KaosJohanna’s Weblog

Dear Mr. Webber,I would like to start with thanking you for your question. I´ve had good time thinking about all the different aspects of it, trying to get a bit closer to an answer. The answer could easily turn in to an essay, but I’ll try to give my view on the matter in short. We had an interesting meeting with Dr. Savant who is a hotshot within the world of the University of Mumbai, discussing India’s new status in the world. He and his friend Sunita told us that the people here, upper class as well as the people living in the slum, can feel the difference in economic standard. The rich get richer, and the poor can afford to eat. They also claimed that all people are aware of and feel how they are becoming a super power within the next 20 years, though I must say that I do not experience that people I´ve met who are less fortunate are aware of this. They are convinced that India is the best country in the world, but more in a patriotic way then in a global awareness sort of a way. The people that we´ve asked about how the transition of the country in general, such as health care, infrastructure and environment is handled we only gats answers like “There is a plan”, no details shared. One of the business moguls we come to know here said that Mumbai only functions because God has mercy, meaning that the system on the paper doesn´t work. The Harvard students who came to Mumbai to study the structure of this place had to go home after a couple of months with no answers but that this place really shouldn´t be able to function. But then again, it does. And yes, people are handling the transition. More people are going to university then ever before to have a piece of the new India. And since women aren’t offered jobs in the same extent as men and there for continues to study in a higher level, at the same time as the students from wealthy family’s go right into the family business but the poor students just keeps on going, by the time the country explodes the top of the society may be the most interesting in the world. Business is growing by the minuet, in the big offices and the small street stands. And depending on whom you ask India is the next U.S, or just the best country in the world.