An American TikTok influencer is coming across as a tad bit dense after her post and delete video went viral. Known by her followers as @Girl_On_Couch, the TikToker caught some extreme heat in the comments when she went on a rant about the country of India.

“The most irrelevant country right now is India,” she said on her platform with over 133 thousand followers.

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The influencer went on to rant about her dissatisfaction with India not being mentioned regularly in the news and online. She questioned if the Asiatic country had fought in any wars and why no one wanted their land. The young woman seemed unsure about India’s political structure and ended her video by calling out the country to come forward because, clearly, no one is checking for India.

Although the video and the @Girl_On_Couch TikTok profile have been deleted, other online influencers and users had a lot to say about her misspeaking on Indian culture and history. India is the seventh largest country in the world with a history dating back nearly 6,000 years. Many questioned if the TikToker had been “left behind” when President George W. Bush launched his educational campaign in 2002.

“She’s acting like India hasn’t been oppressed by Britain for hundreds of years,” one user said on a repost of the viral rant.

Despite @Girl_On_Couch having limited knowledge of India’s legacy, the country is everything but irrelevant. India has a long history filled with culture that isn’t a secret. Here is a brief lesson on what makes India a beloved travel destination and an important thread in the tapestry of history.

Home Of Spices

spices in white bowls — Photo credit: Marta Branco

India has been known historically as a major exporter of spices. Explorers from every corner of the world have risked death to venture to the South Asian country to obtain various spices that couldn’t be found elsewhere. Although the risks aren’t as high anymore thanks to technological advancements, India continues to reign as the world’s ultimate spice cabinet. Approximately 70 percent of Indian spices are exported to other nations. This includes a little bit of everything from golden turmeric and aromatic cinnamon to warm cloves and mustard seeds. Without India, cuisines around the world would be a lot more bland.

India Helped Bangladesh Gain Freedom

older man and boy walking through the streets of Bangladesh — Photo credit: Kelly

Until 1971, Bangladesh was under Pakistani rule. When the country sought to gain its independence, India assisted in military organization to help the Bangladeshi win their freedom. In December 2021, India and Bangladesh celebrated fifty years of harmonious friendship between the two countries. Both nations have continued to support each other as trade partners, stimulating their economies and tourism industries.

The World’s Largest Democracy

cow in India pulling people in a cart — Photo credit: Anugrah Lohiya

Despite the viral TikTok rant, India is viewed as a major world power. As the world’s largest democracy, columnist Lydia Polgreen said in an op-ed piece that the country is a rising force.

“India is indeed the nation of the moment,” Polgreen said in her New York Times article. “It is a critical player in just about every major issue facing the planet. Its economy is now bigger than that of the country that colonized it, making it the fifth largest in the world.”

India has been the world’s most populated democracy since it gained its independence from British rule in 1947. The country has both a president and prime minister, similar to how monarchs and ministers operate in British culture.

Bollywood Is Bigger Than Hollywood

Bollywood actress standing in front of a round window. — Photo credit: Nila Racigan

Hollywood may be where the streets are paved with gold in American culture. However, the movie business in the US is smaller than India’s Bollywood. The Indian film industry produces about 1200 movies a year while Hollywood makes about 700 films annually. Indian films like RRR and The Elephant Whisperers have gone on to win Academy Awards.

India Is Home To The Largest Expatriate Community

women praying — Photo credit: RDNE Stock project

India also has more expatriates than any other country in the world. According to a 2020 report from the United Nations, approximately 18 million expats were living in the country at that time. The majority of the expatriate population comes from Mexico, Russia, China, and Syria. In 2020, there were 2.7 million US expats living in India.