Question

Sneha is a new employee from India. She speaks English well, but this is not her first language. Sneha has arthritis in her left wrist. She writes with her right hand so this does not hinder her writing ability.She uses a high-context conflict style. You ask her if she would like to come to a staff dinner to celebrate the 5th anniversary and she says that she is not sure about it.

2.1)     Research Indian culture. What might some of Sneha's cultural differences be? Whom do you contact to obtain training about understanding diverse cultural needs?

Answer 1

2.1) India's culture is among the world's oldest; civilization in India began about 4,500 years ago. "Many sources describe it as "Sa Prathama Sanskrit Vishvavara" — the first and the supreme culture in the world, as per the All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP) organization" . India was the motherland of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages. India was the mother our philosophy, of much of our mathematics, of the ideals embodied in Christianity, of self-government and democracy. In many ways, Mother India is the mother of us all.

Language

I. From its language to its educational system, India showcases impressive aspects.

A. Language, in many ways, is the most diverse part of Indian culture, with over 1,000 languages being spoken at any given time.

1. From the more than 1,000 languages spoken today in India, only eighteen have a system of writing, or script, which directly links them to the Indian culture.

2. Hindi, India's most spoken language, is a "Sanskritized register" of the Khariboli dialect. Hindi accounts for over 40 percent of speakers in India.

3. English accounts for about nine percent of speakers in India, making it the second most common language in the country.

Festivals

Now that I've discussed India's many languages, let's talk about the Festivals and Celebrations of India. India, being a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of various religions.

A. There are three national holidays in India.

1. The Independence Day which is celebrated on 15th of August every year to commemorate the nation's independence from the British Empire in 1947. On this day, the Prime Minister of India hoists the Indian flag in Red Fort in New Delhi and schools and government offices distribute sweets but no official work is done.

2. The other ones are Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti which are also celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm across India.

Art and Architecture

Furthermore, architecture of India cannot be ignored if we are talking about Indian Culture.

A. Indian architecture encompasses a multitude of expressions over space and time, constantly absorbing new ideas.

1. Some of its earliest production are found in Indus Valley Civilization (2600-1900 BC) which is characterized by well-planned cities and houses. Religion and kingship do not seem to have played an important role in the planning and layout of these towns.

2. During the period of the Mauryan and Gupta empires and their successors, several Buddhist architectural complexes, such as the caves of Ajanta and Ellora and the monumental Sanchi Stupa were built, a mark of Buddhism religion which influenced eastern and southeastern Asia.

3. With the advent of Islamic influence from the west, Indian architecture was adapted to allow the traditions of the new religion. Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Gol Gumbaz, Qutub Minar, Red Fort of Delhi are creations of this era, and are often used as the stereotypical symbols of India.

Conclusion

Conclusion: The culture of India is unique and goes back thousands of years ago. "Unity in diversity" - these are not just words, but something that are highly applicable to a country like India that is incredibly rich in culture and heritage. A few quotations or statements cannot describe the pedestal that India holds on to the world map because of its colorful and unique culture. From the times of Mauryas, Cholas and Mughals to the period of British Empire, India has always been famous for its traditions and hospitality. The warmth in the relations and euphoria in celebrations make the country stand out distinctively in the global fraternity. The country's liveliness and generosity attract several tourists to its vibrant culture which is not just an amalgamation of languages, festivals, food, art and architecture but even religions, crafts, dance, music and many other subtle things. Everything, from the culture and values to customs, rituals and traditions, is 'special' in this 'Land of Gods'.

#. Some of Sneha' s cultural differences be :-

- She can go out after 5pm

- She can't wear small dresses

- She can't mingle with boys

- Girls should remain indoors and do household work.

#. The management for cultural competency provides training to understand different cultural needs .