Is India unsafe?
Travel to India, it is really a shocking and interesting journey
Many people become addicted to India not only for sightseeing but also for experiencing a culture and society with different values.
On the other hand, there are many people who would like to travel to India but have a strong image of "India is dangerous! Many people are hesitant to travel to India because of the strong image of "India is dangerous!
Is this because negative news about India is often reported in Japan?
For example, India is dirty, there are many rapes and other sex crimes, etc....
Of course, there is a lot of good news for India as well.
But it is not taken up in Japan.
I am very disappointed.
In fact, India is not so dangerous and friendly!
In this article, I would like to write about some precautions from a security perspective when planning a trip to India.
If you understand Indian society and culture in advance, the risks will be reduced considerably and you will be able to have a fun trip that will make you say "I want to go back! You will have an enjoyable trip that will make you think, "I want to go back!
As many of you know, Factfulness (Hans Rosling, 2019) is an international bestselling book with over 1 million copies sold as of January 2021.
The book describes the media as focusing on bad news because bad news stimulates human instincts more than good news.
In the Japanese press, only bad news is covered in India.
Here we ask, "Is India really that unsafe?" I would like to think about the following, in line with the concept of factfulness.
Is security really that bad?
The number of major crimes was compared between Japan and India, plus the U.S. as a representative country.
| Japan | India | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| murder | 945 | 48,553 (4.7 times the number of cases in Japan in terms of the Japanese population) | 14,014 (5.3 times the number of cases in Japan in terms of the Japanese population) |
| Indecent exposure and forced sexual intercourse | 5,310 | 70,866 (1.2 times the number of cases in Japan in terms of Japanese population) | 122,822 (8.3 times the number of cases in Japan in terms of Japanese population) |
| population | 120 million people | 1.37 billion (11 times the population of Japan) | 330 million (2.8 times the population of Japan) |
Reference: Japan: e-Stat (Crime Statistics (Jan. 1991 - Dec. 2049 [Fixed Figures])
India: data.gov.in (Crime Head-wise Police Disposal of IPC Crime Cases during 2019)
U S : FBR (2019 CRIME in the UNITED STATES)
There are more crimes in India than in Japan, so it is certainly less safe than in Japan.
However, compared to India and the U.S., India tends to be more secure.
The news reports in Japan on India cover a lot of sex crimes, but they are not extremely worse than Japan's figures, since they are about 1.2 times higher.
Some may say, "The reason why the number of sex crimes in India is so low is because women do not speak up.
In my opinion, there are three main reasons why sex crimes in India are lower than expected
1. few women walk alone or live alone
In India, families and relatives have larger units and closer relationships than in Japan, so there are fewer occasions when people are left alone from a young age, and many people, both men and women, are lonely (laughs).
For this reason, few adults act or live alone.
When I go shopping, I go with my male siblings, relatives, or friends.
If they are away from their parents for study or employment, they often live in university dormitories, with relatives, or share a room with friends.
They live in an environment that is less prone to sexual crimes.
2. sexual crimes make themselves unclean
Whether or not the caste system is good, it is possible that the "caste system" of Hinduism, which is followed by 80% of the population, may be suppressing sexual crimes due to the idea that sexual crimes against those of lower caste than oneself are "impure.
So is it good for lower caste people to do to upper caste people? But since the society is segregated by caste (whether this is also good or bad), they have little contact with each other.
Please refer to the section below, which is also related to the section "Acquire basic knowledge about India, including local customs, etc.".
3. a village society, so people are well looked after.
Seventy percent of Indians have lived in the same village for hundreds or even thousands of years, in the same ancestral village.
For this reason, they consider villagers who are not their relatives as if they were one family.
People of both high and low castes have coexisted together in a community, in a "haves and have-nots" relationship, since ancient times.
So if something happened, the whole village would know immediately.
Villagers work in the village, so if the village is cut off, they will not be able to make a living.
Other villages are inhabited by others who have lived there for generations, making it difficult to move there.
This is how order is maintained in the village.
This feeling is easy to understand if you imagine it just like a rural Japanese village.
If you live in an urban area in search of work, you can rely on relatives (including very distant relatives) or people in the village who have started living with you before you.
This is also the reason for the "few single dwellers" explained in the previous section 1.
Crime Prevention in India
Japan is the safest country in the world, so to put it bluntly, India is not safer than Japan.
However, the following security measures will help to avoid much of the danger.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "Overseas Safety Web Site" describes crime prevention measures when staying in India.
Please refer to the countermeasures shown based on cases where Japanese travelers are likely to get into trouble.
3. crime prevention measures
Please take all possible safety precautions, including the following security measures.
- Strive to collect the latest security information.
- Acquire a minimum level of language skills, such as English, to clearly express their intentions.
- Acquire basic knowledge of India, including local customs.
- Avoid entering and leaving the country at night as much as possible. If you arrive late at night or before dawn, refrain from activities until daybreak.
- Never take a cab or auto rickshaw that approaches you at the airport, train station, or bus terminal.
- When going out (especially on foot), turn around from time to time to check for suspicious persons or objects, and pay close attention to the safety of your surroundings.
