Desi squad, highly priced Indian food and more: Harsh Goenka's post about NRI life abroad goes viral online

In a world where millions of Indians have made homes across the globe, the difficulties of holding on to one’s cultural roots while also trying to adjust to a new environment often come with a fair dose of irony, nostalgia, and surprise. It’s a topic about which people talk to their fellow friends.

Recently, industrialist Harsh Goenka who has a sharp wit and is well known for his thought provoking social media posts, tapped into it with a satirical post that went along well with users online. Goenka’s latest take on non-resident Indians (NRIs) has gone viral.


In a humorous post on X (formerly Twitter), Goenka poked fun at the quirky paradoxes of Indian life abroad—from expensive groceries to exaggerated cultural celebrations and tight-knit desi circles. He talked of experiences that are familiar to many Indians overseas, but they also stirred mixed reactions. While some users found the post hilariously accurate, others felt it missed the deeper emotions and challenges of diaspora life.


Harsh Goenka’s viral post talks about life as an NRI
Industrialist Harsh Goenka stirred up a lively discussion online after posting a satirical take on life as a non-resident Indian (NRI) on X, which said, “Indians move abroad to eat overpriced butter chicken from a Punjabi with a fake Italian accent,” Goenka wrote.

The post continued, “Buy haldi and hing that costs more than a bottle of wine.” His sharp wit also extended to the diaspora’s food cravings and festive celebrations: “Miss golgappas while chewing on sad quinoa. Celebrate Diwali like it’s the Met Gala—minus celebs, plus aunties in Swarovski sarees.”

He concluded his list of ironies with a dig at the need for familiarity, “Make only Indian friends and discuss how ‘things are better back home.’ Form a WhatsApp group called Desi Squad. And then save up in dollars just to fly back and tell their parents how amazing life is over there.”
Harsh Goenka's post about NRI life abroad goes viral online


How did social media react?

One user agreed, saying, “True, what you wrote. One thing you missed, at weekend get-togethers they will discuss how things are bad back home, although they had their basic foundation knowledge from back home, with which they could thrive abroad may be with additional knowledge.”

Another added, “Many Indians who travel abroad often experience moments of longing for authentic Indian food, only to find themselves settling for fusion dishes that prioritise presentation over genuine flavour.”

Another user talked about finding himself lucky despite everything saying, “Sir, I live in Africa. Indian food is a luxury, fellow Indians are rare, but the warmth here makes every stranger feel like extended family. Grateful, always.”