10.2 Bombay

• What? You mean I really can't take guns into the bank?
  
• Executives at Cap Gemini have strings attached to their bonuses. One of these strings is how many seats in Indian call centres they help open. No more seats, no bonus. [Conversation with Cap Gemini executive at a party.]
• Many Indian child beggars are actually not from destitute families, but from working families in the suburbs. They are sent by their families to beg on the street in order increase the families income, normally to afford more expensive consumer durables. [Expose in this morning's Times of India.]
• 90% of Indian youth do not think it is appropriate for women to smoke. 85% do not think it is appropriate to smoke or drink with their parents. 75% of young indians would prefer to live with their families after marriage, rather than on their own. [Survey in India Today magazine].

• The Business Standard is among India's leading business papers. It is even pink, like that FT. However, unlike the FT, the contraction of their title introduces a credibility problem in their by-lines. They should think about fixing that.
• A 29' flat screen Colour TV costs $300 in India, but only $150 in China.
  
• Indians take cricket very seriously. A case in point, this conversation with Narriyan, our driver:
  

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"My friend's mother - she is indian - she lives in Florida; she says many people comit suicide if India lose at the cricket."
"Florida?"
"Yes. It's in America."
"No, this is not true Sir. No. "
"Really? She said it was true. She said many people."
"No. Many people? No."
"Really? "
"Oh yes. Perhaps only two or three per match?"
"Two or three? That is quite a lot? In England, we leave our suicide for the tail end batting." "Well, you see sir, there is choice. Some people, if we lose, they do the suicide. More go to player's house and throw bricks, or burn cars."
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