'No real family culture here': Indian man in US after 80-year-old neighbour passes away in isolation

He concluded the video with a message urging people to remain connected to their families.

An Indian man living in the United States has drawn widespread attention on social media after posting a video reflecting on what he described as the “sad reality of the US” following the death of his elderly neighbour.

The video, shared on Instagram by user Sachin Sindhu, recounted the death of his neighbour Shafar, who, according to Sachin, was around 80-years-old and had no family living with him.

In the video, Sachin said, “I want to share something very painful with you all. In the apartment near my house lived a very dear friend of mine named Shafar. He was 80 years old. Here, he did not have anyone. No wife, no children living with him. I was probably the only one who knew him well. A whole day went by without hearing from him, no calls since morning. Around 8 pm, I used the spare keys I had and went into his house.”

He went on to describe what happened next. “I entered his bedroom and found him lying lifeless on the bed. I immediately called 911. The police arrived, began their investigation, and later declared him dead,” he said.

The tone of the video reflected both grief and concern as Sindhu spoke about the cultural differences he believes contribute to elderly isolation. He said, “One thing I really dislike about the USA is that there is no real sense of family culture here. Parents do not want to live with their children, and children do not want to stay with their parents. In India, we take care of our elders and stay connected with them, but that culture does not exist here. That is why many elderly people end up living and dying in isolation.”

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A post shared by Sachin Sindhu (@sachhsin)

Sindhu also told viewers that he had offered to take responsibility for his neighbour’s final rites if no one came forward. “I have already told the police that if no one comes for him by tomorrow, I will take care of his funeral myself,” he said.

He concluded the video with a message urging people to remain connected to their families. “Even if you live far from home, stay connected with your family. Talk to your elders every day,” he said.

In the comments, one user wrote, “Sorry to hear this bro. May his soul rest in peace,” while another said, “Nice message brother, appreciate your feelings.” A third person commented, “A very heart-breaking situation for us my friend.”

Another viewer praised him, writing, “Humanity is alive. You are the great.” One comment read, “In search of gold, money and privacy, we always lose diamonds, parents and values.” Another person added, “May his soul rest in peace. He wanted to go away without troubling anyone. You went to check on him, that is so kind of you.”