I am a first generation American, my family owned a farm in Gujurat, India. I am grateful to have been molded by two cultures that both value Universal Compassion and Scientific Method. Not all members practice it, but the ideals were passed down at least and the future of both nations will depend upon how seriously they practice their founding ideals.

"Be not afraid, for all great power throughout the history of humanity has been with the people. From out of their ranks have come all the greatest geniuses of the world, and history can only repeat itself. Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work." - Swami Vivekananda, a founding father of modern India

I'm not American. I think it's pretty fair to hold the successful to account for environment in which their success exists.

“A Nation’s Greatness is Measured By How It Treats Its Weakest Members.” Mahatma Gandhi

You seem to imply that none of the "elites" in India have sought to improve the situation with regard to poverty and literacy. This is an unfair position. There may be corruption, apathy and so on, which impede progress along these lines. But there were similar problems in London, New York and Chicago not too long ago (and in American cities there still are such problems). So it would a double standard to say the least to criticize Indians in this connection on one hand and, implicitly, to rest satisfied with one's own government, on the other. If you are criticizing both them and your own society simultaneously (assuming you're not Indian), this hardly provides support for what seems to be your point that Indians aren't doing enough. And India, not being an authoritarian society, cannot simply decree literacy. There is that messy problem of democratic governance.

Everyone on this site should be considered an "elite" for the purposes of this discussion.

I don't imply that there is no charity in India, but I suggest that when the country habors one third of the worlds poor that there is a way to go.

I find your argument strange if you don't recognize the magnitude of India's poverty compared to the U.S. and Western Europe. My beef with the article is that it in no ways recognizes this problem.

India harbors a large percentage of the world's population; it's not surprising that it has many of the world's poor people. That India is poorer than the US and western Europe cannot be denied. I've been there, and I've seen the poverty. But the challenges it's dealing with are huge. And I don't think criticism from the bleachers will do much to improve the situation.

I think you'll find that India still receives foreign aid from 'the bleachers'.

bleachers, n., "Usually, bleachers. a typically roofless section of inexpensive and unreserved seats in tiers, especially at an open-air athletic stadium."