Indian crab joke - its not a joke.

From Karan Thapar's "Is Britain a racist country?" (Hindustan Times - Jan 27, 2007)

"There’s one other British quality worth recognising. They have great respect for individuality and, therefore, each individual’s privacy. The Brits love eccentrics. Whilst we in India strive for uniformity, they cultivate differences. We look askance at people who stand out of the crowd. They accept those who dress to attract attention. We squirm at unusual behavior, they see in it the stamp of character."

And the famous Indian crab joke that’s more than just a joke.

A man once went to a seafood restaurant and asked for crabs. The waiter rolled up a trolley lined with dishes. Whisking off the cover of the first he said, “These are Polynesian crabs.” Whisking off the next, he said, “These crabs are the finest Hawaiian.” Lifting the cover of the third with a flourish, he announced, “These are Australian crabs.” Coming to the last uncovered dish he said, “And these are Indian crabs.” At which, the diner said, “Why aren’t they covered like the rest?’ And the answer was, “Because when one tries to climb out, the others pull him back.”

This is a sad commentary on the mindset of modern India.