Interviewing people while in India

proxyindian

Inspired by some sidebars in books, we've decided to start interviewing people that we meet when we go. For example, we could ask the following things of, let's say, a tuktuk driver: What's your name, where do you come from, how long have you worked in (wherever we are), do you have family?

Of course, we'd give him time to reply.

What are some other good questions to ask of someone?
What are potential pitfalls?
Are there kinds of people we just shouldn't ask?
I'm fairly certain there are kinds of questions not to ask, but what are some I shouldn't ask? Please let me know of subtleties that wouldn't be offensive to me, a loudmouth American by nature, but would be rude to someone in India.

I think it would be an interesting way to add dimensions to the people we meet.

Also, I'm going to work on these questions in Hindi since language is the area that my, er, admittedly oddly wired brain does well. "Aap kya kaha se hai?" "Apka naam kya hai?" "Apka parivar yaha?" Hmmmm... I don't think that last sentence is quite right.... "Kya apka parivar ke saat hai?" Is that better? ... Probably I should hit the books and review......

Thanks for any feedback,
Proxyindian, ace reporter

devorenm

Having done some anthropology work in India I think I can give you a little help with this. One of the nice things about Indians (at least in northern India where I did my research) is that once you get them started they will generally talk your ear off. The only advice I can think of is that the general 123 line of questioning is somewhat problematic, a "conversational" or "informal" interview is the best way to do it.

PeakXV

What are some other good questions to ask of someone?
Where's the best place to get some decent biryani and an ice cold lager in this one elephant town?



What are potential pitfalls?
That they will turn the tables, Indian style, & the interrogator will quickly become the interrogatee.

Are there kinds of people we just shouldn't ask?
Mafia Dons


I'm fairly certain there are kinds of questions not to ask, but what are some I shouldn't ask?
From which country you?

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

skk

Drunk people. Also Security(police, paramilitary, military) people - not just at borders or close to defense establishments but also dams, ports, airports and power plants - this is no different from the US - try asking the cammo guys at Area 52 (NV) a question or two - or even try approaching the fenced off area.

Sex. religion.Politics. - Once you avoid those aspects these are going to be interesting conversations !

Let me ask you something - are you modeling after Toqueville, John Gunther, Geraldo or even gonzo journalism ? gonzo would be very interesting if you do it.

You should watch some of the reporters on Indian news channels - AAJTAK and HT, especially the female ones - fearless, I tell ya, totally fearless.

-skk

Nick-H

My native-Indian wife interviews such people.

She hates the standard Indian interrogation (it's not only tourists that get it), and refuses to reveal her personal details.In fact I've known her to enquire what possible use the information could be to the enquirer --- but she engages people in conversation and finds out about their lives, at a pace that they are comfortable to give.

She does all this while also maintaing the distances and barriers of woman talking to man, employer talking to employee, etc, etc, etc.

Damned clever!

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dhans

whereyoufrom
wassyourname
whatsyourincome
wannebuy..

Sorry, letting myself go a bit

Hans

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billyshake

I've posted this once before, but when I was applying for my Indian visa, I had put down 'writer' as my occupation. After that, I was sent a form stating that I would undertake 'no journalistic endeavor' while in India (was actually much more in depth a form). I don't know how seriously it's taken. But it's something to consider.

proxyindian

I don't know who Toqueville or John GUnther is. Geraldo is a creep. I'm modeling myself after the sidebars in some books. Here's an example from the coffee table book "The Milleneium Book on New Dehli": Abdul Qudoos is an auto driver and came from Bihar about five years ago. He finds the living standards of Delhi quite good 'as being a capital Delhi doesn't lack anything'. Theimportant thing he notes is the homogenization that takes place here sa soon as one arrives. According to him, 'everyone starts speaking Hindi in the same way.'

See how simple that is?

I'm a children's librarian at a very large suburban library. We have a large NRI population so I get to buy every book about India and Pakistan published. In some of these books they have short bios about everyday people. I just think it would be nice to find out about the people we meet. That's all.

We were interviewed by a very nice guy in the army. We were walking around St. James' Church and he came out of wherever he was to chat with us. Utlimately he just wanted to know if we could get him a Visa. We only talked for 5 minutes but it was a lot of fun.

I avoid religion and politics anyway. I've learned that the hard way. But sex.... I try not to bring it up. It's the locals who have talked to me about sex... I would rather not talk about that at all since their reason for it is not innocent. "Do you want a village girl to come to your hotel room?" NO!

But I just want to be able to ask people things about their lives so that when I look back at the photos I can say, "That was driver who came from Nepal. He's going back next year to find a wife. He sang to us 'Roop Tera Mastana' when I asked him what songs he liked."

Ultimately, I'm just looking for guidance on how not to cross the lines or do what is rude.

Thanks everyone for your input. I find the comments about journalism very interesting. As someone who was interviewed last year on "world tourism day" I know how gonzo the reporters can be.

obione980

I'd have thought you would ask questions to satisfy your curiousity on some aspect of Indian life , culture or politics!

If you don't know what to ask - why ask??

Are you asking on behalf of someone else - if so - surely yhey'll tell you what thay want to knoiw!

I just do not get what you're about!

vireya

Must admit I'm a bit confused, too. Why do you refer to this as "interviewing"? Isn't this just having a conversation, a normal human interaction? If this is interviewing, I started interviewing the driver who took me to my hotel when I first arrived, then interviewed people every day wherever I went. Are you really saying that you weren't planning to talk to anyone in India until you were inspired by some book sidebars?

vireya

Oh, and I should say, just do it! You will find out all sorts of fascinating things about life in India.

obione980

Yeah - i agree with vireya! Just talk to people - everyone likes to ask about the lives of others, and talk about themselves.

Scripted interviews would be - and sound wooden!

Are you travelling independently - or as part of a group?

proxyindian

You're right. I'm just being silly, I guess. I mean, I was really thinking of whiping out pen and paper. What gets into me? I'm glad you all are hear to get me back into shape. Thanks for bringing me back down to earth! I guess better to look foolish here than there.

But of course I was going to talk to people, but there have been way too many people we haven't talked to. Anyway, thanks. Now the sooner this thread gets buried, the better.

Mickey S

What even makes you think that you can "interview" Indian people in this way? How would ordinary Americans feel if they were to be interviewed by Indian tourists? Bemused? Suspicious? Irritated?

You seem to be treating an entire developing nation as nothing more than an anthropological project.

skk

As the thread gets buried - let me ask - do you consult librarians in India about the stock of books when you choose sub-continent orientated books?

I support non-interference in your choice of books - especially governmental non-interference. There is an implicit responsibility on the library - especially a govt.(state, county, city ) funded one to make representative( globally and political-spectrum representative) choices on the books they stock.

btw - "The Millennium Book on New Delhi" sounds like a good choice - and "Roop Tera Mastana" is an excellent song - but pretty old.

-skk