2. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Report
History …………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Facts ………………...………………………………….………….......………………… 1
Geography & Wildlife …………………………………………………………………... 2
Politics …………………………………………………………………………………... 2
Economy ………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Culture …………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Business Customs ……………………………………………………………………….. 4
Eating ……………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Travel ……………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Education ………………………………………………………………………………... 7
How India Can Benefit from FBLA …………………………………………………….. 8
Social Media …………………………………………………………………………….. 9
New Project …………………………………………………………………………….. 10
Recruitment Idea ……………………………………………………………………….. 11
Bibliography …………………………...………………………………………………………. 12
Appendices
Appendix A: Itinerary ………………………………………………………………… 13
Appendix B: Budget ………………………………………………………..………… 14
Appendix C: Budget Graphs ……………………………………….………………… 15
Appendix D: Presentation Outline ………………………………………….………… 16
Appendix E: Brochure Inside ………………………………………………………… 17
Appendix F: Brochure Outside …………………………….………………………… 18
Appendix G: Ten Recruitment Ideas ……………………………………….………… 19
Appendix I: Map of New Delhi ……………...……………………………………… 20
3. 1
History
The Republic of India is a diverse region with an extensive history. It was controlled by
many empires and sultanates throughout time. The Persian, Greek, and Maurya Empires, the
Delhi Sultanate, Sikh Empire – all held control over the subcontinent for time, but none lasted
too long. Finally, in 1617, the British East India Company began its rule of the country, and
power was eventually transferred to the British government after the rebellion of 1857 left the
government determined to keep full control and to prevent further uprisings. India remained
under British rule until it became an independent nation in 1947-1948 because of the actions of
many leaders, such as Mohandas Gandhi. While independence was forward progress, over the
years tensions between the Hindus and Muslims have grown to new heights. Muslims are the
minority, but do not trust Hindu rule. Unfortunately, this has caused a lot of conflict and fighting
in the country.
Facts
The India of today is much different than it was in its past. It is the second most
populous country in the world, surpassed only by China (and even expected to exceed them in
2025) with a population of 1,210,193,422 as of the 2011 census. That is a population density of
almost a thousand people per square mile. Speaking of area, the total area of the country is
1,269,219 square miles. Population growth, however, is slowing, and India is ranked 102nd in the
4. 2
world with a growth rate of 1.41%. Hindus comprise just above 80% of the population, Muslims
have 13.4%, and the rest are the small minorities of Christians, Sikhs, Buddhist, Jains, and other.
As one of the most diverse countries, the “other” is made up of over two thousand ethnic groups
that represent every major religion! Only Africa exceeds the diversity of the nation of India,
linguistically, genetically, and culturally. The largest cities, in order, are Mumbai, Delhi,
Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. An average citizen is a 25.1 year old male,
and the literacy rate is 81.4%. 92.2% of the population is employed.
Geography & Wildlife
India is a peninsula that has 4,700 miles of coastline, which is consisted of sandy
beaches, rocky shores, cliffs, and marshy shores. It is home to major rivers, including the
religiously-oriented Ganges River. The climate is varying depending on the region, and is either
tropical wet, tropical dry, subtropical humid, or mountain. Monsoons, both summer and winter,
are essential to both the culture and the economy of India. Because of the massive surface area
and mountains, India also has a very diverse wildlife population to compliment the diverse
landscape. Around 10% of the landmass is thick jungle, which houses many exotic species.
Unfortunately, human habitats have endangered much of the wildlife, but recent efforts have
slowed the loss. There are now more than five hundred wildlife sanctuaries.
Politics
5. 3
According to Wikipedia, India is the world’s most populous democracy. The nation has
six national parties, which include the liberal Indian National Congress and the conservative
Bharatiya Janata Party. Like the United States, India is a constitutional republic and
representative democracy, but is a federation with a parliamentary system. There is both a
president (elected by an electoral college for a five-year term) that serves as the head of state and
a prime minister that is appointed by the president and serves as the head of government and has
the most executive power of the two. The prime minister is supported by the part holding the
majority of seats in the lower house of parliament. Also like the United States, the legislative
branch of India is bicameral, and the judicial branch has a three-tier judiciary with the Supreme
Court at the top.
