The Rising Tide of Anti-India Sentiment: What’s Fueling the Global Backlash?
In recent years, whispers of disdain towards India have grown into a roar across social media, news outlets, and everyday conversations abroad. Stories of discriminatory acts against Indians in foreign lands mix with viral debates on whether the country is a safe or clean destination for travelers. This wasn’t always the case, India once flew under the radar for much of the world, known mainly through its diaspora in professional circles. Yet something shifted, blending old stereotypes with new realities, leaving many puzzled about the sudden intensity.
- Understanding the Roots of Anti-India Sentiment
- Immigration and Cultural Clashes
- The Scourge of Scams
- Perceptions of Hygiene and Safety
- Social Media and Nationalist Behavior
- Geopolitical Positioning
- Paths to Improvement
Understanding the Roots of Anti-India Sentiment
Anti-India sentiment isn’t a monolith; it’s a tapestry woven from historical biases, current events, and amplified narratives. Surveys reveal a divided global opinion, while some admire India’s economic strides, others harbor unfavorable views tied to human rights concerns or cultural differences. For instance, a median of 47% across 24 countries hold favorable opinions of India, but 38% view it unfavorably, with negativity spiking in regions like Europe and Asia. This split often stems from media portrayals that emphasize India’s challenges over its achievements, fueling a cycle of misunderstanding.
Adding layers are reports of rising hate acts against South Asians abroad, where 40% have experienced discrimination due to race or nationality. In the U.S., anti-Indian racism has surged on social platforms, echoing broader xenophobia amid immigration debates. It’s like a snowball effect: one viral incident sparks outrage, and soon entire communities are painted with the same brush.
Immigration and Cultural Clashes
India’s diaspora has ballooned, with emigrants tripling from 6.5 million in 1990 to 18.5 million by 2024. Countries like Canada saw Indian immigrants soar from 32,828 in 2013 to 139,715 in 2023, a 326% jump, filling roles in tech and healthcare. Australia and the U.S. follow suit, with Indians leading new permanent residents in Canada.
Yet this growth breeds tension. Newer migrants sometimes struggle with assimilation, clinging to cultural norms that clash with host societies, think loud public displays or reluctance to integrate socially. Older generations blended in quietly, but today’s wave, fueled by social media hype of India’s rise, can come across as entitled or domineering. Pushback follows, from job competition fears to cultural dominance accusations.
Here’s a snapshot of recent immigration trends:
| Country | Indian Immigrants (2023) | Growth Rate (2013-2023) | Key Sectors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 139,715 | 326% | Tech, Healthcare |
| Australia | Increase of 9,569 places (26.4%) | N/A | Education, Skilled Labor |
| United States | Significant share in H-1B visas | N/A | IT, Engineering |
This data underscores how rapid influxes, while economically beneficial, stir resentment if not paired with cultural sensitivity.
The Scourge of Scams
Few things tarnish a reputation like being linked to fraud. India’s call-center scams, targeting vulnerable people abroad, have gone viral, costing billions annually. These operations, often posing as tech support, prey on the elderly, reinforcing stereotypes of deceit. One estimate pegs daily losses in India from such schemes in lakhs, but the global ripple is immense.
The pandemic amplified this, with YouTube exposés making “Indian scam calls” a meme. It’s not just petty theft; organized networks hide behind legitimate businesses, eroding trust. While every nation has crooks, India’s population scale magnifies the issue, turning isolated incidents into a national label.
“How Indian call-centre scammers justified tricking Western victims out of hard-earned money.” – BBC investigation highlighting the mindset behind these operations.
Perceptions of Hygiene and Safety
India’s tagged as “dirty” in global chatter, rooted in memes like “designated shitting streets” from 2015 onward. Viral videos of street food hygiene lapses or pollution don’t help, India ranks third most polluted globally. Tourism safety rankings place it 115th out of 163 in the Global Peace Index, with some areas advised against travel due to unrest or terrorism.
