Behind every myth lies a more up-to-date explanation. We look at ten of the most popular myths about Indians currently circulating in some companies.

True: Women should dress conservatively

Below are ten myths about India that are circulating through some HR and business networks. Some of these myths come from the misconception that most business takes place in North India. Other myths have been around for a while. However, behind every myth lies a more up-to-date explanation.

Ten myths about Indians:

1. Indians eat with their hands.

Most young professional Indians who have lived in the metropolitan cities have an international outlook. If you invite them to a five-star restaurant, they would comfortably eat with a knife and a fork. However, should they invite you to their home town or village, they may serve your meal on a banana leaf and everyone would eat with their hands.

2. Indians fold their hands as a greeting and say, 'Namaste'."

Not if you are visiting the South and not if your client is global. They will put out their hand for you to shake, just like in the West. Now, if you are invited to your Indian colleague's home, and their mother does not speak English, she may greet you with her hands folded, and say, 'Namaste'. But if she says 'Vannakum' – which sounds like 'Wanna Come'— then you know you are in Tamil Land, which is the deep south of India.

3. Indians refer to their country as Bharat.

If they are speaking in Hindi and live in North India, Indians may refer to their country as Bharat. But if they are a professional, and they are speaking in English, they will say India.

4. Women can wear western clothing.

True: English is the first language for many Indians

For the last 15 years, Indian television has been feeding people American soap operas, and many have developed their own concepts of Western women through these programmes. Don't wear short skirts, but trousers or skirt with a light jacket. If invited to an Indian social function, traditional Indian clothes would be appreciated by the hosts.

5. Only drink boiled or bottled water.

Most good restaurants have aqua-guard filters which kill bacteria. An American client brought a suitcase of Poland Spring water. We convinced him that the aqua-guard water was sufficient. He did not 'fall sick'. Ask the waiter for aqua-guard water. If in doubt, you can always ask to see it in the kitchen. Remember, trust can go a long way when dealing with another culture.

6. There are four metropolitan cities in India - the rest is a maze of villages.

Multi-national companies have traditionally done business in
Mumbai (was Bombay), Kolkata (was Calcutta), Chennai (was Madras) and New Delhi. With the IT boom, cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad now possess infrastructure and westernisation that would surprise many.

7. In shops, tourists are cheated.

Many shops have fixed prices and don't allow bargaining. Usually these shops accept credit cards and have better quality goods. Sometimes, big bargains have hidden defects which you didn't see on purchase.

8. Indians speak Hindi, mixing Hindi words in English called 'Hinglish'.

Not if you are doing business in South India. There are five states in South India, each with their own language, literature, and culture. Many grew up speaking English and consider it their first language. They know their regional language but will feel more comfortable expressing complex thoughts in English. Cable televison, accent neutralisation classes, and massive call-centre training means some younger Indians speak 'global' English.

9. Many Indians do not know English well and it is difficult to understand them.

Professional Indians know English grammar and vocabulary better than some westerners. Indians have their own variety of English, their own way of pronouncing words, and their own stress patterns. Ask your Indian client to speak slowly or repeat what they said until you understand. Body language will confirm that they understood what you said. You may think you have spoken clearly, but they have not understood you, and you do not want to ask you to repeat yourself. Ask them some further questions which cannot be answered with a 'yes' or a 'no'(open questions).

10. Indians are impolite with low-level labourers.

An Indian may seem harsh when talking to a labourer. Some Indian languages don't use the word 'please'. A typical conversation can be: "Come. Sit. Eat." It is not considered impolite. (The politeness, or lack thereof, may be inferred in the conjugation of the verb.) To gain the respect of some labourers, the speaker must have a commanding voice. In this hierarchical society, if the speaker is overly polite, some labourers will take this for weakness, or they will simply be confused. Indians do not use the words 'thank you' the way westerners do.

September 2005

Cynthia Rankin (rankin@hathway.com) is based in Chennai (Madras), India. She gives seminars on intercultural communications in India.

Subject: Doing business in India, working in India, expats in India