As an offshoot to our discussions and a point that Rajib/C'da brought out, IMHO are my observations.
Middle class intellectualism does thrive very well in India. This intellectualism, I would venture, is more closer to street smarts and cunning. Often, such traits are confused with true intellectualism, IMHO.
Indians do very well, specially in the Sciences. Wouldn't that amount to - intellect. Considering that most people in colleges, studying hard sciences or medicine come from the middle class, can we assume that there is that intellectualism.
Both C'da and Rajib made references to such middle class intellectualism in the US. How does that compare to India. My thoughts on this are, in India many in the middle class lack "social skills" - specifically those defined in the West. But middle class Americans are usually good at these social skills. By social skills, I of course, mean being polite to others (and strangers), and having some consideration for their feelings etc. (Americans are pretty good at this - except on the freeways, then all bets are off)
But, middle class Americans, even though intelligent, are not curious (intellectually), usually. Their lives revolve around their own little worlds, and most everything else is Timbuktu. Indians on the other hand are almost always very curious - to the point of meddling into others' lives. These lack of social skills often translate to sheer rudeness.
That is the reason, that I can disagree with C'da - ie the dysfunctional govt. system. These same Indians who come to the US do most often behave as Americans would have them (when they are dealing with Americans). But look at the UK or other places where there is a concentration of desis. Quite often, they revert back to their desi traits. Is the UK govt. dysfunctional?
--Ram
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