Swiggy And Domestic Workers Are Not Privilege Indian Woman In Us Reveals What Actual Good Life Looks Like
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Hindustan TimesVerified Publisher
On July 3, Namratha, an Indian woman living in the US and an avid runner, expressed how lucky she feels to go for a run in areas with AQI readings in the single digits, footpaths she can use, and green spaces. A privilege, she feels, that her friends in India On July 3, Namratha, an Indian woman living in the US and an avid runner, expressed how lucky she feels to go for a run in areas with AQI readings in the single digits, footpaths she can use, and...
On July 3, Namratha, an Indian woman living in the US and an avid runner, expressed how lucky she feels to go for a run in areas with AQI readings in the single digits, footpaths she can use, and green spaces. A privilege, she feels, that her friends in India don't get to enjoy.
Sharing the video, she wrote, “Before my first run in Seattle last month, I was so crabby about it drizzling. And I got the death stare from my sister – ‘these are PERFECT running conditions’. Sometimes you don’t realise how good you have it until someone points it out to you. Runners, what’s something about where you run that you take for granted, or wish were better?”
According to her, every time people back in India ask how she survives without a domestic worker or a Swiggy order that arrives in five minutes, she tells them about the freedom she enjoys of living in an area that is not polluted and safe.
In the video, where she can be seen enjoying an evening run, Namratha shared that she finished work around 5 and was now running near her neighbourhood.
Pointing out how this privilege is only enjoyed by those living in gated communities in India, she shared, “I just got done with work, and I am on a run right now. For me, this is the privilege. Getting done with work at 5:00 with enough daylight and energy left, running in a park around a lake because public spaces are accessible for everyone and not just for those living in gated communities. Breathing air with an AQI in single digits, footpaths that I can actually use, and green space just everywhere”
She added, “This is also why I have so much respect for my friends running in India, because they run through the humidity, heat, bad AQI, traffic, lack of footpaths, literally everything working against them, and they still get their runs in.”
The video garnered mixed reactions online; while some users understood Namratha's perspective, others took her comments personally and as an insult against India.
A user wrote, “Very well said, Namratha. This is the privilege!! This is exactly how I feel.”
Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More