Economy
India has the tenth-largest economy in the world, and is the third-largest in terms of
purchasing power. However, the economy is one of the fast-growing, and has grown 5.8% over
the past two decades. Even more exciting is that economists expect the GDP to increase at an
average of 8% annually for the next forty years and their purchasing power could overtake that
of the United States by 2045. As an unfortunately poor nation, it is 128th in GDP per capita.
Since the population is so large, so is the workforce, which consists of 487.6 million workers
(second largest in the world).
6. 4
The majority of the GDP is driven by the service industry, but agricultural production of
products including rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, and potatoes compromise
18.1%. India exports textiles, jewelry, software, chemicals, and engineering goods, and imports
machinery, germs, and crude oil. The poverty situation is getting better since the government has
more than doubled the hourly wage in the last decade. Still, as of 2005 42% of the population
lived below the World Bank’s poverty line and half of the children are underweight.
Culture
Since Hindus are the primary ethnic group, the caste system is very prevalent in the
culture of India. A hierarchical social system means that everyone is very aware of their status
relative to others and respect that. In fact, almost all relationships are based off of some sort of
hierarchy, whether it is because of gender, profession, or age. Close ties are kept with family,
both immediate and extended. People define themselves based on their religion, area, career, etc.
instead of their individual identities. As discussed in the next section, Indians do not like to say
“no” and will often tell you instead what they think you want to hear or will just be vague on
details. Their behavior should not be taken as dishonest, and non-verbal clues should tell you if
they really mean what they say.
Business Customs
When interacting in a professional manner with someone from India, there are many
things to know. First, instead of the handshake, they prefer a Namaste. This is where you bring
7. 5
your palms together at chest level and slightly bow your head. It is a sign of understanding
etiquette to them. Also, always use the appropriate titles when addressing someone. Dressing is
very conservative. Men typically wear dark-colored suits and women wear conservative suits or
dresses. Typically the weather determines the clothing, but even in the hottest days is dressing
scantily not appropriate.
Business cards are to be given right away after meeting someone. You both give and
receive cards with your right hand, and then put them away respectfully. Include any degrees on
your business card and many a Hindi translation since that is what the majority of the population
speaks. Meetings are arranged well in advance – done in writing and confirmed by phone.
Punctuality is highly respected, and the eldest is always greeted first. They never use the word
“no” – instead they prefer the more evasive “I’ll try.” Heads and feet are sacred and should never
be touched (if you accidently do so, apologize). Negotiations can be slow since they are typically
slow to trust new people.
When dining, wash your hands before and after because much of the food is eaten with
the fingers (and, more specifically, the right hand). If there are any utensils, it will be a spoon.
Do not leave any food on the plate, but servings aren’t usually big enough to where that is a
problem. Indians also do not use many condiments, so don’t look around for something to put on
your food. You always turn down the first offer for something, but then accept it afterwards.
8. 6
Eating
Because of the wide range of ethnic groups, there is no general standard for Indian
cuisine. Most dishes have rice mixed with some sort of meat or vegetable. Vegetarianism is a
growing trend in India. For those who aren’t, Hinduism doesn’t allow the consumption of beef or
pork, so they are often excluded from any dishes. Like the United States, they eat three main
meals, with the last, evening meal being the largest. Considering how low the GDP per capita is,
food at restaurants is not expensive at all. The price per meal per person is around $1 - $4, with
drinks adding more costs. Lunch is even cheaper, but if you venture in to the nice restaurants in
the cities, prices will be higher for all meals.
Travel
When looking for long-distance travel in India, airplanes are going to be the top choice.
