Perceptions of Indians in Oman: Exploring aspects of intercultural communication

This chapter addresses the notion that intercultural communication is a pivotal aspect of contemporary society, not only as an academic pursuit but also as a practical, lived experience. Tracing the literature of intercultural communication in the Arab world, this study focuses on prevalent perceptions towards Indians by the Omani youth, particularly university students whose access to the “other” is, very often, more common and pronounced. The study attempts to assess and understand the relationship which the Indian expatriate community has with the host society of Omanis, given the historical relations between these two groups of people. A questionnaire was given to students and interviews were conducted with three professors of Sultan Qaboos University in order to gauge social perceptions as well as general awareness of young Omanis towards Indians. While major gaps appear to exist between them, there seems to be an acceptance and desire for further opportunities, which would enable a more effective relationship between these two communities. Within the university, exposure to literature, history, and language through interdisciplinary courses in cultural studies could be more effectively used to expose students to the richness of intercultural experiences, thus bringing Omani students closer to their Indian neighbors.