u/Ok_Abalone5471

I wanted to throw an observation out here and see if anyone else has experienced something similar, or if it’s just the specific circles I’ve been interacting with lately.
Over the last few years, whether interacting with people in India or across different continents, I’ve started noticing a really stark pattern when it comes to people's personalities, depth, and their political leanings regarding the current Indian government.
From what I’ve seen, the people who stand out as genuine critical thinkers and people with a lot of personal depth, who aren't shallow, and who genuinely understand or support progressive values like feminism and almost universally do not align with BJP ideologies. Lately, a lot of them seem to be leaning toward what is now the CJP space. They seem to have a strong moral compass and a backbone.
On the flip side, I've noticed a recurring pattern among the die-hard, unwavering Modi/BJP fans. In my personal interactions, a huge portion of the people who worship the current government or whose families treat politics like a literal religion tend to lack that same depth. Often, they come across as incredibly conformist, display deeply un-feminist or problematic attitudes toward women, and seem to lack a strong individual personality of their own.
It feels less like a simple disagreement on economic policies and more like a fundamental divide in core values, empathy, and critical thinking skills.
What do you all think of this observation? If you travel or interact with the diaspora or people across different regions, have you noticed a similar personality/intellectual split, or is this just a reflection of my own echo chamber?
Would love to hear some honest, nuanced perspectives on this.

I’ll be honest, I’m exhausted.
When I moved to the UK, a huge part of me was relieved. I thought I was finally leaving behind the constant "Andhbhakt" echo chambers, the religious friction, and that suffocating wave of anti-feminist rhetoric that’s taken over my social feeds back home. I just wanted to live in a normal, functioning society where politics isn't someone's entire (and very angry) personality.
I’ve met people here in London and Birmingham and Belfast, who are more radicalized than the people I left behind in Delhi. It’s the wildest cognitive dissonance I’ve ever seen. These guys enjoy every single perk of a Western liberal democracy—freedom of speech, secularism, social safety nets—yet they spend their weekends aggressively pushing the most extreme, right-wing ideologies from India.
The worst part? They "sell" this filtered, hyper-nationalist version of India to their British colleagues like it’s a utopia, all while complaining about "Western values" destroying society.
It feels like they’re stuck in a time capsule of hate, but with the added ego of earning in Pounds. I actually feel bad for the locals here. You guys are just trying to go about your day, and you’ve inherited a localized version of a culture war you didn't ask for.
I moved 5,000 miles for a vibe shift, only to find the same toxicity, just in a colder climate. Has anyone else experienced this, or am I just hanging out in the wrong circles?

To understand the India you see today, you'll have to look at the structural walls Dr. B.R. Ambedkar spent his life tearing down. For centuries, the caste system in texts like the Manusmriti didn't just create
"classes", it created a system of "graded inequality." Lower castes were denied the right to study or even share a cup of water from the same well, while women were kept in a state of total humiliation and subservience. Ambedkar changed everything. From leading the Mahad Satyagraha so people could simply drink water, to drafting the Constitution and fighting for women's inheritance rights, he gave a voice to the silenced. But the legacy of that oppression still lives in our economy: Most Indians you meet abroad come from backgrounds that had a
"head start." Their families had access to education and foreign exposure for generations while others were legally barred from it. Today, 1% of India holds nearly half the country's wealth. The reason the middle class can afford cheap household help is that a massive portion of the population mostly come from marginalized castes and is still trapped in a cycle of poverty and landlessness. If you really want to know someone's heart, ask them what they think about Reservation or Dr. Ambedkar. Their answer will tell you if they acknowledge the ladder of privilege they climbed, or if they're still choosing to ignore the history that built their current life. If you don't know Ambedkar, read him. He is the reason India has a chance at being a true democracy.

