50 REALITIES ABOUT INDIA THAT SURPRISE TOURISTS

Hello friends! A post after a long gap!

We all know that our Indian culture is entirely different from others'. But, what we are seeing today is not exactly the original Indian culture. Due to westernisation, our culture and traditions were slowly disappearing from us.

Two days before, I saw a post in the hubpages.com "50 THINGS ABOUT INDIA THAT SURPRISE TOURISTS", written by Ms. Kaia a female traveller. She is telling that she found these things after travelling a lot in India. But I think she is mistaken with her title. Those are not about India, but about some Indians. If she travel across Thamizh Naadu, she will probably understand a little bit about original Indian culture. There also most of the culture is gone but still it is the only place where some originality of Indians is left.

Okay! Now I am going to review the above mentioned post, point-by-point. I am not about to fight with the author, but I am trying to make her realise the originality. She will be right considering some Indians. But it is not the real INDIA. So, I am going to discuss about all the fifty points told by Ms. Kaia.

• Yes. Most of the Indians take their whole family for long journeys. It's our culture to be in groups always. Joint family was once our strength, which is now broken due to westernisation. We also never support letting an woman alone for a long trip. It was mistaken as male chauvinism. But it's for women safety only. It's the duty of every Indian man to safeguard the entire family. We hasn't ever said that women are inferior to men.

• Surely foreign girls travelling alone may get asked by traditional people "Why are you travelling alone?". This is due to the above reason only.

• Yes. Indian children are often with painted faces. But the kajal stick doesn't belongs to India. It's a foreign product. We traditionally make our own eye ink, which is healthy for the eyes. In some places, we use it on cattles' eyes too. Big dots are put on their cheeks just to prevent constant direct vision by the people over their body. It is actually associated with negative energy protections. If you don't know about that, kindly contact me!

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• You are right. Indian parents without the permission of their parents can put a child on their lap and take pictures. This is a mixed culture. We Indians have a character of looking at others' children as our own children. Indians hasn't had any evil thoughts in their mind during the ancient days. So, we never felt anything bad about that. But in this age of evil people, surely it will be wrong for certain people.

• You are right. Shop names, advertisement banners and slogans can have multiple spelling mistakes. But not always. Or at least not in all places. Most of those successful people are not well educated. But they still are successful. I agree with your point.

• Again you are right. No sidewalks in many places. that is because of the infrastructure. We are quite familiar with that while driving.

• Yes. Large potholes on the roads without any warnings is also a common problem here. That is also a fact about most of the places.

• You are right. Indian women standing at the shore with full dresses while their husbands were playing in the sea in their underwears is also a common sight in most of the places. Our culture doesn't support women doing such things publicly. Again I am telling you that we just doesn't support. We don't ban them. If they wish, they can do that and they will be responsible for the consequence. You can still see women enjoying their bathe in public ponds, waterfalls and rivers in groups. There also, they will be in Indian dresses because they are our dresses. There is no written rules that one should always bathe in their underwears.

• Thats true dear. Some people always wear unmatched jewellery. But it depends upon individual freedom about what to wear. So I am not going to interfere more about that here.

• It's also true that old Indian women mostly doesn't cover their bust and proudly display their round bellies. So what? we are okay with that. Listen! It's India. We are born naked. The purpose of wearing a dress is to protect your body. Also it is used to cover those parts which you do not want others to see. So, if you are okay with somebody seeing those parts, then you can show it. Am I right!? If you support an women bathing in underwears, then why can't you accept this culture. Before foreign invasion, women in India hasn't covered their upper body. There is nothing wrong with that since it's individual freedom. It's those foreigners who brought the term "nudity" to India. Before that, we hasn't even thought bad about the women [I am about the original Indians].

• Yes. The caste system still exists in India. But it is not the property of India, but is the property of certain Indians. I think this is not the place to discuss that. Your point is right. It still exists. It can be prevented upto an extent if the government shows real interest.

• Your point is right. The present inhabitants of India shows cruelty towards animals. Is this only in India? In case of India, kindly read our ancient scripts and understand how we treated animals. Most of the animals and birds were associated with Hindhu gods and were worshipped on a regular basis. Come to Thamizh Naadu and you can still see that.

• You are right dear. Lack of compassion for the poor. But who made India a poor country? Have you ever read Indian history? I agree that the present poverty of India is due to the inhabitants here. But the poverty appeared here due to foreign invasion only.

• That is also right. Lying and cheating on every corner, especially in markets. The foreign people invaded India telling a lots of lie. Am I right? Can you tell that there is no cheating and lie in any other places in the world? What about your own country? Then why are you specifically pointing it while describing about India!?

• Amazing varieties of  sarees and other materials are there in India. Not only in India, but every nation has its own collection. Why it seems amazing is because it is the own property of India.

• Yes. Your point is true. Only those who knows to find the real value of each metal jewel is safe.

• Your seventeenth point is correct. But the reason you gave for it is wrong. There are still people who speak in English but never understands certain words. They say "Yes! Yes! You are right! Yeah!" like this to all your questions. But it's not culturally rude to say "No" to any question. Culturally, it's rude to say "No" when somebody asks for help, food, shelter and dress.

• Sure. It's funny about those words. But they are just spoken words and not written words. When a person is speaking to another person who don't know English well, then she/he has to use something that the second person understands. Many people still have to develop their pronunciation.

• The style of middle-aged Indian men which you told is absolutely correct in most places. But remember that jeans are not Indian dresses. Indian dhothies looks absolutely stylish for any person in the world. Also, you should never forget those oiled hair, which is not only ever shining but also everlasting. You have to learn more about Indian hair oils. At least we are those who taught you people to bath daily and not to hide your smelly body under those deodorants.

