'India Is One Of A Kind': Canadian Influencer Says Bengaluru Doesn't Need 'Silicon Valley' Tag

A Canadian tech influencer, who lived in India for over eight years, has called Bengaluru being dubbed as “Silicon Valley of India” as “illogical” and urged Indians to celebrate their cities’ uniqueness. This has sparked a debate on the social media condemning the “colonial mindset” of Indians.

In a post on X, Caleb Friesen said: “This isn’t Japan. It’s Bengaluru. Every year the pink trumpet trees bloom, and every year influencers compare the city to Japan with its sakura trees. This is one example of a widespread bad habit: using derivative names/descriptions for Indian cities, landmarks, and people.”

Along with the post, he shared a video wherein he said: “I don’t know if people realise what they are doing when they make these kinds of comparisons

so I will just tell you. This kind of branding for Indian cities and landmark signals that these places are imitations somehow and India has been doing this for a long time. Like the States has Hollywood right? So then India has Bollywood and Tollywood and Pollywood and Bhojiwood and Sandalwood – like bro you need to stop with the woods. You know who doesn’t use wood in the name of their film industry? South Korea.”

“This isn’t Japan, it’s Bengaluru!”

Every year the pink trumpet trees bloom, and every year influencers compare the city to Japan with its sakura trees.

This is one example of a widespread bad habit: using derivative names/descriptions for Indian cities, landmarks, and people. pic.twitter.com/Pkm7w6XfvA

— Caleb (@caleb_friesen) January 11, 2026

“Another example of this is Silicon Valley. Bengaluru could have chosen a name like the Aerospace Plateau for example because the city is literally built on the Deccan Plateau. It’s the opposite of a valley but they call it the Silicon Valley of India, which is illogical. You know what China calls their semiconductor city? Shenzhen,” he said.

“…India is not the X of Y… I feel like people just need to stop comparing India to other places and appreciate what’s here. India is spectacular. It is one of a kind,” he added.

The influencer’s comment has sparked a debate on whether India’s diversity be celebrated for their own unique charm than being compared to other countries.

One of the users said: “A pity that this has to come from a Canadian, but that isn’t bad, because sadly some Indians pick up an idea only when non-Indians approve it.”

“More than 50% of Indians are still in their colonial mindset,” a user said.

Another user lauded the post, saying: “Good one, India shouldn’t benchmark everything against one. India is great on its own with a massive population.”

“Finally someone said it. We need to own our identities and not cling to western validation,” another said.

Another commented, “This also shows the insecurity with other countries. Just some locations lookin like those countries doesn’t make India like those countries. Just a handful of locations doesn’t represent a country, but the people do. Why would anyone want to go to a replica when they have the original?”