Frederick [FN] Noronha wrote:
>r, et al, see this...
>Quite an obscene display of ostentiousness...
>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:19:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Rajan P. Parrikar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
What to do? The man desperately wants to be
seen as India's Trump or Branson. Like 99% of
urban Indians, he aspires to be like some white guy.
>
Mario observes:
>
I would expect this from Fred or Vidhyadhar, but
Rajan?
>
Are we into mind-reading now - that we presume to know
whom Mallya "desperately" wants to be seen as?
>
What to do? I'll tell you what to do. Be happy for
his success and his stellar business achievements. Be
happy for all the well paying jobs he creates for
others.
>
Oh, we can sneer at Vijay Mallya's ostentatiousness,
but is this unusual in India or among Indians?
>
Is this really being like a white guy? Which white
guy could compete with the palaces of our Maharajahs
of old?
>
Anyone hear of the planned Ambani billion dollar
multi-storied mansion in South Mumbai? Or Lakshmi
Mittal's $68 million wedding in Paris for his
daughter, or his $237 million mansion in London? The
last time I checked, these were not white guys.
>
In the context of India, Mallya IS akin to Trump and
Branson, both flamboyant successful businessmen. He
IS a modern maharajah, but by personal achievement,
like Trump and Branson, not just birthright like the
maharajahs. Why aren't we happy with his success and
the thousands of well-paying jobs his businesses have
created?
>
Rajan wrote:
>
As for me, I will be happy if in the next 50 years,
India could first give us clean toilets and provide
for the essentials of life for its impoverished
millions. This "superpower" utterance is yet another
feel-good cockamamie toffee regurgitated by Indians
living in la-la land.
>
Mario observes:
>
While this is absolutely true, India is a lot better
off than what it was like before Shri Manmohan Singh
rode to the rescue.
>
Today we have public toilets that we can hydrate on
the OUTSIDE:-)) Never had those in the bad old says.
God only knows what the women do:-)) Perhaps Jane or
Ana Maria can tell us:-))
>
Besides, Rajan, I don't know about you youngsters, but
I don't have 50 more years:-))
>
