top misconceptions about india

Jan 20th, 2005, 22:08

what is the one ball, that india doesnt deserve to have in her court, but somehow still does (maybe thanks to the media) ?

OR

what, in your opinion, is the biggest wrongly held perception about india ?

i (we) are interested to know, in particular, of those notion(s) that changed or vanished, after you visited india in person, and saw and experienced everything for yourself.

ofcourse, others who haven't yet visted india, are also most welcome to chip in, with what they THINK is the most widely held misconception - or ball thats most inaccurately put in india's court.

i am not a foreigner myself, so i wouldn't know, but i have a feeling, that those few (if any) foreigners, who visit india "in fear" - believing that india is sort of anti-west, go back, with that notion dented considerably.

and now, can we please have your opinions trickling (preferably pouring) in ?

lobo · Jan 21st, 2005, 02:07

The stereo typical view of my friends of india (when I said i was going) was

Everyone eats curry.....
Its very poor (half right or maybe three quarters),
That there is no infastructure such as big buisness , IT , expensive goods,
That india (and indians) are dirty (hygine wise, but gandhi said this as well),
you will get ill if you eat teh food,
That is in general a unbalanced/dangerous place pollitically,

Apart from that I dont think they gave it much thought, apart from its another poor 3rd world country.

My own I have to be honest are hard to recall correctly (especially since in the last year I have spent three months in india), I hadnt really given india much thought.
I knew it exsisted and I knew India people living in england but I think if someone said india in my mind I used to see/feel (some of its more of a feeling eg if someone says west indies I see beaches but i feel the sun and hear the sea and distant sound of steel drums...)

Taj mahal,
Elephants,
slums,
overcrowded,
and a feel of poverty and desperation about the place.

Now when I think of it there is to many images/feelings, the chaos of dehli, the peace of mcleod ganj, the spiritual harmony of the golden temple, the boredom of train journeys, the thousands of faces, the hassles, I could go on and on and on but u get the idea

markhyd · Jan 21st, 2005, 02:43

I remember when i first landed I was hanging onto my bag like it was a lifering,
i was convinced someone was going to grab it off me. After a couple of days i realised if i left it somewhere, chances are someone would run after me to give it back. I guess when most westerners think of extremely poor places in their own countries they associate that with high crime levels. The same doesn't apply to India at all (or at least the parts i've been)

dzibead · Jan 21st, 2005, 03:02

In the West we hear so much about overpopulation and crowding in India that we think there must be 10 people jammed into every square meter! I think a lot of people who have never been to India have no concept of how much open space and rural land there actually is, even very close to the big cities (which DO often feel overcrowded!)

skell · Jan 21st, 2005, 03:09

The #1 misconception in my experience: "Isn't it dangerous?" "Aren't you afraid to walk around alone?" "WHY would you want to go there?"

These people should get out and go somewhere instead of judging the world from the couch in front of their television sets!

Jan 21st, 2005, 03:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by skell

The #1 misconception in my experience: "Isn't it dangerous?" "Aren't you afraid to walk around alone?"

lol guess i'd guessed correctly (read last bit of post #1)

Nick-H · Jan 21st, 2005, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by markhyd

I remember when i first landed I was hanging onto my bag like it was a lifering,
i was convinced someone was going to grab it off me. After a couple of days i realised if i left it somewhere, chances are someone would run after me to give it back. I guess when most westerners think of extremely poor places in their own countries they associate that with high crime levels. The same doesn't apply to India at all (or at least the parts i've been)

I was taking an evening walk with two canadian freinds here in Chennai the other day. They were saying how, In South America, this would have been a continual battle to outwit the pickpockets. They were delighted to find how safe it is on the streets here.

nomadelmundo · Jan 21st, 2005, 13:53

most Indians speak English

Mikki · Jan 23rd, 2005, 01:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by skell

These people should get out and go somewhere instead of judging the world from the couch in front of their television sets!

