Check out this viral video about Indian outsourcing. This is an episode from Simpson’s cartoon series called Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore and the video on YouTube has hit the top of the charts…The cartoon is the based on an outsourcing story and draws its comic elements from lampooning Indian social/cultural stereotypes (like what most cartoons do). To be fair, I did not find it offensive, or for that matter, even entertaining.
I guess this video depicts what the popular world view of Indians in a globalised world is; and that it is not likely to change in the short run. India’s IT success story is predominantly based on cost arbitrage rather than any significant innovation led competitive advantage. No wonder that Thomas Friedman is almost hero-worshipped by the outsourcing hawks in India, as his book “The World is Flat” lays down the industry’s raison d’être.
Question to the readers of this blog: What do you make of such social media (videos etc) ?
via Prashant
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I found it funny. The Simpsons draws its comedy from stereotypes (like you pointed out) with Homer himself as a prime example. What’s wrong in poking fun at some Indian stereotypes?
When people the world over start lampooning you and take pleasure in doing so , you can know that you have arrived and they are not only aware of it, they are also afraid .
Actually, I didn’t find it offencive at all, Infact I liked the fact that the simpzons aired such an episode, and I’m from bombay!.
I think this entire outsourcing thing is bound to dry out some day. We do find innovation in India in the new globalized world (Zoho, Riya etc are good examples), but as you said most of the entire outsourcing phenomenon is based on simple cost arbitrage, which really makes no sense in the long run.
Personally, I will only recognize the indian IT scene as a legitimate industry when they begin comming out with innovative ideas and products for the world markets and stop doing what others are, simple cheaper.
oh, and btw – the episode, (I actually saw this one about a month ago) – reminded me more of the 007 flick octopussy – which steriotyped indians at the time, and yet, was a pretty cool film, actually!
I didn’t find this offensive by any means, more so since you are used to stereo typing of Indians all over. In fact, we have stereo typing of different sects of people in India even in Indian media. The comment by Sandeep is pretty appropriate, these are signs that India has arrived on the global scene.
The money from the outsourcing industry has started lifting the economy in general. These days when you open times ascent, you see a lot more engineering jobs advertised. While outsourcing is just labour arbitage, I think we are now starting to see innovations coming out of India addressing local problems too.
There is no reason to feel bad about outsourcing. If that’s what has made the world start looking this way, so be it.
Awesome find mate !!
I need to give a link to this for my blog readers..
outsourcing is really necessary specially if you want to cut the cost of production.”*;