To understand this Open letter, viewers are requested to read Shobha De’s post in The Deccan Chronicle dated June 26, 2016.
Ms De:
You have done a fine job of whipping yourself into a frenzy over the remark “mentally not fully Indian”. Having lived half my life in the US and the other half in India, let me try and put some perspective into what Dr. Swamy meant. I will be brief…
When Rajan made the comment “In the kingdom of blind, one-eyed man is king”, it created an uproar in India. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of State had said that “better words could have been used”. Link: http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/minister-nirmala-sitharaman-critical-of-raghuram-rajans-one-eyed-king-phrase-1396919
Why did she (who too spent a fair amount of time abroad) say this?
Let us examine the statement itself. In the US, it is common for someone to be self-deprecating in accepting compliments for something they didn’t quite have a hand in, by saying, “In the kingdom of blind, one-eyed man is king”. Perhaps Rajan meant that the world should not see too deeply into India’s growth rate. I will not put words in his mouth. Only he can answer this question.
There are many in the cabinet today who have lived a significant part of their lives in developed countries and no one (so far) has said anything that makes you sit up and take notice. I have noticed a new self-confidence in India where they are not afraid to be in-your-face, be it in Sports or in real life. They don’t like it when some of us “imported” types start pontificating.
Another term that is used commonly in the US is that of “mindset”, as in “you need to have the right mindset to solve this problem”. It is largely contextual but suffice to say it means that you need to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes to fully appreciate a problem. And that is what I think Dr. Swamy meant when he said Rajan is “mentally not fully Indian”.
With Regards
His first book NDTV Frauds has been published and is an Amazon Bestseller.It ranked second among all eBooks that were self-published in 2017.
His second book, The Gist of GSTN which too is available on Amazon as an e-Book and as a paperback.
His third book, The Rise and Fall of AAP is also available in print version or as an e-Book on Amazon.
His fourth book, C-Company just released to rave reviews and can be bought as a print version or as an e-Book on Amazon.
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Shobha De does not deserve any reply. She is fit to write only filmi gossip and soft porn.
S. De..what makes you think that you are qualified to write about economic policies and thier implication?..you are partly right when you say
”I am definitely “not fully, mentally Indian” should be re-phrased as “I am definitely “not fully, mental” but little off”.
Are you Jealous of Smriti?..why are you bringing her into this article?..she is famous in spite of she not being in your cocktail
circuit in Luyten’s Delhi?..
Here is what S Gurumurthy said about being fully indian?..
Indian experts, whose steep learning curve has been abroad, should study and experience India for a
period (like Gandhiji, who returned from South Africa, did on Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s advice) before
they make policies for India.
All the economic numbers that have come out last week point to a poor performance by R3…
Please try to get popular by your own effort , not piggy backing on Swamy’s popularity..If you are qualified
to write about Kareena Kapors lipstick color..please stay in your domain..
Also dont you think you are blowing your horn a little too much by describing yourself as
“Irreverent, provocative, opinionated… Shobhaa De has been challenging the status quo for four decades.
.. and is at her best when she punctures inflated egoes…”
Dont you think this is a little too much about yourself?..
Culturally R3 is an indian, but to make policies see What S Gurumurthy said on this… his quote
“Indian experts, whose steep learning curve has been abroad, should study and experience India for a period (like Gandhiji, who returned from South Africa, did on Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s advice) before they make policies for India.”
More importantly, “mentally not fully indian” implies that Rajan does not understand how Indian mindset works for the Indian economy. Refer to various Gurumurthy’s articles over the period of time on this topic. Rajan prescribes/applies US views for economic theory for Indian business models. Does not work. Hence “mentally fully not Indian”. Presstitutes played this up as anti-nationalistic.
Why does IYet have to apologise on behalf of Swamy, who is anyway known for tongue-lashing his rivals
It is getting to be the gut feeling of a substantial chunk of Indian youth is that shri Swamy is on the right track in his attacks on wrongdoers within and outside the Govt in national interest.
However that does not mean that his ‘targets’ do not have ‘their ‘ supporters.
Columnists thrive in expounding their perceptions to invade our independent ‘mind sosce’.
They better be ignored instead of hair splitting exercise about ‘ who could have meant what’.