The world is flat

You could say this guy (Thomas Friedman) is obsessed with globalization. First, the lexus and the Olive tree, and now its sequel, The world is flat. The flatness of the world comes from Narayana Murthy’s statement that we are on leveling grounds with the developed world. Ignoring the fact that the west complements the east in terms of working times, we in India have reached the standard that the west just cannot ignore.

The book starts with ‘aim at either Microsoft or IBM’. The author was asked to target one of the two IT conglomerates’ offices lying around a golf course in Bangalore. Surrounded by American firms’ offices (includes Goldman Sachs too), and consumables (Pizza Hut), it really gets into me a feeling of awe. Is this our India?

Yes, India has changed. From the developing economy to a galloping one. it gives an image of India in the pre-Columbus era. And in fact, Friedman compares himself with Columbus, only that he is just 500 years younger. Columbus wanted to discover India and found America, and thought he was in India. Our author had little trouble finding the geographical India, but found people who looked more American than Indian.

Bangalore has a good number of 20 somethings working at call centers, catering to the American clientele. Their accents have changed, and they don’t mind getting their accents raked up for the sake of some hard cash. They yearn to be out of their middle class barriers. Some of these are earning more than their fathers earned at the time of retirement!

Having read some 20 pages with descriptions of India, I am wondering if this has been written by an Indian. But this has a world appeal, and I hope to get further insights into the development of the globalized world in the 21^st century!!