I reject Ramharack’s contention that Indians are seen as backward

Nov 05, 2015 Letters

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Dear Editor,
This is a continuation of my discussion on the cultural context of Guyana. On this occasion we’ll examine Guyana’s cultural context and the way Guyanese communicate.  This aspect of our cultural context is very relevant, particularly at this time when there is a public debate on the Indian sub-culture in Guyana. I hope that this letter would add another perspective to the debate. Let’s look at Guyana’s cultural context. The cultural context of Guyana relates to the conditions that surrounds and influences the life of individuals, groups and organizations in Guyana.  On the cultural context continuum which shows that cultures vary from low context to high context;  Guyana would fall somewhere between the English and North America which is closer to the centre point but more along the low context side of the spectrum. Asian countries are more towards the lower end of the high context side of the spectrum (this is an important point to note in the debate on the Indian sub-culture in Guyana). The European countries are towards the lower end of the low context side of the spectrum (This is important to note as we engage international organizations in development and business).
In the high context culture, interpersonal communication involves developing social trust before engaging in business and work-related discussions, a high value is placed on personal relationships and goodwill and surrounding circumstances are important to interactions. Another important aspect of high context cultures is that, people do more paraphrasing, tone of voice, gestures, posture, social status, history, and social settings are all necessary in interpreting what is being said or the spoken word. Hence, communicating in the high context culture requires more time.
In low context cultures on the other hand, there is more a focus on directly addressing the tasks and issues, or problem at hand, high value is placed on personal expertise and performance and interactions are expected to be clear, precise and speedy. The Germans are towards the lower end of the low context spectrum while the Chinese are towards to lower end of the high context spectrum. The English and North Americans are on the low context side of the spectrum but more towards the centre point, with the North American being more low context that the English.
Guyana generally speaking, is higher up on the low context side between the English and North American as mentioned above. This is partly due to its British history and North American influence through migration. However, there is also a strong tendency for the sub-culture among Indian Guyanese to be higher context than for example Blacks who tend to be more low context. This is closely connected to the Asian background of Indians in Guyana, with Asians being more  high context generally.
Thus, I wish to refer to Dr. Baytoram Ramharack letters that were published in the SN and KN newspapers respectively, on 28 October,  2015 titled: Clear lack of an intellectual tradition creates a number of challenges for the Indian’ and ‘Where are the Indian-Guyanese Intellectuals’. Dr. Ramharack stated the following: ‘In short, why are Indians not speaking out through a consensus voice and addressing issues germane to their physical existence? The deafening silence has led to two possible conclusions. One, there are few Indian intellectuals in Guyana who are capable of articulating a position on behalf of Indians. Two, Indian intellectuals are afraid to speak out because of the perception that they may be branded as “racists”. They will be accused of not being a “true Guyanese”.’
Dr. Ramharack further went on to state in his letter, that Indians are viewed in Guyana and the Caribbean ‘as a backward, unsophisticated lot, a perception often linked to their Asian, rather than western outlook’.
I beg to differ strongly with Dr. Ramharack’s two conclusions about why Indians are silent in Guyana and also on the notion that there is a view of Indians as backward and unsophisticated, a perception that is linked to their Asian, rather than their western outlook.
I do not agree that there are not enough Indian intellectuals in Guyana who are capable of articulating the position of Indians and that Indian intellectuals are afraid to speak out; my view is that it is more a question of cultural context as I mentioned above. It is more about the characteristics of the Indian sub-culture which tend to be more high context than for example Black Guyanese, who tend to be more low context. This linkage to the Asian outlook of the Indian Guyanese should not be examined in the context of good and bad or right or wrong but rather in the context of the characteristics of the Indian sub-culture in the Guyanese society or from a broader perspective as cultural differences.
Also, I do not subscribe to the view that the Asian outlook is backward and unsophisticated and the western outlook is more progressive and sophisticated, even that perspective is rooted in how we are educated and socialized. Perhaps this is a good opportunity for us to start having a discussion on added value. It is my view that based on the cultural differences of the various sub-cultures in Guyana, that each ethnic group based on its cultural characteristics, brings an added value to the Guyana context that in a very significant, dynamic and beautiful way,helps to complete what we know as the Guyanese society.
Should we not be magnanimous and elevate our discussions on race relations in the Guyanese context to examine whether Indians are better at some things and Blacks are better at some things and the Amerindians are better at some things and likewise the other races; and therefore develop a greater understanding and sense of appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses of each ethnic groups. This better of which I speak, should not be viewed in a superior and inferior or competitive context but rather in a complimentary sense.
Nevertheless, I value the debate but what would be great, is for the debate to be put into a context and focus the discussions so that there are some specific things that can be achieved from them. It is about social cohesion; this is such a rich debate! The intention of this letter was also to address the way we communicate as Guyanese and how the Asian, Western and indigenous influences manifest in those interactions and to look at the unique aspects from the Asian, Western and indigenous influences that we may wish to be aware of and preserve since it holds together to very fabric of what we know as the Guyanese society, however, I will address this area in another letter.
Audreyanna Thomas

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