When Himanshu Upadhyay left the "posh colony" he once called home in Noida, he wasn’t fleeing a lack of tall buildings or missing sunsets. He was escaping, in his words, “the incompetent and morally bankrupt people” that surrounded him.
Now the president of the Indian Business Chamber of Luxembourg (IBCL), Upadhyay’s recent remarks on X (formerly Twitter) have blown open an emotional conversation about what it really means to live in India’s urban sprawl — and whether progress can be measured solely in infrastructure.
From Frustration to Exile
Responding to a post that celebrated the modern skyline and verdant beauty of Delhi NCR, Upadhyay gave a sharply contrasting narrative of his own life in Noida.
"I lived in a so-called posh colony in Noida. The only reason I left India was the incompetent and morally bankrupt people around me," he wrote, outlining daily miseries that went far beyond material discomfort.
From erratic electricity and water supplies to the choking pollution and simmering tempers on the streets, Upadhyay described a society where basic civic life felt like a battleground. “Everyone seemed to be always angry and frustrated, ready to kill,” he posted. Even the educated classes, he claimed, were knee-deep in corruption. “Electricity theft was common, even among the well-to-do. I didn’t want to raise my children in that environment.”
Despite his love for the country, he declared that it was the people around him who “made it hell,” concluding that India may need “two more generations to learn civility, morality, and common sense.”
A Country Divided — Even Online
Unsurprisingly, Upadhyay’s candid outburst drew strong reactions. The post quickly became a lightning rod for India’s virtual citizens — some applauding his honesty, others accusing him of unfair generalisation.
“You’ve the very right observations regarding NCR people, but that’s the difference. You could make that choice to leave India. I decided to come back to NCR believing at last it’s my home,” one user replied, acknowledging flaws but embracing personal responsibility.
Another user pointed out that painting the entire country with Noida’s brush is unjust. “NCR is not the entire country. Also, no one considers Noida as a moral benchmark or model city. Explore and move to other decent places in the country.”
Yet others used his statement as a springboard for deeper reflection. “It’s true that on average Indians are more corrupt than people from developed countries,” one comment read. “Maybe because their quality of life is already good they don’t need to be venal. Or maybe Indians have a character defect.”
But there were also those who defended the Indian experience with nuance. “I also stay in Noida. Never faced any problem. It’s all about experience. Life is not easy whether in India or abroad — you have to adapt.”
Infrastructure vs. Introspection
What Upadhyay’s post inadvertently revealed is a deepening schism in urban India’s sense of self. On the one hand, shining skylines, metro lines, and expressways paint a picture of progress. On the other, the lived experiences of many still echo with chaos, distrust, and exhaustion.
His statement peels back a layer of the national conversation — suggesting that while cities may modernize on the surface, the soul of civic life still awaits transformation. And for some, that wait is just too long.
In the end, Upadhyay’s critique may not be a condemnation of India, but a mirror. A reflection that demands uncomfortable questions — not just about where we live, but how we live together.
Now the president of the Indian Business Chamber of Luxembourg (IBCL), Upadhyay’s recent remarks on X (formerly Twitter) have blown open an emotional conversation about what it really means to live in India’s urban sprawl — and whether progress can be measured solely in infrastructure.
From Frustration to Exile
Responding to a post that celebrated the modern skyline and verdant beauty of Delhi NCR, Upadhyay gave a sharply contrasting narrative of his own life in Noida.
"I lived in a so-called posh colony in Noida. The only reason I left India was the incompetent and morally bankrupt people around me," he wrote, outlining daily miseries that went far beyond material discomfort.
I lived in a so called posh colony in Noida. The only reason I left India was the incompetent and morally bankrupt people around me.
— Hims 🪷 🚴 🌱 🧘 (@maveinlux) May 3, 2025
There wasn’t a day that I didn’t struggle with basic things, not only outside of the house but also indoors. Electricity, water, pollution,… https://t.co/olyl6IZ8iE
From erratic electricity and water supplies to the choking pollution and simmering tempers on the streets, Upadhyay described a society where basic civic life felt like a battleground. “Everyone seemed to be always angry and frustrated, ready to kill,” he posted. Even the educated classes, he claimed, were knee-deep in corruption. “Electricity theft was common, even among the well-to-do. I didn’t want to raise my children in that environment.”
Despite his love for the country, he declared that it was the people around him who “made it hell,” concluding that India may need “two more generations to learn civility, morality, and common sense.”
A Country Divided — Even Online
Unsurprisingly, Upadhyay’s candid outburst drew strong reactions. The post quickly became a lightning rod for India’s virtual citizens — some applauding his honesty, others accusing him of unfair generalisation.
“You’ve the very right observations regarding NCR people, but that’s the difference. You could make that choice to leave India. I decided to come back to NCR believing at last it’s my home,” one user replied, acknowledging flaws but embracing personal responsibility.
Another user pointed out that painting the entire country with Noida’s brush is unjust. “NCR is not the entire country. Also, no one considers Noida as a moral benchmark or model city. Explore and move to other decent places in the country.”
NCR is not the entire country. Also, no one consider Noida as a moral benchmark and model city. Not even by miles.
— Ishwar Singh (@IshwarBagga) May 4, 2025
Explore, and move to other decent places in the country.
Yet others used his statement as a springboard for deeper reflection. “It’s true that on average Indians are more corrupt than people from developed countries,” one comment read. “Maybe because their quality of life is already good they don’t need to be venal. Or maybe Indians have a character defect.”
But there were also those who defended the Indian experience with nuance. “I also stay in Noida. Never faced any problem. It’s all about experience. Life is not easy whether in India or abroad — you have to adapt.”
It hurts when love for a place is buried under daily battles for dignity.
— Komal Karwa (@KomalXTalks) May 4, 2025
You didn’t leave the country , you escaped a crisis of conscience.
And until we fix that, even glass towers will stand on fragile ground.
Infrastructure vs. Introspection
What Upadhyay’s post inadvertently revealed is a deepening schism in urban India’s sense of self. On the one hand, shining skylines, metro lines, and expressways paint a picture of progress. On the other, the lived experiences of many still echo with chaos, distrust, and exhaustion.
His statement peels back a layer of the national conversation — suggesting that while cities may modernize on the surface, the soul of civic life still awaits transformation. And for some, that wait is just too long.
In the end, Upadhyay’s critique may not be a condemnation of India, but a mirror. A reflection that demands uncomfortable questions — not just about where we live, but how we live together.
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