Indian
culture
Indian society has
traditionally been heavily based around a caste system, which places stringent
restrictions on social mobility and the ease with which people considered to
belong to a particular caste can interact with members of other castes.
However, in modern India in a business context, and certainly within leading
Indian and international companies, caste-related identification is no longer
the norm. Over the last 50-60 years the Indian legislature has increasingly
passed laws to reinforce the more modern outlook and to promote and support
social welfare.
Family values are a hugely important part of Indian life. Arranged marriages
are very common, and marriage as a concept is taken very seriously, leading to
an extremely low divorce rate. It is normal to see large, patriarchal families
spanning many generations. A lot of smaller businesses are likely to be
family-run and owned, and there will be a preference for employing other family
members where possible.
Clothing
In India, traditional
clothing varies hugely in different parts of the vast country. It is common to
see draped, flowing outfits, such as the sari for women, and the dhoti for men.
In recent years a passion for bright colours and shiny and ostentatious
jewellery and accessories has become more apparent in female dress. In urban
areas, it is common to see both men and women wearing more Western-influenced
clothes, and in a business context suits and ties for men are the norm.
The
Indian Language
India has 2 official
languages, Hindi and English, which are spoken very widely. However, there are
also 21 other languages which are recognised by the Indian Constitution, and
overall there are more than 1500 languages spoken across the country. Prominent
languages include Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada,
Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi and Assamese. If you are visiting India, it would be
wise to look up which languages are widely spoken in the particular area that
you will be spending time in, as learning a few words or greetings in those
languages will stand you in good stead.
Due to British colonial influence, English is spoken widely in the context of
education, government and business. In North and Central India, Hindi serves as
the de facto lingua franca, however in the South there has been some resistance
to the promotion of Hindi as a national language, with southerners feeling that
it will diminish the importance of their regional languages. As a result, in
the South of India, English is the more commonly heard of the two official
languages.
Written
Hindi
Although it may look
very different from Western European languages, Hindi is in fact from the same
root family of Indo-European languages that includes, amongst others, English,
German and Dutch.
Hindi is written in the Devanagari script, which is comprised of 33 consonants
and 11 vowels, and should be read from left to right.
As with most major world languages, Hindi has many local and regional dialects
which are mutually intelligible. Modern Standard Hindi is the official variant
which is commonly used in government and throughout the business world.
Hindi can also be transliterated into the Latin script so that it can be read
and pronounced by people with no knowledge of the Devanagari script.
Etiquette
& customs
Indian etiquette is an
unusual mixture of British and Asian influences. Therefore in some ways their
customs will seem familiar to westerners, and in other ways they differ
greatly.
Some of the ways in which Indian etiquette differs from western etiquette are
as follows:
Dining etiquette can be very different in India. It is considered proper to eat
with your hands, and in a lot of restaurants or when you are eating with
locals, cutlery may not be provided, though in most places spoons can be
provided if asked for. If you do try to eat using your fingers, make sure you
only use your right hand and not your left, even if you are left-handed, as the
left-hand is considered to be ‘unclean’. Also, as common sense would suggest,
your fingers will be dirty from eating with them, and as such do not try to
serve yourself so as to avoid dirtying the serving spoon, but wait to be served
by a waiter or your host.
Religion
India does have a diverse religious make-up, including Buddhism,
Islam and Christianity, but by far the most widely practised is Hinduism. Hindu
temples are therefore extremely commonplace throughout the country, and many
traditions and practices from Hinduism have become intrinsic parts of Indian
culture. For example, it is common to remove your shoes as a sign or respect
before entering a temple and indeed before entering into someone’s home.
India is famous for the wide range of exuberant festivals that
take place throughout the year, including Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Holi,
to name a few.
Business meeting advice (if doing business
in India)
First
Meetings
When first meeting someone, it is common to be introduced to
them by a third party. Indian culture places a great deal of importance on
personal relationships, and many business relationships will be built upon a
personal foundation. Therefore being introduced by a mutual acquaintance will
stand you in good stead.
As a result of British colonial influence, handshakes are the standard greeting
in a business environment. Be aware, however, that in a lot of situations it is
not normal for men and women to shake hands with each other due to religious
influence, so keep your eyes open to try and see what is expected by the people
you are meeting with.
If meeting with a group of people, be sure to greet each person
individually rather than addressing them as a group. Due to the influence of
hierarchical Indian social structure, the oldest or most senior person present
should be greeted first, followed by the next most senior, and so on.
Business
Meetings
The work day in India typically starts at 10am, though in major
cities it can be considerably earlier, so if in doubt schedule meetings no
earlier than mid-morning. It is considered good manners in India to be slightly
late, so make sure you factor this into your schedule. However, you should also
be aware that Indian business people who are used to dealing with westerners
may expect you to be punctual.
It is common to exchange business cards on first meetings, and small gifts such
as sweets would also be well received. Avoid touching, other than the initial
handshake, as this is considered rude.
Normal business dress for both men and women is western in derivation, and it
is common to see suits and ties on men, and pant-suits or long skirts on women.
If you are not used to the heat of a tropical country, make sure you try to
dress smartly yet in a way that you will be comfortable.
When talking to Indian people, make sure to be aware of your body language, as
much significance will be attached to it. Avoid “aggressive” postures, such as
folded arms or hands on hips, and also avoid putting your feet up on furniture
or pointing them at another person, as, like the left hand, the feet are
considered unclean. Be aware that sustained eye contact is not necessarily
usual, especially when speaking to someone of a lower or higher status.
When negotiating agreements, expect there to be many rounds of back and forth.
In India business decisions are rarely made quickly or lightly, so it is
important not to get frustrated by any delays you experience.
Names
Titles are important in India, and as such people should be
addressed formally, i.e. title (Mr, Dr, etc.) and surname. Only use someone’s
given name if they have expressly given you permission to do so.
Management
advice, when managing Indian employees
This section will be particularly helpful if you are relocating
to India and intend to work.
There are a number of factors to have in mind when managing Indian employees.
The Indian approach to business roles is generally formal and hierarchical.
Therefore a boss is expected to be a boss, and to act as such. Avoid doing
tasks that would normally be completed by someone at a lower level than you, as
this is likely to damage your reputation and your credibility.
Decision-making in Indian companies tends to be top-down, and therefore junior
staff will expect to be given clear and comprehensive instructions rather than
coming up with their own ways of working. If you are in middle-management, then
avoid making decisions or devising strategies unless you have already been
given the green light by top management, otherwise you may not receive it.
When making small talk with Indian people, avoid touchy or taboo subjects, such
as India’s poverty, the caste system, immigration and any difficult areas in
international relations. If you are looking to make conversation you would be
well advised to talk about sports, particularly cricket, or to ask them
questions about their country, as Indians are rightly very proud of their
country’s long and rich history and culture.
