Neil Miller, Author at Learning India

Neil Miller January 23, 2014 Filed Under: Visa Information

Indian Tourist Visa Information

Indian Tourist Visa (T)

This is the most common visa awarded and meant for the casual visitor.

Approximate processing time:

One week

Difficulty to get:

Easy

Maximum validity:

Ten years (US and Canadian Citizens only as far as I know), most other countries max out at one year, multiple entry. It cannot be extended or transferred.

Maximum continuous stay:

180 days

What you can do:

Recreational activities
Sight seeing
Have a casual visit with friends and relatives
Casual business visits (I’m sure this is open to interpretation)
Short duration medical treatment

What you cannot do:

Earn any money
Volunteer for an NGO or charity
Study
Conduct any kind of business

Rules:

There was a rule that required you to stay out of the country for two months between visits, but it has been dropped unless you are from: Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, foreigners of Pakistan and Bangladesh origins or a stateless person.
If you work for a NGO, a media company, or you work in a media-related profession, see the note in the visa application form guide. You may have trouble getting a tourist visa.

Back to the full list of visas here

Neil Miller January 23, 2014 Filed Under: #IndiasNotIndia, #See1See100, Indias By...

Indias By Religion

Note: This is the second in a series of “Indias by…”. You can read the original Indias Not India post here.

Based on the title you may think this article will be a discussion about the varying spiritual beliefs in India.

Nope.

Dividing India up by religion has very little to do with anyone’s beliefs. In fact, more than beliefs, religion in India is first about community and second about behaviors.

First, religion is about community. [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 22, 2014 Filed Under: #PowerPlays, #See1See100, Parent Leadership

How to Lead a Family (in the office)

Earlier, I introduced the idea of Parent Leadership as a model for a majority of the Indian business world.

But what if you are stepping into a situation where you are the leader and you feel like everyone is looking to you to be the parent?

Instead of running away, here are a few things you can painlessly put into practice to help both you and your new team get off on the right foot.

But first, how do you know if your team is thinking like a family? [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 21, 2014 Filed Under: #ChaosBeatsLogic, #IndiasNotIndia, Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Lagaan

One of the most underdeveloped themes in Indian movies is sports.

Granted, as an American I have a bias towards sports obsession. But given the inherent drama, heroism, and opportunities for large groups of men to get together and dance, it seems this genre could be an unending well for Indian filmmakers.

Of the relatively few Indian movies about sports, one stands out above the rest. It is Hoosiers. It is Miracle. It is The Sandlot. It is Lagaan.

How well does it fit the sports genre? [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 20, 2014 Filed Under: Daily Living

The Complete Guide to Indian Toilets

If there is one thing you should take away with you from India it is a new toilet experience.

When it is time to go, you want to make sure you have the right terminology. It’s not a fun thing to repeatedly ask the waiter for a bathroom while he gives you a blank stare and wonders why you want to pour water over your head. Washroom and toilet are the two most common terms, with restroom coming in a distant third.

There are two types of toilets in India – Indian and Western. Indian is the kind that is flush against the floor with a hole and two footholds (shown below). Western means a traditional commode with a seat.

Indian Toilet on a Train

How Far Down the Drain Will You Go?

There are different levels to your involvement with Indian toilets. We’ll start with the least immersive, and work our way up (or down, as the case may be). [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 18, 2014 Filed Under: #PowerPlays, #See1See100, Parent Leadership

Parent Leadership: An Overview

In my experience working in an Indian company, I quickly discovered there were a lot of voices I needed to listen to.

There was my reporting manager who kept an eye on me and who was looking for me to make a big difference in the company. There was the subject expert who had built up a reputation for being great at the work I was now doing. And there was the visionary leader who was more focused on the company reputation but also involved in day-to-day operations.

Each one was helpful in her own way. (All three were women.) Each one wanted to give guidance and oversight. Each one wanted to show she cared, but also demanded certain respect. Each one wanted to be the voice of reason and direction.

I remember the day it dawned on me that I had three mothers. And I was having trouble keeping all of them happy. I could usually keep 2 out of 3 of them in good spirits, but like the elusive Triple Crown, I was never able to complete the circuit.
[Read more…]

Neil Miller December 23, 2013 Filed Under: #GreyIsWhite, #PowerPlays, #See1See100, #ThinSkinned, Into India, Politics

Why India and the US are in a fight that won’t have a winner

The current issue of the Indian diplomat being arrested in the US gives one of the clearest pictures of a cultural clash that doesn’t have a good solution.

The Basics:

Here are just a few of the skeleton facts in case you haven’t followed along:

An Indian diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, was arrested for visa fraud, essentially because her Indian domestic staff was paid far below the amount stipulated on her visa application. Ms. Khobragade was handcuffed in public and subjected to a private strip-search by the US law authorities as per their norms. A later development was that the domestic help’s husband and children were evacuated from India with the help of the US.

What India Thinks:

[Read more…]

Neil Miller November 11, 2013 Filed Under: #CustomerIsAlwaysThere, #TimeIsEternal, Daily Living

What India Wants from You

Just 5 minutes Madam

Kindly be on line

Can you adjust a little?

You should lower your expectations

It will be just 5 more minutes

Would you like some tea coffee?

It’s better if you do it this way

We are all the same, no?

Forget about yesterday

Can you move a bit more?

Only 5 more minutes

The first quote was not inclusive of these additional charges

Forget about the future

I think you are liking it here, no?

It will be a few more days

Please have a seat

Can you adjust a little more?

Sir, please wait 2 minutes

Let me check on that and get back to you

See, India is a very nice place, yes?

You should lower your standards a little bit

Please give up

It will be just 2 minutes

Anything else I can assist you with?

Oh, and then there is the deposit which you must pay

You are liking Indian food, yes?

More tea coffee?

Just 1 minute…

Photo Credit: dgrobinson on Flickr

Indian Tourist Visa Information

Indian Tourist Visa (T)

Approximate processing time:

Difficulty to get:

Maximum validity:

Maximum continuous stay:

What you can do:

What you cannot do:

Rules:

Like this:

Indias By Religion

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How to Lead a Family (in the office)

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Movie Review: Lagaan

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The Complete Guide to Indian Toilets

How Far Down the Drain Will You Go?

Like this:

Parent Leadership: An Overview

Like this:

Why India and the US are in a fight that won’t have a winner

The Basics:

What India Thinks:

Like this:

What India Wants from You

Like this:

Indian Tourist Visa (T)

Approximate processing time:

Difficulty to get:

Maximum validity:

Maximum continuous stay:

What you can do:

What you cannot do:

Rules:

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Like this:

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Like this:

How Far Down the Drain Will You Go?

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The Basics:

What India Thinks:

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