• Yes. Deafening sounds of fireworks. But we didn't used the currently available harmful chemicals in the past. Other things also creating noise pollution. Loud-speakers are not a part of the traditional India. Then, talking loudly in trains is not a bad thing for us. But some people are so loud which is disturbing. I agree with that dear friend.

• Yes. Elephants are elaborately decorated during temple processions. That is because the idol of God will be on its top. It's our practice to decorate the God's vehicle.

• Free, beautiful and long temple performances is made for making the people around there refreshed. Each regions have a particular time span for temple festivals depending upon the people, land structure, climatic conditions, etc., of that place. Do you really love that!?

• Surely it will be amazing for the foreigners about the amount of rice and sugar which South Indians consume. But there is nothing to worry if the lifestyle is based on the ancient culture. Because the calories gained by these will be burnt by other practices.

• Extremely low prices for everything in non-touristy places is a common thing in India. I think it is common all around the world. Well. I am not sure! This is because people believe that you people will buy those things for  sure. Sometimes, you will face a combined play of the tourist guide and those shop owners. So, be aware always.

• It's true that some places are facing extreme poverty. The modern people are finding no time to help others. It is sad that Indians who learn all the bad things from the foreigners refuse to learn the good things from them.

• Indian girls in the past didn't looked age since they used natural skin products. The use of chemical skin products made this to the Indian girls. Also, we don't use any cosmetic surgeries. Now also you can see the beauty of old age people. Look at there old photos also. Another fact is that Indians can only understand the real beauty of Indian ladies.

• It's a main problem here that people are not aware of the cleanliness. Everybody has a question "Will India be clean if only I stop throwing rubbish!?" Really a big problem India faces today.

• Strange fashion of Indian children!? For us, anything is beautiful if done by children. They are like God. We decorate them to their maximum.

• You are correct. A lot of people are suffering from diabetes due to modern food habits. Please be aware of the ancient Indian diet .

• Yes. There are lots of men and women with huge bellies. They are not undigested white rice dear. They are undigested western foods. Kindly learn more about Indian traditional foods and find if they make you unhealthy. If you can't, please contact me for health.

• Sure. Coconut water is a healthy and cheap natural product. If you have a South Indian friend, you will get it for free too. Not only coconut water, but also there are many other natural products. I think you know them too.

• When Indians go out for a meal, they sit down, eat fast,pay and leave. But we know the concept of enjoying the environment and chatting while having a meal, better than you people. Do you know how we lived in our own joint families!? Do you really know what is India?

• Yes! A funny truth. Wealthy Indian people exposing themselves as educated and speaking with each other in words that not exist in this world.

• There are many fake sadhus here. but is it in India alone!? Okay! It's a really bad thing about India but you should be alert dear. don't get cheated. Hmm! you people are intelligent know? You know everything and don't need any advice. Isn't it? I wonder why these intelligent people go for Sadhus?

• I think you have visited some parts of North India. In my place, both men and women share our loads.

• Yes! Only men outdoors when it's late. But not now. Now women too are doing that. Ancient Indians have no need to go out during late nights. But nowadays lifestyles changed.

• Very wrong statement by you dear friend. We hasn't ever told that women are inferior. Shyness is an womenic character. Is there anything wrong in expressing it?

• Not only men, but women too fight in the street. But I don't know whether you people solve it verbally or use guns. We don't carry guns with us.

• True. They are really friends. homosexual guys rarely exists here.

• Lack of affection!? Maybe it's due to modern life. Please try to understand the ancient Indian's lifestyle and how they respected their wives.

• Do you really think Indians don't know anything about sex!? Do you know where the Kaamasoothra was originated? But the reason you claimed is right. There is no sex education for the children over here. Even adults are having doubts. I think now the situation is some what okay. Am I right!?

• Surely you will get an amazing variety of vegetarian foods from India. Also we are known for our non-vegetarian varieties too.

• Most of the ladies follow the same hairstyles. Its true. That is based on their convenience dear. Is that amazing for the tourists? I really don't think so!

• India is a hot country and people have to cool their body using coconut oil [or some other kinds of oil]. If you have doubts, kindly use it and understand its benefits over your body, when you are in India. for Indians, it's really beautiful. We don't care what those intelligent foreigners think about it.

• It's a sad and bad truth about the public toilets in India. Your point is absolutely right dear.

• Sleeping on the floor is not a bad thing. Stray dogs appeared in India due to the culture of growing useless foreign dogs [Dogs are always useful. But in India, Indian dogs are more useful. You can surf the internet about them]. Then, those creatures in the railway stations are due to the act of throwing rubbish as mentioned earlier.

• India was once a land with more trees. Due to urbanisation, everything went wrong. Luckily, I am still in a wonderful village with hills, trees and water bodies.

• This point is also right. western people are imagined to be rich by most of the Indians due to the difference in the value of currencies. Most of the people tell that if you get a foreign job, you will get salary in lakhs. But they don't know that the salary is in lakhs only when converted into Indian currency and in the west, it's still thousands.

• Your point about the view of Indians about western women is only due to hollywood films. For the adult certificate, most of your films showcase women as that type. Also most of the porn films are from you people. thus, Indians who never visited the real west imagines the western women to be like that. But I could understand what you are saying here. It's really a bad situation for you people and I am really sorry to hear this.

• Spitting on the roads is also a major sanitary issue. Really a bad thing. Burping and farting are not bad things to hide. It's common within all families and sometimes in public too.

Dear Kaia. It's India and you must be ready to face Indians while visiting India. For your kind information, what you see nowadays in India is not the real Indian culture. If you have any doubts or arguments regarding this post, kindly contact me. I am not about to fight with you, as that is not our culture. But I tried my best to explain you something real. Surely you will be right about certain INDIANS you faced across the country. But it's not the truth about INDIA.

Thanking You!