For, 41 per cent of those polled across the globe could not make up their mind if India had a positive or negative influence on the world. Some 35 per cent of those polled felt India had a positive influence; 24 per cent felt differently. In the US, given all the talk about the burgeoning ties between the two nations, 39 per cent had a positive view of India, while 35 per cent felt otherwise.
The survey for BBC World Service, conducted by opinion poll giant GlobeScan and the University of Maryland, said Iran exerted the most negative influence, and Japan the most positive. It reported a margin of error of 2.5 per cent to 4 per cent.
Surprisingly, while most nationals gave their country a thumbs up, Indians were not gung-ho: only 47 per cent thought well of their country. Hearteningly, however, only 10
The survey polled 39,435 people in 33 nations between October 2005 and January 2006. In India, 1452 people above 18 years of age were polled.
India ranks high in its neighbourhood, perhaps because Pakistan was not on the list of nations polled. Some 49 per cent in Sri Lanka saw India positively, with only 4 per cent having a negative view.
Iran and Afghanistan were unambiguous in their endorsement for India. 71 per cent of those polled in Iran had a positive view of India, while in Afghanistan the figure was 59 per cent.
Philippines was alone in its widespread negative view about India's influence, at 57 per cent.
In Europe, where India has been seeking to extend its ties, opinion was divided.
Over 47 per cent of those polled in Britain and Russia were positive, while France and Finland thought differently: 44 per cent negative and 27 per cent positive respectively.
