A viral TikTok video of an Indian-origin woman eating curry and rice with her right hand while speaking on the phone aboard a London Underground train has ignited a fiery online debate—touching on cultural traditions, public etiquette, and the boundaries of personal space.
The woman is seen casually enjoying her meal, a practice deeply rooted in many South Asian cultures where eating with hands is both traditional and symbolic. However, not all onlookers were appreciative. Some Tube passengers and online commentators criticised the act as "unhygienic" and “inappropriate” for a confined public setting like the Underground, where eating is generally discouraged due to the potential for mess and disruption. Others took issue with her speaking loudly on the phone, suggesting it disturbed fellow passengers.
The video, which has since circulated widely across platforms like X and Instagram, has drawn mixed reactions.
Public transport etiquette or discrimination?
Critics argued that eating such meals with bare hands in public settings lacks basic decorum, with some advising she should use cutlery. “It’s stupid to eat in trains like this. It’s just not done,” one user wrote. “It may not be illegal or immoral, but it does not make for good manners.”
Others, however, defended the woman, calling the backlash culturally insensitive and hypocritical. “She’s not bothering anyone. She’s eating her food and minding her business,” one commenter wrote. “I’ve seen plenty of white people eat burgers with their hands on the train—no one says a word.”
Another added, “It’s funny how an Indian woman eating rice with her hands is a crisis, but people don’t bat an eye at Brits eating chips or sandwiches the same way. Meanwhile, the night Tube can look like a drug den. Priorities, I guess.”
The incident also raised ethical concerns about privacy, with many users questioning the morality of filming someone in a public space without their consent.
Several posts accused the backlash of being racially biased and rooted in double standards. One user wrote, “So it’s okay for kebabs, fries, or a footlong sandwich, but a brown woman eating biryani with her hands? Suddenly it’s unhygienic.”
Another said, “She looked like she was multitasking—commuting, eating, and chatting with a friend. Honestly, good for her. Winning.”
The incident has turned into a wider conversation on cultural norms and how they intersect with public behaviour in multicultural cities like London.
Asian Voice poll reflects community perspective
To better understand the community’s sentiments surrounding the viral video of a woman eating biryani with her hand on the London Underground, Asian Voice conducted a social media poll. The results reveal a nuanced debate—where opinions on public behaviour, cultural norms, and social expectations are far from black and white.
The poll, run via Instagram, found that 56% of respondents felt the backlash against the woman was rooted in narrow perceptions of what constitutes ‘proper’ behaviour in Western public spaces, unfairly targeting individuals who do not conform to these standards. On the other hand, 44% believed the criticism was justified, suggesting that context or not, there are certain expectations of conduct on public transport.
Interestingly, when asked more broadly about eating food with a strong smell on the Tube, a majority (58%) agreed it was unhygienic and inappropriate, regardless of cultural context. Meanwhile, 42% felt that such actions should be judged with cultural sensitivity in mind, especially in a multicultural city like London.
When weighing the debate in terms of personal etiquette versus social bias, 65% said the controversy was more about individual behaviour and public manners rather than discriminatory bias. However, 35% believed that racial or cultural bias did play a role, highlighting an underlying tension in how people from ethnic backgrounds are perceived when expressing their traditions publicly.
In a revealing result, 61% of participants felt that etiquette rules on public transport should be flexible enough to accommodate cultural differences, while 39% preferred a universal standard for all passengers, regardless of background.
But perhaps the most sobering insight came from a final question: 59% of respondents said they have felt judged for expressing their culture in public. In a country that prides itself on being multicultural, that number is a stark reminder that inclusion is not just about diversity on paper—it’s about how differences are accepted in everyday life.
Is Eating Allowed on the Tube?
While many assumed the woman broke transit rules, Transport for London does not currently ban eating or drinking on the Tube. A statement on London.gov.uk clarifies:
“There are currently no plans to ban customers from eating or drinking on the transport network. There are circumstances, such as during hot summer weather, when customers are encouraged to carry drinks with them. However, LU does take active steps to encourage customers to eat and drink responsibly—for example, recent campaigns have asked customers not to eat foods with strong odour and not to leave litter.”
As debates over hygiene, civic sense, and cultural expression continue to swirl, the video has become more than just a moment of personal routine—it has become a flashpoint in an ongoing conversation about coexistence in a diverse public space.
Diverse conversations across continents
Several of our readers from both India and London shared their opinions, offering valuable insights into how this issue resonates differently for people in India and those living here in the UK.
Pranali Upadhyay, a lawyer based in India:
This just isn’t acceptable—regardless of the culture you come from. It’s inconsiderate to others around you and has the potential to create a mess. Most cultures value a certain level of politeness and awareness in public spaces, and this behaviour falls short of that.
What’s frustrating is how quickly any criticism is labelled as cultural insensitivity or appropriation. The reality is that such actions often reinforce negative stereotypes about Indians—like the derogatory ‘curry muncher’ trope seen on platforms like Twitter. These portrayals are harmful, and unfortunately, incidents like this only fuel them.
If this had happened on the Delhi Metro, let’s be honest—it wouldn’t be tolerated for a second.
A reader from India who wishes to be anonymous
She’s damaging the reputation of her community. It often feels like some Indians or South Asians lack basic civic sense—starting to eat anywhere without considering the setting. The smell must have been overwhelming. Honestly, it's a relief she wasn’t sitting on the floor eating off a banana leaf.
An anonymous respondent from London
I've lived in London for two years now, and based on my experience, I can say that experience on the Tube is a mixed bag. I’ve seen a lot—some of it ordinary, some unpleasant, and some downright shocking.
Let’s start with eating on the Tube. It’s surprisingly common. People from all backgrounds eat on their commute—breakfasts in the mornings, lunchboxes and snacks in the evenings, even full-on meals like pizza or fast food. Beer, fruit, crisps—nothing is unusual. Eating with your hands isn’t rare either, and no one really bats an eye. In that sense, Londoners tend to be pretty laid-back and accepting. Most people are polite and mind their own business.
But it’s not all civil and orderly. Loud phone conversations—especially underground where reception is poor—are irritatingly frequent. I often struggle to talk to my parents, even with earphones, because of the noise. Things get worse on weekends. I’ve seen people urinate in train compartments, drunk passengers being disruptive, and litter—cans, bottles, food—strewn across the floors. Sometimes, groups under the influence blast music on Bluetooth speakers or harass fellow commuters. Fights occasionally break out. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re part of the unspoken reality of London transport, particularly after dark.
So when I see a video going viral about a woman eating biryani with her hands on the Tube, I can't help but feel there’s more at play. Eating on the Tube is commonplace. But when it involves someone who doesn’t fit the “mainstream” image, say, an Indian woman, it becomes content. A stereotype. I’ve seen this before: comments about our accents, body odour, or how we dress. The reaction to this video feels like a continuation of that same pattern.
Yes, there are things about the Tube that are unpleasant. But eating biryani quietly? That’s really not one of them.
Kiran Ruparelia, a photographer based in London
I would like to raise that on many occasions, I have been in trains where non-Indian origin people are eating “normal” Western food, that has included kebabs, American fast food, tuna sandwiches, etc, by hand.
These foods stink, and these people commonly use both hands to eat and lick all their fingers. Nobody judges. The fact someone felt this should be made into a video and the disproportionate reaction to the video of the woman eating biriyani on the Underground is a double standard. The skin colour and food were different, but the action and context were not.
That said, I wouldn’t be inclined to copy what was happening in the video, but that’s my personal preference.
