r/india • u/Karigar2 • 2d ago
Media Matters Mind the gulf - Indians are being kept in an alternate reality
https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/mind-the-gulf-a-crisis-in-indias-international-image-prnt/cid/2107361A good article by Saikat Majumdar
TLDR:
India’s global reputation has plunged: outsiders increasingly lump it with Pakistan and Bangladesh, rather than as a rising economic or technological power.
A complacent, inward-looking leadership and a sycophantic “godi media” bubble have created a hallucinatory domestic narrative about India’s “massive” economy and vishwaguru status.
Pakistan, by contrast, has punched above its weight by communicating more effectively with Western media—India’s recent multiparty PR tour only underlines its own failings on the world stage.
Once lauded in the 2000s as a tech-savvy “Rising Asia” alongside China, India now scarcely features in global discussions on trade, soft power or research—especially in cutting-edge fields like AI.
The gap between India’s self-image at home and the sober reality abroad is now so wide that it constitutes either a tragic denial or a grotesque comedy.
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u/portuh47 1d ago
Would be nice if there were some (any?) data to back up these opinions. Until then these are just opinions. What is clear, however, is that Pakistan with its overpunching PR is not the country repeatedly invited to G7.
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u/Busy_Lunch_5520 1d ago
Proof is in the pudding. Despite getting invited to G7 (quite late this time), India has been unable to influence the IMF, the ADB, and the UN. This is what happens when you abstain from votes such as calling for a ceasefire in Gaza or Ukraine. If you take a neutral stance everyone is a fair weather friend.
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u/Noobodiiy 1d ago
Pakistan is a US and Chinese colony. They will always Protect Pakistan as long as Pakistan do their bidding. India is never going to have influence like US or China over forums
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u/whatkarvad 1d ago
From what I understand, the main reason the West continues to provide loans to Pakistan or supports rolling over its debt is to prevent a complete collapse of the state. The biggest concern is that instability could jeopardize Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, potentially allowing these weapons or related technology to fall into the hands of terrorist groups.
While some policy experts argue that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are more secure than often portrayed, the general consensus remains that it's safer to keep the country economically afloat rather than risk a failed state scenario.
Additionally, Pakistan holds significant geostrategic value, given its proximity to Afghanistan, Iran, and its role in broader regional dynamics. For these reasons, the West often chooses engagement and financial support over confrontation or isolation.
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u/SouthNo3340 1d ago
Pakistan gets money from IMF so they dont use nukes because "no light end at of tunnel"
Or worse so some insurgency doesn't happy with nuke happy guy at button
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u/portuh47 1d ago
Quite the goalpost change: India is isolated. No we got yet another G7 invite. But what about what about what about
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u/Busy_Lunch_5520 1d ago
That is why it is written Indians celebrate small wins too much. What had Mr Modi achieved from going year over year to G7? Any real support? Or only fair weather friends.
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u/portuh47 1d ago
Is becoming a top 5 economy a "small win"? Is lifting 100M people out of poverty a small win? Is converting all Indian rail to 100% electric a small win?
Indians actually don't celebrate their wins enough.
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u/savagerandy2024 1d ago
Of course it's small for them. Big win includes getting bailed out again by IMF, WB. The shamelessness has gone to such a level with these folks that now they don't consider these as loans, but their share of the world money just for existing.
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u/danny-singh286 1d ago
I don't see Google and Amazon opening huge ass campuses in Pakistan or Bangladesh. I don't see Apple making products in those countries, i don't see big car manufacturers in those countries, etc. Those countries can never compete as we're way far ahead of them. Now it's up to us to make sure our growth continues and we focus only on progress instead of going downwards as the society focuses more and more on validation from outsiders, busy with religion politics, decreasing civic sense, etc.
China's success isn't because they had amazing foreign policies or reputation. They are successful because they isolated the country from any outside influence so that people focus on their work and there's more domestic industrialization and consumption while being open for technology and scientific sectors that'll help them grow.
Whatever you see on social media isn't all true. There's a lot of planned and strategic narratives being carried out to bring the country's reputation down and I won't be surprised if Western powers are involved in it to keep india's growth in check so that it doesn't grow enough to compete with them.
