Indian Culture Portrayed and the Reality

Being Indians, we respect our Elders! Do we? Really? Why do we feel proud by abusing others, including elders, don't we?


In India, in Hindi, there are three different words, for giving three different levels of respect,

viz 

1. "तू" (Pronounced as "too") - Singular "You", no equivalent in English, 
2. तुम (Pronounced as "toom") - Plural "You", which is by default plural in English and 
3. आप (Pronounced as "Aap") - Something more than plural "You", but below "Your Highness" or that kind of respect 
   

Etiquettes say, use these words in following scenarios, to give respect to people

1. तू (too) - If the person is much younger than you
2. तुम (toom) - If the person is approximately of your age
3. आप (Aap) - If the person is more than your age.

What practically happens is: they say "too" ( तू ) to everybody, including people of their father's age, in following conditions:

1. If one is their employee
2. If they are authority, to show their authority by abusing one.
3. If one is poorer than them.
4. If they are giving business to one
5. If you need their help, and this way, they have an opportunity to abuse you.

Social abuse of all kind, in a day to day life, on daily basis, is very common in India. If they do not have any reason to respect you, they will abuse you, it's that simple!

In India, People believe that unless you abuse others, you can't show your influence and can't make others work for you!

For laborer, this is further more difficult. People believe laborers don't work unless you address them in most abusive language, possible.

Children of 4-5 years old also call their home-maids of their grandfather's age, singularly, using their first-names. This is what is taught to these childrens, by their families. And India boasts, "We respect elders, in our culture!"

More interestingly, whoever they use "Aap" (आप)  for, are referred to by "Too" ( तू ), when they are not present to listen it!

Abusing others seem to be in culture! Unless you have a reason (and forces) to respect someone, you can abuse them, is what seems to be the real culture! There is wide disconnect between what is portrayed as Indian culture, and what is reality.

Yes, I also am Indian, a true Indian, but I do hate what is not right, and want to change it for sure. Acknowledgement of what's not right is a first step towards making it right!

Today's our Independence Day, a day of gaining freedom! True freedom is allowing it for every fellow human being, not just for them who are in power and have influence over others by political &/or economic powers.