In a striking Reddit post that quickly went viral, a 21-year-old engineering student from Gujarat laid bare the sharp contrast between her life in India and that of her cousin, who moved to the United Kingdom seven years ago. The emotional yet analytical reflection, shared under the title “Is life in western countries actually better than in India?”, has ignited a larger conversation about quality of life, education, work culture, and opportunities for Indian youth—especially women.
From Dreams to Daily Struggles
Both women share a similar background—close in age, academically competent, and passionate about engineering. But the similarities end there. The Redditor, who stayed back in India, revealed a bleak account of her educational and professional journey. Struggling with overburdened college coursework, uninspiring teaching methods, and limited internship opportunities, she described a life dominated by long working hours, low stipends, and social judgments for not cracking the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
“I worked 10 hours a day during my last internship for just ₹12,000 a month, plus an hour-long commute,” she wrote, adding that many better opportunities are reserved for college toppers, making the system feel rigged against average students.
Wales: Where Average is Enough
On the other side of the world, her cousin’s life paints a different picture. Now studying aerospace engineering at the prestigious University of Bath, the cousin has already secured two well-paying internships, received an offer from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and travelled across Europe with her university’s Formula 1 student team.
“She’s not a topper either,” the Redditor emphasized. “But over there, you don’t have to be in the top 1% to have a good life.” The post lauded the UK's education system for its hands-on learning approach and inclusive extracurricular culture—opportunities often scarce in India’s academically rigid framework.
Life Abroad: Romanticised or Real?
While some internet users criticized the post for romanticizing life abroad, others backed her views, citing better air and water quality, rule-abiding societies, safer streets for women, and systems built on trust and efficiency.
One user from Belgium offered perspective as a first-generation migrant, describing Europe’s healthcare, social justice framework, and meritocratic job market as objectively better. “Even average students with 60% can land decent jobs here,” they noted, contrasting it with India’s competitive and often exclusionary system.
A Broader Reflection, Not Just a Comparison
The post doesn’t merely compare two lives—it reflects the anxieties and aspirations of a generation growing up in the shadow of global opportunities. It questions systemic inequities, challenges notions of success, and forces readers to think critically about where India stands in nurturing its youth.
While the young engineer’s reflections may stem from personal experience, her story has resonated far and wide—becoming a mirror for many Indians stuck in the grind of “meritocracy” without rewards. It’s not just about the West being better; it’s about what more India could become.
From Dreams to Daily Struggles
Both women share a similar background—close in age, academically competent, and passionate about engineering. But the similarities end there. The Redditor, who stayed back in India, revealed a bleak account of her educational and professional journey. Struggling with overburdened college coursework, uninspiring teaching methods, and limited internship opportunities, she described a life dominated by long working hours, low stipends, and social judgments for not cracking the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
“I worked 10 hours a day during my last internship for just ₹12,000 a month, plus an hour-long commute,” she wrote, adding that many better opportunities are reserved for college toppers, making the system feel rigged against average students.
Wales: Where Average is Enough
On the other side of the world, her cousin’s life paints a different picture. Now studying aerospace engineering at the prestigious University of Bath, the cousin has already secured two well-paying internships, received an offer from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and travelled across Europe with her university’s Formula 1 student team.
“She’s not a topper either,” the Redditor emphasized. “But over there, you don’t have to be in the top 1% to have a good life.” The post lauded the UK's education system for its hands-on learning approach and inclusive extracurricular culture—opportunities often scarce in India’s academically rigid framework.
Life Abroad: Romanticised or Real?
While some internet users criticized the post for romanticizing life abroad, others backed her views, citing better air and water quality, rule-abiding societies, safer streets for women, and systems built on trust and efficiency.
One user from Belgium offered perspective as a first-generation migrant, describing Europe’s healthcare, social justice framework, and meritocratic job market as objectively better. “Even average students with 60% can land decent jobs here,” they noted, contrasting it with India’s competitive and often exclusionary system.
A Broader Reflection, Not Just a Comparison
The post doesn’t merely compare two lives—it reflects the anxieties and aspirations of a generation growing up in the shadow of global opportunities. It questions systemic inequities, challenges notions of success, and forces readers to think critically about where India stands in nurturing its youth.
While the young engineer’s reflections may stem from personal experience, her story has resonated far and wide—becoming a mirror for many Indians stuck in the grind of “meritocracy” without rewards. It’s not just about the West being better; it’s about what more India could become.
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