India is one of those places on the Earth that is cherished for its unity in diversity, as a vibrant mosaic of cultures, places, and a relentless driving force towards development that goes even beyond comparing two regions. For too long, people have labeled its gems with foreign tags, like “Switzerland of India” or “Silicon Valley of India”, as if they need a global benchmark to shine.This habit often dims the spotlight on what makes India truly special as a one-of-a-kind, effortless combination of history, diversity, and dynamic growth.A Canadian who’s called India home for eight years recently talked about this unfair perspective towards standout Indian places. His words remind us that validation doesn’t come from copying something; instead, India’s real magic lies in embracing its own identity.
Canadian influencer living in India slams ‘videshi’ tags for Indian cities (Photo: (Instagram/@caleb_friesen)
Canadian criticises people comparing India with foreign places
Caleb Friesen, a Canadian influencer who’s lived in India since around 2017, took to X with a video calling out the “illogical” trend of comparing Indian spots to foreign ones. He criticised travel vloggers for calling and comparing places as “Switzerland of India,” the “Scotland of the East,” or “Mini Europe,” arguing these tags make India seem like copies rather than originals. Friesen went as far beyond nicknames like Bollywood and Tollywood, saying they chase Hollywood’s shadow unnecessarily. “Bro, you need to stop at the woods,” he remarked, pointing to South Korea’s independent naming as a better example.He based his post around Bengaluru’s “Silicon Valley of India” label, saying that the city sits on the Deccan Plateau, “the opposite of a valley.” Friesen contrasted this with China’s Shenzhen, which stands on its own name. “I just think more people need to have this mindset. India is not the X of Y. India just is,” he urged, adding, “This country is spectacular. It is one of a kind.”
Why this video went widely shared on social media
Friesen’s message hit home because it talks about the push for self-pride. He referenced Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal’s reply to a fan wanting a “Bryan Johnson replica in India,” where Goyal stressed upon originality. This isn’t just about tourism; it’s a call to value India’s tech boom, varied regions, and cultural depth without foreign crutches.
Social media gets emotional
Users flooded Friesen’s post with support. One wrote, “Good one, India shouldn’t benchmark everything against one. India is great on its own with a massive population”. Another said, “A pity that this has to come from a Canadian, but that isn’t bad, because sadly some Indians pick up an idea only when non-Indians approve it.”A third wrote, “Finally someone said it. We need to own our identities and not cling to western validation.” A fan added, “Well put @caleb_friesen. India needs to UP their PR game. India is so so much better than what the sentiment is like in the outside. So much potential and talent everywhere.”One user noted a flip side, “India have many beautiful places. But because of bad infrastructure and lack of promotion of these places, we never get to see about such places that exist in India.” Others blamed colonial mindsets, “Indian was first colonised for 200 years by Brits and then a 100 more colonised us mentally.”
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