cultural values of India

1. Group Members:
- Aaqib Hussain
- Suraksha Valecha
- Riaz Ahmed
- Simran Lund
CULTURAL
VARIABLES OF
INDIA

2. INDIA
India is the largest country in the South Asia; seventh largest country in the world and it taken
from the ‘word Sindhu’ or Indus River which means the Hindu. It is also known as with two other
names ‘Hindustan’ and Bharat and have same meaning ‘THE LAND OF HINDUS’’.
Geographical Location

3. India is located in South Asia. The border of India meets with the border of Pakistan in West.
Burma in the west. Nepal and China in northern side. India has 29 states. The capital of India is
New Delhi. Its total area is 3.2 million squares kilometers.
Population Statistics
 The current population of India is 1,347,527,349 as of January 2018 by latest
information from the United Nations.
 India population is equivalent to 17.73.24% of the total population of the world.
 India ranks number 2 in the list of countries as of population.
 The population density in India is 450 per Km2.
 The total land area of India is 2973190 Km2.
 67.2% of the population is Rural.
 The median age in India is 27.00 years.
High context culture
High context culture is that groups of people or the societies where people has close
relationship with each other and long lasting relationship.
325 languages, 1652 dialects and different cultures, religions in India has made India as a
high context culture.
National variables
Education:Education is a key element in communicating. An educated person can better
communicate with others, so communication depends upon education.
More than 30% of Indians are unemployed and are not in the education sector as well.
Approximately 35% of children’s aged between 15- 29 do not attend the school in India.

4. Laws and regulations: law are made for the ease of community and to protect the
rights of the individuals, for instance property rights. In India advertisement pertaining
sexual services is not allowed it is illegal in India. Also advertisement on wine and other
intoxicate materials is prohibited in India.
Politics: Politics is important element for any country, without it a country may not
survive or run in the world. India also has a political system. In India it takes place within
the framework as its constitution as India is the federal parliamentary democratic republic
in which president is head of country and prime minister is the head of government.
Economics: The Indian economy is considered as one of the largest growing economy
in the world. More than 60% are employed in agriculture sector and other departments.
India has established Special Economic Zones for the support and encourages the business.
Religion:Due to many different religious practices and beliefs India is a diverse country.
In India major proportion of the population are Hindus (approximately 80%), 13% of the
population is Muslim, Christians with 2.3% of the population and 1.9% of the population
are Sikh.
Festivals of India: Being a highly spiritual country festivals are the heart of people’s
in India numerous festivals are celebrated with high excitement and full of joy. Some of
them are Diwali, Holi, Dasera, Dan Teras, Raksha BAndhan, Lohri ( Makar sank rant),
Navratri, Maha Shivratri and so many.
Fig: Holi Fig: Raksha Bandhan

5. Language: India has no national language but Hindi language is considered as official
language of India. There are more than 880 languages spoken in the India with 31 language
are adopted by different states in India. English is considered as primary language in the
official meetings. Other languages spoken in India are: Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi,
Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and many more.
Different languages spoken in India.
Social Norms:
Greeting style:The traditional IndiangreetingstyleisNamaste,whichmeans“Ibow todivine
in you”.

6. Dinning: Most of the Indians are very hospitable and love to be entertained. It is great honor for
them to ask somebody over a meal. In meal time normally there are many different dishes like rice.
Chapatti, meat and Vegetable which are very common in India. At meal time guests are welcomed
first then men and children’s women may have meal after serving the male members and guests
first. Different states has different dinning style.
Individual variables
Time: “Time and tide wait for none” this is very famous quotation about time that how much it
is important in life. Another quotation about time is that Time is a money. In India being on time
is considered as important component in meeting with each other. Those people who are on time
are considered as more reliable than those who are not punctual.
Manners:
Meeting and greetings:The most common way of greeting in India is by putting both hands
together and to say Namaste with smiley face. You can call a person with first name, family name
or with a nickname in India. A business person meets with other by shaking hands.
Gift Giving Etiquette: If you are visiting an Indian home, the gift giving custom is to bring
hosts a small gift of flowers or chocolates. Cover the gift with bright colors like Green, Red and
yellow because these are considered as lucky colors in India. The gift receiver usually does not
opens the gift at presence of gift giver. If they give money in gift or shagun it would in odd numbers
like 101, 121, or 21.
Wedding: If you are female and you are invited to a wedding you are supposed to wear sari a
traditional dress in India. While selecting an outfit for wedding as guest remember to avoid some
colors like red (this is for bride) and black (this is during the mourning).

