Popular YouTuber and social commentator Dhruv Rathee recently engaged with his audience in a detailed 'Ask Me Anything' (AMA) session on Reddit. The interactive forum saw Rathee fielding a wide array of questions, but one query, in particular, stood out for its directness and relevance to his work.
The Big Question: Safety in India
A Reddit user posed a pointed question to the influencer, who is known for his critical commentary on Indian politics and powerful figures. The user asked, "Do you feel safe travelling around in India, considering how inconvenient you have been to so many powerful people?" This question taps into a common perception among his followers. Given that Rathee is based in Germany with his German wife, many believe his overseas residence allows him the freedom to critique without immediate repercussions.
Concerns have often been raised by his audience that the political content creator could face threats during his visits to India. However, Dhruv Rathee's response, delivered both on Reddit and elaborated in a video, offered a perspective that many found unexpectedly reassuring.
Online Hate vs. Real-Life Encounters
Contrary to what one might assume from the vitriolic environment of social media, Rathee stated he feels quite secure while travelling in India. He explained that this comfort stems from a clear disconnect between his online and offline experiences. "In real life, I have never really encountered haters face-to-face," he revealed.
He contrasted this with the digital sphere, where the sentiment appears to be split down the middle. "Only those people who like me come to meet me and talk to me. This is very surprising because I thought it was very 50-50 online. Half the people hate me, so this will happen in real life, too," Rathee said.
He theorized about the reasons behind this disparity. "But, somehow, in real life, either these people never come out, or they are afraid to actually talk. Or, it is a very fictitious thing that only exists online. The hatred does not exist in real life. That's why I feel very comfortable in real life," he added. This observation sparked agreement in the Reddit thread, with users concurring that much of the animosity is confined to the virtual world.
Addressing Racism in Europe
The AMA session also touched upon Rathee's personal experiences living abroad. He was questioned about facing racist backlash as an Indian living in Germany. The influencer, who has lived in Europe for over a decade, stated that he has not personally experienced racism in Germany or elsewhere on the continent.
When another user pointed out reports of racist behavior faced by Indians in countries like France, Rathee offered a nuanced view. He suggested that people sometimes misinterpret general rudeness as racially motivated prejudice. "People often behave rudely to you because they are having a bad day or because they are just rude people, and when the skin colour is different, one would assume it's racism," he wrote.
He provided a personal anecdote to support his point: "But, whenever such a thing has happened to me, they were rude to my wife also haha. So it's more often than not just rude people. Not racism."
Community Reaction and Takeaways
Rathee's candid answers were met with a largely positive response from the Reddit community. Users praised his hopeful outlook regarding safety in India. One commenter agreed, "Great point. Yeah, all that hatred is mostly online only. It is a fictitious world." Another offered support, writing, "Dhruv bhai, you are doing great work... India, and we Indians love you. Keep up with your work."
The session highlighted a critical aspect of modern digital discourse: the chasm between online personas and real-world behavior. Dhruv Rathee's experience suggests that the intense polarization visible on social media platforms does not always translate into physical confrontation or threat, allowing him to navigate his public life in India with a sense of normalcy that his online comments might not predict.
