Indian stereotypes
A vast and vibrant country, India and Indian culture attract many stereotypes.
Although there might be a little truth in some, very few of these stereotypes are rooted in reality.
Stereotypes also tend to say something about the person, or people, holding them.
It's crucial for all us of to analyze and address the stereotypes we have of others.
By removing these misconceptions and twisted truths, it will help you to fully appreciate the richness of a culture and society; in this instance, India.
Here, we're going to look at 10 of the most common stereotypes we hear about India through our cross cultural training programmes.
10 Stereotypes About India We Frequently Hear in Training!
1. Indian people cannot speak good English
Indian people tend to have great English. Why? Because English is the second official language of India and is widely spoken across the country.
The majority of schools across India teach students English right from the start of their formative years which means that it is possible to navigate the country using English alone and with no knowledge of any Indian language.
However, it is important to acknowledge that literacy levels in India are very low which means that higher standards of English tend to be concentrated within those who are educated and working professionals. At the same time, with the influx of Western influences – mainly through the media – into the Indian subcontinent, English references are spreading throughout the different Indian classes.
2. “Thank you kindly, please come again!”
In continuation with the point above comes the issue of the Indian accent, which has been particularised, stereotyped and exaggerated by comedians and the media.
It must be acknowledged that English is not the first language of the majority of Indian people, and that while travellers will often come across the distinct ‘Indian action’ at play, all Indians do not have the same, generalized accent.
In fact, there are distinct shifts in accents and ways of speaking across the many Indian regions. The comical generalization of the Indian accent is a sore point for many who are continuing to learn and improve their language. Be assured, imitations of Apu from the Simpsons will not be appreciated when interacting with Indian nationals.
3. Indians are uneducated
While literacy levels in India, and especially those of women, are not very high, it is important to remember that in a country with a population as high as India’s, it is inaccurate to make generalized assumptions about the entire nation.
The idea that Indians are uneducated is very inaccurate, and education is in fact held in high regard. There are hundreds of thousands of schools across the country, with officially recognized education systems varying from region to region.
Doctors and engineers top the list of professions in India, and MAs, MBAs and PhDs are common qualifications. The university system in India is extremely competitive, with the entry qualifications for some starting at 100%.
4. Indians are poor
There is a commonly held perception that all Indians are poor which is furthered by media portrayals of the country, as seen through the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
While it is true that a major proportion of the Indian populace live under the poverty line and that there are many beggars within the nation and highly visible slums and shanty towns, this is not the case for the entire nation.
India holds a significant portion of the world’s richest people and there are a large number of Indian nationals who are billionaires – both within the country and abroad.
5. The ‘real India’ is dirty and chaotic
Many travellers come to India for the ‘real Indian experience’, which they associate with dirt, chaos, spontaneity, and confusion.
They live frugally: they eat cheap food, live in cheap hostels, and don themselves in traditional Indian clothing and use public transport in an attempt to live the way ‘real Indians’ do.
By doing so, they overlook the huge presence of internationally renowned luxury hotels, shopping malls and designer stores, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, which are becoming increasingly synonymous with the ‘new’ Indian society. This notion connects to the point preceding this one.
The many dichotomies in India – between the rich and the poor, the West and the East, the traditional and the modern – are highlighted through the dualities of Indian society, and this must be accepted and appreciated.
Believe it or not, pizza is extremely popular in India.
Photo by Shourav Sheikh on Unsplash
6. Indians only eat curry
Indian food abroad has become synonymous with curry, and this is very inaccurate as Indian food is multi-faceted, diverse, and expanses much more than a generic curry.
Indeed, curry is eaten by many in the country – but this statement itself is very vague and incorrect because there are numerous types of curries, in terms of the ingredients they use and the flavours they contain.
Finding ‘international’ cuisines from Chinese to Thai to Mexican, French and American in India is very easy in metropolitan cities, albeit difficult in smaller towns. It already hosts international chains like McDonalds, KFC, Subway, Costa Coffee, and Starbucks, and more are likely to appear in India in the years to come.
7. Indians all speak Hindu
Hindu is the religion, and Hindi is the language.
Due to the sheer diversity and size of India, there are many languages that are spoken and practiced in the Indian Union.
Many schools in India – especially those in the South and the East – give precedence to their own languages, thereby not teaching Hindi. Hindi in its most preserved form is spoken largely in North India and is likely to be a second or third language for people in other regions.
8. Indian women are subordinate to men
This stereotype is not completely untrue. In Indian society, gender is extremely hierarchical and favours men over women.
This is not unusual for a developing country and must be looked at in that context. Indian society is largely patriarchal and women are expected to be subordinate to their male counterparts. This is reflected in the skewed sex ratio and literacy rates of the country, which seriously disadvantage the female population.
