‘Same chaos & aggression’: Delhi girl’s viral post highlights why many NRIs won’t move back

A candid Reddit post by a young woman talking about her complicated relationship with her hometown, Delhi, has struck a chord with thousands online — especially among Indians living abroad.

The original post, titled ‘I’m a basic Delhi girl but I’ll never go back’, was written by a 26-year-old who has lived in London for seven years. In it, she shared her disappointment after returning home for Diwali, expressing that the city she grew up in now feels emotionally and mentally exhausted.

“It’s not even about ruining life in London,” she wrote. “It’s just the basic things: safety, space, respect for boundaries, civic sense – all of that is missing here. I can’t even go out on my own without someone making me or my parents feel uncomfortable.”

The user, who moved to London at 18 to complete her university studies, described how every visit to Delhi reminded her of the same old frustrations: “Same aggression, same chaos, same ‘chalta hai’ attitude.” Despite her love for her family and nostalgia for her roots, she said she no longer saw herself happy in Delhi.

The post quickly gained traction, sparking widespread discussion among Redditors, many of whom expressed her conflicted feelings about home, identity, and belonging.

“It’s a trade-off at the end of the day. I’ve been in London for the past four years and every time I come back, I’m reminded that I’ll eventually have to come back when my parents can’t support themselves anymore. Until then, all we can do is maximize our wealth while we’re out of India,” one commenter shared.

Another user offered a more nostalgic view: “I’m living in Italy now and I can’t wait to go back to Delhi every now and then. Sure there are downsides, but I miss the whole Delhi experience. I’m only 22 and I don’t know where life will take me, but I miss it.”

This thread reflects a growing sentiment among young Indians abroad – torn between comfort and opportunity in their chosen countries, and the emotional pull of home.

While some commenters sympathized with the original poster’s frustration over safety and civic issues, others pointed out that cities everywhere have trade-offs. However, the underlying message was a bittersweet reality, that for many “home” is no longer a place of comfort, but a place of longing, love and loss in equal measure.