Misconceptions about Indians: Explained

I find misconceptions and stereotypes towards Indian people (as in the people from India, not Native Americans) simply humorous, partly because I either fulfill the stereotypes or am far from those. Yes, I have been raised as a Hindu. Yes, my parents hold a typical Indian job in the US: computer scientists. But no, I don’t like cricket. And no, I do not speak “Indian”. No, out of all the times I have been to India, I have not ever seen a snake charmer or an elephant on the streets (okay, maybe only once). And no, my parents are not about that arranged marriage, and did not have one for themselves either. Now, let’s clear things up a bit.

India is a nation full of different religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Although 80% of the population in India consists of Hindus, the remaining more than 250 million people represent various religions, therefore, not all Indians are Hindus.

A very common stereotype of us Indians or people of Indian origin is that we excel at math and have the inherent ability to code. So naturally, we are all computer scientists, right? Many seem to think that the only professions that exist in India are computer programmers, doctors, or engineers. But obviously that is not true. Otherwise, Bollywood, the Indian movie industry, would not exist!

Cricket was originally played in England, but then it spread to countries like India due to imperialism. Therefore, India now probably has some of the craziest cricket fans you will ever meet. But then again, not all Indians are obsessed with the sport. I have not ever watched a full cricket match. Honestly, I don’t even know the rules of the game.

For as long as I can remember, the most frequently asked question I received was if I spoke “Indian”. Well, do you speak American? India has an estimated 780 languages (none of which are called “Indian”, by the way). The language spoken is based on the region you live in. For example, I come from Maharashtra, a state in the western part of India, and Marathi is the official language of the state, ergo my mother tongue.

India is thought of as the land of snake charmers and elephants, but please remember that this is the 21st century. Seeing an elephant on the streets is very unlikely. Out of all the times I have visited India, I have seen an elephant once. Never a snake charmer.

Many people in the US associate India with the idea of arranged marriages. Although most marriages in India today are still arranged, but not all. My parents did not have an arranged marriage and unlike the stereotypical Indians parents, they could care less about my marriage, whether I have one or not.

Please remember that not all Indians are the same, similar to how not all [insert any nationality here] are the same. Every person of every nationality is unique and different in a beautiful way. Yes, sometimes stereotypes can be used to make some basic general assumptions, but make sure to appreciate and learn about different cultures, without jumping to conclusions.