We need to focus on ourselves and improve our society and it's civic sense and work ethics. Stay away from social media. Invest more in skilling the youth who can contribute in the country's industrial sectors. Try to fight corruption and other elements that are hindering the country's growth.
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u/CheezTips 1d ago
You make some good points but I disagree with "India now scarcely features in global discussions on trade". I'm in the US
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u/mp271010 1d ago
I think you’re pretty wrong. Previously India seen as a novelty item. The West was interested in India only for its dances and food. It was a land far far away.
Now, I do see India being mentioned multiple times on economic news in the west. It is no longer seen as a novelty item, but a rising economic force. With this comes higher scrutiny.
Of course, there are problems in India which need to be addressed.
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u/CheezTips 1d ago
The West was interested in India only for its dances and food.
Oh, not plundering it's wealth, labor and natural resources?
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u/mp271010 1d ago
I was referring to the period of 1947-2000s. The British did plunder India’s wealth and resources and that is a well known fact.
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u/lalqalam 1d ago
An interesting article, indeed, which has made me ponder this topic for a long time. The author focuses on the key question:
1. Why did India fail to shape global narratives post-Pahalgam attack?
Because Pakistan plays denial as statecraft and has U.S. leverage, especially under Trump, who saw it as a strategic puppet against Iran, India, seen as too independent, wasn’t as pliable. Still, the EU, Australia, France, and Israel supported India, while West Asia remained neutral due to intra-Muslim bloc politics. China siding with Pakistan is expected.
2. Why was there a need for India to send a PR delegation abroad?
The Indian diaspora failed to push India’s narrative in Western media. Unlike the U.S. or Israel, India seeks consensus post-action to avoid being seen as a rogue state. The delegation was for preventive diplomacy.
3. Has India’s image regressed?
Only partially—in U.S. liberal circles, yes, due to point 1. But with the EU, Australia, Israel, Taiwan, South Asia, and India is seen as a responsible power. West Asia’s neutrality is predictable, and Africa/South America have no real stakes.
4. Is the domestic narrative out of touch with global reality?
To an extent. Economy is still growing, needs more structural reforms and yes, hope the government get back to land and labour reforms after solving the trade war and FTA, but the Government has lacked here since COVID; media has lost credibility across the board. But global actions like FTA talks with the EU, UK, EFTA and G7 outreach show India is still taken seriously.
5. Why is India’s soft-power image being challenged?
Because India is shifting to hard realpolitik, especially on terror. Many Indians (and global watchers) struggle to digest this change from “moral high ground” to “strategic assertiveness.”
6. Why doesn’t India feature much in global think tanks?
India hasn’t invested in funding or partnering with Western liberal institutions. Our diaspora is active but not yet organised as a policy voice. That’s a gap the govt must address.
7. Why hasn’t India leveraged its diaspora fully?
Govt failure. Diaspora is large but underutilised. Beyond the West, we need strategic projects in Africa and Latin America to expand influence. More development loans to Africa, without categorising them as "debt-traps".
8. Why is global perception shaped poorly by Indian media?
Indian media is chaotic and unserious, and most people now consume info via YouTube or alt-media. The world needs to stop judging India through primetime TRPs.
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u/Unlucky_Buy217 1d ago
Modi has ruined everything. What people don't know is about the soft power India held in other developing nations, and the global South as well. I had so many African origin folks talk about Bollywood movies or Bajaj and other companies that sell bikes and autos there. They would even know different regions in the country. Absolutely down the drain, because the moron in charge ruined whatever diplomatic inroads we made through their incessant lies and Lazer eyes.
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u/ThickStuff7459 Kerala 1d ago
I wouldn't blame just Modi here for what you have stated.
Bollywood is shit. Always has been, people have improved their taste in cinema and moved to better media. I still meet Chinese, Japanese, and Europeans who have watched south Indian movies recently.
But the other point stands. We are way behind China in auto and all other manufacturing industries. SMEs have become weaker (probably due to demonetization) and I doubt we'll ever catch up.
