Misconceptions Foreigners Have About India and Indians

India, the 7th largest, in terms of the geographical area, and second most populous country in the world, holds great fascination in the West. It is amongst the most popular orient nations, that has emerged as a promising economy and can be looked upon as a potential world leader.

Despite, the country’s strong political influence, common knowledge about India among foreigners is delusory. They’ve long believed the following to be true about the place:-

1. It is a country of snakes and snake charmers. Also, of elephants, and people even pet tigers.
2. Natives of India are called Indians, and they all speak a common language i.e. Indian.
3. In India, the holy cow is deeply revered by all Indians.
4. Indians are dark skinned.
5. India is an extremely hot country. And still people have to cover their bodies from head to toe.
6. People in India only eat curry, and Indian cuisine is all about spicy.
7. It is a very poor country and all Indians live in slums.
8. Indian children live with parents due to compulsion.
9. All Indians are in the IT sector and work in call centers
10. Life in India is exactly like what is shown in Bollywood flicks.

If you too, seem to have a similar picture in your mind; it’s time to Bust The MYTH(S).

1. Country of snake and snake charmers? No, this is how writers in ancient past created a mystic image (not to glorify, obviously) of the Oriental countries.
Elephants? Sure, don’t other countries have these animals in their jungles too? Elephants wandering around on Indians streets, is definitely not what really happens.
Petting tigers? The national animal of the country is the Tiger, but Indians don’t actually pet them.

2. Yes, natives of India are called Indians, but there is no such language as Indian. No Indian has ever spoken or heard of this imaginary language. In India, hundreds of languages are spoken and English is one amongst the most widely used ones.

3. Cow is regarded as a holy animal by the Hindus, and all Indians are not Hindus. Also, even Hindus, don’t just sit and offer prayers in front of this animal. It is just regarded as sacred by the religion, not that it makes any difference in how the animal is used for dairy purposes.

4. India, like religions and festivals, is a country of mixed complexions too. People in South India are mostly (not always) dark skinned due to the regions proximity to the equator, and people in the north can be extremely fair. Being fair skinned does not make anyone less Indian than the dark skinned or vice-versa.

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5. India is divided by the Tropic of Cancer midway, and the southern tip is quite close to the equator. The country has a marked difference in the climatic conditions between different regions. Being a peninsular nation also makes a lot of difference. Talk about being a conservative nation, which has problem with exposing skin. Yes, a bit. But India has come a long way. Just look at young Indians they dress in Western clothes as well, and don’t mind showing off a bit of their naked skin too.

6. People in India love curry, but don’t eat only curry. There is a wide variety in the Indian cuisine. Dry dishes like tandoori chicken, vada-pav, biryani are just a few names which are sumptuous and are not curry. Apart from this, all foods in India are not made in spices. India boasts of unique sweet cuisine too. Delicious gulab jamun and kheer are quite popular in West too.

7. Heard of the Ambanis, Ratan Tata, Laxmi Mittal? Billionaires and all Indians. There’s a huge list of big-shots that are born and brought up in this so called ‘poor land.’ India sure has a huge population who are penury stricken, and they do live in slums, but it’s not that all of India is slum. And, yes, India may not be spick and span but it is not that dirty.

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8. Indian children are not bound to live with their parents all their life and not everyone does. Nuclear families is not an alien concept in the country. However, many children do like to live with their parents. This is a family and social structure they’ve grown up seeing and if they live with their parents, it is not because they are bound to but feel comfortable with the concept.

9. Doctors, engineers, scientists are all making a mark worldwide. They are also engaged in all sorts of fields in their own country too. Children in India don’t all take up engineering in college. From sciences to humanities, education and career in all fields is available and people are taking them up. So, not all Indians work in the IT sector or in the call center.

10. Bollywood is not reality, however a lot of it does reflect our life and culture (probably in exaggeration). Indians don’t sing and dance around tress, or romance in the rain. Bollywood is just a means of entertainment and and so forming a picture about the country through it’s movies alone wouldn’t be the right way.

If the post seems to be much too defensive, visit the country for yourself and judge whether any of it is not correct. A beautiful travel destination, a trip to India will give you a lot to learn and treasure. So book your air tickets to India now.