TODAY'S CULTURE QUIZ: INDIA!
Better than Wordle! Shake off the weekend with this week's CultureQuiz on India!
India is the world’s largest democracy, and soon to overtake China as having the largest population of any nation in the world. While China took the lead in emerging into a global powerhouse by becoming the world’s factory, India played catch-up by becoming the world’s back-office; today, if you’re working globally, you’re no doubt working with India, and consequently, Indian culture. This week, we’ll explore the important cultural considerations you need to be aware of - and some best practices for managing them - when working with India. And to get you started, see if you can answer the five questions in today’s Culture Quiz on India, below! So, what’s your best response to the following situations you might likely find yourself in India? What would you choose a., b., c., or d?…
…when you are introduced to your colleague, Raj, and he extends his hand to shake your hand when meeting for the first time in Delhi?
a. You extend your hand to shake his, in turn.
b. You put your two palms together in prayer format, point to your forehead, lower your eyes, smile, and say “Namaste”.
c. You lower your head and bow respectfully.
d. You reach across Raj to give him a welcoming pat on the back.
…when you are seated at your table in the restaurant, and you discover that your plate is a large banana leaf, and there are no dining utensils?
a. You ask the waiter for chopsticks.
b. You wait for your food to be brought out, and then ask for a plate and knife and fork.
c. When the waiter brings your food, take a small amount and put it on your banana leaf, then eat it only with your left hand.
d. When the waiter brings your food, take a small amount and put it on your banana leaf, then eat it only with your right hand.
…when Raj asks if you could “prepone” the meeting scheduled for the following Monday?
a. Even though you do not understand what “prepone” means, you agree, and ask Raj if he can arrange it.
b. Even though you DO understand what “prepone” means, you do not agree to it, for to do so makes you look subordinate to Raj.
c. You agree to propose a date for the meeting sooner than the originally scheduled date.
d. You secretly text your tablemate seated next to you at the meeting, and ask them what “prepone” means.
…when Raj keeps moving his head from side to side as you speak with him, it most likely means…
a. “Keep talking, I am listening.”
b. “I agree with what you are saying.”
c. “I disagree with what you are saying.”
d. “I do not understand what you are saying.”
…when you are choosing a gift to leave with Raj as a souvenir of your first trip to India, best gift would be…
a. a photo of you and your family in a hand-stitched leather frame.
b. a bottle of fine whiskey.
c. a “coffee table” book of famous sites in your home city, with a warm message from you inscribed inside.
d. a souvenir gift from your company.
So how did you do? Here are the answers, with explanations from me, below! India is certainly changing in many ways, and Raj, as an individual,
may be very different from a typical Indian (if there is such a person!) Nevertheless, in the absence of any information you might have about Raj, the best answers are below:
ANSWERS:
QUESTION 1: “A” is probably best answer, as you are basically reciprocating in kind. Raj is choosing to greet you in a western, European, style, which most Indian businesspeople know today, and reciprocating back with the same would be appropriate. Nevertheless, “B” would be fine, as it is the traditional Indian greeting. “C” is inappropriate, not common to either culture, and “D” is very wrong.
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