During a recent visit to Udaipur, popular YouTuber Mithilesh Backpacker encountered a distressing situation involving his Russian wife, Lisa, and their two-year-old son. What began as a family outing turned into an upsetting incident that highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety of women, particularly foreign tourists, in India.
Shameful act at City Palace, Udaipur
While exploring Udaipur’s City Palace, Mithilesh was recording a video of his wife when an off-camera voice remarked “6,000 INR.” Though it may seem harmless at first, the phrase has acquired a derogatory meaning, often associated with sexually inappropriate jokes about Russian women, popularised by some comedians.
The remark angered Mithilesh, who immediately confronted the man. “6,000 INR kisko bolta, merko samajhta nahi kya? (Don’t I understand whom you are saying 6,000 to?)” he demanded, further adding, “Kisko bola? Meri wife Russian hai toh tu ulta seedha comment dega? (My wife is Russian, so you’ll make such comments?)”
Mithilesh confronted and asked security to meddle
Mithilesh threatened to call the police, but the man denied that his comment was directed at Lisa. Security personnel at the City Palace were summoned to the scene, but according to Mithilesh, they discouraged him from involving the authorities. He also revealed in his YouTube video that the man and his companions had been following them for some time and making inappropriate remarks even before the “6,000” comment.
I wanted to promote Indian Tourism But….
Reflecting on the incident, Mithilesh expressed his disappointment with the prevailing attitudes toward women’s safety in India. “I was so angry. I was with my wife. How can people behave in this manner? It was very shocking and very shameful for me. My wife came to India… I wanted to promote Indian tourism, that India is so beautiful, so safe. And when something like this happens, what do I do?” he said.
Unfortunately, harassment of foreign tourists in India is not uncommon. In 2018, a Belgian tourist left India within 24 hours of arriving in New Delhi after being harassed. She was misled by men posing as police officers, who told her that her hotel booking was canceled and directed her to an expensive and unsafe hotel. Similarly, an incident in Jaipur involving an auto driver inappropriately touching a foreign tourist caused widespread outrage.
YouTuber’s normalising ‘derogatory’ jokes!
The comment ‘6,000 INR’ highlights how cultural stereotypes and inappropriate jokes can perpetuate harassment. Due to comedians like Harsh Gujral, such phrases have become associated with derogatory humor, further normalising offensive behavior. All in the name of ‘Dark Humor’.
An X user commented on the viral viral video saying, “Placing a price tag on someone like the comment made to Mithilesh Backpacker’s wife,shows how low society’s thinking can sink. This isn’t just harassment it’s a reflection of the disrespect we need to uproot. Change starts with mindset. It’s no longer a joke.”
This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges that foreign tourists, especially women, face while visiting India. Mithilesh’s experience serves as a wake-up call for improving security measures and addressing the societal attitudes that lead to such behavior. For India to truly be seen as a safe and welcoming destination, such issues must be tackled head-on.