- Avoid going out on foot at night.
- When taking a cab, take note of the vehicle number.
- Women, in particular, should not travel alone.
- If a marriage proposal is made, suspect marriage fraud.
- Avoid excessive skin exposure.
- Keep valuables unattended and away from the body at all times.
- Book hotels as far in advance as possible, and avoid extremely inexpensive hotels.
- Do not easily trust auto-rickshaw or cab drivers who call out to you.
- Do not ride in a stranger's car or stay in a stranger's home, and do not eat or drink anything offered to you.
- When using a credit card, always check the unit of currency and amount before signing.
- I will not enter a restaurant alone if I cannot see inside from the outside.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: quoted from the overseas safety homepage, India: Basic Data on Safety Measures
What are the most important measures among the above? I went on to read them, and they were all important.
But there are also universal measures that apply to other countries as well.
So here it is.This is uniquely Indian!"I would like to delve deeper into the measures that we consider to be
Acquire a minimum level of language skills, such as English, to clearly express their intentions.
It takes time to acquire a minimum level of English proficiency, though,Please be aware that even if you do not understand the language, you should "clearly indicate your intentions" or "do not take it up with them.
There are many tourist attractions where Japanese tourists go.
Indian touts in tourist areas are in contact with Japanese people every day, so they know that Japanese people are indecisive and are not good at saying no.
They also know that Chinese and Koreans, whose faces look alike, show their intentions clearly, and touts deal with them separately from Japanese. They are able to distinguish between Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese because they are in contact with them every day!
The majority of Indians are very kind and gentle, but touting Indians are a little different and will cheat travelers. But they are not representative of the 1.3 billion Indians.
Since TabiZuki India is also involved in the tourism industry, we find this fact very distressing.
Never take a cab or auto rickshaw that calls out to you at the airport, train station, bus terminal, etc.
They are trying to rip you off for being a foreigner, so please do not get on.
Eventually,It wastes money, time, and energy and stamina.
For more information, please also check the following transportation and airport information.
Acquire basic knowledge of India, including local customs
For a truly Japanese person, India is a country that you would never think of, and it is truly shocking and unexpected! It is truly a country that Japanese people would never have thought of.
That is the interesting part of India, but to avoid getting into trouble, please get a basic knowledge of India before you travel to India.
The journey starts before you go! (Laughs)
Indian Customs and Basic Knowledge
- It's all men everywhere: more male-dominated society than Japan's
- Surprisingly cleanliness-loving: Japanese people are considered dirty (e.g., drinking from plastic bottles with their mouths open)
- It is bad manners to chat during the meal: the meal is sacred.
- Drinking alcohol is something that people who do not follow God (low-level people) do: Religiously, drinking alcohol is a negative concept, and people who drink alcohol are considered ”reasonable”.
- “Shake your head horizontally instead of vertically when you say ”Yes": If you think it's no, it's yes (laughs).
- “Never say ”No”: Say “I can do it” or “I know it" even if you cannot do it or do not know it.
- Holidays change every year: Hindu monks determine the date each year based on the age of the moon
These are representative examples.
When going out (especially on foot), look back from time to time to check for suspicious persons or objects, and pay close attention to personal safety.
Roads in India are less well maintained than in Japan, and many places do not have sidewalks.
Some roadsides are natural toilets!
Also, during the hottest season, the temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius, so you can't walk around.
You can walk in cold weather, but few Indians travel on foot. It is the street people and other poor people who walk.
And India has few signs or warning signs, so walking through a strange city can be difficult.
Even Indians move around asking people around them. English is understood in urban areas, but often not in the countryside. This is the same as in Japan.
Indians do not walk short distances if they can afford the train or cab fare.
Indians don't have the idea that walking is also a form of exercise (laughs).
For this reason, when Japanese people walk around, they are very conspicuous.
Walking is not recommended, but if you must walk, please do so with caution, looking back from time to time.
Avoid traveling alone.
We strongly recommend traveling with a guide.
India is a more male-dominated society than Japan, and it is mainly men who are out and about.
Indian women go out with their husbands, brothers/fathers, and boyfriends.
Men are generally less likely to act alone, although there are some who are alone in their work.
There is also the safety aspect, and above all, many people find it lonely to be alone (laughs).
It is a bit difficult to travel in India without a guide. You will not be able to fully enjoy your trip.
Traveling with a guide will naturally cost more, but please be prepared to pay for your safety.
And with a guide, you will have a proper understanding of India's cultural and social background, making your trip a value-changing experience! And it will be a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable trip with a wider range of travel options.
Suspect marriage fraud if you are being courted
If you are courted, do not immediately believe it.
In India, more than 90% of marriages are arranged marriages decided by the parents, and even in love marriages, which are less than a few percent, people do not suddenly court each other. It is only after a certain period of time and trust is established.
Is it possible to be suddenly asked to marry in Japan?
Don't you think it is suspicious?
For your own protection, please think as you would in Japan.
As stated in the very first section of the security measures, please be sure to "clearly indicate your intentions".
Avoid excessive skin exposure
Although India has a long period of high temperatures, please avoid wearing sleeveless clothing and shorts.