Traditionally, women were expected to be the carers of their family, mothers and wives, before any other occupation. However, in recent times, this idea is starting to slowly crack, though largely in the upper and middle classes. More women are attending university and going on to hold jobs post-graduation. An increasing number of influential businesspeople in corporations and otherwise are also women.
As a result, more and more women prefer to achieve a certain degree of financial independence before marrying, settling down, and having children. Notably, India has also had a female president – the same came cannot be said of many other countries in the West.
9. Cows roam the streets of India
The notion of holy cows in India is one which is laden with a lot of curiosity and this stereotype is in fact very accurate!
When in India, you will see a large number of cows – both in farms and fields and on roads and beaches. One reason for the stray cows on the streets is due to the fact that they often wander away from their herds when their owners are transporting them from one locality to another, thus rendering them homeless and on the streets.
These cows are not dangerous, but it is not advisable to approach them or touch them because – despite living in the constant presence of humans and human activity – they may attack you and be infected with disease.
For many Hindus the cow is a sacred animal. Its horns symbolize the gods, its legs, the ancient Hindu scriptures or the "Vedas" and its udder, the four objectives of life (wealth, desire, righteousness and salvation).
10. Indians worship millions of Gods
Ancient Hindu scriptures have revealed that the religion encompasses the worship of 330 million Gods!
Whilst this is true, it is important to remember that Hinduism is not a polytheistic religion – that is, it speaks of one God.
The millions of Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu religion are in fact perceived to be representatives and avatars of the one supreme God – Brahman. So, the answer to the question of the true number of Hindu Gods and Goddesses is fluid and depends on who is asked.
10 Stereotypes all Indians Hate
India might still be developing, but it most definitely is not something straight out the frames of Slumdog Millionaire. While the country has either moved on or isn’t hampered by generalization, here are the stereotypes Indians still hate.
That most Indians are poor but Happy
So, what’s common in Slumdog Millionaire and Hymn for the Weekend? I’m sure nobody missed the slums and happy kids running around. Well, the Indian population is divided into three basic demographics – the poor, the middle class and the rich. Even as there is poverty in the country, the biggest economic group is the middle class (good packages, good lifestyle and good homes). Also, some of the richest people in the world live in India. So yes, Indians hate it when you just assume they come from poor backgrounds.
That Indians speak fluent Hindu and heavily accented English
First things first, it’s Hindi not Hindu. Believe us, nobody’s fluent in the religion. Also, not everybody sings or stretches their words in English. The country actually has the second largest English speaking population in the world and a majority are fluent in the language.
All Indians are IT experts
Indians have showcased their talent in various fields apart from the Information Technology sector. To name a few current popular personalities from India – Priyanka Chopra (Acting/Singing), Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Politics), A.R.Rahman (Music), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Sports) and Amartya Sen (Literature). In short, the talent pool in India is vast and diverse.
Indian cuisine is all about Butter Chicken or some spicy curry/tikka
Actually, the regional diversity of the country is reflected in the food as well. Butter chicken, chicken masala, and tikkas are just a small part of one of the cuisines served in India. Each of the 29 states of India serves its own specialty. Selections from each state and region collectively form the country’s eclectic menu.
Life is all about singing and dancing in India
Well maybe at the weddings, but no one in India starts dancing and singing for no apparent reason, despite what Bollywood has shown us over the years. In addition to that you’ll be surprised to know not every Indian loves typical Bollywood movies (gasps!). Yup, globalization happened and Indians got introduced to Game of Thrones and other amazing options for entertainment.
That they know every Indian you have met
The coming and existing generation in India don’t remember their distant relatives. Worse, they don’t know them. So, randomly knowing every other Indian, just because they are in a foreign country – very slim chances.
All the marriages are arranged by the Indian parents
Quite honestly the parents in India are much more liberal than they are portrayed everywhere. Even as a majority of marriages in India are arranged, there has certainly been a rise in the number of love marriages. Also, marriages aren’t really forced upon the kids these days as they reach the right age (Nobody knows the right age anymore).
All Indians are good at Yoga
Some Indians don’t have a flexible bone in their bodies, so yoga for every Indian is out of the question. India might be known for yoga, but assuming that every Indian would know their asanas, you might be let down. To conclude though, everyone should try it because it is awesome.
That Indians will automatically be vegetarians because they worship the cow!
Indians have a mix of vegetarians, non-vegetarians, eggetarians, and vegans. All the butter chicken, chicken masala, tikkas, kebabs, and a variety of other non-vegetarian dishes are relished by masses in India.
India is so Hot
The weather in India does change with the seasons. India has hot summers, pleasant springs, really wet monsoons and extremely cold winters. More importantly, the weather is not the same throughout the country. Where the coastal regions are more humid, the hill stations are pleasant throughout the year.
