'India is not the X of Y': Canada man questions habit of comparing Indian cities to western counterparts

Caleb Friesen further criticised the long-standing description of Bengaluru as the 'Silicon Valley of India'.

A Canadian technology influencer who has been living in India for nearly eight years has questioned the widespread tendency to compare Indian cities, landscapes and industries to foreign counterparts, calling the practice illogical and unnecessary. His remarks have triggered a broader discussion online about identity, cultural confidence and the long-standing reliance on external benchmarks.

In a video shared on social media, Caleb Friesen highlighted how travel vloggers and content creators frequently describe Indian destinations using foreign references, such as the “Switzerland of India”, the “Scotland of the East”, or “Mini Europe”. He cited examples ranging from Pondicherry to Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that such descriptions reduce Indian locations to comparisons rather than recognising them on their own terms.

Friesen said these labels implied that Indian places required validation through resemblance to Western countries. According to him, the issue extended beyond tourism content and reflected a wider pattern.

In the video, he also pointed to the naming of India’s film industries, noting that several regional entertainment hubs have adopted names derived from Hollywood, including Bollywood, Tollywood, Pollywood and Bhojiwood. He questioned why such naming conventions persisted, contrasting India’s approach with countries like South Korea, which do not reference Hollywood when identifying their film industry.

Friesen further criticised the long-standing description of Bengaluru as the “Silicon Valley of India”.He said the comparison did not align with geography or logic, pointing out that the city sits on the Deccan Plateau. “Another example of this is Silicon Valley. Bengaluru could have chosen the Aerospace Plateau because the city is literally built on the Deccan Plateau. It’s the opposite of any valley but they call it the Silicon Valley of India, which is illogical,” he said in the video.

He contrasted this with China’s technology hubs, such as Shenzhen, which are internationally recognised without being branded as equivalents of Silicon Valley.

The influencer also referenced a recent exchange on X in which a user told Zomato chief executive officer Deepinder Goyal that India needed a “Bryan Johnson replica”. Goyal had responded that the country did not need replicas and should focus on being itself. Friesen said he agreed with that sentiment, stating, “More people need to have this mindset. India is not X of Y, India is just is. That’s it. Period.”

"This isn't Japan, it's Bengaluru!"

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Every year the pink trumpet trees bloom, and every year influencers compare the city to Japan with its sakura trees. This is one example of a widespread bad habit: using derivative names/descriptions for Indian cities, landmarks, and people. pic.twitter.com/Pkm7w6XfvA — Caleb (@caleb_friesen) January 11, 2026

The video gained traction across social media platforms and prompted a range of reactions from users.

One user commented, “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 they exist in India.”

Another wrote, “Absolutely right. Indian was first colonised for 200 years by brits and then a 100 more colonised us mentally. I am so glad that I can see the changes.”

A third user said, “So true! It’s ingrained in our psyche, programmed to hate our culture and encouraged to seek external validation! Deadly combination.”

Several others echoed similar views, with one remarking, “Good one, India shouldn't benchmark everything against one. India is great on its own with a massive population.”

Another commented, “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.”

One user wrote, “Finally someone said it. We need to own our identities and not cling to western validation.”

Another added, “Well put @caleb_friesen. India needs to up their PR game. India is so much better than what the sentiment outside reflects. There is so much potential and talent everywhere.”