The world on India
There is a reason why I'm not a huge fan of surveys and polls. You never know if it is an educated answer!
In one such poll for BBC World Service -they asked 39435 people "all over the world" whether on how they saw various countries. Predictably, Iran has the most negative influence. And Japan was seen to have a positive influence.
About India, however -- the world view is neutral. Iran and Afghanistan heavily think India has a positive influence and Philippines is the only nation that thinks India has a negative influence. (btw, Pakistan was not a part of this survey - I would have really liked to know what regular Pakistan people thought of India.) The interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone.
The thing is -- I can't figure out what they exactly mean by "positive" and "negative" influences. And why would the Filipino's think so negatively about India-- I'd like to know the reasons which the survey fails to provide or disclose them to public.
In Phillipines, 1000 people polled out of which a 57% said that India has a negative influence on the world as compared to the 2000 pollers in Afghanistan and 1118 in Iran out of which 59% and 71% respectively have a positive opinion on India. You do the math.
I dismiss this survey and its results entirely because
1)I don't know anything about the people surveyed. Geographical and demographic information about the pollers is simply not enough to give this survey any credibility.
2) There is no constancy in the sample of people in each country. For example, only 800 Brazilians participated while 3497 South Africans participated in the survey. Regardless, these numbers don't even make a strong enough percentage of the population of these countries. It is ridiculously unfair to say, "Philippines thinks so and so" or "Iran thinks so and so" when not even a significant population is represented!!
And best of all-- I still don't get the point of the survey!
One of the reason for the results:
a) Afghanistan: A lot of reconstruction is done through Indians, and ofcourse Bollywood
b) Iran: Sees India as a major business partner for gas. Bollywood again.
Maybe, no Bollywood influence in Brazil, South Korea.
The poll is not that scientific but it is an interesting read
Posted by: Kush Tandon | February 03, 2006 at 02:30 PM
I guess Iran's 71% positive feeling is going to take a dip now that India voted against Iran at Atomic energy meet and referred it to UN Security council. This poll is too abstract - If i am asked how do I "feel" about Tanzania or Philly, I wouldnt know what to answer.
Posted by: Mitesh Vasa | February 04, 2006 at 12:13 PM
Kush - Yeah. Bollywood has a stronger presence than India in some of these countries. I agree its an interesting read but I'd like to more.
Mitesh -That's exactly my problem with this poll. The answers seem uneducated and not informed. Oh well..
Posted by: Jinal Shah | February 06, 2006 at 03:26 PM
I am a Filipino. I am just wondering how did the survey was conducted and I am sure it did present a reliable result.
However, experience wise, most Indians I've meet in the UAE and in Iraq failed to meet the qualities/skills to contest in the workplace they have chosen compared to Filipinos. That's probably the reason why we have the negative impressions. However, in the field of art or entertainment India has a lot to be proud of than the Philippines.
It's just a matter of to whom the survey was conducted, what particular topic, and who were the respondents asked.
Posted by: Ranie Cuaresma | May 24, 2006 at 07:37 AM