India is not what you think it is

[Leaky Faucet]

A lots of people have a wrong notion of what India is all about. An American who came to India said that she had been expecting snake charmers and sages all over the place. It's not true. Please use this thread to ask questions about India and I will try my best to answer 'em

[royster]

WONDERFUL, LF!!! This is SO essential...get rid of old, stupid stereotypes. I hope this thread thrives.

[Leaky Faucet]

Originally Posted by royster

WONDERFUL, LF!!! This is SO essential...get rid of old, stupid stereotypes. I hope this thread thrives.

Thank you so much royster

[roxyruby]

i had this vision of India as a kind, peaceful place

I want to dress up like this and do some belly dancing ^-^

Indian style dress is soo... exotic

i would like to dress up like this!

[Jon Tore]

The first images that come to mind when I hear India is.. without checking the map, a quite big area in the left (uh.. west?).. well, the left part of Asia, with grass, temples and some jewlery maybe. Although when I think through it what PROBABLY might be in India, I realize there are obviously cities just like any country, but with a special structure/outlook/style. TV-cartoons have taught me that they carry bowls on their heads, but I might be in the wrong continent now. I'm not sure. Lots of flute music and many wise old men, but this can also be found in China and Japan (). Magic flying carpets, some evil sultans (possibly defeated by Aladdin), and that it's generally quite hot. People use big green leaves as fans but I might have come to Japan now.
This is all based on the assosications with India, but I guess they're really more about the older India or other parts of Asia.

[roxyruby]

when i think of india i think of peaceful happy people dressed exotically & beautifully, though poor, all busy working, and having an exotic religious life

India makes me feel safe

I feel like the people there are so nice & have peaceful ideals

but thats probably all wrong, its just an idea of india in my head, ive never even been there

[Leaky Faucet]

Peaceful place??? hmm may be This is north Indian style. particularly Rajasthani. North Indians wear this kinda dresses for marriages. You cannot see these kinda dresses in south India. Each and every state in India has its own culture. They differ in dressing style, language, food and many other things.

[spacecadetglow]

Which part of India has the best food? What is your favorite Indian dish (and how can I make it?!?)

[Leaky Faucet]

Originally Posted by Jon Tore

The first images that come to mind when I hear India is.. without checking the map, a quite big area in the left (uh.. west?).. well, the left part of Asia, with grass, temples and some jewlery maybe. Although when I think through it what PROBABLY might be in India, I realize there are obviously cities just like any country, but with a special structure/outlook/style. TV-cartoons have taught me that they carry bowls on their heads, but I might be in the wrong continent now. I'm not sure. Lots of flute music and many wise old men, but this can also be found in China and Japan (). Magic flying carpets, some evil sultans (possibly defeated by Aladdin), and that it's generally quite hot. People use big green leaves as fans but I might have come to Japan now.
This is all based on the assosications with India, but I guess they're really more about the older India or other parts of Asia.

bowls on our heads??? hahaha do yo mean pots??

[Leaky Faucet]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

when i think of india i think of peaceful happy people dressed exotically & beautifully, though poor, all busy working, and having an exotic religious life

India makes me feel safe

I feel like the people there are so nice & have peaceful ideals

but thats probably all wrong, its just an idea of india in my head, ive never even been there

There are rich and poor. You can see all kinds of people here. There are hell a lots of cultures here.
USA has more number of millionaires. I think India comes next.

[Leaky Faucet]

Originally Posted by spacecadetglow

Which part of India has the best food? What is your favorite Indian dish (and how can I make it?!?)

I think south India has the best food. My favorite Indian dish is Briyani.
Again there are hell a lots of types in briyani.
I haven't cooked briyani. May be you can look for an online recipe.
You really need to learn how to cook briyani if you plan to marry a south Indian

[sorter]

I've worked with many indians.
If I send them an email with three questions, I'll usually get an answer to one, two if I'm lucky.
WHY is that? Drives me nuts. I need the answers. It's not multiple choice.

Is asking more than one question some sort of social faux pas?
Everyone does that to a minor degree. Indians always do it.
.

[munish]

I love Indian Women,all of them.

[munish]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

when i think of india i think of peaceful happy people dressed exotically & beautifully, though poor, all busy working, and having an exotic religious life

India is the only country in the world where poor people smile. In other countries you will always find sadness on their face.

[munish]

One thing i do not like about India is Corruption.

India ranks among the top in one of the most corrupt country in the world.
2G Scam,Harshad Mehta scam,Bofors scam,Chara Scam by lalu, Adarsh Housing scam...

