--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The weeks I’d spent in Bombay with…" description: "\"“The weeks I’d spent in Bombay with Prabaker had taught me that the shaking or wiggling of the head from side to side—that most characteristic of India..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/gregory-david-roberts-1039_delhi_the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-praba_2296446.png" --- # The weeks I’d spent in Bombay with Prabaker had taught me… ![“The weeks I’d spent in Bombay with Prabaker had taught me that the shaking or wiggling of the head from side to side—that most characteristic of Indian expressive gestures—was the equivalent of a forward nod of the head, meaning Yes.” quote by Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/gregory-david-roberts-1039_delhi_the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-praba_2296446.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/gregory-david-roberts-1039_delhi_the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-praba_2296446.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/gregory-david-roberts-1039_delhi_the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-praba_2296446.png) > ““The weeks I’d spent in Bombay with Prabaker had taught me that the shaking or wiggling of the head from side to side—that most characteristic of Indian expressive gestures—was the equivalent of a forward nod of the head, meaning Yes.”” [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator learns that an Indian head nod, a side‑to‑side shake, conveys agreement, illustrating cultural differences in non‑verbal communication. **In simple terms:** Indian head gestures mean “yes.” Key Takeaway Observe and respect local body language. Themes culture communication travel Mood curious observant Type educational cultural When to use this quote - traveling abroad - meeting international colleagues - language immersion programs Key Concepts nonverbal cues cross‑cultural understanding gesture semantics Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify non‑verbal signals in a new culture? - What other gestures differ across societies? A Different Perspective Misinterpretations can still occur. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Bullshit said, things get spread. Just sit back, smile and nod your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-torres/bullshit-said-things-get-spread-just-sit-back-smile-and-nod-your-head/) Anthony Torres > [“Half the participants were told to nod their head up and down while others were told to shake it side to side. The messages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/half-the-participants-were-told-to-nod-their-head-up-and-down-while/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [There are people who drove me crazy, but they got the job done. And when I see that person again, I nod my head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/there-are-people-who-drove-me-crazy-but-they-got-the-job-done-and/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [“I know what he’s doing, what he’s getting at. And I understand it. I understand guilt. But when I nod my head and smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-know-what-he-s-doing-what-he-s-getting-at-and-i-understand-it-i/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [I can only nod my head and smile because there are a million things Id like to say to you and Im afraid theyll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-only-nod-my-head-and-smile-because-there-are-a-million-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing can be revoked or said in vain nor unfulfilled if I should nod my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iliad/nothing-can-be-revoked-or-said-in-vain-nor-unfulfilled-if-i-should/) [The Iliad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iliad/) > [“Here’s a helpful hint: If you nod, I can’t see it. Or head shakes. Or shrugs. Or middle fingers. Or interpretive dances. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-scott/here-s-a-helpful-hint-if-you-nod-i-can-t-see-it-or-head-shakes-or/) [Emma Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-scott/) > [I've been to Delhi, Madras, Bangalore and a lot of other cities, but I have never seen a crime set-up like that in Bombay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-ve-been-to-delhi-madras-bangalore-and-a-lot-of-other-cities-but-i/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [More dreams are realised and extinguished in Bombay than any other place in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/more-dreams-are-realised-and-extinguished-in-bombay-than-any-other/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Usually, I come for film promotions or events, but I have so many fond memories of Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/usually-i-come-for-film-promotions-or-events-but-i-have-so-many-fond/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [I was born in Ambala Cantt., but my parents belong to Palwal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/i-was-born-in-ambala-cantt-but-my-parents-belong-to-palwal/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > ['Pink,' which is set in Delhi, is not women-centric but a youth film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/pink-which-is-set-in-delhi-is-not-women-centric-but-a-youth-film/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [Mumbai and its people are full of warmth and love - it has the best qualities of all the cities in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/mumbai-and-its-people-are-full-of-warmth-and-love-it-has-the-best/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > [Hyderabad is a hot city, with hot food and hot people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-rao/hyderabad-is-a-hot-city-with-hot-food-and-hot-people/) [Amrita Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-rao/) > [I grew up in Mumbai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/i-grew-up-in-mumbai/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) ## More by Gregory David Roberts > [The simple and astonishing truth about India and Indian people is that when you go there, and deal with them, your heart always guides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/the-simple-and-astonishing-truth-about-india-and-indian-people-is/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [I think the novel form chose me. I was a writer before I became a criminal... my first instinct was to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-think-the-novel-form-chose-me-i-was-a-writer-before-i-became-a/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [“Men are just men - it is what they do, or refuse to do, that links them to good and evil. The truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/men-are-just-men-it-is-what-they-do-or-refuse-to-do-that-links-them/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Indians are the Italians of Asia and vice versa. Every man in both countries is a singer when he is happy, and every woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/indians-are-the-italians-of-asia-and-vice-versa-every-man-in-both/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [A lot of bad stuff in the world wasn’t really that bad until someone tried to change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/a-lot-of-bad-stuff-in-the-world-wasn-t-really-that-bad-until-someone/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Of course I wanted to know. I was a writer. I wanted to know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/of-course-i-wanted-to-know-i-was-a-writer-i-wanted-to-know-everything/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Sometimes we love with nothing more than hope. Sometimes we cry with everything except tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/sometimes-we-love-with-nothing-more-than-hope-sometimes-we-cry-with/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Love is the passionate search for a truth other than your own; and once you feel it, honestly and completely, love is forever..