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Ivy, Nairobi, Kenya
GO INDIA GO! Whatever, the problems and issues facing India, we in the developing world are inspired by your progress. You give us HOPE! Congratulations.

Ekayu in Soroti, Uganda
You can take an Indian out of India but you can never take India out of an Indian.

Chinthuli Peter in Malawai
I recognize India's growth evident in their numerous shops in my country and beyond.

Mansoor in Monrovia, Liberia
Indians are hard working people. I love them dearly.

Xavi
Many countries have TWO societies - Rich & Poor. In the 1960s Martin Luther King visited India, and was introduced as a fellow "American untouchable". Initially taken aback, he felt proud and used this as a platform to speak on. There must be a war on poverty in countries like India, America, Brazil and many others.

Darren
Please have your guests comment on how India is controlling religious extremism. Considering India and Pakistan are both nuclear powers now, what is this region doing to prevent religious extremism from ultimately causing a colossal nuclear war that would alter humanity for centuries. Doesn't this problem deserve tremendous attention and care? Is there recognition that religious dogma and religious freedom must be given a reasonableness check by regional and national leaders, or the rest of the world will have to get involved eventually like what is happening in the Middle East now.

Darryl
With all due respect to every Indian, as long as people continue to be stratified and disenfranchised in India, there's always going to be disparity in India. Something has to be done about the caste system, the widening gap between the rich and the poor and the lack of infrastructures available to the less privileged.

Shahid Khan from Pakistan
The main reason of disparity in India and Pakistan is the corrupt politicians. If they become honest, no pooverty will exist.

Moses k in Nigeria
Until the indian people address the steep difference in income and the caste issue, any development will just be one sided.

Shuwary Barlatt, Freetown
India has the most beautiful ladies on planet.

Vidon Jaule - Nigeria.
India and all ex-colonies have the same problem. Colonial manipulation that makes us neither English, Indian nor truly African just a few so called pretenders who speak so much english and not much else to touch the lives of the majority.

Ab in Nigeria
Part of the problem is with the press; The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has not invited any 'poor' indians to this debate. Are they too stupid to participate in decisions that affect their lives?

Rodrigo
Here is an idea. How about having some poor Indians talk about their view of poverty in India. And these aren't negative issues they are real issues. The dividing line between the poor and the rich is significantly huge all over the world as well. You start with having the rich help build a democratic social system for the poor. Helping build schools, hospitals, etc... and accepting them as well. Too much talk and not enough action.

Jacques in Boston
In America, I understand the racial disparities, it is a matter of pigmentation. What is the cast system based on in India?

Steve in Utah
How do Indians in each of the cities that WHYS is visiting this week feel about their country has positioned itself to offer services like customer service over the telephone and computer programming to other countries? Should the Indian economy focus more improving itself?

Deepti
As long as we continue to use the kind of nomenclature that reflects hierarchy, it will impede progress and change towards an egalitarian society.

Idi in Nigeria
I love Indians. First thing they have to do is cut the population explosion.

John. Limuru, Kenya
I think indian citizens across the world should go home and address these issues. The government Should promote this. Comments please.

CASE from Jamaica
India is a inspiration to other developing countries, I wish i could visit...

McNeil, Paynesvile - Liberia
In the absence of government, society would be chaotic. The Indian government must make and enforce policies that'll bridge the rich/poor divide.

Anon from Zambia
Many African countries blame colonisation for all their problems. India has shown the world that that is not how it has to be - well done India!

Ishmael Diallo in Monrovia
From the way Indians conduct their business in my country, I believe they can be the Japan of today few years from now. I love them.

Alex in Nairobi
The Indian middle class mostly treat their own lower class despicably and underpay them criminally.

Sathy
Everyone on the show seems to agree that the society within India has to change, and that change begins with the individual. I'd like to know how many of the people within the audience would be willing to marry someone from a different caste, or would have no problem with a relative for doing so. How many people opposed the reservation for scheduled caste members in India's top medical schools. Change requires sacrifice, and I'm not convinced that the Indian individual, or society, is willing to make that sacrifice.

Suman in Utah, USA
I left India 24 years ago. I truly see lot of changes, some of them are good and some are very bad... My grown teenagers enjoy going to Banglore, for they don't see any changes. I see Banglore provides everything... and as US born-Indians, they can afford but the sad part is people like my parents who live in Banglore, find it very expensive and can't afford to live in Banglore... The city is accomdating the changes, it is slow... but it Is ok!!!! The corruption is still very clear... that has to be worked out........

