India being such a diverse and big country, it’s not surprising to find people being confused about India. It is one of the oldest and greatest civilizations of the world. There are many unique things in India, many of which are still unknown to the rest of the world. There is a great diversity in the nation in almost every aspect, be it religion, language, food or dressing. Tourists and researchers from all around the world often visit India to study about its distinct heritage and diverse culture. Articles in magazines and internet are almost regularly published around the world about the lifestyle and culture of the Indians. Still people are confused and do carry some misconceptions about India. The list being quite long need to be summarized within some main and key points. This article will give you a more clear and a better view of India. So, here is a list of 6 Misconceptions about India.
1. Everyone is Hindu.
Nope. Though Hinduism is the largest religion here, every Indian is not a Hindu. India is home to people following different religions including Christianity, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and the Bahá’í Faith. India has the world’s largest Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Zoroastrian, and Bahá’í populations. . As per the 2011 census, 80.5% population of India are Hindus, but still the fact remains that not all of them.
2. Hindi is the national language of India/ Everyone speaks Hindi here.
Though Hindi is the first official language of India, hundreds of millions of people do not speak it. India has no national language although it is home to several hundred languages. In many Indian states Hindi is not the language people use in the street. It has to be learned in school. In south Indian states even English is more common than Hindi. Still, Hindi is the most widespread and most spoken language in India. So if you want to travel in India then learning Hindi will definitely be beneficial.
3. The food is spicy here.
The food here is amazingly diverse, with each state offering with different cuisine. Although spices are generously used in most of the north Indian dishes, you can still enjoy food items which are not at all spicy. Surprising to most of the foreigners, the staple foods of India ( Chapati and boiled rice) are not at all spicy.Food items in every state is unique in its own way from the method of preparing to the taste. We Indians have got a soft corner for desserts and sweets. Jaggery (made from raw sugarcane) is enjoyed with daily meal by a large population of north India. Sweet dishes like Gulaab Jamuns, Rasogullas, Laddo, Kheer, Halwa are savoured throughout India.
4. Everyone is vegetarian in India.
Again a big misconception. Many people, mostly Hindus follow a vegan diet in India but a much large population does not. Lot of people here include sheep, chicken, and fish in there diet. Again, state, geographical location and also religious beliefs do affect the choice of food. You will find fish as a common dish among the people living in coastal states of India.
5. Indians are poor and hungry.
Well, I am surprised how people make this image of India in their minds. Especially people from the western countries feel that India is a land of poor people. My advise to them will be to attend a wedding here. This misconception will be cleared when you will find the average lady wearing more gold than you can probably imagine. Surely there are some poor people in this country but then there are also many rich millionaires and billionaires in this country. In fact many Indian tycoons are now big international giants in the business industry and have overtaken many big companies across the world.
6. India is a very hot country.
India is a very big country with some very contrasting climates from the hot deserts to the hill stations and the coastal regions. Although there are places in India which are very hot, but being such a huge country it lies in different temperature zones. One can experience sweaty hot summers, snow fall in winters, monsoon rainfall, amazing coastal weather and the dry desert in the same country. With so many other diversities, the amazing diverse weather throughout the country just adds to its beauty and make it an awesome travel destination.
I still think people from India are very poor. This is a fact… Even there are rich people, too the percentage is much lower compared with the poor ones. The vast majority have a very low standard of living… N why not to say?! I dnt think poverty is something to be ashamed… As I dnt think richness is something honorable. We gane the respect of others by what we are as a person not by what we have in our purse………. 🙂
From wikipedia……”The Indian economy is the world’s eleventh-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP).[15] Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialised country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism.”
so let me present it to you in a more clear way. India is not a poor nation. But it faces problems like poverty mainly because a large part of the wealth of the country is in hands of the elite and high class. Apart from it the perspective matters too. If you think that people who dont own a car or big houses are poor then I can’t help it. And apart from it, just to give you an example i have sometimes seen kids from economically good enough families not attending schools even though the education upto primary level is free in India. Similar is the case in food and nutrition. I do not deny the fact that many people are still poor here, but they are not in majority my dear.
You are indian n you lv India… I also lv India n Ive read in wikipedia about the indian economy. I was glad to find those good news, but there are many people who cant afford basic things necessary for a decent life. I know some people who have been in india n faced the reality. Of course, I dnt care that India is poor…I remember a remark which touched my heart:” The most beautiful things in India are the people! They are very kind, sensible. Even men are not ashamed to cry…” I will not say more cause its a delicate subject and I dnt wnt to hurt you. Anyway, someday I will come there , its my dream. Not to stay, but to see India and an indian… 😛 Regards!!!
Julie & Arun, I read both of your comments. Thank you so much. Both are right on your place.. Its really nicely and lovely intellectual conversation. I would also like to participate. 🙂
Definitely, India is not a poor country, I agree with you Arun brother, so does Juliee agrees too. Well, Julie said right too, its matter of vision, how we look up into things in which way. Its very fact that some Indians are tycoon in business shaking international market and providing a huge demand to the world from IT to commodity.
