- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A 21-year-old Indian woman has ignited an emotional and wide-ranging discussion on Reddit after she openly questioned whether life in Western countries is better than in India. Her comparison between her own life in Gujarat and that of her cousin living in Wales has resonated with thousands online, highlighting deep differences in opportunity, lifestyle, and work culture.
In her heartfelt post, the Reddit user explained that she and her cousin, both 21, grew up together and pursued similar academic paths, with aspirations to become engineers. However, after her cousin moved to the UK at age 14, their lives took radically different turns.
“We’re both studying engineering, we’re both average students—not toppers—but her life looks so different now,” she wrote.
While the Gujarat-based student enrolled in a local college for electrical engineering after scoring 86 per cent in her Class 12 board exams, her cousin now studies Aerospace Engineering at the prestigious University of Bath in the UK.
Is life in western countries actually better than in India?
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The Indian Struggle: Long Hours And Low Pay
The Redditor detailed her own challenges studying in India—intense college workloads, unhelpful faculty, and a culture that places enormous pressure on exam results. She mentioned working a 10-hour-a-day internship that paid just Rs 12,000 a month, along with a daily commute and additional academic responsibilities.
“Teachers aren’t the best, and I get judged by everyone because I couldn’t crack JEE. Even if you graduate, good jobs are hard to come by, and many only offer Rs 15,000–Rs 20,000 starting pay,” she lamented.
UK Contrast: Opportunity and Balance
Her cousin’s life in the UK, in contrast, appeared aspirational. The woman described how her cousin had completed two well-paid internships with 8-hour workdays and even received an offer from ISRO—India’s prestigious space agency—which she declined in favour of continuing her career in the UK. She also participates in extracurricular activities, such as her university’s F1 student club, which has taken her to several European countries,s including Hungary, Italy, and France.
A Divisive Question With No Easy Answer
The core of her post came down to one powerful question: “Is life in Western countries actually better than in India?” While some Reddit users echoed her views, others pointed out the emotional toll of living away from family, the higher cost of living abroad, and the challenges of immigration and cultural adaptation.