Interesting Comment on Indians

vmehra24 · Feb 29th, 2008, 13:21

"It’s amazing how happy and content people seem; how much serenity is about. I notice it, and other members of my party notice it. There are dogs not barking: an absence of harshness, an absence of chilliness, an absence of bite. Even the people who have basically nothing — who live in squalor — seem happy. At peace. They are smiling. All over, people are smiling...."

Read more at:

Jay Nordlinger,
National Review

MOD NOTE: article deleted and website link supplied. click on link to read entire article.

Aishah · Feb 29th, 2008, 13:41

I think a shame to put a dampener on your natural warmth, Jay. Maybe if you worked in the same kind of work in one of the big metros here you may find people much the same as in US where you are living. I think when we are travelling in a relaxed frame of mind, outside the pressures of home and work in our home country, things appear much more relaxed and friendly. I know in NZ and Oz we are friendly towards visitors to these countries - and I've never been to USA so am not in a position really to comment there. India, for me, is a relatively easy but sometimes frustratingly difficult country to live in - just like it is back in NZ or Oz!! And people can be friendly or indifferent here just the same.

vmehra24 · Feb 29th, 2008, 14:25

I cant comment on Americans but the Europeans (Germans to be precise) seemed gentle and relaxed to me (when I stayed a couple of years in a small German town.

Nick-H · Feb 29th, 2008, 14:31

No, sorry, it isn't an interesting comment, it is a typical two-weeks-in-India generalisation, and I don't think he ever took the rose-tinted specs off.

I can counter my own negative response to the article by considering what a similar piece based on two weeks in London might be like; certainly India has more smiling faces, even amongst the poor.

But still...

the opoponax · Feb 29th, 2008, 14:34

At the same time, though, traveling through India I have seen kindness that really isn't equivalent to what a tourist to the USA would find, and a relaxed and simple sociability that doesn't correspond to anything I've seen in the west (even outside major metros where people generally aren't as rushed and alienated).

Yesterday I was stuck in Old Delhi traffic. A woman came up who'd been trying to find an empty rickshaw for ages - she hopped into mine and we chatted all the way to Connaught Place about everything under the sun (and not small talk, either). This would simply NEVER EVER EVER happen even in the smallest American town. And this in the middle of the biggest city in India, from a woman trying to get through a traffic jam to visit her mother-in-law in the hospital. Maybe it only happened because I'm an exotic foreigner, but even so, I'd never hop into a taxi with some Japanese tourist in New York, and if I had to share for some reason we probably wouldn't speak.

India is just different. I'm not romanticizing, here - I've had my share of the cold shoulder, and there are things about Indian life that bug the hell out of me. But the bottom line is that Indian culture is different. That's not rose colored glasses, it's plain and simple ethnography.

Nick-H · Feb 29th, 2008, 14:38

There is truth in it, and, of course, in what you say.

rangers · Feb 29th, 2008, 14:48

I Like This.

shashank.aggarwal · Feb 29th, 2008, 15:14

I noticed this in Goa...sitting in a shack, different people all on different tables, and these people are visiting the same shack on daily basis, for several months a year, year after year...

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night..that was it..even if they had to talk, they will never hop on to other persons table or invite other person to their table..

Thank god, I was able to get some life there, when I left actually 4-5 of us had started to share the same table..

Ira Writer · Feb 29th, 2008, 15:26

I like the fact that in India people don't make small talk for the heck of it. In certain places people smile as though they are permanently facing the camera ala the Truman Show. I'm yet to experience that here and I hope I don't.

karuna · Feb 29th, 2008, 15:38

The tone of that article made me grind my teeth.

the opoponax · Feb 29th, 2008, 15:43

Indians don't make small talk?

Really? Since when? Have they implemented that since I stepped into this internet kiosk, maybe?

Kingstonian · Feb 29th, 2008, 16:17

Hah!
The guy equates "smiling" with being "happy and content".

In Asia.

Where has he been?

chennaichap · Feb 29th, 2008, 16:21

Every time i see a foreigner in need of help , like when he / she is asking a person who cannot understand English , i always feel like helping , but then i think what if they feel i am poking in unnecessarily .

KateW · Feb 29th, 2008, 16:58

I'm a;ways really, really grateful if someone helps me with the language or whatever. So keep interfering

Aishah · Feb 29th, 2008, 18:12

Oh - it's actually an article - I read it as OP's original Post. I think some punctuation was left out and it looked like it was!
Indians are generally helpful as noted, but so are N.Z'ers and Ozzies - at least I would like to think we are. I know I would help someone in distress or share a taxi with them if unable to get one... Used to do this often where I lived before if other passengers were on the same route.
Agree with you, Nick -it's not that interesting a comment after being on holiday for 2 weeks.

'there are dogs not barking' - where did this man go? Did he stay inside his 5 star hotel all day and night?? Did he have double glazing or something? EVERYWHERE I have been in India THERE ARE DOGS BARKING.

