What Is The Difference Between American Culture And Indian Culture

Indian Culture vs. America Culture

No two cultures are the same, but they to have similarities. Indian culture and American culture share many things; however, there have vast differentiations. Over time, I’ve come to recognize that the most different cultural aspects are marital customs, religious beliefs, and community values. Whenever I go to India, I get the chance to first hand experience the distinctions between the two cultures. The most dissimilar aspect, to me, is community values. I’ve noticed that in America children are encouraged to be unique and individual. American parents understand and more freely accept that different children excel at different things; no matter where their child’s talents lie, be it academics, arts, or athletics the child is motivated to chase after and strive in that activity. Whereas in India, a high importance is placed on education. Obviously, both societies want their children to succeed, but in India a child may quit extracurriculars that they excel at in order to focus all their time on school work. In Indian culture, competition is seen as an ideal way to compare children, and based on how a child performs assumptions regarding his/her lifestyle and
upbringing are made. America is also a very competitive country; however, in my personal experience, I have noticed that often when an American child does poorly in a competition his parents will reassure them of their abilities, but if an Indian child does poorly their parents will tell them to work harder. In this situation, both sides are proud of their children, but have very different ways of showing it. Americans also tend to be more goal oriented than Indians, but Indians are more family family oriented.
In India customs matter and take precedence over anything and everything else; whereas, the American is constantly and quickly evolving and embrace bit and pieces of other civilizations. Both civilization are doing what they feel is more beneficial to preserving culture and habitats. Americans also think about getting the most out of natural ecological and economic services by controlling their surrounds through clear cutting, prescribed fire, and various other environmental activities. However, Indians strive to be in harmony with nature; there are even some religions in India that will not eat vegetables that grow underground out of fear from harming
animals. Speaking of religions, the primary religion in America is Christianity and the primary religion of India is Hinduism. At face value they seem completely different; Indians pray to multiple Gods, but the qualities and areas of life each God governs is encompassed by one God in Christianity. Both religions stress the importance of morals, giving, and human kindness. Therefore, the main difference would be the beliefs of afterlife. Christians believe that after death they will go to either heaven or hell, but Indians believe that you will be reincarnated into a form based on your actions in your past life (karma). If you have been good, kind person your soul will again be transferred to a human, and if you have been cruel you will move to a lower life form such as an animal.