Indian Talent, Global Content
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Indian Talent, Global Content |
November 2008: What's in the breeze |
The Great Indian Myths
India. The very word evokes myriad reactions of awe, surprise, amusement, dismay and bewildered inquisitiveness. Over the ages, India, as seen through its literature, tourist destinations, mythology, media and Indian Diaspora carries a host of stereotypes. Let us see how these stereotypes compare to the real India. ~ India is a Land of Utter Filth and Dirt The moment a foreigner alights from a train at a noisy bustling city, the sight of garbage being scavenged, open drains, spit-stained red walls and the stench of urine is enough to put him off. This is the overwhelming opinion of foreign tourists and seemingly true. Ironically, Indians are the ones who consider their personal hygiene and cleanliness a prerequisite for all sacrosanct endeavors and rituals. Yet, Westerners have seldom appreciated this. In recent years, with the real estate boom, well planned townships, the greater impetus on public infrastructure coupled with the enthusiasm of NGOs, media and municipal bodies towards cleanliness, we are moving towards a cleaner India. A case in point is Surat, which, from being one of the filthiest cities of India has transformed to a clean city, post the 1994 plague. Thanks to the efforts of the Surat Municipal Corporation, there has been a decline of about 65 % in the incidence of ailments on account of improved sanitation, drainage systems and availability of safe drinking water. ~ India is the Country of the Poor “A bottomless pit for foreign aid,”— the mocking description of a poor, supplicating India of the 1960s no more holds true. The picture may not be rosy, but neither is it so gloomy. Persistent growth in manufacturing, the service sector and policy reforms in agriculture have pushed us into the big league. Not surprisingly, 4 out of the 10 richest men in the world hail from India. ~ Indians live in a Cultural Vacuum This is the most overpowering myth, yet equally frail. There is a prevalent perception that Hinduism is the only religion in India, and Hindi the sole language. However, this is something that a 2 grade Indian student will jeer at. At the cost of sounding clichéd, more Muslims reside in India than in Pakistan. With a population that is roughly 2/3 of our total, it is the largest minority. Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism are the other lines of faith that people celebrate. Though Hindus are a majority, Hinduism has never been an exclusive religion but an inclusive one that carries the best of many religions. And while Hindi is prominent, it is far from being the only language. There are over 29 languages and innumerable local dialects. Hindi’s popularity is probably due to the overwhelming Bollywood influence. ~ Strange Arranged Marriages The idea of getting married to a near stranger amidst flashy celebrations is too atrocious to a foreigner. To them, it is nothing more than a forced alliance that hardly leaves any space for personal freedom. It is often the target of satire amongst the more liberated and individualistic counterparts. However, ironically, Indian marriages are highly successful. It’s more often than not a lifetime affair complete with the blessings and involvement of families. However, with sweeping gobalization, cross cultural influences and greater yearning for personal freedom, a huge number of youngsters have started calling the shots. This trend is fast catching up, with increasing numbers deciding to take marriage vows on their own. Nevertheless, the consent of parents still matters!! ~India is the Back Office of the World Until recently, India was the preferred destination for outsourced back office jobs. Easily available educated work forces and lower operational costs have always lured investors, so much so that, even a country like Nigeria can outsource a job to India. But today, intellectual reckoning has given way to more challenging and respectable avenues like KPOs and R&D activities. According to an estimate by EVS, the current revenue of KPOs has been growing by 51 % in $ and the volume by 43% at 3.05 Bn. It is expected to touch a whopping 11.2 bn in the next 4 years. ~It is Tough to Do Business Here Bribe sucking babus, lengthy government approvals and daunting litigations have always discouraged foreign investment in India. Blame it on our complex procedures and restricted approach. However, with global trade getting more competitive, India could not afford to hold back. Controls were loosened and foreign investment incentivised in petroleum, telecom, power and infrastructure. No wonder we are showing an improved rating in the World’s–Ease of doing Business Index. We are now in the 120th position as opposed to being placed at the 132nd last year. ~ Indian Brands Lack Global Appeal and Quality Foreign companies have always cherished the idea of setting their shops in India. The quality of ‘Made in India’ stuff and the fickle branding however always deterred them. These days however, Indian companies have started regaining their lost ground through expedited R&D efforts, increased customer focus and higher quality conformity standards. The hugely successful Reliance refinery, Tatas and ITC has ripped apart this myth. Many more are following suit. Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. 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