Virtually every Indian man I know has told me that for a foreign man in his own country to say this to an Indian lady will usually be interpreted as flirting. On the other hand, one Indian lady has encouraged me to say it. However, she pointedly did not dismiss the possibility that she indeed regards it as flirting and simply appreciates being flirted with. It's strictly informal here. However, we Americans are a compulsively informal people so you may hear us say it to strangers.
"Infructuous" is in some dictionaries (like my bilingual one), but the word the other poster used was "infructutous". If you google that, it comes up almost exclusively in Indian sources.
Remember, they're talking about saying it here, not in India. The reaction I get from most Indian women in the USA tends to support their contention that these women don't believe I'm saying it just to be polite or to respect their culture, rather that it's just a "line" to make myself appear interested and interesting. The only Indian woman here who encourages me to say namaste is pretty brash and outspoken and enjoys the freedoms women have in America. I'd be reluctant to regard her as a representative example of Indian womanhood.
Yeah. Now, perhaps you got the spirit of it. In India it is not a sign of "getting fresh" or something like that. But in USA, the whole view point changes. Well, we Indians are capable of that. They are the most adaptable people, but outwardly. Indians, in Rome, CAN easily do what Romans do. Means NOTHING, in homes they may laugh at Romans. A one off Namaste by you is a sure sign of your "designs". I don't say you have such designs. But these women DO see a lot in USA, they are highly educated, and they are not dumb and are not assured of your sincerity. The only way you can prove yourself "sincere" is using it daily, ONLY once on first encounter, and with all the other ladies. Haha. Frag, even she is taking you for a ride, I assure you. You need to put your act together if you want to be taken seriously about your sincerity. Say Namaste to all Indians daily, male or female, or just revert to Hi.
