An Indian man from Darjeeling, currently working in Singapore, has sparked an online conversation after sharing his candid thoughts about life in the Southeast Asian nation.
(Also read: 32-year-old man earning $4,200 weekly in Australia plans a permanent return to India over homesickness)
Taking to Instagram, Saurav Dhamala posted a video of himself walking along a street in Singapore while reflecting on his experiences as an Indian living abroad. In the clip, he is heard saying, "Surviving in Singapore is hard because nobody cares where are you from or how you look. Your values, your principles, and your etiquette becomes your identity. People don't make you feel like an outsider here because they realize the importance of different world cultures in making the country better."
He further added, “Another thing is if the country is so culturally diverse that if I want to have a little taste of India, I can go to so many places here. While my own people are facing racial discrimination in our own country, I feel more home and safe here. So Singapore is not just an example of development and economy, it's also an example of basic human rights, civic sense, and how to live together in a multicultural environment.”
Watch the clip here:
{{/usCountry}}Watch the clip here:
{{/usCountry}}Mixed reactions online
The post has garnered several reactions, with users sharing varied perspectives in the comments section.
One user wrote, "Nice to know about you." Another commented, "I appreciate about what you are saying." A third said, "Hope fellow Indians watch this and respect own people."
(Also read: After Singapore trip, woman says ‘nobody judges you’ abroad but ‘everything feels like a performance’ at home)
Some responses reflected on education and behaviour, with one user noting, "It's all about background of education and behavior and attitude." However, not everyone agreed with his framing. One person questioned, "But why you say it is hard then? The opening sentence should be surviving as an Indian in Singapore is easy. lol."
Another user expressed support, writing, "I really agree with your observation."
HT.com has reached out to the user for his comments, and the copy will be updated once his response is received.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)