How Indian Society Functions: A few cultural tips for those working in India

This article is part of the "India survival Kit", a collection of articles written by an American expat living in India.

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India is a land of contrasting diversity. It encompasses tradition and modernity, the spiritual and the secular, the extremely wealthy and the dismally poor. Indian culture, with its origins in one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, is today a blend of many religions, arts, languages, cuisines, and lifestyles. Even India’s geography reflects variety – from snow-clad mountains and arid deserts to tropical rain forests and sunny beaches.

The India a new visitor perceives on arrival is one of complete chaos. Indian cities give the phrase ‘teeming with humanity’ a new meaning. People, animals, and vehicles move around the streets with seemingly no concern for each other. A lot has been written about animals on Indian streets but the actual sight of a cow ambling next to an SUV, a stray dog happily asleep under a parked truck, or a hen pecking around the wheel of a bicycle is truly amazing to one who is not used to such spectacles. Even more astonishing is the dexterity of the drivers who, amid the human and animal pedestrians, deftly maneuver their two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and even six and eight wheelers along the narrow roads, apparently following no rules. However, after the initial jolt, the outsider learns to appreciate the hidden beauty concealed in the diversity of the culture, in the splendor of the landscapes, and the friendliness and hospitality of the people.

India, historically famed for its spirituality, is now known more for its software engineers and call centers. The software boom and globalization of the economy has given rise to a great economic divide, as it shored up the bank accounts of its active patrons while the rest of the populace was left behind. Indian cities stand testimony to this divide as gleaming high-rises tower above filthy slums (ghettos). The sprawling slums of makeshift huts and houses are micro-economies filled with people struggling to survive on a daily basis. They reek – both literally and figuratively – of poverty, are centers of chronic unemployment, lack even basic sanitation facilities, and are breeding grounds for several diseases. Yet the inhabitants bravely fight adversity and surprisingly many sport a cheerful countenance.

On the other side of the divide lie the upwardly mobile middle class and the globetrotting elite. The elite are the super-rich minority who haunt upscale social clubs, vacation in Switzerland, shop in Paris, and dine in London. But the growing middle-class, estimated currently to be about 300 million strong, forms the backbone of the Indian economy. It is the middle class that supplies Corporate India with the educated, hardworking manpower responsible for its prosperity.

A final point worth noting is about the contrasting roles of women in India. A substantial part of the rural labor force is made up of women, who are paid wages lower than their male counterparts. In cities, most women are well-educated and independent. It is very common to see women ride two-wheeler scooters and motorcycles on the roads. Whether a working professional or a home-maker, women still handle the bulk of household chores. As a wife a woman usually upholds traditional values; as a mother she is respected and as a mother-in-law, feared.

An interesting (and sometimes funny) way to gain accurate insight about Indian society and its associated contradictions would be to read novels or short stories by Indian writers like R.K. Narayan, Ruskin Bond, and others. India, like any other country, is not perfect. But it is a country well on the way to reform, although along a typical Indian road lined with potholes.

The India survival Kit is divided into four sections:

I) Cultural tips for newcomers to India

II) Doing business in India

III) An American's diary

IV) Street English in India: Indian English and the Indian way of communication

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How Indian Society Functions: A few cultural tips for those working in India

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