The Indians are probably the greatest survivors in the world.

They can eke out a home anywhere or make money from an occupation that they invent themselves. One man was selling small change___for a fee!

But never assume that the man who stays on the roadside under a tent is poor. Some tent homes had colour TV sets right in the middle and the occupant could possibly be tapping a nearby cable for free satellite transmissions.

They accept with stoic silence the bribe they have to pay the man with the rubber stamp.

I wondered why many places did not use computers until I saw a cute cartoon in an Indian daily. A computer scientist is lamenting his ability to invent the ideal computer. Pressed for an answer, he says it should be able to accept bribes.

They value their vote but never seem to vote wisely, letting their heart rule their minds. Racist parties get elected and they trigger race clashes.

The Gandhi family has hogged office for years and years. They worship the name. The older statesmen. with older ideals and older thinking hog the Government. The younger generation remains forgotten. The Indians survive with a governing system long gone and forgotten.

They survive the constant bomb blasts and racial unrest.

To them the reality is to survive day to day, to eke out a living.

At least one group of Indians survive being themselves.

I observed groups of Hijras roaming the streets of Ajmal Khan Road on a Sunday. They clapped outside a shop. Money was given to them by the shopkeeper.

Survival.