Gift Giving

jnelson

I am traveling to Mumbai next week on business and will meet several people that I (and my company) appreciate knowing and working with. I have just learned that one of these people will be leaving for maternity leave soon and I would like to give her a warm gift of congratulations. I can think of a few options but I'm not very familary with Indian culture... Especially when it comes to gift giving. Are there traditional gifts for this purpose? Would something Indian, or western be more appropriate? Are there any (bad luck) gifts to avoid (I've heard not to use Black or White wrapping paper and to avoid certian types of flowers)?

What about gift giving in general? Any rules of thumb?

Any help will be appreciated.


Jim

aadil

Anything that comes straight from the heart should not matter what you give as long as it is with the right feelings. Maybe how you package it would have some meanings which could be interpreted as unlucky for some like the colours you mentioned but otherwise it should be fine to gift what you like. I think something like perfumes or cosmetics should be fine for the mom to be!!! That is something that will be much in demand with women out here, so you will not go wrong there!!!

Cheers,
Aadil.

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blueprairie

I was informed this week that my boss is "discussing" sending me to our office in India next month. I work for a software multinational and the office I work in is located in a US Big 10University town. Most of the colleagues I will be meeting are IT types in their twenties. Would it be appropriate for me to bring a dozen University t-shirts in various sizes to give as presents?

(I would like to bring something that is unique to where I work and live).

cyberhippie

A word or two on gift giving, on which I would appreciate some feedback on from Indian members.
It's been my observation that in giving of gifts, westerners may feel a little perturbed/concerned that there is little or no reaction to gifts recieved. Not that they aren't appreciated or anything but the western way of Ooh Ahh how lovely, thoughtful (place you own adjective here) doesn't seem to be the Indian way (or am I hopelessly lost on this one) gifts are often stashed away with barely a word spoken about the said gift!!

An interesting cultural difference or just cyberhippie reading too much into his experiences???????

capt_mahajan

Blueprairie, the Tshirt thing seems a good idea to me.

CH, I think you are right, overall.
Not only gifts, but it is more common, and seen as more polite, in the West to be effusive about many events... as examples the mothers day, fathers day thing et al (though marketing guys are trying their best to replicate it in India for obvious reasons), or an acquaintances promotion etc, or even a 'formal' marriage proposal between just the two individuals.


With presents too, in the West it would not be uncommon for a receiver to open a present immediately, then rave about it, partly out of politness.

In India, somehow, this is almost considered impolite. Even when children have birthday parties, and they are probably dying to open the presents, normally this is done after all the guests have gone.

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blueprairie

Thanks, Captain ... I have been warned about the "don't open gifts right away" custom. I'm trying to do my homework so I don't make too many faux pas while I'm there (*if* in fact I get to go).

capt_mahajan

Wow, I wasnt aware this was an item for international business travellers

Personally, I find it charming and interesting when different nationalities react differently; one always gets some leeway for being a foreigner, anyway, and diverse reactions are more interesting..
And sometimes I think the international 'consultants' overdo the cultural sensitivity thing.

cyberhippie

Cheers Cap'n, I mentioned it because it is kind of weird when your home conditioning comes up against the way other cultures think and react. I remember my Mother In Law being a little peeved about how the gifts she brought for friends were received. I explained that I thought it was just a difference in cultures!!

capt_mahajan

Dont know if this is a pan-India reasoning, but as kids we were told to wait till everybody left before opening birthday presents, because one person may spend much more than another, and the cheaper giftgiver would feel bad.