A LinkedIn post by US-returned venture capitalist Nitisha Bansal has gone viral after she compared social life in India with that in the United States.
In her post, Bansal reflected on how her lifestyle changed after moving back to India, revealing that she rarely goes out to eat anymore and instead prefers inviting friends over to her home.
According to her, the reason is not just personal habit but the overall urban environment, which she says discourages people from spending time outdoors.
‘Come Home, I’ll Cook’: Why She Stopped Eating Out
Bansal wrote that since returning from the United States, she has almost completely stopped dining out.
“Ever since I moved back from the US, I noticed something about myself. I almost never eat out. Even catching up with friends — ‘Come home, I’ll cook,’” she wrote in her LinkedIn post.
Initially, she thought the change was simply due to routine factors such as cooking at home or trying to save money. However, she later realised the difference stemmed largely from the contrast between outdoor environments in India and the US.
A Different Experience of Street Life in the US
Describing her time in the United States, Bansal said social life often unfolded naturally because of pedestrian-friendly streets and inviting public spaces.
“In the US, a Saturday evening just pulls you out. Clean footpath. Shade. A coffee place with chairs spilling onto the street. People walking slowly, no agenda,” she wrote.
She explained that casual outings would often turn into long social evenings.
“One thing leads to another — suddenly four hours gone, $80 spent, and it felt effortless,” she added.
‘The Street Doesn’t Invite You, It Rejects You’
In contrast, Bansal said stepping outside in many Indian cities feels overwhelming due to environmental and infrastructure issues.
“You open the door and the city hits you in the face — 40°C heat, horns, garbage, dust, and a footpath that’s become a two-wheeler parking lot,” she wrote.
According to her, such conditions discourage people from staying outdoors.
“You last 30 seconds and turn back inside. The street doesn’t invite you. It rejects you.”
‘Fixing Streets Could Unlock $100-150 Billion in Consumption’
Bansal also argued that improving urban infrastructure could significantly boost India’s economy.
She suggested that better streets and pedestrian-friendly spaces could unlock between $100 billion and $150 billion in additional consumer spending by 2035, particularly across sectors such as retail, food, experiences and real estate.
“People keep asking where India’s next big consumer wave will come from. It’s outside. We just made outside unbearable,” she wrote.
Social Media Users Offer Mixed Reactions
As the post gained traction online, social media users responded with mixed opinions.
Some argued that the issue was more complex than just infrastructure.
“This isn’t entirely true — the constraint is income distribution and development stage, not just technology or infrastructure,” one user commented.
Another said the problem was only partly about footpaths.
“The footpath argument is right, but it’s only half the problem,” the user wrote.
Others pointed out cultural and lifestyle differences between the two countries.
“People eat outside more frequently abroad because the alternative is cooking for yourself. In India, having domestic help to cook fresh food daily reduces the need to go out,” another comment read.
Some also challenged the idea that American cities are always more appealing.
“I live in Boston and honestly I don’t want to eat outside at all. The food is expensive and average, and hiring a babysitter adds to the cost,” another user said, adding that footpaths in cities like New York or San Francisco are not necessarily clean either.