Haresh in Florida
India is a rural country, the majority of our population depends on an agrarian economy, super highways, sky scrapers, call centers and other direct foreign investment projects aimed at city centers and high tech corridors do nothing for the average man who is farming a 20 ft. x 20 ft. plot of land. The emancipation of the rural populations is a must if our country is to eradicate poverty by 2040 such as our Finance Minister stated last week.

Frankline, Gent, Belgium
Hey ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, all your invitees to the programme seems to have domestic servants, probably from a higher 'cast'.I am afraid your selection is not representative of the Indian society because there is no representative from a lower cast.

Frederick, Goa
It's good to see a country turn around... hopefully we're right about this, and hopefully our greed for "economic growth" won't muck up things... including our ability to live and work together. Civilisations like India and China have a lot to teach the world, about doing with little, not living as if there's no tomorrow... and living within our needs rather than beyond our greed. So will we do things differently, or just begin consuming like the West, and send the planet on a tailspin? Lastly, countries emerging from poverty have a duty to the lest of the world to help those still mired in such issues to solve their poverty issues.

Ronnie in Karnataka
The disparity in India is caused by the callousness, ignorance, hypocrisy and dishonesty of the middle and richer classes of this very country. They blame the government they elect, of corruption and lack of organisation but it is they themselves who at every stage contribute to it. The ignorance of the middle class is propagated by two curses of this country an archaic religion and Bollywood's misinterpretation of real life. The caste system is only an excuse of an extremely class conscious society.

Abdelilah, Marrakesh, Morocco
Some Asian countries like South Korea were among the poorest. Now they are economic giants. It was possible for them because they have a small population but well educated compared to India's one billion people with its different cultures and geographic locations. India, despite its economic boom, is still far from becoming a prosperous country in the foreseeable future. The cast system hasn't been eradicated totally. The 10% yearly economic growth isn't benefiting all its more than billion population. India still has to make other giant steps towards the majority who look left behind while only about a third of the population is reaping the fruits of its economic success. The number of the population, the education level and the continuing class system will continue to pose a problem for India for a quick take-off. Many will be on the margin. India needs a social miracle to crown its economic success. Much still needs to be done for India to become a developed country like the USA .

Anon, Yemen
India should eradicate caste system by starting with the children because they are the future.

Jeremiah in Liberia
The indians are very unique, but empowering the poor by reaching their needs should be placed above all other interest.

Ibrahim, Libya
I know Indians are very hard working people but a lot has to be done to eradicate poverty and help the poor with basic education.

Anon, Nigeria
I think Indians should be happy that they are even discussing their growth. I believe the antidote to the financial disparity is EDUCATION . Please go to school.

George, Tanzania
I have a question for the guy who pays his domestic staff USD 40 a month, does he have a family? if yes, how much does he spend when he takes them for a weekend?

Chepsoi in India
I think India is making strides foward. But the caste system is a very retrogresive practice. A change of attitude would propel India further.

Kate
As a working-class English woman living away from my home country, I would have to admit to being sorry that our class system in England is now considered unpopular and unfashionable. I believe we are looking at it from only one perspective. Striving for more than one was born with is a good thing, surely. I look at the general public in England now and I'm horrified at the way they behave and go about with no sign of any dignity or conscience. It's very sad. Please, India, don't think a caste-free system would help you. It won't do anything except dum-down.

Phyllis
Listening to the discussion and angst surrounding your caste system reminds me of the struggle the Americans have with the African-American issue. Welcome to the modern world!

Cole
WHYS, What is a cast system? I don't even know what this word means?

Keith in Barbados, West Indies.
How much is India's strong rich vibrant history and culture hampering its development because of things like arranged marriages, the cast system and general male biased society?

Rob, Lakewood, Ohio, USA
The caste system has no place in the modern world.

Franz from Los Angeles
These issues are all over the world ... In Guyana and Trinidad, there is strife between Indians and Africans. In the movie "Bend it Like Beckham", the girl had an issue dating a white British guy - dating a black person was stated as "out of the question". In the Caribbean the issues are between darker and fairer skinned. In South America it is a big issue where everyone claims a Spanish Grandmother or Grandfather and African ancestry is denied.