Decoding the Indian Da-Vinci code- the head wobble

It might be a yes,at times a no or even a"might be". As confusing as it gets for someone visiting India for the first time, we at India find it all the more useful. The famous Indian Wobble or "Hobble", as the experts would say, forms an intrinsic part of our communication. What makes the fact creamy is that its almost always sub-conscious.
Nevertheless, every traveler at some point or other has to come across this Indian phenomenon called "The Wobble". What adds essence to this is the facial expression that people give along with the Wobble forcing one to think if its a way to save energy or an epitome of laziness.

This involuntary act of ours is so penetrated in India that almost  the entire country uses this handy tool. And it doesn’t stop there, we transmit it. Yeah its infectious too. Spend some time in the sub-continent and I am sure you cannot stay untouched by the urge to nod your head to say a yes or a no.

Sometimes a funny thing for all the tourists who see this for the first time, all the fun makes way for bewilderment the moment one realises that the same head nod means different things in different places and hence the name “Da Vinci Code of India”.

Nevertheless, here is attempt to demystify the code:

The Yes nod :

A slight up and down movement of the head with a straight neck or at times even an inclined one. What’s worth mentioning is the fact that the speed of nod is the sense of conviction the listener has  with your views.

The No Nod:

The same head when moved sideways means a “no”. What goes without saying is that the speed of head nod matters as it shows the degree of disagreement. You are bound to come across this in local transport when the taxi driver turns down your proposal

The I understand nod:

The same head when shaken right at the neck with a conviction on the face is an easy way to say that I got you.  Most commonly found in the classrooms of Indian schools, this is an easy to find expression of an average student.

The I caught you nod:

Often accompanied by a cunning smile and a weird facial expression, it’s a common expression among mates when caught in act.

The I appreciate it nod:

A slight modification of the yes nod with a bit of lip and eye expression served slowly showing happiness changes the whole meaning of the nod. Best seen when one appreciates his pal, its quite common in almost all parts of India.

Girls special nod:

Invented and mostly used by girls, this node is one of the greatest gifts that women have gifted themselves and can be seen used frequently.

Well, last but not the least, it must be highlighted here that though nods can be classified into the said ways but in certain parts of India the same nods are used for conveying the exact opposite meaning. But it goes without saying that it forms an integral part of Indian culture.