TOP TEN CULTURE CLUES FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH INDIA.
India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. But there are some cultural rules to guide you, no matter where in India you are.
Good for you, you took the CultureQuiz earlier this week, and now it’s time for the Top Ten Tips for Working in India! So, from Ten to the Big Number One, here are ten cultural must-knows for successful work in Indian culture:
#10: India is a vast and complex culture. Beyond certain unifying elements, like a federal legal system (which is often more or less subordinate to the more powerful local government, depending on where in India you are), the railways that link the country, the influence of Hinduism or Islam, and the imposition of Hindi as a national language, cultural differences abound region by region. Hindi is the “national language”, but most Indians grow up speaking their own regional language, and only learn Hindi (and English) later in school. Stay open to continuously learning about the differences that you will encounter as you work throughout the country.
#9: It is a tradition in India for a host of a formal event to honor someone when greeting them with a garland of flowers. If presented to you, allow the host to place the garland around your neck while you are standing; however, it is important for you to remove the garland and place it to your side once you are seated. To remain seated with the garland on during the event, or meeting, shows a lack of humility.
#8: India is the world’s largest Hindu nation; consequently, there are certain basic Hindu customs which need to be respected:
Most Hindus do not eat meat, of any kind. Most are vegetarian, to varying degrees, while some eat fish (eastern and southern coastal India, for example). Be especially mindful of these dietary concerns when hosting and socializing.
The traditional Hindu-based greeting (used ubiquitously throughout all of India) is “Namaste”, meaning, “I honor the spirit within you”. It is spoken to the other person with the palms of your hands held together in a prayer-like position, fingertips pointing to the middle of the forehead, head tilted slightly down.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Dean Foster Global Cultures to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.