‘Bangalore made me hate India…’: Viral post on India’s urban chaos sparks debate

A Reddit post by an Indian professional currently visiting Tokyo struck a deep nerve among netizens, as it exposed the frustration that many urban Indians feel towards life in their cities, especially Bengaluru.

This viral rant draws a stark contrast between the order, cleanliness and civic sense observed in Japan and the chaos and decadence of the Indian subway. The author, who said they have lived in Kochi, Chennai and Bengaluru, described their experience of touring Tokyo as “rejuvenating”, adding that “India will never be as good as these countries in 100 years.”

“There are crosswalks, well-maintained crosswalks. No exposed drains. No litter. No dog droppings. No bikes,” the Redditor wrote. “I bet there is not even a kilometer of footpaths in our country that is accessible to everyone.”

The post goes on to describe the feeling of safety, cleanliness and civility in Japanese cities – from the clean streets to drivers stopping for pedestrians and the almost complete absence of car horns. “I never heard even a single car horn sound on the roads,” the author said, adding that the contradiction made them “hate” their city.

The most emotional part of the post came when the writer admitted regretting turning down a job offer in Japan to stay in India. “Similar pay, and I decided to stay. People talk about brain drain, and how we should retain new graduates. But what do we have to retain them? What do we have to offer them? I will not make such a decision again.”

Familiar frustration

The post resonated strongly across Reddit, especially among users from Bengaluru, often called India’s Silicon Valley. Many users expressed similar frustrations about India’s crumbling civic infrastructure, traffic chaos, and lack of public discipline.

One user commented: “Forget Bangkok and Sri Lanka. Even exotic Cambodia was cleaner. Traveling abroad gets you down because it reminds you how broken and dirty your country is. I often quarrel with motorcyclists who drive on footpaths… and I have lost all hope of constantly changing things.”

Another shared, “In Singapore, there is literally a separate lane for buses and ambulances so they don’t get interrupted. And here in the BLR… people in 7-seater ambulances beat the ambulances without thinking.”

A third commentator, who said they had traveled to 21 countries, added that India’s problem “is not just infrastructure but also a lack of empathy and civic responsibility.” “Indians lack empathy and strong will… Just like mindless zombies, they keep doing the same thing without thinking of the effect.”

This discussion reflects growing disillusionment among India’s urban middle class, who feel that economic progress has not translated into better living conditions. While Bengaluru has become a hub for global tech talent, citizens continue to suffer from collapsing roads, traffic congestion, floods, and deteriorating civic hygiene.

As one Redditor summed it up: “Sometimes I really wish I didn’t love this country so much and had the heart to leave.”