are especially valued. Never give alcohol to a Muslim. Large or very expensive gifts could cause embarrassment. One should give gifts with both hands. A gift should not normally be opened in the presence of the giver.
Despite the inclusion of service charges in the bills, tips are expected in most places. A tip of 10 rupees is fine for parking attendants, room service and porters, but waiters expect 5 to 10 percent of the bill. Taxi drivers don’t need to be tipped, because the rate is usually negotiated. Indians greet each other (and say good-bye) with the namaste, which is formed by pressing the palms together (fingers up) below the chin and nodding the head. When greeting superiors or to show respect, a slight bow is added. When meeting foreigners, Indian men will shake hands. Indian men do not generally shake hands with or otherwise touch women, as a gesture of respect for a woman's dignity and privacy. Indian women who are educated or familiar with international customs may offer their hands to foreigners as a courtesy. As Indians are used to a system of hierarchy in the workplace, senior colleagues are obeyed and respected. While it is perfectly normal for men to shake hands if they are both in the same age group, it is not as common for older man to shake hands with a much younger man, even in professional business setting. Women in the business place will shake hands if the man offers it first. Women do not shake hands with other women. Even to the most modern women, the Indian form of greeting, namaste said in a soft tone is the safest one to adopt. To a progressive woman it would not matter and helps in asserting her modernity. But it is safer to make sure that the woman and the people around would not find it culturally sensitive. Women are treated with respect in the work place. They feel quite safe and secure in most organizations. Foreign women working here will find it easy to adapt to an Indian work environment. Things are changing in India and they are changing fast. Not everyone has gained from the new technologies, and vast stretches of India remain under the seemingly eternal haze of heat and dust. But in town after town, there are growing numbers of people who are better off than their parents could ever dream of being, wielding mobile phones, driving cars and chatting in cyber cafes. Whether the consumerist boom in India will fuel an economic miracle or increase inequality is a topic of much heated debate. One thing is certain, though.