7. Communication style: people of India do not communicate directly and prefer verbal
communication. Whatever they have to say they say in the indirect way if someone ask or answer
directly it is considered as rude.
Dress:Because of the cultural diversity from one state to another state in India, the country has
different languages, cuisines and fashion. And India has no national languages in their constitution
prescription that’s why they don’t have their national dress but every state has its own identical
dress like: White Sari with red border for women and men wear Panjabi with Pajama or Dhoti in
Kolkata, in Gujarat women wear Chaniyo and Choli and men wear Churidar Pajamas and Kurta
etc. Ethnic clothing in India not only different by state but also from the different religions and
communities within the state. Here’s the various clothing and fashion styles found in some Indian
states.
FOOD:India is one of the famous country in the world for its diversified cuisine. Indian people
love their food and they love to eat do experiment (mixture) with their food to make it more
delicious and tasty. Indian food are better known for its spiciness.
Just like dressing, Indian food also differ with every state in India. Every state has its own
cuisine and method of cooking. This diversification of food starts from north India region to south
India region. From north they have Kashmir where rice use as essence of food and most food made

8. along with rice and saag is the other famous dish here. Rajasthan and Gujarat are famous for their
desert flavor and they mostly use of daals and achar in their food. Mumbai mostly famous for its
fish dishes and famous dishes are Bombay Prawn and pomfret. In the south region of India, Tamil
Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are main core and are famous for their spicy food. The famous
foods are in the region lamb stew and appams, Malabar fried prawns, Idlis, Dosas, fish molie
and rice puttu.
Space
Personal space: In India male are not much conscious for their personal space as it is seams
from the buses and train where they usually squashed together. But female are much conscious of
space and their usually space is from 3 to 4 feet with other person. Male are sometimes walk with
putting hand around the shoulder of the other male as it is sign of friendship but Male and Female
not touch each other in public. And public affection is not considered good in India.
Decision Making:As individual, female are mostly bound to take decision freely or without
anyone because they are depend on their family and family decide every next step of female or
sometimes in some culture of Indian female are not allowed to talk for themselves. Male freedom
of decision making depend on cultural context as Brahman Caste Boy not allowed to take long
term decisions by himself and some culture allowed male to take decision for their whole life.
Normally male are dominantly take decisions in one family.
Mostly Indian businesses are risk tolerant and they take decisions according to the amount
of risk they will face in result. Basic reason of not having risk aversion is of the creed of making
themselves prosperous. But as born in the lower class they are mostly risk take to improve their
livelihood. Upper class is lower in taking risk. Managers are mostly autocratic in taking decisions

9. and usually avoid democratic. They believe that good taken actions over a lifetime will result in
good consequences in the future and the same is true for bad actions.
Verbal and non-verbal Communication
Verbal Communication:Hindi is considered official language of India. However, the Indian
legislature recognizes 18 languages, including English. Usually every states of India have different
official languages. It is considered not good to be direct when goo for questions and also not expect
a fast response. This is also applicable when someone goes for some personal questions. It’s also
unethical to always be the first to talk upon and not should talk only about what you are interested
in. Pauses in between talks are expected, it can be used for emphasis or to show disapproval.
Silence cannot be common, it is normally for sitting and enjoy someone’s company.
Non-Verbal Communication: India is much more conscious toward non-verbal
communication, as we discussed in greetings like they use gestures to welcome the guest,
“Namaste”, give bow to the guest and this custom is in all over India. Men have to shake hands
just with men not with women. And women should not give the handshake. Touching forefoot
considered as respect and symbol of showing respect to elders. Remove footwear outside whenever
go for any spiritual place and even some cultures or region in India this practice also done that
families remove their shoes outside the home.
Indian family usually sit on the floor to eat food with whole family and it shows kind of unity
within the family, while eating use of left hand considered bad sign or disrespect. And it also
prohibited to give gifts with left hand.
Business Meetings
It is actually depend on the culture of the organizations. But if we talk about meetings of
families first time then third party are responsible to introduce them with each other because they
think mutual understanding should create before go for any business. And when we talk about
business meetings it usually of informal ways with traditional organization of India. Anyone can
enter in the room and can interrupt during the meetings. And start of the meetings usually starts
from talks of general not to the important discussions later they do their official meetings. In India
it is common to exchange the business cards on very first meeting, and give some gifts like sweets.
Avoid touching the other parts of body like to put your arm over the shoulder of other, at very

10. initial just shake hands this is considered as good manner. The dress for business meeting is
western dress like for man it is common to suits and ties for man and pant suit or long skirt for
women.
References
https://www.importantgk.com/indian-population-religion-wise-2017/
https://www.thespruce.com/ultimate-guide-to-dining-indian-style-1957866
http://www.giftypedia.com/India_Gift_Giving_Customs
http://www.indianfoodforever.com/food-guide/indian-food-cuisine.html
https://culturalcomparisonscom272.wordpress.com/india-versus-north-america/central-and-southern-
india/india-verbal-and-nv-communication/