An American Working in India, Essay Example

The thought of relocating to India, and living and working there, is one that both fascinates and frightens me. Today’s world has become globalized to an extraordinary, and once unthinkable, degree, but the fact remains that cultural backgrounds are persistent and deeply-rooted elements in us all. They are also composed of so many factors that we do not even consciously consider, that we are only aware of their meaning to us when we are faced with their loss. India is a massive nation, one with an ancient, diverse history and a modern standing as a worldwide leader. India is, in every sense, a unique land; adapting to the cuisine, religions, and caste systems of this country is something that would both challenge and intimidate me, yet reward me with an exceptional experience.

It may be an American form of national pride, or perhaps it is more due to an unwillingness to confront the larger issues, but it seems that people most intently focus on dietary differences when they move to a foreign nation. It is not, actually, unreasonable; eating is a human commonality, and cultures of all kinds have long traditions of being identified with how they choose to prepare food. India is certainly no exception, and I am intrigued to see how Indian cuisine has truly translated in our own ideas of it, in the United States.

Not unexpectedly, the first thing I encounter as I delve into what my new diet will be is that India is, in this instance, much like every other nation in that regional differences make for completely varied cuisines. More specifically, the South and the North dramatically differ, and much as they do in European nations; that is, in the more prosperous North, there is a greater emphasis on meats, while the South features cuisine more economically inspired. All of it, meanwhile, bears distinct traces from multicultural contributions: “Persian pilafs, Turkish flatbreads and samosas, Mongol kebabs, and Indonesian flavors are the mainstays of Indian food” (Zibart, 2001, p. 192).

Recipes and product aside, however, there appears to be a cultural and greatly honored association within Indian society of the relation between food and daily living. In any region and with any menu, Indians place immense importance on offering food as a gesture of hospitality. The motivation is beyond courtesy; as the Indians revere food as a manifestation of life itself, there is a spiritual demand to share it.

With regard to religion in India, I am far more intrigued than intimidated. Fortunately, there has been sufficient globalization within the U.S. to instill in most of us an innate respect for religions not our own, and I inquire into Indian spiritual practices with an eagerness to learn.

Hinduism is the predominant faith in all of India, and my initial research reveals that this religion may be the oldest existing one in the world. Its roots are virtually prehistoric, and this is something I must try to fully comprehend if I am to adapt to the culture. So ancient a faith must have an enormous impact on how the culture is shaped, most certainly in its own sense of identity and pride. Western culture observes great reverence for many modes of worship, yet few are as entrenched within the very fabric of a people’s consciousness.

So pervasive is the Hindu influence on Indian history and modern life that the two are often dealt with as one subject, which is an astounding means of surveying any nation. “The sociology…of India has concentrated largely on Hinduism. The study of India was, therefore, and has been for a long time, the study of Hindu India” (Robinson, 2003, p. 20). It is difficult to isolate any other nation, certainly on the order of the size and global impact of India, in which faith is so defining an aspect of it. This, for a Western mind, is not easy to comprehend, and I am obligated to understand how limited my own perceptions must be in this regard. I can be certain that I will encounter evidences of this influence I could not imagine.

This relates in a powerful way, then, to cultural practices I will encounter. Hindu, as I understand it, is as inextricably tied to the caste system as the faith is embedded in the country. I have some knowledge of caste, as I understand it to be the tiered system of social, racial, religious, and/or occupational rankings a nation adopts to segment its population. Indian caste, however, is an enormously complex affair, relying on both Hindu sects and standings, and more ordinary, societal levels.

Interestingly, Hindu scripture approves of caste, but in no way endorses social penalties or discrimination arising from it. In real life, however, and through many centuries of it, Indians have strongly held to these rigid social orders and imposed various punishments for those who would violate caste boundaries. This, too, is not easy for the Western mind to assimilate, for the continued embracing of caste must strike the non-Indian mind as a promotion of racist principles. “An orthodox Hindu shall not marry outside his caste; he shall not eat with anyone not belonging to his caste; he shall not attend social functions of people outside his caste…” (Pruthi, 2004, p. 5), and on, and on. A respect for this framework of the society must be evident in me, even though it will call for a level of open-mindedness beyond that needed to accept, or honor, religious differences. To me, this challenge is exciting, yet also nearly political in its impact. I must, above all, recognize that Indians devoutly believe caste to be the proper form for living, no matter my own preconceptions and background.

Ancient and massive, populated to an extreme and an unsteady world power, India would present me with an incalculable number of challenges, one of which would be shedding my preconceptions before arriving. It is difficult for me to conceive of so large a country having no Wal-Mart; how much more alien, then, will I find its customs and rituals of life? Nonetheless, provided I enter with respect, I set up a living and working situation wherein I cannot help but gain an immense education. India is, in every sense, a unique land;  adapting to the cuisine, religions, and caste systems of this country is something that would both challenge and intimidate me, yet also reward me with an invaluable learning experience.

References

Pruthi, R. K.  (2004.)  Indian Caste System. New Delhi, India: Discovery Publishing House.

Robinson, R. (2003.) Sociology of Religion in India. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Zibart, E. (2001.) The Ethnic Food Lover’s Companion: Understanding the Cuisines of the World. Birmingham, AL: Menasha Ridge Press, Inc.