'Need real oxygen of friends and family': Sweden NRI says loneliness abroad worse than AQI back home; claims every place has a cost

An Indian man living in Sweden has gone viral after saying he is returning to Delhi because, despite Europe’s clean air and smooth systems, life in India is emotionally easier.

Ankur Tyagi wrote on X on Monday that people often assume Europe means clean air, good roads and smooth systems, but the reality of building a life there is very different.

His post came as a response to another user who said they understood why many people want to leave India, citing low talent density, high real estate prices, pollution, corruption and high taxes.




"You do everything alone. You cook, clean, manage bills, raise your kid and fight the silence that hits you every single winter," Ankur said.

He said friends are polite but distant and community is rare, unlike India where there is chaos but also constant human contact.



He says, "Community is rare. Back home, you fight corruption and chaos but at least you have people around you. In West problems are different and they cut deeper in ways you can’t explain unless you’ve lived it."

Ankur said he is returning to Delhi on 5 December despite the city’s pollution levels. “Every place has a cost. Most of us are just learning which costs we can survive. I’m coming to Delhi on 5 December,” he said, adding he needed “some real oxygen now of friends and family. See you soon, India,” he signed off.

Also read: ‘Felt like a burden’: NRI couple says shift from US to India brought ‘peace of mind’ — viral video

The man has been living in Sweden since 2021. His post, which received over 63,000 views and strong reactions.

One person from Paris wrote that they agreed with him completely, saying that every place has pros and cons but they would still choose India. They said that if India cleaned up its cities, many people would return.

Another person said productive Europeans themselves were leaving Europe because of limits on growth. A third user shared that people who move young can integrate more easily, but those who arrive later often struggle with language and identity.

Someone else warned him to be prepared for Delhi’s pollution, sharing how a colleague fell sick for a week after flying in from Kerala’s clean air. "Be prepared. My co-founder visited Delhi after living in Kerala for months (30–40 AQI) and he couldn't get out of bed for a week."

Recently, a viral Instagram video also showed a US-based couple explaining why they were moving back to India after 17 years abroad. The woman said motherhood, short maternity leave and rising healthcare costs in the US made life very stressful. She said India offered faster medical care, easier access to doctors and stronger family support.
Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search