If these scams are not there Indian poor will become prosperous overnight.

M

[roxyruby]

Originally Posted by munish

India is the only country in the world where poor people smile. In other countries you will always find sadness on their face.

do you know why?

cause they have the karma sutra!!!

maybe it is because their culture is more focused on happiness and letting humans be natural? & seeing sex as something natural & healthy part of relationships, even a good activity to engage in (the karma sutra) ? not something bad or secretive like in other cultures

also, in indian culture do you think, people are more elevated physically? I mean, people see themselves as something more beautiful than other cultures?

that is all just a guess though LOL ^-^

[Jon Tore]

Originally Posted by Leaky Faucet

bowls on our heads??? hahaha do yo mean pots??

Haha yeah pots! Or ming vases

[roxyruby]

Originally Posted by munish

One thing i do not like about India is Corruption.

India ranks among the top in one of the most corrupt country in the world.
2G Scam,Harshad Mehta scam,Bofors scam,Chara Scam by lalu, Adarsh Housing scam...

If these scams are not there Indian poor will become prosperous overnight.

M

[munish]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

cause they have the karma sutra!!!

maybe it is because their culture is more focused on happiness and letting humans be natural? & seeing sex as something natural & healthy part of relationships, even a good activity to engage in (the karma sutra) ? not something bad or secretive like in other cultures

also, in indian culture do you think, people are more elevated physically? I mean, people see themselves as something more beautiful than other cultures?

that is all just a guess though LOL ^-^

True. Sex is a natural part of a relationship in Indian culture.

You must watch Indian women dancing , they look beautiful.

YouTube - Rajasthani Dance (pots on the head)

[NewSimon]

Do Indians regularly become ill from the food/water? The one thing that puts me off travelling to certain countries is becoming ill. I suspect water in India is normally contaminated and this finds it's way onto food.

[LostMyMap]

RE: Culture. I watched the movie Namesake (excellent movie). I noticed that the people referred to themselves not as Indian, but Bengali. I know there are lots, but what are the major cultures like?

[supertom]

Lets not forget the one defining trait of most indians

YouTube - russell peters-cheap indians

[Plays With Life]

My question is - where is lookcloser these days? I miss her.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by sorter

I've worked with many indians.
If I send them an email with three questions, I'll usually get an answer to one, two if I'm lucky.
WHY is that? Drives me nuts. I need the answers. It's not multiple choice.

Is asking more than one question some sort of social faux pas?
Everyone does that to a minor degree. Indians always do it.
.

Haha, my Korean partners say the same thing of Westerners.

What I know of Indians is that they export engineers all over Asia and that they are insanely ballsy when it comes to negotiation. They seem to think that even the craziest options are worth a shot. I'm envious of this, actually.

[supertom]

I strongly recommend posters watch this video, it explains the difference psychology of Indians and westerners through their mythology. I reckon you'll just "get India" after watching it. I love the story with Alexander the great.

TED talks, 19mins

YouTube - Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs west -- the myths that mystify

[munish]

Originally Posted by LostMyMap

I noticed that the people referred to themselves not as Indian, but Bengali. I know there are lots, but what are the major cultures like?

India was ruled by Britishers till 1947.

Bengal (Kolkatta) was the capital of India till 1927.But once they revolted , Britishers shifted their capital to Delhi , as north Indians were loyal to them.

Bengali means they are from east India.

Tamil means South India.Maratha means West India and Punjabi means North India.

U.P. means Hindi heartland.U.P. is the most populous state of India and also the poorest people of India live there.

[Wax Frog]

Years ago I worked with a guy from India. He told me not to get the wrong impression from all the "slummy" video I'd see on TV, that India had its clean modern areas as well. I already assumed this, of course, but realized I'd never mentally pictured such. The media sure has a knack for manipulating one's ability to visualize a place...

[Wax Frog]

American Desi?

From Starbucks to TGI Friday's, India has its way with American food

No, not him, he was a Cuban-American Desi

[Federer]

Originally Posted by munish

India is the only country in the world where poor people smile. In other countries you will always find sadness on their face.

Proud of you munish, you are true indian and agree with your fact. This is why i never want to leave India. I will always live here and will choice foreign countries as tourism spots. Other countries are also best in their manner.

[Federer]

Originally Posted by munish

One thing i do not like about India is Corruption.

India ranks among the top in one of the most corrupt country in the world.
2G Scam,Harshad Mehta scam,Bofors scam,Chara Scam by lalu, Adarsh Housing scam...

If these scams are not there Indian poor will become prosperous overnight.

M

One day this will be stopped. For sure.