Facts about pride and religious tolerance information for foreigners visiting India

 

The concept of izzat is fundamental to social interactions in India. It's one's honor as well as one's self-respect, self-esteem. There is also a collective izzat that belongs to clans, castes, the various Indian cultures, tribes, religious political parties, and, of course, the nation as a whole. Ho respect is given to a person is determined by strict but u hierarchical rules, which every Indian learns from infancy. These rules govern all aspects of behavior in India, and how in and groups relate to each other. 

As outsiders, we have to tread with care so that we do either the collective honor or anyone's personal honor. At time, in order to function well in Indian society, it's important that we maintain our own honor. When visitors go around flagrantly disrespecting cultural norms, either out of ignorance, prejudice, or because they simply don't care, they are insulting the collective honor. In the process, they are undermining their own honor and showing themselves to be undeserving of respect, which is not good position to be in. This kind of behavior also to tarnish the collective honor of the country to which they belong. 

 

Be especially careful about religious honor. It is essential to respect all the religions of India, no matter what your private opinions may be. Never insult any religion—doing so can be dangerous. Fortunately, most Indians are pretty tolerant and somehow manage to keep silent in the face of ignorant mistakes or even bad behavior on the part of visitors, especially if it is to their advantage to do so. On the other hand, if one fails to give the respect that a person feels is due to his religion, his family, himself, etc., it". . . can provoke an irrational response  totally disproportionate to the level of the slight."4 

Most Indians don't expect visitors to be perfectly turned in to the nuances of the local culture, so if you are seen to be doing your best to be respectful, people will notice, and you will be treated with greater respect as well. 

An essential aspect of izzat,' honor, is face. The enormous importance Indians place on saving face can be difficult for westerners to grasp, especially because many face-saving situations seem so extreme to Western eyes. It can be as if an elephant has been "hidden" behind a palm leaf, and everyone is pretending that the elephant is not there. If you point out the elephant—which everyone can plainly see—then the people involved lose face. But if you pretend there is no elephant, then there is no loss of face. Face, as an aspect of izzat, is collective as well as personal. Pointing out any deficiency or error, no matter how grave or obvious, causes loss of face. This is why, when visitors are critical and outspoken about India's problems, such as poor sanitation, dowry deaths, caste problems, corruption, etc., it upsets people, but doesn't tend to bring about change. The dynamics of change in Indian society are different from those in the West. In any case, change has to come from within a society, not from outside it. 

For more information on holiday packages in India contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in Connaught place New Delhi India.