In India, a woman's ankles are considered the sexiest!
What? Ankle?
While Indians show their stomachs and backs in saris?
It would seem that
Yes, many Indian women bare their stomachs and backs, but they also hide their ankles.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
It is quite free from unreserved heat from men!
Also, your skin will burn, so in that sense, it is recommended to wear long sleeves, long pants, long skirts, and socks (see below).The road conditions are bad, so bare feet can get very dirty.(See Section 2.1.2.).
Some young Indians these days wear revealing clothes, but they are wealthy. They do not take metros or auto rickshaws, but go out in their own cars with drivers, in cabs, and with men.
Their attire is not Indian in origin, but they are playing it safe by avoiding going it alone.
Make hotel reservations as far in advance as possible and avoid extremely inexpensive hotels.
We recommend that you book your hotel through a travel agencyOh my god!!!
The main reasons are as follows
- We know which hotels the Japanese prefer.
- Booking from a travel agency will likely bring you another customer next time, so you can get a better room at a better price.
- Can respond appropriately to sudden schedule changes.
If you make a reservation through a hotel booking site such as Booking.com, you may be shown a room that is much poorer than the room shown on the website.
Cheaper hotels are even more so.
From the hotel's point of view, individual reservation guests are first-time visitors.
Also, many Japanese customers do not complain and are patient.
For example, rooms with heavy street noise, not a single window, broken electrical outlets or air conditioners, no hot water, and no Wi-Fi access.
If you go through a travel agency like TabiZuki India, you can stay in a clean and comfortable hotel even if it is a 3-star hotel, and you can easily make a complaint in Japanese.
A place local Indians avoid. It is a place only for those who do not know Delhi like a tourist.
Therefore,High risk of fraud and unsanitary food.The following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.
Our staff member had a devastating stomach ache from a meal at a hotel in Paharganj when he first arrived in India.
Paharganj looks convenient on the map because of its proximity to Old Delhi's tourist attractions.
But it's chaotic and you can't get around on foot, so in the end it's no different in convenience than hotels in other parts of the city.
For hotels, we recommend South Delhi, which is safe and convenient.
You can find notes about Paharganj on the blogs of travelers who have actually visited the area, so please search for them.
Do not easily trust auto-rickshaw or cab drivers who call out to you.
I do not recommend autorickshaws or cab cabs for your first trip to India.
They do not have meters, and even if they do, they often do not function, and the charges are unclear.
In the case of foreigners, they may ask for more than 10 times the market rate.
At the same time, many other auto rickshaw drivers also gather around, saying, "Oh, there's a sucker," and making a lot of noise.
We strongly recommend that you do not easily trust auto-rickshaw or cab drivers who call out to you, but rather a private car arranged by a travel agency.
Do not ride in a stranger's car or stay at a stranger's house, and do not eat or drink anything offered to you.
Japanese variety shows thrive on accidental contact trips with strangers in Japan and abroad, but this is not realistic.
The program is filmed in a way that seems coincidental, but in many cases it is a quackery or an appointment is made in advance.
Would an average person in Japan get in a stranger's car or stay at a stranger's house?
You don't, do you?
The same is true for Indians.
On Indian rail journeys, you will often find Indians exchanging food with other Indians next to them.
It is a heartwarming everyday scene.
Indians communicate with each other after talking to each other and finding out what kind of people they are to each other.
But if a Japanese person is recommended food or drink, we do not know if the hygiene conditions are tolerable for the Japanese gastrointestinal tract, and there have been cases of people being robbed after ingesting food or drink laced with sleeping pills.
From the Japanese point of view, it is difficult to distinguish what kind of person is a safe person, so please do not accept food or drink from strangers.
Do not enter a restaurant alone if you cannot see into the restaurant from the outside
Sari stores and souvenir shops have narrow frontages and long backs.
Do not enter such establishments alone, especially if you are a woman.
Not recommended even for men.
They may be sold to you forcefully, and women are especially vulnerable to getting into trouble.
the reason why isIn India, most shopkeepers are men, even in stores that cater to women!
Lots of staff man the store, and male customers buy Indian clothes for their wives and sisters.
This is because India is a more male-dominated society than Japan.
Female customers may be with men, but it is rare that a woman is alone in the shopping area.
It is a bit strange from a Japanese point of view, but in Japan, too, kimono shops in the past may have been frequented by men who came to buy kimonos.
Conclusion.
The following is a brief summary of our conclusions about security in India!
- India is less safe than Japan, but not as bad as the United States.
- If one understands the social and cultural background unique to India and acts accordingly, risks can be avoided to a great extent.
- It is a country that is not afraid of crime if one understands and acts on preventive measures to avoid being involved in crime.
Traveling with a guide will naturally cost more, but please be prepared to pay for your safety.
And with a guide, you will have a proper understanding of India's cultural and social background, making your trip a value-changing experience! And it will be a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable trip with a wider range of travel options.
Preparation is the key to a comfortable trip to India!
I wish you a wonderful trip!
At TabiZuki India, we want you to get to know the real India and offer you an original travel experience.
See also the Basic Information on India!
