[winter_blue]

A more general question to ask based on this is: is there something about Indian culture (or people who grow up in India / Indian culture), that make many of the managers complete jerks?

The same question could be asked about corruption in India. A lot of Indians just seem overly eager to screw each other over, and lord it over each other. You see this in Indian colleges, with the so-called phenomenon of "ragging", which is really just socially accepted mental/physical abuse.

I just feel Americans (while many are total assholes), that the majority are generally much nicer as a people, and they don't treat each other like complete crap. What's wrong with Indian culture? How does Indian society manage to cultivate so many terrible people? (serious question)

[mavelikara]

I was born in India, lived there until I was 27, and then lived in US for 10 years. These are my observations, written in a hurry without much careful thought.

The petty corruption in the small scale is pervasive in India. I find that not the case in US. Most people one interacts with in US are honest (except car salesmen :). But at the higher echelons of society, the corruption is at a much larger scale in US.

I compare this with driving in both countries. In India the number of accidents are much higher, but the fatality per accident is much lower. In US, accidents are rare, but when it happens, the likelihood of someone getting killed is high. I think this is because drivers in India each try to squeeze out small advantages, and as a whole the traffic never gets to gain much speed, so when the inevitable accident happens, it is often not fatal. But in US, far more people follow the rules, everyone moves faster on an average, but the one careless driver in the group can cause much more damage.

I think of corrupt behavior the same way - the average Joe is not corrupt in US, so the society as a whole makes much better progress. But that leaves the system vulnerable to the action of one sociopath, so at the high end you see much bigger scandals.

[kamaal]

As an Indian, my long analysis says the society experiences serious levels of scarcity.

Therefore there is a perennial drive to gather for yourself whatever you get, while you have the chance.

[kermire]

I think there are strict laws against ragging in India and it's definitely not socially accepted at all. Where are you getting your information from?

[peeyoosh]

as an Indian, on some level, i agree with you. there is something seriously wrong. over population, less living space, compromises, orthodox social structure, such a low income per person can be some reasons of such jerk behavior.

[winter_blue]

I've heard people from both India and China use high population and living space as a crutch and an excuse for the various problems of their countries. But the fact is, it doesn't hold any water.

Japan has a very high population density + high forest/natural cover, meaning people are squeezed into very tiny living space, yet the (generally) respectful and selfless way in which they treat each other (in general) is something most other counties learn from.

Similarly, Germany has 80+ million people living in a tiny parcel of land, but they're doing fine, and they've kept their country a beautiful and great place to live.

Just the condition of the streets in major cities in India tell a lot--strewn with garbage and resume. Yoy walk over empty McDonald's fries holders and cups, when you walk the streets of some cities. In some cities, you have a semi-open sewer system that runs by the road, creating a foul smell on evey street, and helping breed mosquitoes.

The almost repulsing and disgusting state of place places, the streets, and cities in general--tell a lot about the apathy of the people of the things that are outside their home.