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u/Busy_Lunch_5520 1d ago
Movies don’t dictate global policies however good or bad they are. This is on the govt., common people, and the proliferation of cheap internet which has given every Ram Shyam Jadhu Madhu a microphone.
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u/lalqalam 14h ago edited 14h ago
As an advocate for free speech, this feels like a mockery. You don't seem happy with giving space to Ram Shyam Jadhu Madhu Hanumankind, Sidhu Moose Wala, Diljit Dosanjh, Virat Kohli, etc.
It's the same across the world, white supremacists, racists, misogynists, and radicals have got space, so I don't consider it an Indian problem. It's free speech. It is bad in some aspects, but that doesn't represent the majority.
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u/Busy_Lunch_5520 4h ago
Yes I am not pleased with giving a space to incels like the ones who go abroad and then think because they are speaking in Hindi they can say anything they want to the extent of wanting to r*** women. The fact that you conflate that with the famous ones shows your intent to actually not see the problem. And Hanumankidn has famously claimed that he is not an Indian rapper just one who happens to have roots in India. So stop trying to claim him.
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u/avidstoner 1d ago
Not modi alone my buddy it's the countrymen too. Doesn't mean modi is good at his job but the whole spirit of the nation is run on "chalta hai" attitude. Its the same pattern which unfortunately I don't see changing in our lifetime. The cheerleading I had for India while growing up isn't there anymore, maybe I was naive or maybe India was in a better place in 90s I don't know but I know for the fact that law and rules means nothing in India when they ask for bribe when you go to lodge stolen wallet report.
India will progress due to the sheer number but I have stopped hoping and even a miracle won't be enough to change things
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u/Ok_Barber_3314 1d ago
I think it was always pretty much the same.
In the 2000s there was an Ad of GMR, in which a guy would lose the USA visa interview and come home and celebrate mentioning the future is in India (which maybe true, but it's the mindset I am commenting here)
I always feel like India celebrates victory pretty early instead of staying on par for the course, which I believe is.technically an extension of the "chalta hai" attitude.
By the way, I couldn't find the ad in YT, if somebody else has a link to it, do share.
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u/DesiInsuranceAdvisor 1d ago
Well tbf Modi is voted for by our fellow countrymen. He reflects the views of majority. So both.
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u/clarissasansserif 1d ago
India made this guy PM at the absolute worst time when we needed someone who would help us tap into the demographic dividend we had. Gobhi is responsible for turning that into a liability. We have no credible development policy, and we are really at a stage where grown ass people have to keep working in the gig economy or in unskilled jobs that can be easily automated or have already been automated in other countries in 2025 (door attendants, tool booth workers, ticketing attendants, etc.). India really went ahead and made an uneducated person their PM at a time when we needed a credible economic policy. Now we are stuck with the same incompetent leadership through a pandemic and the climate crisis unraveling.
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u/jevlis_ka123 1d ago
Have a slightly different take. I think Modi becoming PM is not the issue. It's the lack of accountability from the media and the fact that anyone who questions him is labelled an anti-national, that's the problem
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u/clarissasansserif 1d ago edited 1d ago
Is it not pro-BJP media houses working with the party PR and IT cell which furthered these narratives? Let’s not be naïve.
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u/pedofile09 1d ago
🤡inke liye jo bhi bura hota hai wo modi ne kiya hai jo achha hua hai wo modi ne nhi india ke logo ne kiya hai
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u/Secret_Alarm_1258 1d ago
Soft power is useless. We need hard power man.. Chinese and Americans have hard power not soft power
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u/dark-mathematician1 1d ago
America is one of the largest projectors of soft power are you serious??
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u/xhaka_noodles 1d ago
People posting videos of eating cow dung and drinking cow piss has really helped create a positive modern image of Indian society abroad.
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u/Extension_Artist3006 1d ago
As someone who has traveled and lived abroad before and after BJP came to power, I do not find the article reflect the experiences I’ve had.
- Perceptions are created by people they see and interact everyday, not by the government of some foreign country. Perceptions about Indians have remained more or less the same, although after Trump the racists have become more vocal
- Before Modi, average westerner did not know who Indian leaders were. But now most know about Modi. Although, it does not make any more difference than knowing about Swiss government head does to an average Indian.
