Unfortunately, the generalization is well-deserved. The behaviour of the official named Mr. Brahmachari : feudal, mercurial, inconsistent, authoritative...is the template. If you're lucky, there's often exactly one guy somewhere in there who is sincere, professional, and is literally the one doing all the work, and he sympathizes with your case.
The number of young Indians who, in theory, can transform Indian cities into Silicon Valleys of the East vs. the bureaucracy is like a water and dam situation. The smarter water flows West instead.
It is worth remembering that feudal, mercurial, inconsistent, authoritarian are not simply individual problems but rather go together.
The hand-written offer given to Mr. Ayyadurai wasn't just an unprofessional act, it was act intended to put him between hope and doubt and thus reinforce the power of his superiors. This style of management by confusion and manipulation also exists in the worst western companies but it's clearly more common in India.
Oddly enough, it's worth remembering that the good part of bureaucracy is fixed rules which allow any member to know where they stand.
I do not mean to be condescending to those who are not-in-the-west. I do mean to sound frustrated about them being forced to stay in a no-win situation where they are at the mercy of the bureaucracy.
What I meant is : it's a smart move to realize that it's a dead end and go West if one seeks to broaden one's opportunities, chances to do some good work and realize one's potential, that's all.
As the interview was closing, Mr. Brahmachari questioned why anyone would be interested in the situation, and then said he would complain to a reporter’s bosses in New York if she continued to pursue the story.
