It was not by chance that I was there in India last year; I had thought about it well and planned it in the best way possible. Having heard a lot of things about the country, I wanted to be twice as sure about being there for a long time, especially being a female. My friends had told me that Indians are quite touchy about a few things, and I must take care that I do not offend anyone. I totally understand this fact, being from Japan, I realize that religion and belief do play an important role in one’s lives.
An Indian friend
Being friends with an Indian guy helped me a lot before I traveled to India. I have been in touch with him for more than three years after I met him in a seminar in Japan. Whenever I would talk to him over the phone or text, we would exchange information about our cultures. The way I am keen on Indian culture, he wants to know about the Japanese ethos. He knows my nature as a person, and he assured me that I would find many friends in India when I go there.
So I happened to travel to India after I gained confidence that I can stay there for quite a long time since I planned to work while I lived there. I decided to stay in Bangalore so that I can explore south India first, and then move on to Delhi to wander around North India. The first warning he gave me was that I must not talk anything about any religion in India. Some Indians may be more sensitive than others in every place, and I must respect those differences. If someone takes an offense to my comments, it can be a legal challenge as well. It was good enough warning for me to begin with traveling in India.
Respecting the national anthem
No nation would tolerate disrespect for its national anthem, and it is a little more evident in India. Rohit, my Delhi buddy, told me that I might have to participate in the recitation ceremony at cinema halls, sports tournaments, etc. I had two choices- I could either stand in respect for it or not participate in it at all. Nonetheless, I should never deliberately disrupt the Singing Ceremony of the national anthem, which may land me in jail if someone files a complaint. Never in my life would I want to see the jail in my country or that of someone else.
Stopping a train
The Indian Railways are way different than that in Japan; the trains in India have a chain system that one can pull to stop the train in case of an emergency. However, there has to be a legit reason to pull the chain. Otherwise, it can lead to a hefty penalty or even jail. Even out of curiosity, I decided not to play with the string in the train. Although I had planned to take Car Rental in Bangalore without Driver or cabs for the most part of my journey, I still wanted to experience the trains in the country.
I, although being a well-intended person did not want to hurt anyone, I still thought better to learn about things that are not acceptable at any cost, religion being one of them. Rohit advised me to be a spectator when I did not understand anything or better ask someone about the norms at religious places. Therefore, even before I had set my feet in India, I had gained a lot about the nation.
Mychoize Self Drive Cars 