This isn't passivity; it is a deep-seated spiritual belief rooted in the Vedas: The world is transient. Do not fight the flow; flow with it. Indian culture is not quiet. It is loud, colorful, often overwhelming, and gloriously inefficient by Western standards. It is a place where the past is not preserved in museums but is living in the streets.
To live the Indian lifestyle is to accept that your plans will be ruined, your stomach will be spiced beyond reason, and your heart will be fuller than you thought possible. It is the art of finding a little bit of heaven inside the bustling chaos of earth.
Because of population density and limited resources, the Indian lifestyle is built on extreme flexibility. You adjust your seat on the train so five people sit where three should. You adjust your meal times when the power goes out. You adjust your opinion of your neighbor even when they play drums at 6 AM for a religious ritual.