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Chapter
Twenty-Two: India
India
makes up about 75 percent of the South Asian subcontinent.
Much of the country forms a peninsula that juts southward
into the Indian Ocean. The country’s northern border, however,
is rimmed by two great walls of mountains—the Himalayas
and the Karakoram. At India’s center, a third mountain range
is surrounded by deserts, rain forests, and the fertile Ganges
Plain. The Ganges River, flowing more than 1,500 miles across
the plain, is India’s longest waterway, believed by many to
be sacred. Each year pilgrims come, by the millions, to bathe
in its purifying waters. India was ruled by the British from
the 1700s to the mid-1900s. In 1947 Indian leader Mohandas
Gandhi led the country to independence and a democratic government.
What Time Is It in India?
India
is ten and one-half hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
When it’s 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C., then it’s 8:30 p.m.
in India.
People
India
has the world’s second largest population. The country’s inhabitants
date back 5,000 years when well-planned cities were built
in what is present-day Pakistan. Numerous ethnic groups, who
speak more than 14 major languages and over 1,000 dialects,
make up the population. The majority of Indians practice the
Hindu religion, although India has one of the world’s largest
concentrations of Muslims. Today, divisions among the people
stem more from religious and language differences than from
ethnic background. Most Indians are villagers who farm for
a living. Others of the population are attracted to a more
fast-paced life in the cities.
Doing Business in India
If
you are planning to do business in India, here are a few tips
you might want to know.
Greetings
- Westernized
Indians will initiate handshakes. The traditional Indian
greeting is the namaste—hold the palms of your hands
together beneath your chin, as if in prayer, and bow slightly.
- When
addressing someone, always use professional titles, such
as Professor or Doctor, when relevant. Otherwise use Mr.,
Mrs., or Miss. Use first names only when invited to do so.
Gestures
- Except
for handshakes, avoid touching. For example, never touch
someone on the head (even to pat the head of a child) because
the head is considered the seat of the soul.
- Never
stand with your hands on your hips. It will be read as an
angry and aggressive stance.
- Never
point with your fingers or feet. Feet, in particular, are
considered unclean. Should your feet (or shoes) touch someone
else’s, apologize.
Protocol
- Make
business appointments two months earlier by mail, and be
sure to contact the company’s top executives.
- Be
punctual, but be prepared for last-minute changes in schedules.
- Business
is carried out on a personal level. Expect small talk and
refreshments before discussions.
- Dress
conservatively, but it’s best not to dress in leather goods.
Hindus believe cows are sacred.
Want
to know more about India?
Visit
www.
Britannica.com.
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