There are many villages in China that have this kind of problem with village finances. Villagers are often suspicious of their leaders on money issues.

We oppose the government's use of force and tear gas in quelling the protests. We call on the authorities to begin talks with farmers to reach a negotiated settlement. We also oppose the methods of the protesters. They should not block roads but should protest in a peaceful and lawful manner.

I think that they changed their minds following a lot of pressure both within China and overseas. The other thing is that we didn't break the law in any way. We made no mistakes. We were simply and sincerely trying to push forward China's democracy. This is a very persuasive argument.

I think the presence of caste in India, how the villages are geographically structured on caste lines, is very different from China. The presence of an egalitarian culture is striking in a Chinese village.

In the great cities we see so little of the world, we drift into our minority. In the little towns and villages there are no minorities; people are not numerous enough. You must see the world there, perforce. Every man is himself a class; every hour carries its new challenge. When you pass the inn at the end of the village you leave your favourite whimsy behind you; for you will meet no one who can share it. We listen to eloquent speaking, read books and write them, settle all the affairs of the universe. The dumb village multitudes pass on unchanging; the feel of the spade in the hand is no different for all our talk: good seasons and bad follow each other as of old. The dumb multitudes are no more concerned with us than is the old horse peering through the rusty gate of the village pound. The ancient map-makers wrote across unexplored regions, 'Here are lions.' Across the villages of fishermen and turners of the earth, so different are these from us, we can write but one line that is certain, 'Here are ghosts.' ("Village Ghosts")

Life in a Chinese village is much more organised because the Chinese Communist Party has a presence even in the remotest Chinese village - a presence of the kind that no governmental or non-governmental organisation has in Indian villages.