But it is very sad to hear that, yes, there is a good percentage of people who can not buy 2200 – 2500 calories of food everyday, which technically, Indian constitution say below poverty line.Same time according to world bank, 32.7 % Indians falls in this category who are unable to break International poverty line ( $1.25 a day) & 68.7% lives in below 2 $ a day. But here, I would like to say foreign friends, don’t look at the numbers, because this number probably can’t buy a coffee in your country but this number can buy you two times meal in India here. So technically, they are not hungry.
But why to look in this prospective, Indian and every Indian is so rich. Look at the population , diversities of culture, language , climate and many other things. India is very rich in everything , and yes financially, its world’s 3rd economy country, but it sounds so sad when we see 1/3rd population of India can’t afford 2200 calories a day !!
Julie, you are welcome to India. I wish to share a table with coffee with Arun & you. .. haha 😀 Welcome to INDIA !!
No, personal offence to anyone !!It’s my personal thinking which may go wrong.
Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_India
Mmmm….let me think if I allow you to participate, Anil. Just if you say : ” India is poor” 😛 😛 Jeje ..We live in a world where poor people are denigrated, maybe thats why you both are in defense being indians… 🙂 Personally, I hate that, but unfortunately, mortal man cnt eradicate injustice, just God. Till God will intervene to make major changes, to make us happy, we”re fighting to survive in a sistem characterized by violence, immorality, food shortages- a bible prophecy… By the way,good news for indian people: ” ………..The report also indicates that in Southern Asia, only India is on track to cut poverty by half by the 2015 target date…” I”ll come there in 2015 n looking for a job 😛 And Anil, you didnt say who will pay the coffe.. 😛 I lv India………….
I read whole thing, but i started laughing when you said ..”And Anil, you didn;t say who will pay the coffee 😛 😀 haha 😀 Julie jee, I am a born Hindu, though I believe in Karma, so, in my community, “athiti devo BhavH :, अथिति देवो भव:” Guest are cosidered as gods in my country(NEPAL) and also here in India 🙂 So, I will pay happily 🙂 😀
Ya, but I hv to eat something n than the coffee.. 😛 I knew indians are nice! 🙂
Namaste Anil, (or whoever has a concrete answer to my situation)
I decided to write to you after some thought. I am still searching and hoping to have a concrete and clear answer to this even if now it is too late for this year and I have unfortunately closed the door… 🙁 Koi baat nahin. 🙁
I have wanted to go to India to do some volunteering in India this July or August. For a few weeks, I was doing online searching, talking to people know know about India, etc. No one was really sure about anything, and the websites are so many, that I didn’t know which one to trust, etc. I wrote to a few websites, and I received answers that did not make me feel secure, and other answers I got was that it would be too hot in July or August so no trip would be organized then but only between October and April. I can and have travelled other places by myself, but we all know India is not a place that a woman can travel alone. Anyway, to make a long story short, with so many obstacles, and doors closing one by one, my stress level increased, and I took that as a sign that it is not meant to be. So I have given up and closed the door on it.
But, having said that, even if now it’s too late and I won’t go there this July or August, do you know of any reputable organizations/website I can look through if and when I want to do some volunteering in India? (I am on holidays only during July and August, so please don’t talk about other months, it is not possible for me unless I take unpaid leave.)
Anyway, I thank you ahead of time. Dhanyawaad. Aapka din mangalmay ho.
Julie1
hey Julie! first of all i am sorry that you didn’t receive any reply for such a long time. Now coming back your situation, July and August are the monsoon months in India and thus a great time to visit. Its not hot as the rains bring down the temperature and adds to the beauty of places. Though sometimes heavy rainfall may cause a bit of problem 😛
i would look into some NGOs and other volunteering options you could join here and soon get back to you on this. Apart from it, I and Anil will always be happy to help you in any way possible during your visit and make sure that your visit here is worth it. 🙂
Hi ! I am also interested in volunteering in India. Which part do you want to volunteer? there are many sections like a education, nature ….. I know one organization in Hampi, it is called ‘Hampi Children Trust’. They support street and poor family’s children to educate ( offer teaching english and other subjects and foods). Here is the web site http://hampichildrentrust.com/
Good luck dear !! (I am going to India on 3rd of August)
I love india!!! Love everything about it, so many many beautiful men <3 …I meant people lol
haha … as I was reading .. i thought you like only Indian Men 😛 haha .. now I understand you mean Indian people 🙂 😀
I agree with Anil many also are rich there in India even i been not there ever..haha..but India progress is fast but corrupt leaders are also fast thinkers…Indians think for advanced than i ever thought specially with modernization like cellular phones 🙂 but one thing I admire in them is the preservation of culture …kind and friendly people …
Nikki, thank you so much for visiting my website 🙂 very happy to see you 🙂 I expect your more words on my website.. 🙂 Yes dear , India has a lot to go … and specially in IT & software.. India is developing a way more fast … 🙂 but about preservation of culture and vintage.. no no no dear… New generations are like monkey .. they don’t know what they have in hand .. all they want it to act and play like monkey … there are accepting western culture kicking off their own identity … not all but based on what my eyes are seeing these days …. India is loosing its own fragrance due to so called Modern and so well educated yougistan <3 but some are dedicated to promote it and preserve it same time.. I feel happy for it 🙂 thanks Nikki 🙂