'Need Real Oxygen Of Family': NRI Says Delhi's High AQI Preferable Than 'Loneliness' In Sweden

Delhi’s high pollution has become a raging topic for debate in recent months. Celebrities, influencers and eminent intellectuals have offered their two cents on how the situation is getting from bad to worse.

However, a man from Sweden said there was something worse than living in high AQI: loneliness.

While Delhi has come under heavy scrutiny for its worsening air pollution, Ankur Tyagi shared his experience of living in a European Union (EU) country for more than five years and how not everything is as rosy as it seems.

Ankur’s remarks came as a response to another user who said they understood why people wanted to move out of India, citing low talent density, high real estate prices, pollution, corruption and taxes.

“I live in the EU now from past 5 years and people think it is all clean air, good roads and perfect social systems. Nobody really knows what it takes to build a life here. You do everything alone. You cook, clean, manage bills, raise your kid and fight the silence that hits you every single winter,” he said in an X post.

I live in the EU now from past 5 years and people think it is all clean air, good roads and perfect social systems.

Nobody really knows what it takes to build a life here.

You do everything alone.
You cook, clean, manage bills, raise your kid and fight the silence that hits… https://t.co/ER7O9m2FPJ

— Ankur💻🎧💪 (@TheAnkurTyagi) November 24, 2025

For Ankur, living in Delhi with high pollution is not a problem, as he needs “real oxygen” with friends and family. He said that while back home came with a set of its own challenges, at least there are people to share your troubles with.

“Friends are polite but distant. Community is rare,” he said. “In the West, problems are different and they cut deeper in ways you can’t explain unless you’ve lived it. Every place has a cost. Most of us are just learning which cost we can survive,” he added.

“Coming to Delhi on 5th dec f*** AQI who cares i live in 10 AQI for entire year i need some real oxygen now of friends and family…see you soon India.”

His post prompted a range of responses, with some warning him about underestimating the high pollution, while others shared similar experiences of migrating to other countries. “Be prepared. My cofounder visited Delhi after living in Kerala for months (30–40 AQI) and he couldn’t get out of bed for a week,” a user said.

“8 years in Paris… and I agree with each and every world of yours. For most, there are always reasons to like and hate both places. However, I would still choose India,” another user wrote, adding that if India cleans up the country on a war-footing, people would be returning in record numbers.

“All places have their pros and cons. It depends on us which pros we settle with,” a third person commented. “Rightly put. There is a reason that a lot of productive Europeans are leaving for different lands,” an individual wrote.