Only when you visit the wealthy districts of India will you understand why Indians perceive China as a poor country.
India is just as populous as China, and both countries have their own advantages in development. However, Indian elites often believe that China is far behind. The reason for this is evident if you observe the lifestyle of wealthy Indians.
India is a country with extreme wealth disparity, where wealthy areas are filled with luxury and extravagance, while the poor struggle to even afford a meal. Overall, the standard of living in China is higher than that in India.
As you've likely seen in travel bloggers' videos, the slums in India are like concentrated garbage dumps. Indian people there survive by scavenging through trash, and for them, discarded items are treasures. A good meal is a luxury they can scarcely afford.
In contrast, Indian elites live lavishly, attending parties and banquets dressed in fine clothes. Compared to China, our wealth disparity is smaller, at least we don't have slums like theirs.
Those who believe China is behind are mostly Indian elites. After all, our people don't dress in gold and jewelry like theirs. Chinese people value modesty and discretion; wealth should not be flaunted. Seeing Indian people dressed simply, they would naturally perceive China as less developed. When it comes to gold and jewelry, Indian elites would be shocked to see what Indian grandmothers possess. Wall Street's biggest gold grabbers couldn't even outdo Chinese grandmothers. Don't be so naive!
The primary cause of this wealth disparity is the lingering effects of the Indian caste system. The so-called aristocracy hoarded wealth, and the poor were left to scavenge what they discarded. I wonder how India has gotten to this point – don't the poor Indians even know how to resist?
What do you think about this? Welcome to leave your comments in the comment section.