Feb 29th, 2008, 13:21	#1
vmehra24 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 205	Interesting Comment on Indians "It’s amazing how happy and content people seem; how much serenity is about. I notice it, and other members of my party notice it. There are dogs not barking: an absence of harshness, an absence of chilliness, an absence of bite. Even the people who have basically nothing — who live in squalor — seem happy. At peace. They are smiling. All over, people are smiling...." Read more at: Jay Nordlinger, National Review MOD NOTE: article deleted and website link supplied. click on link to read entire article. Last edited by Sama : Feb 29th, 2008 at 13:43. Reason: deleted article and used website link instead

Feb 29th, 2008, 13:41	#2
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,477	I think a shame to put a dampener on your natural warmth, Jay. Maybe if you worked in the same kind of work in one of the big metros here you may find people much the same as in US where you are living. I think when we are travelling in a relaxed frame of mind, outside the pressures of home and work in our home country, things appear much more relaxed and friendly. I know in NZ and Oz we are friendly towards visitors to these countries - and I've never been to USA so am not in a position really to comment there. India, for me, is a relatively easy but sometimes frustratingly difficult country to live in - just like it is back in NZ or Oz!! And people can be friendly or indifferent here just the same. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Feb 29th, 2008, 14:31	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	No, sorry, it isn't an interesting comment, it is a typical two-weeks-in-India generalisation, and I don't think he ever took the rose-tinted specs off. I can counter my own negative response to the article by considering what a similar piece based on two weeks in London might be like; certainly India has more smiling faces, even amongst the poor. But still... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Feb 29th, 2008, 15:14	#8
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,779	I noticed this in Goa...sitting in a shack, different people all on different tables, and these people are visiting the same shack on daily basis, for several months a year, year after year... Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night..that was it..even if they had to talk, they will never hop on to other persons table or invite other person to their table.. Thank god, I was able to get some life there, when I left actually 4-5 of us had started to share the same table.. __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

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Feb 29th, 2008, 14:25	#3
vmehra24 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 205	I cant comment on Americans but the Europeans (Germans to be precise) seemed gentle and relaxed to me (when I stayed a couple of years in a small German town.

Feb 29th, 2008, 14:34	#5
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	At the same time, though, traveling through India I have seen kindness that really isn't equivalent to what a tourist to the USA would find, and a relaxed and simple sociability that doesn't correspond to anything I've seen in the west (even outside major metros where people generally aren't as rushed and alienated). Yesterday I was stuck in Old Delhi traffic. A woman came up who'd been trying to find an empty rickshaw for ages - she hopped into mine and we chatted all the way to Connaught Place about everything under the sun (and not small talk, either). This would simply NEVER EVER EVER happen even in the smallest American town. And this in the middle of the biggest city in India, from a woman trying to get through a traffic jam to visit her mother-in-law in the hospital. Maybe it only happened because I'm an exotic foreigner, but even so, I'd never hop into a taxi with some Japanese tourist in New York, and if I had to share for some reason we probably wouldn't speak. India is just different. I'm not romanticizing, here - I've had my share of the cold shoulder, and there are things about Indian life that bug the hell out of me. But the bottom line is that Indian culture is different. That's not rose colored glasses, it's plain and simple ethnography.

Feb 29th, 2008, 14:38	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	There is truth in it, and, of course, in what you say.

Feb 29th, 2008, 14:48	#7
rangers Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India Posts: 450	I Like This.

Feb 29th, 2008, 15:26	#9
Ira Writer Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 7	I like the fact that in India people don't make small talk for the heck of it. In certain places people smile as though they are permanently facing the camera ala the Truman Show. I'm yet to experience that here and I hope I don't.

Feb 29th, 2008, 15:38	#10
karuna The cat's mother Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the wrong side of the Y-A-M-U-N-A Posts: 1,936	The tone of that article made me grind my teeth.

Feb 29th, 2008, 15:43	#11
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	Indians don't make small talk? Really? Since when? Have they implemented that since I stepped into this internet kiosk, maybe?

Feb 29th, 2008, 16:17	#12
Kingstonian Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Posts: 487	Hah! The guy equates "smiling" with being "happy and content". In Asia. Where has he been?

Feb 29th, 2008, 16:21	#13
chennaichap Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: chennai Posts: 18	Every time i see a foreigner in need of help , like when he / she is asking a person who cannot understand English , i always feel like helping , but then i think what if they feel i am poking in unnecessarily .

Feb 29th, 2008, 16:58	#14
KateW Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Delhi Posts: 53	I'm a;ways really, really grateful if someone helps me with the language or whatever. So keep interfering

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Feb 29th, 2008, 18:12	#15
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,477	Oh - it's actually an article - I read it as OP's original Post. I think some punctuation was left out and it looked like it was! Indians are generally helpful as noted, but so are N.Z'ers and Ozzies - at least I would like to think we are. I know I would help someone in distress or share a taxi with them if unable to get one... Used to do this often where I lived before if other passengers were on the same route. Agree with you, Nick -it's not that interesting a comment after being on holiday for 2 weeks. 'there are dogs not barking' - where did this man go? Did he stay inside his 5 star hotel all day and night?? Did he have double glazing or something? EVERYWHERE I have been in India THERE ARE DOGS BARKING.