Indians love their politicians
At 4th February, 2018 on the way to Varanasi’s airport to fly to Mumbai, we stuck in traffic jam. I tried to force taxi driver to hurry up. But he told me that there is nothing he can do, because today Chief Minister is coming. I looked out of the window and saw hundreds of dancing people, blocking the on the road with this activity. Also, posters of this CM (later on I checked for his name -he was Akhilesh Yadav ) were everywhere along the route. When we finally passed this place, we met 3–4 more this kind of dancing points.
After reaching the airport, I began my registration process. After few minutes I heard loud noise of people running, yelling. Something important was definitely going on. One man from Holland, also registering to Mumbai flight, suggested this was the start of revolution. Another version was that there is some type of India pop-super-star arrived. But finally, Indian women on registration board calmed us down that it was the arrival of chief minister.
Also, in New Delhi, at 26th January Republic day parade, a voice introduced every upcoming type of military force unit, and also politicians! This is Minister of…. minister of … (sorry I don’t remember exactly what was their specialization). People were applauding after every politician passed near them, despite the fact they were sitting inside black cars invisible for most people.
Republic day parade, New Delhi, 26th January
In Russia, only president can get this type of attention. Other politicians are precepted on range from total disinterest to hatred. People will go for some official arrival only if they are prepaid, or some free stuff like food or booze would be given to them. In any other case, government officials are more likely to recieve rotten tomatoes rather than small portion of applauds.
Indians respect their businessmen
Also, in private speaking with Indians, I noticed a pattern that they see their Reliance and Tata company chiefs as good men, giving a lot of jobs to Indians. That surprised me also. In Russia, such kind of rich people are generally precepted as devils, robbing common people.
No Russian oligarch would build Antilia-like house in the center of the city. He will make less high building in a private zone for such people and try to keep it as secret from common people. Guess such buildings are possible in India due to the fact that people respect to Reliance group owner.