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Going to India? Get lessons in etiquette first

Sarju Kaul

Going for business in India? Better brush up on cultural tips. A trip to India could be fraught with confusion for Britons despite the long history and language we share.

The UK India Business Council, which promotes bilateral trade, business and investment between the two countries, has decided to plug the cultural gap and has launched cultural briefing sessions for business executives going to India.

The first session, to be held on July 28, will be chaired by culture expert David Solomons, who is also chief executive of CultureSmart!Consulting. He will talk about understanding cross-cultural framework, key cultural differences and being conscious about the differences in values and attitudes in the UK and India. The UKIBC will launch its Insight India series, of which these cultural briefings will form a part, to help Britons understand Indian religions, politics and etiquette. "India has a rich and diverse cultural landscape; a land of huge opportunities. UK India Business Council exists to ensure that UK business is ready and able to capitalise on these opportunities. Helping business succeed in India is our priority, and integral to doing business in India is an understanding of its religions, politics and etiquette," UKIBC chief executive Sharon Bamford said.

The most important advice for punctual Britons is the information that Indians are not always punctual. They have been advised to "be patient and flexible".

For Britons, for whom weekends are sacrosanct, there is more shocking advice. Indians may call on weekends to discuss business. So don’t be offended, advises the etiquette. With recruitment of Britons by Indian firms going up, UKIBC decided to introduce education on Indian etiquette, the organisation said. There are already over 32,000 Britons who reside in India, according to the British Council, and the number is steadily going up.