Crime perceptions, especially against women, add fuel, though data shows varied city safety: Kohima and Visakhapatnam top lists, while Patna lags. Overall, India scores 55.7 in global safety, above the UK and US in some metrics. But sensational news overshadows progress, like sanitation drives.
Safety Rankings for Select Indian Cities (Mid-2025):
| City | Safety Index (Numbeo) | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Kohima | High | 1 |
| Visakhapatnam | High | 2 |
| Bhubaneswar | Medium-High | 3 |
| Patna | Low | Last |
Social Media and Nationalist Behavior
Online, Indians face backlash for perceived arrogance. Keyboard warriors flood forums with chest-thumping, disrespecting others, which boomerangs as hate. Hyper-nationalism since 2014, including communal remarks, has alienated neighbors and the West.
Propaganda from rivals like Pakistan and China amplifies negatives, costing tourism billions. Yet self-inflicted wounds, like boastful claims mismatched with reality, widen the gap.
Geopolitical Positioning
India’s multi-alignment, balancing BRICS with the West, breeds distrust. Seen as hedging bets, it irks the Global South for undermining cooperation and the West for ties with Russia. Islamophobia alienates Muslim-majority nations, while domestic records on minorities draw criticism.
Chinese views label Indians as boastful, discounting promises. This strategic ambiguity, meant to maximize gains, often leaves India isolated in global eyes.
Paths to Improvement
Change starts within: promote civility abroad, integrate while preserving culture, and curb online hate. Self-reflection over defensiveness can rebuild images. From tackling scams to boosting hygiene, actions speak louder than words.
As India navigates this storm, the blend of external biases and internal flaws highlights a need for collective effort. Progress in sanitation and rights could flip the script, turning critics into allies.
Can India harness its strengths to overcome this wave of anti-India sentiment and emerge stronger?
Voices from the Web
| Comment | Source | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| “What’s Wrong with India? This is why Indians are receiving so much hate – online and offline. Scammers, Dirty, Racism, Crime rates, Desparation.” | Medium Article | Medium |
| “The major reason behind Anti India sentiments in the entire Western world is Social media behavior of Hindutvawadis of India. Continous Rape threats, sexist remarks, and Hindu supremacist comment by current regime supporters.” | X Post by Prashant Shah | X |
| “Over the past few years, the hostility against Indians has increased again. As you mentioned that it’s easy to target Indians…” | Medium Article by Vikas | Medium |
| “India is hated by the world because of the unhygienic image & poverty. Hygiene in India is considered casteism by majority of the population & poverty is a direct result of state institutions & public offices having low efficacy…” | X Post by Citizen of Bahujan Kakistocracy | X |
| “Rising Islamist and Anti-Hindu Sentiment in Bangladesh in Wake of… These groups have capitalized on growing anti-India sentiment – especially after the Pahalgam terror attack – to justify attacks against the Hindu minority…” | Substack Post | Substack |
| “Why do some Indians hate Indian culture and identity? Some Indians may have faced racism, xenophobia, or stereotyping based on their Indian identity, either within India or abroad.” | Medium Article by Bipin Gaur | Medium |
| “For years, white liberals created the ground for racism against Indians… Start with intellectuals choosing to call ‘hakenkreuz’ as ‘swastika’…” | X Post by Abhishek | X |
| “Anti-India sentiment surges on China’s social media, and the road ahead on the border.” | Substack Post | Substack |
| “The propaganda against India showing it in poor light as dirty, poor, cheap, toiletless, a rape capital, a garbage dump etc is being done purposefully by China and Pakistan.” | X Post by Aravind | X |
| “It’s easy to hate India. When Indians move abroad, it’s very demanding to assimilate into an entirely new society built on a different philosophy.” | Medium Article by Hartaj Singh | Medium |
| “India views part of these communities as fostering an anti-India sentiment, and represents a threat to Indian stability and national security.” | Substack Post | Substack |
| “People are surprised why India gets no global support and is disliked even by small nations like Nepal. But what did you expect? Since 2014, hyper-nationalism, communal bigotry…” | X Post by Akshit | X |