What Are Major Differences Between Life In India And The US? IIT Couple Explains

A couple recently created a buzz among social media buffs after they pointed out 10 differences between life in the United States and India. Nayrith Bhattacharya and his wife Rishita Das, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, left their homeland in 2016 to pursue higher education. They spent a few years in the US before returning to India in August last year. Bhattacharya is the co-founder of an AI startup named Gushwork, while Das works as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at IISc Bengaluru.

Having resided in India for one year since their return, the couple noticed some fundamental differences between the lifestyles of Indian and American people. Nayrith Bhattacharya shared their experience via an online post, mainly referring to those people who are staying in foreign countries and remain doubtful about coming back to India.

“To all the Indian 20-40-year-olds who are contemplating their move back to India but are filled with uncertainties, this is an honest compilation of 10 differences we observed after our move back here,” the IIT graduate noted on X.

According to Nayrith, “The ease and affordability of having domestic help” are something that set India apart from other nations. He has claimed that the cost of labour here may be “cheap” but the “convenience is undeniable.” “15-20 extra hours each week as a working couple is a luxury tough to imagine back in the US,” Nayrith added.

About the reason for heavy traffic across Indian roads, Nayrith has blamed “the unpredictable driving practices” and “multi-modal forms of transport” which slow down the movement of vehicles. He, however, feels India is way ahead of the US in terms of digital convenience and the “intra-city logistics” are also “far superior” here.

Moreover, Nayrith acknowledged that he found it hard to make deep connections with the American people which has never been an issue in this country. He also hailed UPI (Unified Payments Interface), drawing comparison with Apple Pay, which is the most prominent online payment option in the US. “UPI is free & a part of govt infra – where in Apple Pay, there is a 2%-7% of transaction volume which flows into private players,” he wrote.

Nayrith further expressed his admiration for Indian food while also admitting that he misses “the variety of cheese, bread and desserts” available in the American market. He also believes the US is an ideal place for “outdoorsy persons” but not for those who “find leisure in indoor activities.”

Shedding light on social issues in India, Nayrith underlined that India has yet to show progress in the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. He hopes that this situation will “change fast in the next 5 years.”

At the end of his post, Nayrith highlighted the job market in India. “You can get a job (in the US) but to get a high-paying gig that can allow you an equivalent house and car here, it is not trivial. Several of my friends who came back had to cut back on their lifestyles significantly,” he noted.

Many users have found the post quite informative. Since being dropped on X, it has garnered over 5.8 million views so far.