American Tourist's 'Lazy Indians' Remark at Jaipur's Amber Fort Ignites Fiery Online Controversy
A video posted by an American traveler from Jaipur has triggered a massive online storm after he made sweeping generalizations about Indians during his visit to the historic Amber Fort. The tourist, identified as Charlie Evans, filmed himself descending the fort's steep approach and used the footage to label Indians as "lazy" and "out of shape," sparking intense reactions across social media platforms.
What Sparked the Controversial Comments?
In the now-viral clip, Evans points to groups of visitors who had paused midway through their climb up to the fort. He observes people resting, chatting, smoking cigarettes, and enjoying drinks along the pathway. Using these scenes as evidence for his broad claim, he asserts that this behavior explains why, in his opinion, many individuals were not completing the ascent to the top.
"I know why Indians are out of shape," Evans declares in the video. He adds that although "there are thousands of people down there," very few actually made it all the way up. The tourist goes on to remark, "They're paying to get in, and then they're stuck halfway up... They're lazy."
Doubling Down on His Assertions
Evans further insists that the scene validates a point he claims to have made earlier that same day. "At the beginning of this journey today, I said that Indians are lazy, and this just proves it," he states. He describes witnessing people "having cigarettes and cokes and chais halfway up the Amber Fort road" and concludes that "they don't want to go the extra mile."
Social Media Erupts with Mixed Reactions
The video has garnered over 4 lakh views on Instagram and ignited a barrage of diverse responses from users worldwide. Some individuals echoed Evans' observations, arguing that fitness often takes a backseat in daily life for many.
- One commenter humorously noted, "Indian will not climb a hill until there's temple located on hill top."
- An Indian user admitted, "You are right. None of my friends are interested in coming with me for cycling at 6am on a weekend."
- A third person wrote, "I am feeling bad what you saying. But it's true."
However, many others strongly pushed back against Evans' remarks, calling them shallow and unfair generalizations.
- One counterargument stated, "They don't bother about the destination. They are enjoying the journey."
- Another user pointed out that Evans was judging only a narrow slice of the population, writing, "You are just seeing 2% of urban populations... you have not met the locals who do this hike long before people wake up everyday. Their fitness is unmatchable."
This incident highlights how cultural perceptions and tourist observations can quickly escalate into heated debates about national identity, lifestyle choices, and fitness habits in the digital age.
