India is mocked over the heat, while Europe is shown sympathy !

Polish woman strongly criticises the global media's double standards over the heatwave

New Delhi – “I am currently in Poland, where the temperature has reached an unprecedented 35°C. When India endures extreme heat, it is called a ‘failure’, but when the Western world endures it, it is called a ‘tragedy’,” said Agnieszka Hadala, a Polish woman living in India, strongly criticising the global media’s double standards in reporting on the climate crisis. She has shared a video on Instagram in which she is seen wearing a sari and a bindi on her forehead.

India’s suffering is called a failure, Europe’s suffering is called a tragedy !

Hadala pointed out that schools are being closed across Europe, outdoor activities are being cancelled, roads and railway tracks are melting, and power grids are coming under strain due to the rising demand for air conditioning. Many homes and offices in Europe do not have air conditioners or even ceiling fans like those commonly found in India. In many parts of India, temperatures of 40°C are normal. Think about it ! In many places across India, a temperature of 35°C is considered pleasant. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and, in some regions, even reach 50°C. Yet whenever India faces a challenge, foreign media outlets are quick to portray it as “backward”. But now that Europe is facing the same situation, where have all those headlines disappeared ? she asked.

Supports Indians sleeping on Mumbai’s Versova Beach

Hadala further said, “Do you remember when photographs of Indians sleeping on Mumbai’s Versova Beach and in parks because of power cuts were circulated around the world ? People made jokes about them and mocked India. Today, in many parts of Europe, people are sleeping on beaches and on the grass in parks at night because it is the cheapest alternative to air conditioning available to them. But this time, instead of mocking them, the world is expressing sympathy. In reality, every human being deserves sympathy.”

Extreme changes in the climate are a global reality !

In the latter part of the video, she explained that extreme changes in the climate are a global reality from which no country can escape. Yet, for some reason, only India is expected to be perfect. Managing a country with a population of around 140 crore is completely different from governing a small country. Comparing a family of two with a family of hundreds would be inappropriate. Despite such enormous challenges, India has, over the past decade, built one of the world’s largest metro networks and rapidly expanded its highways, airports, digital payment systems, affordable cooling solutions and public infrastructure. Criticise India where criticism is justified, but celebrate India’s achievements with equal confidence, because if we do not respect our own country, no one else will.