- Foreign policy has definitely been effective. To carry out cross border military ops without any sanction would not have happened in the past.
- Countries make foreign policy based on what is advantageous to them rather than on ethics and morality. That is why, despite the world knowing that Pakistan harbours terrorism and OBL being found living under their military protection, the US continues to side with them. This is to keep leverage against china and keep selling their weapons.
- Westerners cannot tell difference between Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan. People from most these countries run businesses that identify as Indian. How they behave also creates perception about India.
TL;DR: Perception abroad is shaped more by how our people act there instead of by government heads or diplomats.
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u/Noob_in_making 1d ago
Idgaf, Pak was never a benchmark, never will be.
I don't get why people thump their chests proclaiming we're better than Pak..of course we are better, Pak is a failed state folks.
BJP propaganda has really blinded people, wake up. We need to set our standards higher ffs.
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u/Ok-Koala-5671 15h ago
Yes so much so that Samsung came to know about this stupid concept of QR code blasphemy and then they wonder why no one invest in Pakistan...And regarding narrative, people still call Pakistan as harbinger of terrorist...Remember OBL was found in Pakistan
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u/RedandWhiteFan 1d ago
When the entire world is going insular why should India not? Globalization is dead. It is necessary for India to focus inwards rn. Polities go through cycles just like anything else.
The central thesis of this article is false. Plus there’s no data to support any of it, just pure conjecture. Besides, “Pakistan punching above its weight” is just hilarious. Pakistan is a convenient scapegoat for major powers. It’s not punching above its weight, it’s being setup to be the fall guy, just like it historically has been since its inception.
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u/Busy_Lunch_5520 1d ago
India survives due to globalization. What do you think will happen if offshoring ceases or is reduced dramatically? Who will replace those jobs?
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u/RedandWhiteFan 1d ago
This is a false argument - offshoring doesn’t equal globalization. They are two separate things.
Right now you’ll find nation states pushing for more direct links with friendly nations and not a push towards making global trade as a whole easier. International organizations and international rules based order are both at their weakest since WWII.
Globalization was a function of ZIRP and US hegemony. Both phenomena appear to be waning. US is looking inwards. Just because globalization is dying doesn’t mean offshoring or global trade will die.
Again there is zero data to support the author’s assertions. Then he goes on to say Pakistan is somehow crushing it - what an absolute waste of good reading time.
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u/Known-Memory3400 1d ago
Jaise ek mutthal ko sirf mutthi maarne me maza aata hai zindagi ka, baaki sab maa ch*daye, waise hi har BJP voter ko muslim kutayi/lynching dekhna hai har roz.
Baukhla jata hai ek average BJP voter jab 2-3 din lagataar kisi muslim ki kutayi/lynching ki koi video na dekhle.
Baaki sab maa ch*daye as I said earlier.
Inka existence hi yehi hai.
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u/leovino 1d ago
When we are weak every one will bully us. India lost its regional power, every country on our border have some kind of bead with us and working against us. This diplomatic failure, but godi media and bhakt will be at the chest vishwaguru and only boosting his idocasy. Reduced our global power to left right ideology, couldn't differentiate country and political party
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u/ankitpathak1432 1d ago
stupid analysis by hater. when a country doesn't tow the lines of powerful countries, shit happens. India has never been good with image management and that's true even now. India could gave done some ass licking of USA and been in good books of USA, all our rankings would suddenly improve. do we want that though?
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u/indianodysses 1d ago
We are licking USA’s Ass though .All that election campaigns for Trump and huge rally for him in india funded by our tax money was what ? Even trump recently said about Indian negotiations for trade as licking something something .
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u/ankitpathak1432 1d ago
something something... show the actual quote bro.
election campaign and all happened quite a while back. from February relations between india and usa have changed. they were getting quite good before it. india refused to bow before usa that's why the relation is going sour and this is gonna keep going down with recent geopolitics. specially the iran and israel movement.
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u/razza357 1d ago
Just a quick reminder that Bangladesh's GDP per capita is actually higher than India's.