Some of the top airlines include Air Sahara, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher
Airways. Some flights are available for as low as $11. For tourists looking to fly to multiple
cities in India, “Visit India” passes are available from airlines as a cheaper way to fly around the
country.
Another viable travel option is via the Indian Railways. It is cheaper than flying,
comfortable, and allows you to experience the sights and culture of India better than flying
would. There are two main trains: the Rajdhani and the Shatabdi. Both trains have air
9. 7
conditioning, are fast, offer a choice to reserve a full sleeper seat, and include meals in the price
of the ticket. A first class sleeper will set you back about $80, and second class is about $54.
Both prices include meals.
Finally, the other two options for transportation are bus and taxi. Buses are typically
overcrowded and not a pleasant experience, so those are typically avoided unless absolutely
necessary. Taxis are fine and a perfectly fine option to use for short-distance travel. Taxis are
available on a prepaid basis from airports and railroad stations, so there isn’t much bargaining
and the fares are good.
In order for an American citizen to travel to India, they must have a passport to be able to
leave and reenter our country. There is a high risk of crime and terrorism while visiting in India,
so be wary of any suspicious persons and keep an eye on any precious belongings at all times.
Hotels can be very nice, but for a price of course.
Education
Education is not of primary concern to many Indians, and, as a result, ¾ of the population
is illiterate and only 7% graduate from high school. Like the poverty situation (which is probably
a result of this), the number of out-of-school children has declined from 25 million in 2003 to 8.1
million in 2009. 8.1 million is still a huge number of children without schooling, but the
situation could be, and has been, worse. The social caste system has a negative effect because
students that are lower in the caste system are less likely to attend school.
10. 8
There are very few qualified teachers in India, because so few people even finish high
school to start with. The average is one teacher to every 34 students, but the numbers can get as
high as one teacher to more than 60 students. About 1 in 5 of those teachers does not even have
the requisite minimum schooling to even properly benefit these children. Also, a lack of
sanitation is a major problem in many schools, and only 65 out of 100 schools have modern
toilets.
How India Can Benefit from FBLA
Clearly, with such a low amount of students reaching high school, those that do are very
motivated students. I think that those students, even though they may have been given more
chances than the others, have the potential to do great things. Like American students that are
involved in the organization, FBLA can teach them the skills necessary to become successful in
the business world. All of the skills that students learn here are universally-important. There
isn’t one person that couldn’t benefit from getting better at public speaking or their specific area
of expertise.
Through competitive events, workshops, conferences, community service opportunities,
and officer teams, Indian students could learn how to be better leaders, both as businessmen and
as community leaders. The community would benefit, too, from more involved, business-
oriented students, and from the community service projects. I think that an Indian with proper
business knowledge and an understanding of the situation that many commoners live in would
11. 9
definitely have the power to bring about some changes and change the lives of many citizens
through the government.
With the expansion of FBLA to international waters, students from the different countries
could meet up and learn more about the others’ cultures. International exposure is beneficial to
become culturally-acceptant citizens and many members end up going on to major in
international business. These interactions would set them on the right track from the start.
Social Media
Like everywhere else in the world, social media and the online revolution are taking India
by storm. In fact, India is in the top three for fastest growing Internet markets and has one of the
youngest demographics. There are roughly 120 million internet users, with about half of those on
Facebook and 16 million of them on Twitter. This is powerful in the potential is could have for
being a catalyst for online FBLA success.
In the United States, FBLA uses social media and various websites for a wide range of
purposes. The websites contain information that is always readily accessible – dates of
conferences, competition information, etc. The social media pages are frequently updated with
any new and relevant info to keep students that keep up with the pages up-to-date on short
notice. There are various levels to the websites and pages, too. FBLA National Center has their
own web page, Facebook page, and Twitter account. From there, many of the state chapters have
their own versions of each type of communication delivery. Finally, many local chapters have
12. 10
their own social media pages to keep their own local members up-to-date on information that is
only relevant to them specifically.
