Top Ten Biggest Misconceptions About India and Indian Culture

Most non-Indians have a very stereotypical view of India and see the country as very strange and exotic place. This list is meant to raise awareness of the biggest misconceptions.
The Top Ten
1 India is located in the Middle East

India is actually in South Asia.

2 All Indians are Hindu

India is probably the most religiously diverse country in the world. There are millions of Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Jews, and even Zoroastrians that call India their home.

3 India was always in poverty

India actually accounted for about 25% of the world's GDP before British colonization. Around the same time, the entire western world only accounted for about a little less than 20% of the world's GDP.

4 All Indians are from the same ethnic group

Indians are actually a very diverse group of people and come from dozens of different ethnic groups that are scattered all throughout the country.

5 Indians worship cows

Indians hold cows in high regard, but it's not like they pray before one when they spot one.

Holy cow; I've been wrong about this all my life.

Bro, I eat beef and I don't giving a flying fudge.

6 Indians speak "Indian"

There is no language called "Indian". While Hindi is the official language of India, most Indians speak the regional language of their state.

7 India is very sexist
8 All Indian foods are spicy

While most Indian food is spicy, there are also many sweets in India.

9 Indians are scammers

I'm Indian, and form birth, I've been raised to scam. My first toy was a toy telephone, and I had to convince the telephone that I work for the IRS and my name is Bob Douglas. Now, I'me the number #1 "iRS Representative" in all of the south-western side of Hyderabad's Phone District!

10 They have no toilets

A very stupid stereotype.

The Contenders
11 Arranged marriages = Forced marriages

Many western people falsely believe that arranged marriages are the same as forced marriages. In forced marriages, young women or girls are forcibly married to adult males. Most of India practices arranged marriage, where both the potential bride and groom give their input and ultimately decide for themselves whether they want to be married or not.

12 Indians eat paper

My friend eats paper, it's gross.

13 Indians are very prejudiced
14 Indian Bollywood is a genre

Bollywood is like Hollywood...it's an industry, not a genre. It is based on Mumbai and has a lot of genres in it like action, comedy, thrill etc.

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