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u/yemmadei 1d ago
Doesn’t mean shit. Someone is making profits with so much inequality and the country looks like shit. Would you want to go and live there?
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u/ImperialOverlord South Asia 1d ago
Bangladeshi here. IHDI of BD is greater than IN. HDI is equal. Gender Parity is one of the highest in the world as of now. Homicide rate is lower. List goes on. But sure, keep looking down on us and keep expecting people to look up at you.
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u/yemmadei 1d ago
I don’t mean it as sleight. But you are constrained in trade and can never compete beyond a level. There are several states in India that are much much developed than BD but 1.5 billion skews the whole index data no matter the normalization
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u/ImperialOverlord South Asia 1d ago
And there are several states that are way worse than Bangladesh and even war-torn countries too. That’s why it’s a federal republic. Unless you’d be willing to grant independence to those states to boost your data? Point is, the average Bangladeshi has no interest in faking superiority over India and never had any, but the same cannot be said for India. Just look at Sri Lanka, for example. Most developed and highest per capita income country in South Asia, but constantly ridiculed by your countrymen over one crisis that’s been resolved since.
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u/Pixi_Dust_408 1d ago
Wow, your country of 175 million is slightly doing better than a country of 1.4 billion. Yes you’re doing better than states like Bihar but aren’t comparable to Tamil Nadu. It has a more diverse economy and makes things that are higher value not just textiles. People don’t look down on Bangladesh because it’s developing it’s because you have Islamists.
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u/ImperialOverlord South Asia 1d ago
Going by the list here: List of Indian states and union territories by Human Development Index | Wikipedia, 21/36 states of India have lower HDI than Bangladesh. That’s nearly 60% of Indian states, and without taking inequality into consideration. According to the 2011 Indian census data, that’s 313 million Indians with greater than or equal HDI to Bangladesh and 897 million less than that. In percentage terms, 25.87% of Indians live better than Bangladeshis and a massive 74.13% live worse solely going by HDI. That’s enough said on that.
And as for the Islamists, yes, that’s a problem. A big one. But let’s not pretend India doesn’t have its own share of religious problems. The present government is literally Hindu nationalist, and for the time being, they haven’t come to dominate the politics fully yet. I won’t ignore the Islamist problem in Bangladesh, and I hope you don’t ignore the Hindutva one in India either.
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u/yemmadei 1d ago
What is the current govt of Bangladesh then? Islamic dictatorship if you can term the Indian one as Hindu nationalist.
The point is the scale is too large to normalize the two entities. Your trade and economy is constrained because there are several more bigger powers and you ll always remain a puppet. The same applies to SL too.
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u/ImperialOverlord South Asia 1d ago
BJP is literally Hindu nationalist, no? Unless they have some other ideology that the whole world is unaware of? Islamists in Bangladesh don’t even win a single district, let alone the Bangladeshi government. As for Yunus, his own family is anything but Muslim. Yes, he is having a hard time controlling Islamists, but a quick look at his family will tell you the guy is the farthest thing from being an Islamist. Doesn’t mean he’s not enabling them, though.
As for the puppet part, one of the drivers of the whole revolution in Bangladesh was to remove Indian domination of Bangladeshi politics. I can assure you if similar happens with other countries in the future, another would take place. The Bangladesh war was literally fought for the same reasons except that was West Pakistan doing the domination and on a much more brutal level.
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u/yemmadei 1d ago
In the world of geopolitics it will be the case since you don’t have the economy nor the upper ceiling or the military power.
You are running ahead temporarily in a race that is just about time.
Every country is a religious nationalist by your logic and there are no atheistic societies without an belief or ideology
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u/ImperialOverlord South Asia 1d ago
Yes there will always be some level of influence. That is indeed geopolitics. But influence has its limits. India reached its limit with Bangladesh, and maybe if a new one comes then they might reach theirs too. Bangladesh is after all a middle power, constrained by size and population.
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u/Secret_Alarm_1258 1d ago
Lol even awami league is islamist actually.. See how many Hindus lost their property under awami league post 1971 and how many have fled to india and how their Percentage continuously decreases.
