Cultures and Customs in India
Customs in India and the meaning of Indian gestures for international teachers. Indian gestures explained for improved parent teacher communication.
Just like any other culture, it is good to be aware of different different hand gestures and cultures or customs in India.
These students bring a different background knowledge to our classrooms, and they may interpret certain gestures and customs in a completely different way.
Even if you are not traveling to India, chances are you have some Indian students in your classroom. Why would this be true?
India and China account for nearly 45% of all foreign students enrolled in American colleges - and that number is growing.
We can see it in our classrooms at the elementary level too.
Many middle-class Indian families are moving to America or Great Britain, and they are bringing customs in India with them.
Customs and Traditions of India for the Classroom
Educators need to be aware of cultures/customs in India. This will help to understand how to interact appropriately with students and parents.- Many Indians shy away from saying "no," either verbally or non-verbally
- An Indian student may give you the response he or she thinks you want to hear, instead of possibly disappointing you
- Family members may come to conferences, so always greet the eldest person first to show proper respect
- Rarely do men and women shake hands with each other. Of course, if a hand is offered, then take it. Just let them make the first move
- If you shake a student or parent's hand, use your right one. The left hand is generally considered unclean as it is only used for "wiping up" after the bathroom
- If a student gives you a gift, do not open it in front of him or her, unless you are asked to
- Give some leeway in meeting times with families. Time customs in India run differently than Western ones. Being late is not considered offensive in many situations. You, however, will impress them with your punctuality
- If you have a title such as Doctor or Professor, use it. Indians certainly respect such titles. Likewise, if you know a parent has a title, please use it to show respect
- Do not call an Indian parent by their first name unless you are invited to do so
Indian Gestures
Mudras are a non-verbal mode of communication and self-expression. Of all the customs in India, these non-verbal gestures are seen often through dance.
Mudras are hand gestures and finger-postures. Indians are keenly aware that mudras are performed every day, in all situations, so they are careful about how they express themselves in this way.
While you may not see students actively doing mudras, if you are unsure about these Indian gestures, simply ask.
More Commonly Seen Indian Gestures
The meaning of hand gestures and other non-verbal gestures are often different in India than other countries.
More commonly seen gestures are as follows:
- The traditional greeting is namaskar. Both the palms are placed together and raised below the face to greet a person.
- Do not raise your foot to rest on your knee or show the bottom of your foot. This is considered extremely rude
- If an Indian student shakes his head "no" at you, he may be saying "yes." That is a common Indian gesture
- Pointing fingers is very rude
- A backwards nod of the head can mean that the student is wondering about something (it depends on what area of India she comes from)
- Direct eye contact can be viewed as rude and intrusive. We are used to it meaning honesty and openness in Western cultures, but not in India
- If you need to motion a student to come to your desk, do not waggle your finger at him. Instead, put your right hand out, palm down, and scoop your fingers towards you
- A student may grasp his earlobes to show remorsefulness about something
- Rude hand gestures are found everywhere. In India, when the thumb is placed behind the front teeth then flicked out towards a person, it is considered to be one of the most offensive gestures. This is the equivalent of saying "You know what" to the recipient
- A fist with the thumb poking out from between the index and middle fingers is seen as a threat
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