| There is a certain image about India - mystics and | | | | and not restricted to select pockets and the myth |
| snake charmers, poverty, palanquin bearers, slums, | | | | about the poor having got poorer has been invalidated |
| child labourers, corruption, hot weather, religious | | | | as there has been a huge growth in the number of the |
| fanaticism, tradition bound women, etc. | | | | Indian middle class due to entrants from the poorer |
| Are these myths or realities about India? | | | | class. |
| These myths about India may make great | | | | On the religious front, the myth about all Indians being |
| conversational topics but just how poverty and | | | | Hindus is just not true. Hinduism is not a religion but a |
| illiteracy are realities so are a thriving democracy and | | | | philosophy and a way of life needing no pundits or |
| economic opportunities for the young. | | | | priests to guide it. While only 82% of Indians are Hindus, |
| According to the recent eBook on the Myths About | | | | 12% Muslims and the others comprising of religions like |
| India, several of these myths have been shattered and | | | | Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism |
| change and optimism are in the air. | | | | and others. |
| Given below are some common socio-economic and | | | | Indians do not live in wooden shanty houses, with the |
| cultural myths about India and the real picture of these | | | | construction industry being one of the major growth |
| myths. | | | | industries. Nor do they ride elephants or camels, which |
| The myth about modern India being all about | | | | are available only in select tourist destinations. India has |
| call-centers and BPOs because of the availability of | | | | a huge and growing automobile sector with most of |
| cheap India labour has been proved wrong by many | | | | the latest international car models, being available in the |
| technologies and IT majors setting up R&D | | | | country. Indians do not eat rats or snakes and the |
| centers in India due to the intellectual strength of India. | | | | Indian cuisine is as rich as it is varied. |
| The Indian Economy is not about the IT and BPO | | | | Though arranged marriages are the norm, things are |
| boom and prior to this boom itself, India had an | | | | changing due to the higher exposure levels and the |
| established and well-developed manufacturing and | | | | increasing number of women in the workforce. An |
| industrial sector. India has a strong economy with | | | | arranged marriage is usually the building of a very |
| clearly laid out 5-year developmental plans, a thriving | | | | strong bond between two families and forms a good |
| agricultural sector and of late the fastest growing retail | | | | social support system. |
| sector in the world. | | | | India is one big country with 28 states boasting of |
| The US is just another economic partner of India, with | | | | different ethnicity. It has many different languages and |
| the biggest investor in India being Japan. | | | | dialects and different religions, co-existing in peaceful |
| The growth and economic boom has been pan-India | | | | harmony. |