the 'individual' exists as an entity within a western context , however among indians individualism is less pronounced (i know i am generalizing here....) . One matter which really gets my goat is the concept of 'badon ka aadar' literally meaning 'respect for elders' ...and its not just about standing up when someone older comes up, but its about having your life controlled by the older entities in ones extended family (be they parents, uncles, well wishers...etc....)
In a similar vien as an indian i have been told at various times by various non-indians that we people have low personal space requirements, we dont adhere to a minimum interpersonal distance while conversing, we have too many relatives, while travelling we dont hesitate to pick up and read someone else's newspaper (or pull out a couple of sheets and read those) , we ask a lot of personal questions, and we have a superfluous and superficial attitude to human suffering.... the last one I was told by a rather upset swiss gentleman, who had asked me what i thought of switzerland (unfortunately i revealed that i had travelled a bit there...) - and i said that i didnt like it very much because the country is what the rest of europe would have been had hitler won the world war. Maybe i went in the wrong season, it was dull, dreary and humorless place where everyone appeared to be insanely obsessed with 'quality of life' :o( the only bright side was that I hadnt gone there for a holiday. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote on 11/24/2005 05:52:30 PM: > >> It always seemed to me that in 'the west', there is a far greater"sense of > > >'The west' is not a place but a state of mind. > > Yes, of course. And hence my use of quotes. In fact a lot of the > geographical east would today be part of 'the west' as far as ways > of approaching > and engaging with the world are concerned. And a lot of Indians, as well, > would be part of 'the west', in this context. > > >
