'Indians have a sense of humour'

In our special Independence Day series, a technocrat sums up India's dichotomy, and laughs at its funny side.

India is a great country, characterised by its dichotomy. Everything that is 'true' of India is also 'not true'.

It has a significant percentage of its people living below the poverty line; but at the same time the number of its high net worth individuals is growing...

It is one the most corrupt countries in the world, but at the same time has the strongest democracy...

It has adopted capitalism, but at the same time has one of the highest numbers of social entrepreneurs...

It has the highest rate of illiteracy, but also the most number of graduates...

It has many religious extremists, but also the most number of tolerant people...

It has a high rate of unemployment but is also a country of many opportunities...

Finally, it is a country, where despite all its problems, challenges, differences and diversity; it still remains One.

India is also a funny country, where its people do have a sense of humour (even if it is unintentional at times!). This is best seen through the various signboards in English that you get to see while travelling across the country.

Some of the interesting ones that I have come across are 'CHILD BEAR' (instead of Chilled beer), 'ANUS OPTICIAN' (instead of Anu's optician), 'ENTRY FROM BACKSIDE ONLY' (I assume the front door was closed) and many more.

This is a photograph I shot in a restaurant in Mussoorie. A sign at Howard Hotel and Revolving Restaurant read: 'No charges for revolving.' I split my sides laughing!

V R Ferose is one of the youngest managing directors at the German multinational SAP Labs India.