Sometimes, a short holiday is enough to change how you see home. After spending just one week in Singapore, an Indian traveller returned with a lot on his mind. It wasn’t the buildings or the lifestyle that stood out the most. Rather, it was the order, cleanliness, and discipline in everyday life. When he shared his thoughts on Reddit, his post quickly went viral. What followed was a lively online debate about civic sense, rules, and why daily life feels so different in India and Singapore.
Indian Traveller Compares Singapore And India After One Week Abroad
Observations from my recent Singapore visit [OC]
byu/Educational_Drop9502 inIndianCivicFails
The Reddit user began by saying something many travellers quietly think but rarely say out loud: Singapore is far ahead of India in everyday civic behaviour. He said that even following a small part of what Singapore does right could bring a massive change back home.
The first thing that shocked him was the silence. Not once in an entire week did he hear a car horn. In India, he joked, we honk for everything. In Singapore, lanes mean lanes and rules like no overspeeding, no random U-turns, and no lane-cutting are followed. In India, he said, roads feel more like a Fast & Furious audition.
Singapore’s roads weren’t perfect, but overall, the cleanliness stood out. The moment he landed back in India and stepped outside the airport, reality hit hard. Even at Singapore airport, he experienced fast immigration, minimal checks, and short queues. Compared to the usual 30–45 minutes at security, with longer lines and heavier checks, that sounds like a breeze.
He acknowledged that Singapore is a small country, but said efficiency still deserves credit. He concluded by saying that civic sense in India won’t come from awareness campaigns alone. Strict rule enforcement is necessary.
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Netizens Debate Civic Sense And Culture
As expected, the comments were divided. Many agreed, saying, “Almost everywhere is way ahead of India in civic sense!” “Don’t expect Singapore outcomes if you cannot impose Singapore rules. The fines and penalties are super harsh, and you will certainly face them if you break the law. Here, people protest when the govt increases fines for speeding and not wearing helmets,” said some, pointing out that Singapore’s discipline comes from heavy fines and strict penalties.
A few pushed back, saying India excels in areas like space tech, nuclear power, and global leadership. India is good at some things and bad at others, and comparisons don’t tell the full story.
Whether people agreed or disagreed, the post forced us all to question whether we need stricter rules, better habits, or both.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva/rabbit75_cav and r/IndianCivicFails