Socialism seems to have failed India so far, Peter and I certainly cannot see India challenging China at all in the next 20 years economically. You are right though, there is not much (social) compassion in India at the moment.

The Daily Telegraph correspondent for South Asia recently told me that India is similar to Victorian England in terms of social divide -I think he is probably right.

Sanjay, I like your proverbial analogy. Sadly though, most Indians are most definitely in the shade.

Being an Indian, residing in Mumbai, I could not agree with you and Peter more. The rich are so caught up in getting richer, that they have completely erased the poor from their thinking. One reason for this could be that they suddenly have the resources to fulfill all the aspirations they have been harbouring for a long time, and want to make maximum hay while the sun lasts. But unless this changes, and changes soon, I am worried that there will be a social calamity.

The obstacle india face is itself - the cruel indifference and the amazing callousness of the middle class and interlectuals towards the poor. Given the Indian social reality, India needs socialism in addition to capitalism. — social compassion, social justice, social security — Unless all these concepts are permantly and firmly ingrained in the hearts and minds of the Indian middle class, India will only be a wanabe, forever.