Hi Skell!

That admonition is perfect! I printed it out and stuck it on the refrigerator door so I can reformulate it fast if one more person asks me what there is to see in India!

lobo · Jan 23rd, 2005, 03:47

A lot of people will never visit India and will have there own stereo typical views on india. A lot of which has been posted here as misconceptions etc.
Its a shame they will never visit the place to see it for themseleves

Jan 21st, 2005, 13:53	#8
nomadelmundo a.k.a Sanyasin - the Wandering Aesthetic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 147	most Indians speak English __________________ Visit my forum for backpackers, trekkers & hikers where you can share stories, discuss trails, and upload unlimited amount of travel photos for FREE... @ PlanetNomads.com

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Jan 20th, 2005, 22:08	#1
Bengal Tiger Posts: n/a	top misconceptions about india what is the one ball, that india doesnt deserve to have in her court, but somehow still does (maybe thanks to the media) ? OR what, in your opinion, is the biggest wrongly held perception about india ? i (we) are interested to know, in particular, of those notion(s) that changed or vanished, after you visited india in person, and saw and experienced everything for yourself. ofcourse, others who haven't yet visted india, are also most welcome to chip in, with what they THINK is the most widely held misconception - or ball thats most inaccurately put in india's court. i am not a foreigner myself, so i wouldn't know, but i have a feeling, that those few (if any) foreigners, who visit india "in fear" - believing that india is sort of anti-west, go back, with that notion dented considerably. and now, can we please have your opinions trickling (preferably pouring) in ?

Jan 21st, 2005, 02:07	#2
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	The stereo typical view of my friends of india (when I said i was going) was Everyone eats curry..... Its very poor (half right or maybe three quarters), That there is no infastructure such as big buisness , IT , expensive goods, That india (and indians) are dirty (hygine wise, but gandhi said this as well), you will get ill if you eat teh food, That is in general a unbalanced/dangerous place pollitically, Apart from that I dont think they gave it much thought, apart from its another poor 3rd world country. My own I have to be honest are hard to recall correctly (especially since in the last year I have spent three months in india), I hadnt really given india much thought. I knew it exsisted and I knew India people living in england but I think if someone said india in my mind I used to see/feel (some of its more of a feeling eg if someone says west indies I see beaches but i feel the sun and hear the sea and distant sound of steel drums...) Taj mahal, Elephants, slums, overcrowded, and a feel of poverty and desperation about the place. Now when I think of it there is to many images/feelings, the chaos of dehli, the peace of mcleod ganj, the spiritual harmony of the golden temple, the boredom of train journeys, the thousands of faces, the hassles, I could go on and on and on but u get the idea

Jan 21st, 2005, 02:43	#3
markhyd Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 100	I remember when i first landed I was hanging onto my bag like it was a lifering, i was convinced someone was going to grab it off me. After a couple of days i realised if i left it somewhere, chances are someone would run after me to give it back. I guess when most westerners think of extremely poor places in their own countries they associate that with high crime levels. The same doesn't apply to India at all (or at least the parts i've been)

Jan 21st, 2005, 03:02	#4
dzibead res ipsa loquitur Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,885	In the West we hear so much about overpopulation and crowding in India that we think there must be 10 people jammed into every square meter! I think a lot of people who have never been to India have no concept of how much open space and rural land there actually is, even very close to the big cities (which DO often feel overcrowded!)

Jan 21st, 2005, 03:09	#5
skell Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The OC Posts: 993	The #1 misconception in my experience: "Isn't it dangerous?" "Aren't you afraid to walk around alone?" "WHY would you want to go there?" These people should get out and go somewhere instead of judging the world from the couch in front of their television sets!

Jan 23rd, 2005, 03:47	#10
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	A lot of people will never visit India and will have there own stereo typical views on india. A lot of which has been posted here as misconceptions etc. Its a shame they will never visit the place to see it for themseleves