When I was in India in 1985 and 1986 most people didn't know how to read maps

Why?

Because first of all most people were not educated at that time to even the 1st grade. So, if you asked the average person for directions they often spoke English in India because it is the least offensive of 300 languages spoken in India. But, even if they spoke English with an Indian Accent they often did not think like western people do who have gotten used to reading maps which are aerial views of the world as one would see the world from an airplane. So, if you asked directions they mostly didn't want to be viewed as ignorant or stupid. So, their desire to seem intelligent and educated whether they were or not (because they spoke English) they would tell you almost anything because they didn't want to be thought of as ignorant. So, asking directions often was completely useless. It was better often to ask your rickshaw driver or 3 wheeled scooter driver or taxi driver for directions because it was their business to know where things were and they hoped you would use their services again. So, they would unfailingly get you to the right place but the average person who didn't want to be seen as ignorant would tell you almost anything then. In many parts of the world it is likely still like this now.