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/love-is-the-passionate-search-for-a-truth-other-than-your-own-and/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [“I know now that it's the sweet, sweating smell of hope, which is opposite of hate; and it's the sour, stifled smell of greed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-know-now-that-it-s-the-sweet-sweating-smell-of-hope-which-is/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [I don't know what frightens me more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-don-t-know-what-frightens-me-more/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [“I hesitated. Karla once said that men reveal what they think when they look away, and what they feel when they hesitate. With women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-hesitated-karla-once-said-that-men-reveal-what-they-think-when-they/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [you can't kill love. you can't even kill it with hate. you can kill in-love, and loving, and even loveliness. you can kill them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/you-can-t-kill-love-you-can-t-even-kill-it-with-hate-you-can-kill-in/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Some loves are like that. Your heart starts to feel like an overcrowded lifeboat. You throw your pride out to keep it afloat, &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/some-loves-are-like-that-your-heart-starts-to-feel-like-an/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [I sometimes think that the size of our happiness is inversely proportional to the size of our house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-sometimes-think-that-the-size-of-our-happiness-is-inversely/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) [Explore all 276 Gregory David Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) ## More Delhi quotes > [I grew up in Mumbai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/i-grew-up-in-mumbai/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [Hyderabad is a hot city, with hot food and hot people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-rao/hyderabad-is-a-hot-city-with-hot-food-and-hot-people/) [Amrita Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-rao/) > [Mumbai and its people are full of warmth and love - it has the best qualities of all the cities in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/mumbai-and-its-people-are-full-of-warmth-and-love-it-has-the-best/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > ['Pink,' which is set in Delhi, is not women-centric but a youth film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/pink-which-is-set-in-delhi-is-not-women-centric-but-a-youth-film/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [I was born in Ambala Cantt., but my parents belong to Palwal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/i-was-born-in-ambala-cantt-but-my-parents-belong-to-palwal/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > [Usually, I come for film promotions or events, but I have so many fond memories of Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/usually-i-come-for-film-promotions-or-events-but-i-have-so-many-fond/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [“Actor Nani feels at home in Chennai, especially after the blockbuster Naan Ee. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/actor-nani-feels-at-home-in-chennai-especially-after-the-blockbuster/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I realised that Delhiites have a very different style of talking, which is sweet, but only a Dilliwala can speak like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-realised-that-delhiites-have-a-very-different-style-of-talking/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [Many suggested I should move to Hyderabad. But I prefer remaining in Chennai and travelling to and fro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kovai-sarala/many-suggested-i-should-move-to-hyderabad-but-i-prefer-remaining-in/) [Kovai Sarala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kovai-sarala/) > [Kolkata is a musical city. What I like about people here is the lack of diplomacy. Some of the best Indian classical musicians belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukhwinder-singh/kolkata-is-a-musical-city-what-i-like-about-people-here-is-the-lack/) [Sukhwinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukhwinder-singh/) > [I definitely feel more attached to Kolkata than anywhere else in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-guha/i-definitely-feel-more-attached-to-kolkata-than-anywhere-else-in-india/) [Isa Guha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-guha/) > [I feel I haven't quite settled in Mumbai. One, it is a cultural shock for me and two, I feel no one really has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/i-feel-i-haven-t-quite-settled-in-mumbai-one-it-is-a-cultural-shock/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [I always capture one aspect or the other of Delhi in my raps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raftaar/i-always-capture-one-aspect-or-the-other-of-delhi-in-my-raps/) [Raftaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raftaar/) > [Shooting in Jaipur was one of the best experiences of my life. The city is culturally quite rich, and each part of it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaheer-sheikh/shooting-in-jaipur-was-one-of-the-best-experiences-of-my-life-the/) [Shaheer Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaheer-sheikh/) > [Whenever I get three-four days in hand, I fly down to Delhi to spend time with my family and my dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-gupta/whenever-i-get-three-four-days-in-hand-i-fly-down-to-delhi-to-spend/) [Esha Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-gupta/) Browse all 744 Delhi quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The weeks I’d spent in Bombay with Prabaker had taught me that the shaking or wiggling of the head from side to side—that most characteristic of Indian expressive gestures—was the equivalent of a forward nod of the head, meaning Yes.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory David Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-prabaker-had-taught-me-that-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delhi" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-prabaker-had-taught-me-that-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/gregory-david-roberts-1039_delhi_the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-praba_2296446.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/gregory-david-roberts-1039_delhi_the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-praba_2296446.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/gregory-david-roberts-1039_delhi_the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-praba_2296446.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The weeks I’d spent in Bombay with Prabaker had taught me that the shaking or wiggling of the head from side…” — Gregory David Roberts", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gregory David Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The weeks I’d spent in Bombay...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-prabaker-had-taught-me-that-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/the-weeks-i-d-spent-in-bombay-with-prabaker-had-taught-me-that-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```