In India, all of these same principles apply. However, a big problem is the language
barrier, since there are so many different active languages in the country. A possibility is a
different national page for each language, in which students of a common dialect can interact to
plan projects, get ideas, and network. Following the hierarchical trend, many regions or districts
could have their own pages for competing schools since schools, from what I understand,
typically are not big enough to merit their own pages. Together, social media and websites could
be used to unite students and create a one, unified Future Business Leaders of India instead of
many separate, independently-operating chapters.
New Project
Taking into account the extreme poverty and illiteracy prevalent in India, I am proposing
a project that would combine the two problems in one solution. It would be called “Food and
Reading.” FBLI members would volunteer at selected locations that would serve as food
kitchens and give food to malnourished citizens. The condition is, that while they are eating, they
have to learn the basics of how to read and write from one of the members. Now, in one day, not
much is going to be achieved, but if this project is repeated frequently and there are frequent
visitors, this could have a profound impact on someone’s life.
13. 11
Recruitment Ideas
These are my ten recruitment ideas: First, you can tell them about the benefits of joining.
Second, you tell parents that then convince their children to join. Third, membership campaigns
at schools are always successful no matter what country you are in. Fourth, discounting the cost
of membership for members who recruit a certain number of new members encourages active
recruitment. Fifth, teenagers love food, so providing food to students in some way will motivate
them to join. Sixth, community service results in positive press for an FBLA chapter, which in
turn results in increased membership. Seventh, partnerships with businesses to provide discounts
for FBLA members will make them rationalize the cost of dues easier. Eighth, if possible, are
celebrity endorsements, because teenagers being told to do something by their favorite celebrity
are more likely to do it. Ninth, guest speakers can spark a student’s interest in student
organizations and can drive them to get involved. Finally, testimonials for students from the
United States about their positive experience in FBLA, whether they are there in person or just in
writing, can motivate Indians to be more like their globally-opposite counterparts.
14. 12
Bibliography
"A Concise History of India." Geographia Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
"Education in India." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
"INDIA - LANGUAGE, CULTURE, CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE." Kwintessential. N.p., n.d. Web.
19 Feb. 2013.
"India Travel Information - Travel Options for Tourists Visiting India." Travel India Smart. N.p., n.d.
Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
"Politics in India." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
15. 13
Appendix A - ITINERARY
Sara Beth Marchert
June 3 – 7, 2013
Monday, June 3
4:00 p.m. Depart for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
5:50 p.m. Depart on United Airlines Flight 534, with layovers
Tuesday, June 4
All day Travel, wait on layovers
Wednesday, June 5
5:55 a.m. Arrive in New Delhi, India
7:00 a.m. Arrive at hotel
2:00 p.m. Wake up, explore the city
Thursday, June 6
10:00 a.m. Presentation to students and teachers at the hotel conference center,
stay after for any questions
Friday, June 7
5:00 a.m. Depart for airport
5:55 am Depart on United Airlines flight 824, with layovers
11:30 p.m. Arrive back home in Atlanta
17. 15
Appendix C – BUDGET GRAPH
Round-trip flight
Taxes & Fees
Hotel (two nights)
Food
Transporation
18. 16
Appendix D – PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Title slide
2. What is FBLA?
a. Mission
3. Fun Facts
a. Concept developed in 1937 by Dr. Forkner
b. First chapter in Johnson City, TN in 1942
c. 250,000+ students
d. Headquarters in Reston, VA
e. Largest business career student organization in the world.
4. Why should they join?
a. Business experience
b. Networking
c. Resume
d. Leadership and teamwork skills
5. How to join
a. Pay dues to a local adviser
21. 19
Appendix G – TEN RECRUITMENT IDEAS
1. Network with high schools and convince them
2. Convince parents, who then make their children join
3. Discount the membership or field trips of students who recruit others
4. Entice them with food
5. Partner with businesses to provide discounts to members
6. Celebrity endorsements
7. Community service projects for publicity
8. Membership campaigns
9. Guest speakers
10. Americans speaking positively about the organization