I’ve been talking to this girl on Snapchat for a bit. The vibe was great honestly, one of the better connections I’ve had lately. She’s currently out of town, and we’d already agreed to grab a drink as soon as she got back to the city.
Then, the conversation shifted to backgrounds. She realized I wasn’t originally from here, and once she found out I’m from India, the energy shifted instantly. That "definitely" turned into a "maybe," and the replies started getting shorter.
I want to be clear: I’m not here to bash her or scream "racism." I’m a realist. I know the stereotypes, I know the "image" India has online right now, and I’m not going to spend my energy trying to advocate against someone’s personal preferences or comfort levels. People like what they like.
But man, it just feels heavy sometimes. You can do everything "right" have the career, the hobbies, the personality but you can’t outrun your place of birth. "Geographical luck" is a real thing, and today I’m definitely feeling the weight of the draw I got.
Just needed to vent that out to the void. Anyone else ever feel like they’re playing the dating game on "Hard Mode" based on things they can’t change?

I need to vent for a second because I feel like I’m losing my mind.
I’ve always loved the idea that language is supposed to unite people. I’ve gone out of my way to be friends with people from all over—multilingual, "linguistics" types, people with cool backgrounds. But lately, I’ve realized that instead of bringing us together, it’s being used as a tool to completely shut people out.
Does anyone else deal with friends who just… forget you exist the moment someone else speaks their native tongue?
I’ll be out at dinner or hanging at a house, and two of my "friends" will just dive into a conversation in a language they know I don’t speak a word of. And I’m not talking about a quick 30-second clarification. I’m talking hours. I’m literally sitting there, eating my fries or staring at my phone, while they laugh and debate and have this deep connection right in front of me.
It feels so incredibly unwelcoming. It’s like being a ghost at your own hangout. When I try to jump in or ask what’s up, I get a half-second summary like, "Oh, we're just talking about work," and then they go right back into it.
What is the word for this? Is there a specific term for people who are "linguistically cliquey" or just completely socially oblivious? It feels just straight-up conversational exclusion.
I used to think learning about different cultures was about opening doors, but right now it feels like I’m just standing outside a locked one. Am I being too sensitive, or is this just common-level rudeness now?

I need to vent for a second because I feel like I’m losing my mind.
I’ve always loved the idea that language is supposed to unite people. I’ve gone out of my way to be friends with people from all over—multilingual, "linguistics" types, people with cool backgrounds. But lately, I’ve realized that instead of bringing us together, it’s being used as a tool to completely shut people out.
Does anyone else deal with friends who just… forget you exist the moment someone else speaks their native tongue?
I’ll be out at dinner or hanging at a house, and two of my "friends" will just dive into a conversation in a language they know I don’t speak a word of. And I’m not talking about a quick 30-second clarification. I’m talking hours. I’m literally sitting there, eating my fries or staring at my phone, while they laugh and debate and have this deep connection right in front of me.
It feels so incredibly unwelcoming. It’s like being a ghost at your own hangout. When I try to jump in or ask what’s up, I get a half-second summary like, "Oh, we're just talking about work," and then they go right back into it.
What is the word for this? Is there a specific term for people who are "linguistically cliquey" or just completely socially oblivious? It feels just straight-up conversational exclusion.
I used to think learning about different cultures was about opening doors, but right now it feels like I’m just standing outside a locked one. Am I being too sensitive, or is this just common-level rudeness now?

Feeling lonely

So, I had a bit of a bizarre encounter today at the Queen’s PEC after a swim, and I’m still trying to process it.
I was absolutely parched after my laps properly dehydrated , and just needed a mouthful of water to get me home. I saw a guy filling up his bottle at the fountain and politely asked if I could have a quick sip.
He was hesitant but said, "Okay, but are you going to drink it from above?" (meaning ‘air-dogging’ it/not touching the plastic). I told him "Yeah, of course!" and took a quick drink without my lips ever touching the bottle.
To show my appreciation, I offered to finish filling the bottle up for him so he didn't have to wait. I handed it back, thanked him again, and started heading out.
As I was walking away, I looked back and saw him drop the entire bottle straight into the bin.
I’m actually gutted! I thought I was being helpful by refilling it, but now I feel like a biohazard. Was I out of order for asking, or is throwing away a perfectly good reusable bottle over a 'no-contact' sip a bit mental? I am Indian.