Overview
- Caleb Friesen, a Canadian creator living in India for about eight years, posted an X video urging an end to foreign-comparative tags for Indian cities and industries.
- He argued Bengaluru’s “Silicon Valley of India” label is illogical because the city sits on the Deccan Plateau, calling for branding grounded in local identity.
- Friesen criticised Hollywood-derived industry names such as Bollywood and Tollywood, contrasting India’s approach with South Korea’s film industry and China’s Shenzhen tech hub.
- He cited an exchange in which Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal rejected a call for a “Bryan Johnson replica,” praising the emphasis on being original.
- The video went viral, drawing widespread support on X and fueling discussion about colonial-era mindsets and the value of celebrating India on its own terms.