Interesting thread...not to mention very personal to me.
I am an Indian "FT myself". But not the typical FT that you would encounter on the streets. I came here to Singapore in my teens and have called Singapore my home ever since. (i know, some of you are going to flame me now but that's ok).
I completely agree with the message in this thread. Indians from India are cunning, unscrupulous, dishonest, back-stabbing, miserly, lack etiquette, so on and so forth. The reason they are like this is because...................there is no reason at all!!!. This is how things are done in India, this is day-to-day life in india, this is how everyone goes about thier life in india, from the ministers to the local officials, engineers, managers, tom, dick and harry.
A lot of singaporeans (as well as other nationalities) are flabergasted when they witness such activities. So am i. But guys understand, this is how india works. These FT are employing the same survival tactics that they have mastered back in india. To them its just a way of life.
I am not justifying their behavior though. I myself have had some very bad experience. Both in Singapore as well as back in my home town i have been conned by these fellows. And i generally tend to stay away from them. and my advise yo you is also the same. Try your best to stay away from them, keep your relationship strictly professional, do not get too close.
Just to add, the ones that come here to Singapore at a very young age to study and then work or the ones who are educated in some other country and come here to work.... they are better. They usually don't carry the typical traits of someone born, bred and grown-up in India. Having said all this, i have met with some very good folks from India. My current boss is an Indian dude and so is a collegue of mine. They are nice folks. I hope you guys can get to meet some nice indian folks too.