- By Shailvee Tiwari
- Wed, 24 Dec 2025 04:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Indian Travel Vlogger: What was supposed to be another stamp on a passport turned into a long, frightening pause in a foreign land for travel vlogger Anant Mittal, known online as On Road Indian. One moment, he was crossing borders. Next, he was sitting alone, unsure of when or if he would be allowed to leave. It began quietly on 16 November, right at immigration in China. A small sticker placed on his passport changed everything. Screens flashed, officers exchanged looks, and Anant was escorted away without explanation. Time slowed down. He was taken to a holding area with other foreign nationals, where hours passed in silence. That’s when reality hit; something was seriously wrong.
Anant later shared that his phone and camera were taken, so he couldn’t record anything. Somehow, his iPad went unnoticed, becoming his only way to document what he was going through. With no answers, no clarity, and barely any communication, fear slowly crept in. Water came once. Food never did. The clock kept ticking 12 hours, then 13 and all he could do was wait.
Sitting there, he replayed one thought again and again. Days earlier, he had spoken from the heart about Arunachal Pradesh. The Northeast isn’t just a region to him; it’s home to memories from three years of his life. When he heard about an Arunachal citizen being detained in China, he couldn’t stay silent. He shared his feelings on camera, not as a statement, but as a human reaction. Now, he wondered if that one video had brought him here.
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"I have no hate for anyone. I just love everyone and share this world with you through my eyes. I'm not linked to any political agenda," he later wrote. As the night turned into morning, fear grew louder. Thirsty, exhausted, and overwhelmed, Anant broke down. The thought of never seeing India again felt real. He describes himself not as a figure of influence or power, but as someone very small in a very big system.
Then, suddenly, after nearly 15 hours, it ended. An officer returned, calm and distant, and told him his "process" was complete. He had to leave the country immediately. No explanations. No closure. Just an exit. Back in India now, Anant has shared his story openly, saying it wasn’t done under pressure, but from the heart. He apologised if his words hurt anyone and admitted that he still feels shaken while talking about it. "I'm sorry if I hurt anyone. I'm very small in front of these big powers. I am still crying while writing this caption," he wrote.
"I am already back in India safely. I'm not uploading this video under any pressure. I'm just speaking from the heart to everyone. Namaste."
Reflecting on the experience, he reminded viewers that he is just a travel vlogger, someone who shows the world through curiosity, not conflict. With friends in China from his startup days and no political links whatsoever, he never imagined that speaking emotionally could lead to such fear. "Hum bahot chhote log hain. Humaari koi aukaat nahi," he said.
The journey may be over, but the silence of those 15 hours still echoes, a quiet reminder of how fragile freedom can feel when borders close without warning.