Indian Power Distance

Power distance is the degree to which a society accepts that power is distributed unequally. This is
considered a foundational element of society that explains broad differences between nations and
cultures. The following are illustrative examples of power distance. India has Power Distance as the
highest Hofstede Dimension for the culture, with a ranking of 77 compared to a world average of 56.5.
This Power Distance score for India indicates a high level of inequality of power and wealth within the
society. This condition is not necessarily subverted upon the population, but rather accepted by the
population as a cultural norm.

1. Organizational Structure

High power distance is associated with hierarchical organizations with a strict command and control
structure. Low power distance tends to lead to flatter organizations with authority distributed to many
individuals.

Within the Indian culture, most of the families follow Patriarchal structure. Roles, responsibility, control,
and distribution of resources within the family are strictly determined by age, gender and generation.
The establishment of the family system is believed to be mainly for the fulfillment of religious
obligations like ancestor worship, begetting a male child and passing social religious traditions to the
next generation. These patriarchal families continue to be patrilineal (relating to or based on
relationship to the father or descent through the male line ) and patrilocal (relating to relating to a
pattern of marriage in which the couple settles in the husband's home or community) and the lineage is
based on the father's family though there.

2. Decision Making

High power distance is associated with concentrated decision making whereby leaders don't ask for the
opinions of subordinates and subordinates rarely challenge leadership decisions.

The Indian family is by and large patriarchal in structure. In a patriarchal family set up, all male
members, that is, husband, elder brother and father, perform duties like decision making for the rest of
the family, and their physical and moral protection. It should be noted that this patriarchal set up is
changing slowly towards equalitarian interaction among the educated, urban middle classes, and among
some rural set ups. Junior members, including the female members, with in the organizations are
expected to give respect and display loyalty to those placed in decision making roles in the
organizations/ families.

3. Communication

In a low power distance setting, leaders carefully communicate their plans to seek acceptance and
engagement from the group. People feel relatively free to challenge the strategy and ideas of
leadership. In a high-power distance setting, it may be unthinkable to challenge a superior.
Communication is top down and directive in its style and often feedback which is negative is never
offered up the ladder. In other words, authority cannot be challenged.

Within the Indian culture, especially with in the rural household, no one is supposed to flout the will of
his elders. The father, or in his absence the eldest brother, is consulted on all important family matters
like building a house, buying and selling of property and arranging marriages, etc. The joint family does
not allow the neglect or disregard of elders. Among women, patriarch’s wife is the paramount authority.
The wife of the household head or mother-in-law oversees the household. Her word is law or at
least has the same force. Her decisions are made for the entire family and not for the
welfare of the individuals in it. Young women in the family are expected to be dutiful and
obedient. Self-assertion, even in bringing up their own children, is considered near blasphemy. It should
be noted that though this might still be a larger percentage of the Indian population within India, much
of the norms stated above about the family setting are changing as a result of advocacy, continued
modernization/globalization and exposure of the Indian people to other cultures especially western
culture.

4. Ambiguity

Where power distance is high, people may expect leaders to provide specific direction and become
upset when faced with significant ambiguity.

Subordinates tend to be dependent on the boss or the power holder for direction, acceptance of un-
equal rights between the power-privileged and those who are lesser down in the pecking order,
immediate superiors accessible but one layer above less so, paternalistic leader, management directs,
gives reason / meaning to ones work life and rewards in exchange for loyalty from employees.
Employees expect to be directed clearly as to their functions and what is expected of them. Control is
familiar, even as psychological security, and attitude towards managers are formal even if one is on first
name basis.

5. Accountability

Low power distance demands accountability of leaders. High power distance may result in a lack of
accountability such that ethical lapses go unpunished.

Within the Indian culture, responsibility and ownership lie with the figures of authority, generally the
eldest members of the family or the teachers in the classroom or top-level management. Because of the
importance of preservation of relations and rules of respect, these figures of authority are not given
feedback or held accountable for unproductive behavior or lack of results by anybody and generally use
their power to gain more influence and finances.

6. Classes

Low power distance is associated with a large middle class whereby many people are at a similar level of
society. High power distance is associated with a large gap between the poor and the wealthy with little
in between. Whereas, in a high-power distance country, those who need help from society may be
viewed as weak and lazy while the elite view themselves as superior and worthy of luxuries. As such,
high power distance may lead to a lack of charity and social infrastructure.

The roots of hierarchy in India have been the replication of the caste system that originated thousands
of years ago and due to the influence of migration and colonialism. The caste system in India has created
a rigidness which created hierarchy between the members of its society. Though illegal, the caste
system continues to be one of the key drivers of inequality in India. Many of India’s 220 million Dalits
remain excluded from society, with around 30 million trapped in quasi-slave labor. By all standard
measures- life expectancy, infant mortality, rate of infectious disease- lower castes are massively
disproportionately affected. Inclusive to that lower castes continue to be denied proper education,
or any education at all. Whereas members from “higher” caste such as the Patel caste, compromise only
one-seventh of the population of Gujarat are significantly overrepresented in the state’s economic and
social elite. With political leaders majorly coming from these “high” ranking caste such as former Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was Prime Minister in 2015 during caste riots. The caste system has
influenced major segregation within the system as people from different castes cannot get married to
each other.

एकांत में सच्चा सु ख मिलता है , पहले स्वयं के साथ फिर समु दाय
के साथ।
True happiness is found, first, with oneself and then with
others.