An Instagram video by Australian content creator Jeremy Franco has stirred an online debate about India’s stark economic contrasts. In the video, Franco comments, “India can go from rich to poor in two seconds,” describing his experience of stepping out of a luxury mall into an area that reminded him of Slumdog Millionaire. He captioned the post, “India has duality, you never know what she’s going to give,” highlighting the country’s unique coexistence of extremes.
Public reactions: divided between agreement and criticism
Franco’s observation quickly split opinion on social media:
Support for the ‘duality’ view: Many users agreed, sharing personal experiences of seeing wealth and poverty side by side, especially in cities like Mumbai. They described this contrast as a defining feature of India.
Criticism of the ‘rich’ label: Others argued it’s misleading to call India “rich,” since true affluence is limited to a small segment, while the majority faces daily hardship. One commenter noted, “No. India isn’t ‘rich’. A few Indians…are ‘rich’ while more than 85% of the country struggles daily.”
Calls for balance: Some felt the comparison was unfair, pointing out that slums and poverty also exist in wealthy cities like New York and Sydney. They criticised foreign creators for often focusing on slums and street food for views, rather than highlighting India’s diversity and cultural richness.
Beyond visuals: a deeper look at inequality
India’s economic reality is marked by sharp contrasts:
The richest 10% control about 80% of the nation’s wealth, and the top 1% own over half.
The pandemic worsened this gap: millions fell into poverty, even as the number of billionaires and their combined wealth grew.
This “duality” isn’t just about luxury malls next to slums—it reflects deeper structural divides: urban versus rural, modern versus traditional, and visible luxury amid deprivation.
Foreign gaze and local reflection
The debate also touched on how foreign visitors portray India:
Some noted that tourists often seek slums or budget experiences for a sense of “authenticity,” while locals and many other visitors also see the country’s middle-class life and luxury.
Others stressed that poverty and homelessness are global issues, not unique to India—and that focusing only on its poorest areas risks reinforcing stereotypes.