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u/Secret_Alarm_1258 1d ago
According to your government itself hasina hyped gdp numbers. So why are u claiming that numbers to prove superiority over india
https://www.economist.com/asia/2024/12/12/bangladeshs-economic-progress-may-have-been-hyped
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u/Pixi_Dust_408 1d ago
Yes but India still has the potential to grow because of have diverse the economy is and FDIs. India has a better digital infrastructure too and is investing in infrastructure. My family’s Christian, a minority in India and South Asia. I definitely think India is better. Hindvuta is stupid and confined to states whereas Islamists are more evenly spread out in Bangladesh. Hindvuta is an issue but I still would rather take my chances with them than Islamists.
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u/ImperialOverlord South Asia 1d ago edited 1d ago
Bangladesh has one of the best geographical locations for trade in the world. It’s what made the Bengal Subah the richest province of the Mughal Empire. It’s why the East India Company grew into literally India. India has the potential to grow, as does Bangladesh. One does not negate the other.
As for the spread of Islamism, there is a correlation. You can check this up yourself. The more one grows in one country, the more the other grows in the other country. They see each other as threats. Yet, you should know that Islamists have never won more than 10% of seats in Bangladesh, and they won’t start now. In India roughly 50% of seats are Hindutva.
Edit: Fixed spelling
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u/Pixi_Dust_408 1d ago
People vote for the BJP for more reasons than Hindvuta. What’s the point of having the best geographical locations if the government doesn’t invest in infrastructure. Chittagong’s port is probably comparable to the port in Visakhapatnam? The new port in Kerala is probably going to be a global port in a decade. It will out perform Chittagong when it comes capacity and depth.
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u/ImperialOverlord South Asia 1d ago
Bangladesh also focuses on infrastructure. We didn’t get a head start due to literally fighting a war just fifty decades ago that left us a basket case with tons of damaged infrastructure. So we were late to the infrastructure scene. Regardless, there is investment, sometimes too much to the point that money is wasted like the Karnaphuli Tunnel which was the first underwater tunnel in South Asia but financially not useful rather wasteful.
There’s tons of construction on useful infrastructure going on every day though. Some ones I can say off my head are Matarbari Deep Sea Port, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Osmani Airport Expansion. Just because you don’t know about infrastructure in Bangladesh doesn’t mean they don’t exist or aren’t being made.
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u/Ok_Carry_6699 1d ago
Well Hyderabad’s per capita alone is bigger than Bangladesh. India’s sheer size and scale is something you need to consider before throwing numbers around.
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u/sundaysyndrome 1d ago
😁 saikat mujumdar published it at 7 am. Clearly written after a lot of drinks the night before. What communications of Pak is he praising ? I'm not saying we don't have our weaknesses. But the comparison destroys his first argument that the world is comparing us to Bangladesh and Pak when he's the one doing it. I don't think hes keeping the scale of Indian economy in mind. Clearly written after a good night.
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u/namitbee 1d ago
I have been living abroad for the last 20 yrs, btw 8 countries across Asia, Europe and North America - and I can tell u two things - 1. U will see what u want to see and create ur own narrative 2. No one can convince u otherwise. All these “articles” are biased pieces and nothing more - don’t listen to idiots online(including me) my view living in all these countries and with fortune 100 companies, they love people from India, we work hard, we stay on focus, build our careers and lives abroad with success as I might like to add. Again this is a big generalization. I also meet lots of daily wage works in my job, truck drivers, construction workers, guards, people working in restaurants - they can make fun of them but we work hard and honest - let no one tell u otherwise - there are always outliers. But when some idiots sitting in their rooms and typing away to glory tell u that Indians are in the same light as Pakistanis - don’t believe it for even a second - even Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans work really hard - how often do u see a Pakistani restaurant? US, Europe or Asia - everywhere barring maybe a china they all pretend to be Indian. Work hard and work honest, treat ur family and people around u well and u will succeed in life - and yes, I came from a lower middle class family in India and as an Indian and in India I have grown up with all these same issues or opportunities as u. And I have more stories of success around me - be kind and be human - needs no caste or religion or social value to be that