‘Disheartened' Man Living In US Reveals How Indians Abroad Treat Each Other
The user, who has lived in the US for over 10 years, said he's picked up the American habit of smiling at strangers and making small talk.
A Reddit post by an Indian man living in the United States has gone viral. It sparked a deep and honest discussion about how Indians treat each other when living abroad. The thread was titled, 'Is it just me or do Indians abroad look down on their own? Here's my personal experience." The post described an awkward encounter at a coffee shop in New York City that left the writer feeling confused and disappointed.
The user, who has lived in the US for over 10 years, said he's picked up the American habit of smiling at strangers and making small talk. But one day, when he saw a man who looked Indian at a cafe and greeted him politely, things didn't go as expected.
'Instead of being chill, he gave me this 'who the hell are you' look," the Redditor wrote. The man then started talking arrogantly about his startup and how much money he had raised. 'Honestly, he acted like I was below him," the user added.
Later, in an unexpected twist, the Redditor found out he was an investor at a venture capital firm that had recently backed the same man's startup. 'When he realised, his energy immediately changed. Awkward doesn't even cover it," he wrote.
He ended the post with a strong question: 'Why is it that a lot of Indians abroad act like this with each other? Would it kill us to just be nice or at least not look down on someone?"
Reactions Online
The post hit a nerve. Many users responded with similar experiences and thoughts.
One user wrote, 'I've felt more warmth from strangers of other nationalities than from my own community here."
Another added, 'The moment they see you aren't rich or well-connected, you're invisible to them."
A third commenter said, 'We talk about unity and culture, but when we move out of India, it's often the first thing we discard."
The post has opened up a conversation many feel has been long overdue.
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First Published:
July 21, 2025, 14:03 IST
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