” and come to America with the thought of returning one day. India has 1.6 billion people, that’s a lot of graduates by percentage. They are coming here and making it difficult for American STEM student to thrive. This is not sustainable and there may be contention in the near future. Even moreso because, funny enough, many (incredibly brilliant) Indians who have come here to stay voiced similar thoughts.
Nation building. Holy Crap! I never saw so much construction. It’s like Dwayne Johnson flexed an arm and instead of muscle up popped 100 skyscrapers and technology campuses. India is building a modern nation overnight seemingly. Yet given the commentary just above, there may be contention if they believe America will not eventually take on a protectionist position, even despite the number (percentage wise) of genius they export to us.
Just random thoughts over coffee. I see Indo-US collaboration as a major defense against Russo-Chicom expansion. I believe our national destinies are intertwined given global politics and the personal character of the Indian people. It’s easier to look upon them and say “We can do this together and both benefit our people.” Maybe the Russians can join in one day. I would never say that about the Chinese. Particularly chicoms - those MFers have proven themselves to be our mortal enemies.
Anyway, my thoughts on India are that these are people we stand by and raise up as much as possible without diminishing life for our own.
Thanks for the excellent insights.
See Post #31
I guess you and your whole department we never outsourced by Wipro.
I see Indo-US collaboration as a major defense against Russo-Chicom expansion>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thats terribly important, if we are to extend the success of our economy here at home by taking the show on the road.
After a time, this success will be the envy of China, Russia and Iran, and their people will be more likely to cast off the tyrants that bind them into servitude.
Thank you for the lovely descriptive note of your flavorful travels in India. I love their hot spicy food, Nan, Dhal, Tandoori, Chipati, Somosa and delicately flavored saffron rice.A visit to the spice markets is a must. You gots to bring a lot of it back!
Yep.
Indian talent here is not just writing code either. Lots and lots and lots and smart folks as well now in tech marketing and running our biggest tech companies.
Of course lots of Indian doctors here as well.
Last I saw they were the ethnic group in the US with the highest average incomes and educational attainment. Very, very low crime.
Better still would be US-India-Russia collaboration against the China coalition.
Interesting. From the little I know (based entirely on Indians I have met in the US) it seems that you’re right in this. I’d love to visit it someday.
And I agree - the Indians could be valuable allies and a good counterweight against the Chinese.
I did Goa in hippie trail days
I disagree India does not have shit hole aspects
But parts are quite pretty especially the north
Most surprising to me was how most of the year most of India is dry