2010

IIM Lucknow- Noida Campus Samrat ChatterjeeIPMX-03031

[ACROSS CONTINENTS]
France and India-comparison and observation from and Indian context

FRANCE & INDIA

It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known - A Tale of Two Cities. Somehow, it was only through the eyes of great writers and imaginative cinematographers, that I had visualized France and especially Paris erstwhile. This chance to visit one of the most fashionable places under the sun brought about a completely different experience altogether. Given this opportunity to express my perception of this country as a whole, I would like to start with the birds eye view as I started my descent over Paris. Somehow it gave me a feeling that this place has been geometrically designed to the hilt. It was unlike the geography of the free flowing farms and the meandering pathways that we see in India. The first impression was This place is planned well- even for the farmers. As I delved down upon the details I found many a similarities and disparities with my motherland. Id reflect upon a few in the table below.

SUBJECT Urban and rural Infrastructure Traffic rules and driving sense of people. Cultural Heritage

Organization structure

Addressing our peers and seniors

INDIA Still in its stages of development Varies as per the city(good in some of the metros) Very rich and vivid. We retain a sense of great pride in our culture but are equally respectful of the others. Thats what we call Unity in diversity It is hierarchical in general. However the growing numbers of MNCs are spreading the new culture wherein we have a more of matrix structure. There are separate ways of communication. This generally depends on the age and the status of the person being addressed. In hindi language we say Tu to our close friends, Tum to our colleagues of the same age or status and Aap to our seniors. Sir is still the way of addressing the boss, teacher or a man of high

FRANCE Well developed even in rural areas Good in general but there are some cases of violation here too. Culturally immensely rich. However there is far less diversity as far as the co-existence of different culture is concerned. Hierarchy is the order of the day even in French organizations.

In what we learned in class, the French use Vous in addressing someone unknown or of smaller stature. However Tu is used to address friends and relatives. This is yet again a similarity

stature. All in all I saw great similarities between the two cultures. What was alien to me till two weeks ago has started to make great sense slowly. The people, culture, education, entertainment and the little hob nob of the society in general has brought about a feeling of nostalgia in me. I could easily compare a typical day in Paris to that of one in Calcutta in India. In stark contrast to this was the conservative attitude of the people in general . However, given the age old tradition of the country it is no wonder why people are so proud of their culture and way of living. In lieu of the above observations I would like to highlight a few areas where I would like India to learn from the French Culture and vice versa What India can learn How the history and its footprints has been preserved here in France. How has the glory of past been successfully used to market the present. How the senior citizens of the country enjoy financial freedom and a right to enjoy the last years of their lives. How the French language has prevailed over the years as the national language in spite of growing pressure from other international languages such as English. What India can do away with Centralized structure of Governing. Baggage of a dominant past

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