Indian culture

[Russ]

Was having a discussion with someone the other day and wanted some views from you guys.

It was suggested that in Indian culture, they tend to be very 'community orientated', in the way that when you get a community of Indian people, whether it's a workplace, a family home or whatever, all members are expected to contribute to the 'community'. For example if a new set of dishes was to be brought in to a house where Indians were living (not neccessarily a family) then it would be expected that they all could use them.

Does anyone know if this is correct?

[Ramrod]

I would guess that it applies to some and not to others.....just like most things...

[marky]

I do know that communities stick together and help each other, for example all putting money in to buy a business, and then doing the same again, therefore making that community stronger by combining funds.

If that makes sense.

[etccarmageddon]

I've heard of this extending to funding of bigger things - e.g. putting kids through schooling - e.g. if one part of a 'family' is doing well then it puts another part of the 'family''s kids through school - and I'm not talking about 2 families that live under the same roof - just if they are connected by blood.

---------- Post added at 17:43 ---------- Previous post was at 17:42 ----------

in simple terms - wealth/good fortune is shared.

[marky]

That a brownie point to them then, i think we can be to selfish at times.

[Escapee]

I think most Asian cultures are like this, particulary the Indians and Pakistanis. My girlfriend is Filipino and they have similar ways, when away from home for example working in this country they tend to stick together. They all seem to pool their resouces, as Fred buys the phone cards in bulk, Jim goes to the cash and carry to buy rice in bulk, and John buys and sells cars etc.

I have mentioned before that a Pakistani guy I worked with would only work 30 hours a week and not a minute of overtime and used the "Religious reasons" excuse. In reality it was because in his culture the whole family lived in a big house and put all the money in one pot, to pay the bills and share out equally amongst all. The guy in question had a fairly well paid job and would see very little benefit if he worked any overtime, because it would be shared amongst everyone in the house.

I always thought it a strange situation, he worked as a contractor for quite a few years raking in the dosh, then worked permanently earning £30K + however he dreamed of having a nice car instead of the 1989 Nissan Micra he was driving. I think there was very little chance because he along with the benefits office was supporting the ones in his family who were too lazy to work.

[altis]

I think most cultures are like this - except the British. We seem to have completely lost our sense of community. I blame that bloddy woman - 'There is no such thing as community'.

I also think it is naturally stronger in places where people have little material wealth. The only way that they can survive is by sharing. In our world it is expected that you can afford to look after yourself and there must be something wrong with you if you can't.

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by altis

I think most cultures are like this - except the British. We seem to have completely lost our sense of community. I blame that bloddy woman - 'There is no such thing as community'.

I also think it is naturally stronger in places where people have little material wealth. The only way that they can survive is by sharing. In our world it is expected that you can afford to look after yourself and there must be something wrong with you if you can't.

It also helps if your extended family do all live within the same small area.My family is all over the place so no chance of sharing childcare when my kids were small.

[Chrysalis]

they always have the family supporting each other, eg. like 3 generations of family living under 1 roof so when one becomes elderly they are supported by their children.

When I was on the Taxis in Mansfield we had a few asian lads woeking with us, most of them used to send money to Pakistan each month, one asian lad sent £3,000 after the Christmas rush to his family.