What will be your Perception on this pic?
By zralte
@zralte (4178)
India
April 15, 2011 4:06am CST
On today's paper, there was this picture of celebrities at a party. When my husband saw the picture, he started laughing so hard saying it is funny for Westerners (by Westerners, he meant NOT Asian). That made me think of the difference in our thinking because of cultural and customary differences.
The picture is of an actress bending down to touch the feet of our Rajasthan's Chief Minister's feet and Shane Warne, the Australian cricketer is looking on them.
If you are an Indian, you would know that touching someone's feet means seeking for their blessings or a sign of respect.
My husband knew that, of course, but he was still laughing at the picture. He said that for someone who does not know the custom, it looks like Shilpa Shetty was reaching for the CM's private part and Shane Warne looked like he was a bit unsure of what was going on.
I will let you be the judge of that. Here is a link to that picture.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2011/04/15&PageLabel=17&EntityId=Pc01706&ViewMode=HTML
Let me know what you think and well, I'd like to know if my husband is right.
11 responses
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
15 Apr 11
Hi zrl!
I saw the link. I did not find anything funny or odd in this picture. Shilpa is simply trying to touch the feet of Rajasthan CM and there is nothing wrong in it.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
15 Apr 11
I did not know that your hubby is a Britisher. He has every right to hold his perception and his perception may not be that of we Indians because 'touching someone's feet and taking blessings' is mainly an Indian tradition.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
15 Apr 11
Hi zralte 
Sometimes these frozen moments do create a lot of confusion. Yes, if I was a foreigner unaware of the Indian cculture, I might have a different opinion if I looked at the snap.
But if it would have been a video clip which actually showed the completion I would have realized that it was foolish of me to think that way.
Sometimes these frozen moments do create a lot of confusion. Yes, if I was a foreigner unaware of the Indian cculture, I might have a different opinion if I looked at the snap.
But if it would have been a video clip which actually showed the completion I would have realized that it was foolish of me to think that way.2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
15 Apr 11
There was something similar in the catholic church before the council of Vatican 2 (1962-1965) : the Pope was wearing a pair of slippers embroidered with a cross, and you could kiss the cross on a slipper of the Pope in sign of respect and submission. You could also kiss the ring of the Pope, and this habit is always in use today for a catholic. Kissing a slipper was a very old custom inherited from the Byzantine Roman Empire : the emperor was wearing purple slippers and the citizen were kissing a slipper in sign of submission.
Knowing this, I don't find your Indian practice of touching someone's feet funny at all -- it is interesting, as it shows similar customs in India and in the Western world --, but I would have find the picture, not funny, bu weird without your explanation.
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 Apr 11
Thanks for your input
, topffer.
I showed it to a British friend of ours and he didn't think anything's wrong with that and he said it could be that my husband's mind is twisted...
So having received two different perspective from two British, I thought I'll see what other's think of the pic....
, topffer.
I showed it to a British friend of ours and he didn't think anything's wrong with that and he said it could be that my husband's mind is twisted... So having received two different perspective from two British, I thought I'll see what other's think of the pic....1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
15 Apr 11
Hello zralte,
Had you not given me a caption of it's meaning and had I not seen the caption below the picture, my impression would have been that the actress was bowing to the minister. I would not have seen it as funny but more as a religious tradition. Maybe I don't have my funny cap on yet this early in the morning. lol
1 person likes this
It does look like she is bowing down.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
15 Apr 11
Happy Friday my friend -
You have to know that you are my best teacher. 
I have learned so much about the Indian culture and can say you are always willing to help me learn. 
You have to know that you are my best teacher. I have learned so much about the Indian culture and can say you are always willing to help me learn. 1 person likes this
@ajk111 (2495)
•
16 Apr 11
Being british (scottish) i can see the underlying humour in this picture. it is the type of picture that the BBC's "have i got news for you" would use as a cheap inuendo joke.
unfortunately many people would take offence to the humour, but that is a nationalistic issue.
so from my point of view your husband is right to see the humourous side of it, but like myself, i am sure he would never offend anyone outside of his most trusted quarters with his point of view.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Apr 11
hi zralte yes I did have to laugh as she was not quit bent far enough
for us to know she was going to touch his feet but still I saw the look
on her face and its not one of lust but of pure respect so I knew this
was not what it might look like so I did not assume any lustfulness at
all in this and its not really all that funny but more respecting and respectfulness.Yes I can see where a man might get other ideas but
looking at her face I did not think that myself.
@allknowing (136535)
• India
21 Apr 11
Even if a person is unaware of Indian customs OMG!!!! that thought will never occur to any one and that too in a public place. Sorry zralte. Something is wrong somewhere.
@moksha09 (467)
• India
16 Apr 11
I saw the picture and it looks innocent and respectable. Warne seems to understand what is being done and seems ok with it.
Now to judge your husband, since you leave that to us.Don't mind.
Clearly he has lost it and it would be worth while finding out why he is laughing at this? Sounds very juvenile, hope he out grows this cultural gap, the sooner the better. Otherwise he may embarrass you in front of the others by his misunderstanding
of innocent cultural gestures.Or worse he will end up with a black eye.Ask him to be careful is all I can say.
@zralte (4178)
• India
17 Apr 11
First, I don't think I asked for my husband to be judged here. All I'm asking is what a person would think seeing the picture, especially a person who does not know the Indian customs.
Second, I don't think he will embarrass me ever. We have been living here in Jaipur for the last 7 years and never had any problem. He is well respected in business as well as our circle of friends. He respects the Indian customs and laws.
Let me be very clear here. My husband is not making fun of this picture or the Indian custom. He is merely stating his opinion as to what this picture might look like to someone who is not aware of Indian culture and customs
@monasharma (967)
• India
15 Apr 11
hehe...
In politicians ko kuch nhi aata hai.And actress ko bahut kuch aata hai.
So,both were confused and mismatched...
@czaxivonen (97)
• Philippines
16 Apr 11
Hello zralte :) i didnt find anything weird about the photo :) Its well understood that different countries have different ways of showing their respect. I am used to this because I used to have an Indian neighbor next door and she'd tell me about some of their customs :) /how to greet guests and the like. It probably depends on the familiarity and the immersion of one in a culture :)
@zralte (4178)
• India
16 Apr 11
That is very good of you - to keep an open mind, that is.
I like learning different customs and the way of living in other countries. Saying that, even in India, there are different customs in different parts of India. Though there are lots of things in common.
