A foreign travel vlogger has expressed strong disappointment over Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram beach, saying he was stunned to find the shoreline covered in garbage during his visit. A user who goes by the name “Homeless Digital” Nomad on Instagram shared a video showing a sandy area full of plastic waste, bags, bottles, packaging and other debris strewn across the beach.
He described the state of the beach as “disgraceful” and said it was shocking that people in the country did not collect their own rubbish. He added that it was “the most destroyed beach I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
He further claimed that everyone, including “upper-class Indians”, carries garbage and assumes that someone else is responsible for cleaning. The vlogger noted that while people often blame the government, the real problem lies in the behavior of the public.
“They are taught that littering is wrong, yet they continue to do it,” he said.
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“The reason people in this country don’t pick up trash, from what I gather, is because they think it’s the government’s responsibility. Don’t get me wrong – the government should have better waste management systems – but that doesn’t excuse individuals from littering and treating the planet like trash,” he said.
He added that there was a serious problem with the mindset of waste in the country, calling it “shameful and disrespectful”.
Comparison with other regions
The vlogger also pointed out that not all parts of India face the same problem. He argued that southwest India looks cleaner, adding that regions such as Ladakh, Sikkim, Mizoram and Nagaland do not seem to have the same level of garbage problems despite receiving “less government effort than the general population”.
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Reactions on social media are pouring in
The video quickly gained attention and sparked a wave of reactions online. Several users expressed concerns about littering and irresponsible tourism.
One user wrote: “Civic should be a subject in schools in India.”
Another commented: “Indian logic: If my house is clean, I don’t care if there is a big pile of garbage outside.”
A third user said, “I’m Indian and I totally agree 100%. Instead of insulting each other, we should take it as constructive criticism and improve.”
A fourth added: “Please check that there is at least one dustbin around. The public and the government are equally responsible.”
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A fifth user said: “In the past, some parts of society were involved in picking up trash. It was their role in this society and others didn’t have to lift a finger. This included handling raw human waste. Much of society views cleaning as inferior. Even today, if you clean a public place, people can treat you as inferior.”
This mindset of class and ownership is reflected in paid services. If they pay for a taxi or a hotel, they act as if they own the vehicle, the hotel, the staff and everything that goes with it. This sense of entitlement is so deeply rooted that India may not be clean for decades. It’s not just the bins – cinemas have them, but the seating areas are often messy.”
Another user said: “People don’t neglect cleanliness of their own accord; they were never properly educated about it. Politicians and bureaucrats often make sure that people remain dependent on them for even the smallest of things. There are many other factors as well. If you consider Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, many people are kept at the lowest level.”
