why are indians so unfriendly with other indians when they meet them in a foreign country?

Question

You've probably experienced this- walking along the streets of New York or Singapore or London...you spot a fellow Indian and try to make eye contact and 9 times out of 10 they will either look away or pretend you dont exist. You never see an Indian standing in line for something, strike up a conversation with a fellow countryman who could be ahead or behind them.
Is it insecurity or just downright rude behaviour?

its really not about making new friends but about a subtility that i think most Indians understand...would love to have a few more indians comment on this simply because they've probably talked about this at some point in their lives!

Answer 1

In general I find people in Singapore reluctant to respond to even subtle approach. Asians in general don't seem to require interaction or acknowledgment of people they don't know. Singaporeans take that to extremes and often when you smile at someone on the street they react with suspicion.

Additionally there's been articles in the news papers expressing a division between local Indians and Indian Nationals. The local Singaporean Indians produced many successful, Lawyers, Doctors and other Professionals.

The influx of Indian laborers began in the 80's and perhaps the local Indians felt their status was being downgraded. Couple this with their tendency to maintain their relationships to extended family and you may have the reason for was appears as aloofness.

I'm confident you'll soon find delightful people, either socially or in your work place who will brighten your stay. Having said that today's work environment is so pressurized it's difficult to establish relationships.

I know a group, including local Indians that get together for an Irish jig, jamming session. You'll be fine and don't hesitate to mail if you would like some suggestions.

Answer 2

Actually I am from London and I have never noticed that. Infact here in London we actually wish that they were slightly more open to socialising with everyone else rather than sticking to each other. If it is true what you are saying, maybe it might have something to do with Indian ethnicity. Remember that the Indian race is not homogenous but is is comprised of many different people. Although they may have a common religion (Hindu and Sikh), they speak completely different languages. On many occassions they cannot even communicate with each other. For example when a Tamil family meets a punjabi family, or when a Gujarati family meets a Marathi family. For example my family are Hindi and out of the Indian languages we can only understand Hindi and Punjabi. Should we find ourselves in a room with, for example a Telugu family or a Sindhi family, we would only be able to communicate in english. LOL

Another important point is that one needs to remember that these people are from India. In India the Congress party deliberately creates division and precludes any unity or any sense of brotherhood among the people because it wishes to preserve itself in power. That is why, we westerners will be very surprised. Living in London I have naturally viewed all Indians as one. Whether it is Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati etc. It hasn't been untill I started researching about India that I realised that there is no feeling of brotherhood.

Answer 3

You asked very good question.I am in USA and I feel that same way here in NJ too.I don't know if I am wrong or not but most of us thinks once they have money and better job with good house,cars and everything so they can live luxurious life they can do anything and all others who are making less money are just trash or piece of junk.Many of us thinks they born in this country and forgetting our roots.It's big shame.Why we have to treat other Indians like that.Those Indians are not even asking for your help or you are not paying their bills.Stop this non-sense.None of us will never realize that most of native people of those countries hates us for same similar reason and body hygiene that needs big improvements too.Why we Indians don't try to keep clean ourselves?why we can't set some examples?I have seen many websites where white people would hates us for body odors.

Answer 4

Really I felt this but this because of modernity snob. They are very good with european etc but when they see some from sub-continent either indian or ... they snif their nose showing "oh the mean .. fellow, the common lots of ...." but forget abour 'em.

Answer 5

Indians are pathetic brown skinned curry munchers who lick white ***. Since you are not white and another Indian they see you as competition to get an opportunity to lick white man's ***.